The Biblical
Meanings of RECEIVE
Most Christians do not take the time to study the Greek
meanings of certain words used often in the Bible. As we all know, most Christians do not even study the Word of God,
let alone the Greek meanings of different words in the Word.
In this teaching, we are going to study the word
‘Receive’ and its different meanings AS IT PERTAINS TO THE HOLY GHOST FIELD
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Much of the
misunderstanding and wrong interpretation of God's Word and the Holy Spirit in
the Bible results from not knowing that the word ‘Receive’ has at least two
different meanings when the context is referring to the subject of the Holy
Spirit. We are going to focus on those
two meanings and give you illustrations of the extreme importance of where and
why these two different meanings are used.
Before we begin, it is necessary for you to understand
that the Greek word for ‘Receive’ has seventeen different Greek
word-forms! We will focus on the two
forms below as it relates to WHAT field? . . . . and in WHAT Testament? In this teaching, we will not delve into the
Old Testament.
When trying to understand pneuma hagion (holy spirit), it is of utmost importance to master this teaching. It is actually a very simple but most important teaching. There are two meanings to the word ‘Receive’:
Dechomai -- is
subjective reception. This means it is
receiving from God spiritually within oneself.
When you are born again of God's Spirit, you receive spiritually in a
manner where the word received is stated as dechomai
- objectively. The difference
between the other usage of ‘Receive’ is much different in its definition. Let's take a look at the second Greek
meaning of ‘Receive’:
Lambano -- this means
that you receive the spirit of God subjectively into manifestation in the
senses world (speaking in tongues).
Basically, these two definitions are in reference to receiving
the Holy Spirit. Let's go to some
examples to show the importance of the difference between these two words.
As mentioned, most people do not understand that many
English words, when translated into Greek, have a number of different
meanings. By not understanding when a
Greek word is Dechomai or Lambano, it is very easy not to understand and not to
rightly divide the Word of God. The
following examples will illustrate this clearly.
Now
when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: -- Acts 8: 14
You must be able to understand that there are two ways to
receive holy spirit and Philip did minister the Holy Spirit to these people at
Samaria. But to understand the meaning
of this verse and why Peter and John came down to Samaria, you need to understand
the word “received”. This word used
here in the Greek is ‘dechomai’. This
means that they were born again and received God's gift of holy spirit within
themselves. However, they did not
manifest outwardly the holy spirit.
What does this mean? It means
they did not speak in tongues after they were born again. It's that simple.
When Peter and John heard this, they decided to go to
Samaria to make sure that those believers lambanoed holy spirit. That means that before they (Peter and John)
arrived, they (the Samaritans) did not speak in tongues. But Peter and John instructed them more
fully as how to manifest the holy spirit into operation. Take a look at verse 15.
Who,
when they [Peter and John] were come down,
prayed for them [the Samaritans], that they
might receive the Holy Ghost: -- Acts 8: 15
You must take close notice that the word ‘receive’ in the Greek has now changed to ‘lambano’. Peter and John made the trip to Samaria and prayed for those believers that they might lambano holy spirit which means to speak in tongues. This is the major difference between the two Greek words for ‘Receive’. Let's stay with the record.
(For as yet he was fallen
upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) – Acts 8: 16
Who was not fallen upon any of them? The Holy Spirit was not fallen upon any of them into manifestation. Only they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and had received (dechomai – objectively) the holy spirit within themselves.
Then [Peter and John] laid they their hands on them, and they received [lambanoed]
the holy ghost. – Acts 8: 17
[Now notice that there is a second problem when the
word holy spirit is capitalized or not.
I will simply mention for now that the GIFT of holy spirit is not capitalized. It is the giver which is God -- that is
where Holy Spirit is capitalized.
That's another teaching.]
Now take a look at verse 17 above. Do you see the word ‘received’? It says they received the holy ghost. Well, what could they have received? They already received (dechomai) the holy
spirit when they got born again. Again,
the word ‘received’ is the Greek word lambano - to receive into manifestation. Manifestation means outward -- something
that you can see and usually hear. In
this verse, it means that after Peter and John laid their hands on the
Samaritans, they were then able to speak in tongues.
Do you see the difference in the importance of
rightly dividing both of these words?
We will go through another example because the Bible is loaded with
them. At the end of this teaching, I
will give you a chart which will show you where dechomai and lambano is used
throughout the Bible. If you are wise,
you will mark a small ‘l’ or ‘d’ next to each word ‘receive’ so that you will
be able to rightly divide God's Word.
Let's go to another example which is also found in
the book of Acts chapter 19. Here we
have a quite similar incident where Paul had arrived at Ephesus and found a few
disciples. A great believer named
Apollos taught these believers as much of the Word of God as he knew. You can’t go beyond what you are
taught. Let's take a look at chapter 19
beginning with verse one.
And it came to pass, that, while
Apollos was at [in] Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came
to Ephesus: and finding certain
disciples, He said unto them, Have ye
received [lambano] the [scratch ‘the’] Holy Ghost since ye believed [upon believing]? And they said
unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he [Paul]
said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of
repentance [water], saying unto the people,
that they should believe on him which should come after him [John], that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this [what
Apollos taught], they were baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus [and dechomaied holy spirit]. And [But] when
Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on
them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. -- Acts 19: 1-6
There is a lot to learn
from these six Scriptures. This
situation is very similar to our first example. Notice towards the end of the verses that Apollos could not teach
beyond what he had been taught. He was
familiar with John's water baptism and during this process, these disciples
were still able to get born again and receive holy spirit. But it is so simple to see that they were
not able to lambano Holy Spirit. In
fact, at one point, they told Paul that they did not even hear of a Holy
Spirit. Paul was able to discern the
situation quickly and he asked them, as already mentioned, whether they had
received (lambano into manifestation) Holy Spirit. He was asking them if they were able to speak in tongues. They never even heard of such a thing, but
when Paul laid his hands on them and prayed to God for them, take a look at
what happened.
They not only spoke in
tongues, they prophesied also. You see
that Paul was very well instructed in the holy spirit field and surely God gave
him revelation, word of knowledge and word of wisdom, as to what to do to
correct and improve this situation.
Again, they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ but only via
John's water baptism. This allowed them
to objectivity receive the Holy Ghost (dechomai). But Paul knew the great power that we still have today when we
speak in tongues. So he made sure that
these people not only were able to dechomai but to be able to lambano into
manifestation the Holy Spirit.
These are the two great
meanings of the word ‘Receive’ in the Bible that must be understood if you are
ever to rightly divide God’s Word and understand the Holy Spirit field.
We today, as Christians,
do not really understand the power that is in the manifestation of speaking in
tongues. It was once said to me that
when we speak in tongues, it is like a ball of fire rolling down the street. For some reason, I never forgot that
illustration. When we speak in tongues,
we build ourselves up spiritually. Our
spirit teaches our mind, so that the stronger we are spiritually, the more our
minds can receive revelation from the true God. When we study God's Word, we strengthen our mind only. Now combine our study of the Word with
speaking in tongues, and you can see clearly that ball of fire rumbling down
the street, can't you? It's really
something and all it takes is for us to believe and to act on what the Word of
God says and we will absolutely see results.
Sometimes it takes God a little while to show us those results. Why?
Because He knows the exact right moment in time when something should
take place.
Before I give you the
chart I promised you, let’s summarize the two Greek words we studied - DECHOMAI AND LAMBANO. It is very simple, but you must know where lambano is used in the
Bible and where dechomai is used. The
chart I will give you gives you EVERY USAGE OF THESE Greek words in the New
Testament.
From the examples given
in this teaching, your mind should be crystal clear as to the differences
between the two (2) words used for ‘Receve’ and the importance of discerning
them properly.
II Timothy 2: 15 -- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [emphasis added]
It is God’s Will and my will for you that you benefit
greatly by studying and marking every
usage of dechomai and lambano in your Bible.
It does not take very long. God
bless you – you are God’s best.
___________________________
[See Chart Below]
A. Dechomai
- subjective reception:
Matthew 10:14, 40 (used 4 times), 41 (1st
and 3rd); 11:14; 18:5 (twice)
Mark 4:20; 6:11; 9:37
(4 times); 10:15
Luke 8:13, 40; 9:5, 11, 48 (4 times), 53;
10:8, 10, 38; 15:2; 16:4, 9; 18:17; 19:6
John
4:45
Acts 2:41; 3:21; 7:38,
59; 8:14; 11:1; 15:4; 16:21; 17:7, 11; 18:27; 21:17; 22:5, 18; 28:7, 21, 30
Romans 16:2
I
Corinthians 2:14
II Corinthians 6:1, 17; 7:15; 8:4; 11:16
Galatians 4:14
Philippians 2:29; 4:18
Colossians 4:10 (2nd)
I
Thessalonians 1:6; 2:13 (2nd)
II Thessalonians 2:10
I
Timothy 5:19
Hebrews 11:17, 31; 12:6
James 1:21; 2:25
III John 9, 10
B. Lambano - objective
reception into manifestation or evidence, possible only after dechomai:
Matthew 7:8; 10:8, 41 (2nd, 4th); 13:20 (2nd);
17:24; 19:29; 20:7, 9, 10 (twice), 11; 21:22, 34; 23:14; 25:16, 18, 20, 22, 24
Mark 4:16; 7:4; 10:30; 11:24; 12:2, 40;
15:23; 16:19
Luke
6:34 (twice); 9:51; 11:10; 15:27; 16:25; 18:30; 19:12, 15; 20:47; 23:41
John 1:11, 12, 16; 3:11, 27, 32, 33; 4:36; 5:34, 41, 43 (twice), 44;
6:21; 7:23, 39; 10:18; 12:48; 13:20 (4 times), 30; 14:3, 17; 16:14, 24; 17:8;
18:3; 19:30; 20:22
Acts 1: 8, 9; 2:33, 38; 3:5; 7:53; 8:15, 17, 19; 9:19; 10:16, 43, 47;
16:24; 17:15; 19:2; 20:24, 35; 26:10, 18; 28:2
Romans 1:5, 27; 4:11;
5:11, 17; 8:15 (twice); 11:15; 13:2; 14:1, 3; 15:7 (twice)
I Corinthians 2:12; 3:8, 14; 4:7 (3 times); 9:24; 11:23; 14:5; 15:1, 3
II Corinthians 11:4
(twice), 24
Galatians 1:9, 12; 3:2,
14; 4:5
Philippians 4:9, 15
Colossians 2:6; 3:24; 4:10 (1st), 17
I Thessalonians 2:13 (1st); 4:1
II Thessalonians 3: 6
I Timothy 3:16; 4:3, 4
Philemon 12; 17
Hebrews 2:2; 6:7; 7:5,
8, 9; 9:15; 10:26; 11:8, 11, 13, 35; 12:28
James 1:7, 12; 3:1;
4:3; 5:7
I Peter 4:10
II Peter 1:17
I John 2:27; 3:22; 5:9
II John 4; 8; 10
III John 8
Revelation 2:17, 27; 3:3; 4:11; 5:12; 14:9, 11; 17:12 (twice);
18:4; 19:20; 20:4
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