[Greek] προκόπτω (prokoptō), [Latin] proficere, [Latin] praecedere, [French] advancer, [French] marcher devant, [German] bewirken: to cut forward (a way), to advance, to drive forward, to make progress, to increase; Lk.2:52, Rom.13:12, Gal.1:14, 2Tim.2:16, 2Tim.3:9,13
Do we abide with God or do we abide with the world?
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to cut one’s way forward, to advance, to prosper, to make progress, to be prepared, to be delayed, and to linger.
Euripides’ Alecestis 1079: “But what good will you accomplish if you lament forever.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 1.190: “Cyrus did not know what to do, being so delayed and gaining no advantage.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 3.56: “The Lacedamonians had besieged Samos for 40 days with no success.”
Polybius’ Histories 10.47.12: “The moral is, not to give up any useful accomplishment on account of its difficulties, but to persevere till it becomes a matter of habit.”
Euripides’ Hippolytus 23: “I have already come a long way with my plans and I need a little further effort.”
Thucydides’ The Peloponnesian War 1.1: “Indeed, this is the greatest movement yet in history.”
New Testament: This term means to increase (advance), to draw to a close, and to accomplish. The young Jesus advances in wisdom as He sits with the teachers in the temple. The time of our salvation is drawing near. Paul had progressed in Judaism in becoming a rabid Pharisee prosecuting the Christians. One must avoid profane and idle talk, for such people will become more and more godless. The depraved and unqualified (of faith) will not make further progress, for their foolish will be plain to see. Wicked persons and charlatans will go from bad to worse.
Scripture:
“And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” Lk.2:52
Joseph and Mary find their son Jesus with the teachers in the temple. The infancy narrative of Jesus begins and ends in the temple.
“And progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.” Gal.1:14
Paul was a rabid Pharisee persecuting the Christians.
“But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be plain to all, as it was with those two.”
The depraved and false teachers will never reach a knowledge of the truth. Others will be seen for what they are.
Etymology: The base Greek verb kopto means to strike, to cut off, and to beat (one’s breast) => to mourn. The Greek komma means something which is cut off. The Greek verb prokopto means to cut forward a way and to strike forward. The Latin verb proficere means to make and to accomplish. The Latin verb praecedere means to precede, to surpass, and to excel.
Conclusion:
Proficient, advance, work, precede, march, comma
In Greek Hellenism, this term is very applicable dealing with issues concerning war, occupation, and personal motivation.
In the Old Testament, this term is not applicable in a divine sense.
Jesus’s advanced spiritual wisdom surprises many. Ordinarily, a rabbi begins his training as a student, also learning from a rabbi.
As we all already know, time advances as we grow older.
Update: I will cut to the chase: this term can be very applicable in seeing how public opinion often changes regarding certain social or cultural issues, when their foolishness, claims, accusations, and policies become known.
The strong Ukrainian opposition prevented the Russian forces from having a swift victory over Ukraine.
The Russian forces are also struggling in their efforts to attain a victory in eastern Ukraine.
Many families will unfortunately lament for lost loved ones from military battles and lone shooter tragedies.
Sweden’s govt. has recently decided to prohibit doctors from prescribing puberty blockers for transgender “health care”. [I predict this trend will continue in other countries].
We all can benefit from positive motivation and confidence in attaining a goal.
The media’s claim of Jim Crow II with voting falls flat with record turnout in Georgia.
We all have now seen the foolishness of a “ministry of truth” led by the Mary Poppins of misinformation.
The claims of whipping immigrants fall flat with actual video footage.
Nancy Pelosi was finally officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church for opposing abortion. Took long enough!
There is now more and more opposition against:
Transgender woman participation in women’s sports
CRT in schools and businesses
Sex and gender in schools
Corporations becoming actively involved in social issues
Protesting at justices’ homes
The extreme measures taken to support abortion (at the federal and state level).
G.K. Chesterton, a prophet for common sense, asks the question: “What type of progress are you seeking and striving for?”
Progress and advancement is often a good thing to strive for. Yet the late G.K Chesterton spent a long time commenting on the human condition. It often takes time to look to sort out all the nuances, applications, and consequences of an issue. Time also shows how society (and individuals) respond and understand such issues. Their response may be immediate, ambivalent, indifferent, and late to the table. It is not surprising that there could be pendulum swing of public opinion or backlash against an issue. One’s character and competency are often defined or illustrated in how one causes or responds to events. Unfortunately there are those who are often late to the table, unable to respond in action or speech.
Next post: Delaying and being late