Millpond Ink Musing – Striking the Vision

“An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.” Rom. 2:20

Here, in this verse and in 1 Tim. 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away,” we have the same Greek word, morphōsis,  applied, which means a mere form or semblance of something. In Romans 2:20, the Apostle Paul spoke of instructors and teachers who appeared to know the law, and in 1 Timothy 3:5, he spoke of those who appeared to know God. It is fair to say, that those whom Paul spoke of were the hypocrites; counterfeit liars… boastful…Such are those who seek their own gain.

Next, we have the application of the word ‘form’ or morphē which means ‘the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision.’ In Philippians 2:7, we find the word morphē was used of Christ, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” In Mark 16:12, we are told that Jesus “…appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.”  Here, Jesus changed his physical appearance, but the two with whom He walked knew it was Jesus. How do we know? They went to tell the others.

What can we learn from these two separate and distinct meanings; that is, morphōsis and morphē? According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, both words trace back to the same root: meros. Interestingly, the word ‘meros’  means a ‘part due or assigned to one; lot or destiny.’ In these verses, we have two pictures given:

• One; of the hypocrite whose part or lot it was to live according to the flesh under the law but to satisfy one’s own appetite (Romans 2:20, 1 Tim. 3:5)
• Two; of Jesus and God’s elect whose part or lot it was to live in Spirit and in Truth; Holy and righteous… a royal priesthood… striking the vision of Christ Himself.

How will we know who are truly His?  They will have a striking image of their Savior, Jesus; holding themselves out in humility and love. The others; the fakers, will possess only a semblance. They are a cheap watch made to look Rolex, but their innermost workings are barely heard… from the outside, all appears to be ticking, but when you look a second time, the hands haven’t moved.