Continuing today by looking again at the Greek word used when telling of the proof that Jesus Christ is speaking. It is the word dokime. This is the object of all our conversations here, knowing the voice by the content conveyed.
Here is the Strong’s Dictionary definition: Strong’s #1382: dokime (pronounced dok-ee-may’) from the same as 1384; test (abstractly or concretely); by implication, trustiness:–experience(-riment), proof, trial.
The word (Strong’s #1384) it is said to be the same as is dokimos, meaning acceptable or approved. This word is from the root dokea, literally meaning to think, and therefore figuratively being to perceive truthfulness or lack of it. In this we see dokime being the trial or experiment, which manifests and/or uncovers the truth and brings it to light. The proof is made apparent to those who experience (witness) the experiment or trial.
The idea and use of these words are in defeating those who compare themself with themselves, who therefor commend themselves. In this one aspect we see why they will never hear the voice of Jesus (Jehovah’s Salvation). His voice is foreign to them because they expect – no, they demand – it be in agreement when compared to theirs. They try to counterfeit it but are found wanting, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
2 Corinthians 9 tells of these gifts the LORD gives to us as seed to be sown, and are meant to reproduce into fruit. The seed is the word of God direct from Him in its pure uncorrupted form. The fruit is found in those who are changed by it, not in word only but with fruit of righteousness (rightness and equity in spirit and truth). The word dokime is translated as “experiment” in 2 Corinthians 9:13 in telling of those witnessing and experiencing it, glorifying God for His grace in giving us the gift. The gift is spoken of in verse 9 in quoting from Psalms 112:9.
Psalms 112
1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man shows favour, and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
The word “lends” in verse 5 above is translated from the Hebrew word lavah, meaning to twine together and therefore in the context of the lender and the borrower being twined together in obligation. The obligation here in todays context is to bring forth fruit. The Psalm tells of the defeat of the enemies and should be seen as complimenting 2 Corinthians 10 where we see them as those forgetting the one who “approves” and gives the gift. Psalms 112 ends in telling of the wicked (Cain type) seeing the experiment repeating and thereby proving itself; “The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.”
This gift isn’t as the false ones define it as something you give to them as they call it you sowing a seed. The seed is the word of God given to those who sow it in the field of the world. This is the greatest gift as shown in the Lord’s charity by curing the blindness of our natural mind. Here is what we are told in 2 Corinthians 8 about the Lord being our example as He poured out His life to us. It is told using the similitude of this being the riches He possessed and then willing dispersed to us to the point of it costing His life. That is the price paid to deliver the gift.
2 Corinthians 8
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
In Verse 2 prior to the passage above the word dokime is used to tell us this is the “trial” that bring the truth to light, as it separated it from the darkness. “2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” As it is written in Isaiah 9: “2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.”
2 Corinthians 9 (verse 13, dokime is the word “experiment”)
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remains for ever.
10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2 Corinthians 10 (verse 18, dokimos is the word “approved”)
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Dokimos is translated as “approved” in telling how one achieves this state of being “commended” by the Lord as we are told of in the final verse above. It is Paul telling Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Later in the chapter Paul tells him, after telling his of putting away childish things, of the reason for this study being that he will be able to, “25 In meekness instruct(ing) those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
The word dokime is translated “proof” in Philippians 2:22 as Paul speaks of sending Timothy that they might, “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
2 Philippians 2
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Dokime is used one of its seven times when Paul defines the type of “proof” as, “proof of Christ speaking in me.” This is in 2 Corinthians 13:3. As the explanation goes on we see the word “reprobate” used in saying those who are without Jesus Christ in them are reprobates. The Greek word translated as “reprobate” is adokimos, meaning without dokimos – with out approval, without proof, not showing any pattern or proof that would indicate this power.
2 Corinthians 13
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
I am going to tell you who I am by telling you the meaning of the name given to me by my Father. The name Timothy is from two Greek words, time + theos. Here are the Strong’s definitions:
Strong’s #5092: time (pronounced tee-may’) from 5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself:–honour, precious, price, some.
Strong’s #2316: theos (pronounced theh’-os) of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:–X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
The name tells of the price paid, of the riches being poured out in payment, it literally translated as the, Riches of God – The price paid by God. (It would never be money paid to God.)
Ephesians 2
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.
Philippians 2
2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
