The word trespasses is the Greek paraptōma (G3900), pronounced par-ap-to’-mah. It’s made up two words, para (G3844), which means “along side of,” and piptō (G4098), which means “to fall.”
The image the word shows is a deviation from one side or the other. The ancient Greeks used it sometimes to describe a slip-up, an error in judgment, or a mistake. But there is no implication of this idea in the NT. Instead, the way the NT handles the word strongly stresses an intentional act with resulting severe consequences. Fully understanding that trespasses addresses a determined departure from God’s requirements is the key to getting a grasp of this word.
In Rom. 5:15-20 the KJV uses the word offence (paraptōma) numerous times to plainly explain Adam’s sin as a determined departure from God’s command: “through the offence of one many be dead . . . by one man’s offence death reigned by one . . . by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation . . . Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
So, what’s the application for us? Basically that we are all sinners determined to defy God. We are just like Adam, Achan, Saul, and Israel who intentionally refused to comply with God’s commands. This means that we don’t just make mistakes; we don’t just give in to lack of discretion, we don’t just “trip up.” We are stubborn, unruly, headstrong sinners. We do not sin because the devil make us do so, or because it’s another’s fault, or not even because we had a bad upbringing as a child. We sin simply because we want to sin. We stray from God’s commands.
We thank Great God Almighty that He offers forgiveness! (see forgiveness word study).
Review and Meditation: According to Paul (Gal.6:1), what should we do for a fellow Christian who is guilty of trespasses (paraptōma)? What else does James (5:16) say we should do?
The image the word shows is a deviation from one side or the other. The ancient Greeks used it sometimes to describe a slip-up, an error in judgment, or a mistake. But there is no implication of this idea in the NT. Instead, the way the NT handles the word strongly stresses an intentional act with resulting severe consequences. Fully understanding that trespasses addresses a determined departure from God’s requirements is the key to getting a grasp of this word.
In Rom. 5:15-20 the KJV uses the word offence (paraptōma) numerous times to plainly explain Adam’s sin as a determined departure from God’s command: “through the offence of one many be dead . . . by one man’s offence death reigned by one . . . by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation . . . Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
So, what’s the application for us? Basically that we are all sinners determined to defy God. We are just like Adam, Achan, Saul, and Israel who intentionally refused to comply with God’s commands. This means that we don’t just make mistakes; we don’t just give in to lack of discretion, we don’t just “trip up.” We are stubborn, unruly, headstrong sinners. We do not sin because the devil make us do so, or because it’s another’s fault, or not even because we had a bad upbringing as a child. We sin simply because we want to sin. We stray from God’s commands.
We thank Great God Almighty that He offers forgiveness! (see forgiveness word study).
Review and Meditation: According to Paul (Gal.6:1), what should we do for a fellow Christian who is guilty of trespasses (paraptōma)? What else does James (5:16) say we should do?
Trespasses - (Greek paraptōma )
Pronounced - par-ap-to’-mah
Pronounced - par-ap-to’-mah
ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ
"It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" - Jesus Matt. 4:4
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