Fulton Church of Christ

Two, related Greek words are translated “seek”: ekzeteo and zeteo. The prefix, ek, adds the literal concept of “out” or “out of.” The longer word is used only seven times in the New Testament:
- Luke 11:50 – 51 May (shall) be required of this generation
- Acts 15:17 (Amos 9:11 – 12) So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord.
- Romans 11:7 Israel has not obtained what it seeks
- Hebrews 11:6 A rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
- Hebrews 12:17 Although he sought it diligently with tears
- 1 Peter 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully
The shorter word is used 82 times in various contexts, seeking people for good or evil, seeking God or His Kingdom, seeking understanding, or similar things. A representative list follows:
- Matthew 2:13 Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him
- Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
- Matthew 7:7 Seek and you will find
- Matthew 12:46, 47 His mother and brothers stood outside seeking to speak with Him
- Matthew 28:5 I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here.
- Luke 9:9 He [Herod] sought to see him [John]
- Luke 12:48 To whom much is given, from him much will be required
- Luke 13:24 Many will seek to enter and will not be able
- Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it
- Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost
- John 5:30 I do not seek My own will but he will of the Father who sent Me
- John 7:19, 20, 25 Why do you seek to kill me?
- John 7:34, 8:21, 13:33 You will seek Me and not find. Where I am you cannot come
- John 8:50 I do not seek My own glory
- John 16:19 Are you inquiring among yourselves?
- Acts 9:11 Inquire at the house of Judas for one named Saul
- Acts 16:10 We sought to go to Macedonia
- Acts 17:27 So that they should seek the Lord
- Acts 27:30 As the sailors were seeking to escape the ship…
- Romans 2:7 Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality
- Romans 10:3 Seeking to establish their own righteousness
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 The Jews request a sign and Greeks seek for wisdom
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 It is required in stewards that one be found faithful
- 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own but each one the other’s
- Colossians 3:1 Seek those things which are above
The two words above do not impart any special meaning inherent to the words, but rather derive their specific meaning from the context.
- The prefix is more a stylistic addition than a carrier of additional meaning.
- The addition of “diligently” (which is not a separate word in the text) seems to be an addition by the translators without linguistic basis.
In the passages concerning seeking God, what does the context imply about its characteristics?
- Seeking can be fruitless due to inaccurate goals
  - Luke 13:24 Many will seek to enter and will not be able – Despite religious activity, God does not know them.
  - Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it – Physical life is not the objective
  - John 7:34, 8:21, 13:33 You will seek Me and not find. Where I am you cannot come – The Pharisees could not overcome their misconceptions and lack of love.
  - Romans 10:3 Seeking to establish their own righteousness – Legalism kills
  - 1 Corinthians 1:22 The Jews request a sign and Greeks seek for wisdom – Theory must not take precedence over evidence.
- What to seek
  - Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
  - Romans 2:7 Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality
  - 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own but each one the other’s
  - Colossians 3:1 Seek those things which are above
- Methods for re-focused seeking, not as divisive weapons but as consistent tools
  - Communication requires well-defined terms
    - Bad doctrine survives through inconsistent definitions
    - What they hear must be the same as what you say
    - Most have never considered a word study approach
    - If we don’t fix bad definitions, they cannot read and understand
  - Discuss, don’t lecture
  - Build from points of agreement
  - The Law was made for man, not man for the Law (be flexible)
  - Defeat minimalism
  - Recognize both the benefits and the hindrances inherent to traditions
  - Ask important, thought-provoking questions rather than easy answers

Seek