- 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