May 2025 Printable 175 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, God's grace, unmerited divine favor be to you and peace, an absolute end of all strife or trouble, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Father, our prayer is that you open our understanding of your Word. Our hearts' desire is to be walking as your beloved children doing your Will. We want to be well pleasing and acceptable in our walk with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray.

This month's teaching is on: Living in the Renewed mind "Put Off."

• We will define the Greek word apotithemi used for the English phrase "put off."
• We will define the number eight (8) in God's Word.
• We will search, track, and trace in the scriptures the Greek word apotithemi.
  

It is written in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are not to be fashioned to this world. But, in contrast, we are to be transformed, changed form, transfigured by the renewing of our minds so that we may put to the test what is spiritually the best, well pleasing, and the complete intense desire out of God, the one supreme whom is the fountain of life and light.

Note: The sources for all Greek English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek Word of God (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, The Bible Hub, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

Our English phrase "put off" is the Greek word apotithémi which means "to put off, to lay aside, to remove." The root words are apo, meaning "from" or "away" and tithémi, meaning "to place" or "to put." The Greek verb apotithémi is used in the Word of God to convey the action of putting off or laying aside something, often in a figurative sense. It implies a deliberate action of removing or discarding something that is no longer needed or is considered inappropriate. This term is often used in the context of moral and spiritual transformation, where believers are encouraged to "put off" sinful behaviors and attitudes.

There are eight usages of apotithémi documented in the King James Bible. The number eight (8) in God's Word means "to make fat," "cover with fat," "to superabound." It represents the first of a new series, "over and above," or "a new beginning."

In order to "put off" things, self-control is a must. To "put off" is an action a believer must do in his or her mind to walk in fellowship with God, our Father, and His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not something you pray and ask God to do; it is something you must put off, lay aside, and renew your mind to what God's Word says for us to "put off!"

Let us search, track, and trace scriptures for the Greek word apotithémi used for our English phrase put off which means "to put off, to lay aside, to remove" from our walk in this life. We will bold this phrase for emphasis.

We will start in Acts 6:9 where we learn who the people were that stoned Stephen to death for speaking the truth of God's Word as documented in Acts 7:51-54.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Based on this understanding of who spoke out against Stephen, the first usage of the Greek word apotithemi is used in Acts 7:58. We will include verses 59-60 for context.

And cast [see Acts 6:9] him [Stephen] out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down [apotithémi] their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Remember Saul (Hebrew name) was born-again of God's Spirit and became known as the apostle Paul (Greek name). Paul was convinced that it was the Will of God for Stephen to be killed and was consenting to Stephen's death (see Romans 8:1). He was sincere but being sincere is no guarantee you are doing the truth of God's Word!

In Acts 22:20, Paul meekly acknowledged his role in Stephen's death.

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I [Paul] also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

When we stand on God's Word, we have an impact on others. Paul acknowledged the impact he had. Let's continue with verses 59-60:

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord [master] Jesus [the humble one], receive my spirit.

And he [Stephen] kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, [master] lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep [died].

The second usage of the Greek word apotithemi is used in Romans 13:12:

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off [apotithémi] the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.

We are told in this verse to cast off or apotithémi (put off, lay aside, and remove) from our walk in this life the works of darkness. We must by our free will do this in our walk of life to have fellowship with God, our Father, and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Another translation of this verse that I like is from the Good News Bible.

The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark. And let us take up weapon for fighting in the light.

The third and fourth usages of the Greek word apotithemi is used in Ephesians 4:22 and verses 24-25. Verse 22:

That ye put off [apotithémi] concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

The word former means "before or prior." The word conversation means "conduct, behavior, manner of life." The phrase old man means before a person was born-again of God's Spirit. The phrase which is corrupt means "being corrupt." And the phrase according to the deceitful lusts should literally read "according to the desires of the deceiver." With this understanding, let's re-read verse 22:

That you put off, [apotithémi] lay aside, and remove from your walk in this life concerning your prior manner of life before you were born-again, of God's Spirit which is being corrupt according to the desires of the deceiver.

Now let's look at verses 24-25 in Ephesians 4. Because the verse 25 begins with the word wherefore we must add the previous verse to understand the why of wherefore. The word wherefore indicates there is a reason, purpose, answer, or statement giving an explanation. This is why we read the previous verse.

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away [apotithémi] lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

The phrase Wherefore putting away means to lay aside and remove from your walk in this life lying. We are told very clearly to put away the lie. The word "lie" is pseudos which is transliterated into pseudo in English meaning "not genuine; spurious or sham." In our world today, lying is the norm; truth is foreign in our country. According to the Word of God, who is the father of lies? The Devil.

It is written in John 8:44:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Therefore, we are told to put away (apotithémi) the lie; literally meaning to put the Devil away. Every time we lie, we are doing the work of the devil. We are told in Ephesians 4:25 to speak every man truth! Why? For we are members one of another in the body of Christ.

Now, let's re-read verse 25 with understanding:

Wherefore putting away, lay aside and remove from your walk in this life, the devil who abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him, for he is a liar and the father of lies (see John 8:44). Speak every man truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another in the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:27).

The fifth usage of the Greek word apotithemi is used in Colossians 3:8:

But now ye also put off [apotithémi] all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We must put off, lay aside, and remove these behaviors of anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication in our minds, thoughts, and actions. It can't be any plainer, people. God is telling us how to conduct ourselves as we walk in His Word.

The next usage of apotithemi is in Hebrews 12:1. Because this verse begins with the word wherefore, we must add the previous verse, Hebrews 11:40.

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Now, we read Hebrews 12:1:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside [apotithémi] every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience [endurance] the race that is set before us.

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses as documented in Hebrews 11. They are our examples. By the witness of their believing, we can do the same magnificent works they did as we walk for God our Father. Today, these witnesses include everyone who knows and believes God's Word.

Going back to Hebrews 12:1, we are told that because we are encircled by such examples, let us lay aside [apotithémi] every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. We are clearly told to lay aside the weight and the sin. Our own actions determine the casting off from the works of darkness and the entanglements of this world. God's Word did not say pray about laying every weight, and the sin aside; it said to act and do it! And once we act, we are told to run with patience or endurance the race that is set before us. To run with endurance in this race of life which is set before us, we must be disciplined and conditioned in doing the Will of God which is the Word of God!

Let's continue with Hebrews 12:2 for context:

Looking unto Jesus [who is] the author and finisher of our faith [believing]; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Wow! We are to run the race by centering exclusively on one person - the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the author, the starter, and the finisher of our faith, our believing. What a witness! What an example for us to follow!

The seventh usage of the Greek word apotithemi is used in James 1:21. Because this verse begins with the word wherefore, we must add the previous verse James 1:20 for the why.

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Using this verse, we can better understand James 1:21:

Wherefore lay apart [apotithémi] all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

In this verse, to lay apart means "to put off." We are told to put off filthiness, (the work of evil from the least to the worst form) and subjectively receive God's Word in our five senses. In this way, we look to God's Word and desire it above all else because His Word is greater than we are. We are instructed to receive with meekness and humbleness of mind the engrafted word of God. The engrafted word is the total Word of God. The metaphor of engrafted is used as one would do in planting; a part of one plant is grafted onto another plant so that it grows stronger and is more resistant to disease. We are engrafted to God's Word; we grow with it as it becomes a part of us. It is the Word of life (see Philippians 2:16)! It is the only thing in this world which is able to save your souls (see James 1:21). By understanding the meaning in this verse, it comes alive. Wow!

The eighth usage of the Greek word apotithemi is used in 1 Peter 2:1. This verse starts with the words Wherefore which means we need to read the verse prior to understand what the wherefore (the reason, purpose, or explanation) is referencing. 1 Peter 1:25:

But the word of the Lord [master] endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Now, we can read 1 Peter 2:1:

Wherefore laying aside [apotithémi] all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking.

Because the word of the Lord or master endured forever, we are to lay aside (apotithémi) all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking. God's Word is clear on this. We are told that this is the word which by the good news of the Grace administration is preached unto you. It is a good reminder to us that as we share the Word of God with others (or it is shared with us) we are not to have malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, or evil speaking. We are to put aside or apotithémi these things.

In this month's teaching we defined the Greek word apotithemi used for the phrase "put off" which means "to put off, to lay aside, to remove." The root words apo (from or away) and tithémi (to place or to put) brings greater meaning to the word apotithemi and how it is used in God's Word. We defined the number eight which means "to make fat, cover with fat, to superabound, the first of a new series, or over and above." We searched, tracked, and traced in the scriptures the Greek word apotithemi and came to understand it means those things we must put off, lay aside, and remove from our walk in this life. We saw the word apotithemi was used eight times in God's Word.

As a reminder, apotithemi is an action the believer must do in his or her mind to walk in fellowship with God, our Father, and His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Apotithemi is not something you pray and ask God to do; YOU must put off, lay aside, and remove from your mind what God's Word says for us to put off.

We learned we are to put off:

• Anger
• Wrath
• Malice
• Blasphemy
• Filthy communication
• Filthiness
• Superfluity of naughtiness
• All malice
• All guile
• Hypocrisies
• Envies
• All evil speaking

For myself, I know this is a tall order. There are times I am quick to anger or act in malice towards someone. However, I bring to mind God's Word on this and endeavor to apotithemi or put off those things. It takes humbleness and meekness to do this and to receive reproof and re-orient my mind (and actions) back to God's Word. We exhort and encourage you to renew your mind, to put off, lay aside thoughts, and behaviors that are contrary to God's Word! It is written in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).

Casting down imaginations [reasons], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

It is written in Philippians 4:13:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [empower] me.

Father, we are grateful and thankful for your Word which tells us about your Will for our life. We pray for more boldness to practice and do your Word, for it is the Word of life. Father, we pray for more strength and courage to walk by your gift of holy spirit casting off the works of darkness and walking as children of light. We pray for the strength, humbleness, and meekness to apotithemi or put off those things as instructed. We pray that we may be one with you and your son the Lord Jesus Christ in our walk in this life. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

Return to the Top