4.3 Symmorphos
© 2015 Christ Revealed Bible Institute
There are a handful of Greek words that have grown very large to me in importance to my life and knowledge of God. Of these, symmorphos is without question the most important and the most precious.
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Ekonosen |
Symmorphos |
Enduo |
Pheron (panta) |
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To be called out of emptiness |
to be conformed |
to put on |
to bear all |
Many Greek words have become English words – horizon, vision, pathos, hubris, telescope, even morph. I would like it very much if my use of these words was the beginning of their entrance directly into English as well.
Paul’s Invention
Two of these words were invented entirely by Paul and used only by him in the human experience: symmorphos and ekonosen. Let me explain. Many words are made by tacking together two word parts already known. For instance, the Greek “tele” was tacked together with the Latin “vision” to create a new English word. “Audio” is also a Latin word in English. If I said, “Teleaudio,” you would know that it is not a word, yet it would carry some sort of meaning. However, you would not necessarily think of “radio.” By combining two known Greek word parts “sym” and “morphos” together, Paul invented a word that had not been used before.
Paul’s Purpose
Why did Paul do that?
You will notice that both of those word parts actually did enter English with much the same meanings that they held in Greek. Sym – together with (sympathy – sharing sorrow together with) and morphos – form (morphology – the study of word forms). But Paul had already used a similar already invented Greek word for the same context when he wrote 2 Corinthians a few years earlier – metamorphosis – transformed into the same image. Why did Paul bypass the word “metamorphosis” when he wrote the most important chapter of his career, reaching instead to invent a word never before used?
Transformed - Conformed
Paul went on to use his invented word twice more as he wrote to the Philippian church during his years in prison.
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Symmorphos image.
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Symmorphos death.
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Symmorphos body.
Meta-morphosis is translated “transformed,” or from one form to another form. We understand it as God means it in the application of that word to the form of a caterpillar becoming the form of a butterfly. Look at the two forms. Unless you knew already, you would never surmise that the butterfly was once a caterpillar. Sym – morphos is translated “conformed.” At its root, conformed means “to make like.”
Paul’s Meaning
I am convinced that neither the definitions given by the authorities on Greek nor the applicable definitions of the English word “conform” convey to us what Paul meant to convey as he brought that word out of his heart at the critical moment. And I am convinced that the Spirit of God in whom Paul travailed meant far more in that word than Paul ever knew. Paul placed the word “symmorphos” at the center and heart of his gospel. I am convinced that we know symmorphos only out from all the context clues defining Paul’s gospel. We know symmorphos only out from Jesus alive in our hearts.
Increase Forever
Everything I have written on our precious union with Christ has increased my knowledge of what symmorphos means. Every paragraph in which I have attempted, in tears, to grasp the meaning of a Man rising to His feet in Gethsemane has served to increase symmorphos in my comprehension. Every time I have shouted the loudest words in the universe, Here am I, I and the children whom You have given Me, symmorphos has grown in my heart. Every lesson in this course, really has only one purpose, not to cause you to know what symmorphos means as an idea, but to know symmorphos as the substance and fabric, the meaning and reality of your life.
I Cannot
Although image tells us something about symmorphos, symmorphos itself is the purpose of our existence and the desire of our hearts. Transformed (and conformed as we have known it) means that right now I am in one form, me, Daniel Yordy, and that, through a process, God will make me into another form, the image of Christ Jesus.
If this were all the truth there is, then we would be, of all people, without hope. I cannot become like Jesus, not even with God’s help. I cannot become like Jesus. I cannot.
The MOST Precious
Jesus first becomes me. Jesus comes into union with me.
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Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same . . . Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren. . . (Hebrews 2:14-17).
Did Jesus become flesh for external purposes only, something back then, something no more?
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Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain (John 12:24).
Formed Together
We could never become like Jesus except Jesus first becomes us. And thus I have defined symmorphos in this way.
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Symmorphos: formed together with, having the same form, being fashioned together.
“Synchrony” does not mean one time becoming another; it means two things sharing the same time. “Sympathy” does not mean one feeling becoming another feeling; it means two people sharing the same feeling.
Symmorphos does not mean me, now one thing, becoming some other form, it means two people, Jesus and I, becoming one form. It means utterly braided together.
Braided Together
Being conformed to His death (Philippians 3:10).
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Symmorphos death – Jesus and I ALREADY and utterly braided together in the same one death.
Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21).
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Symmorphos body – Jesus and I utterly braided together in the same one physical body.
Conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).
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Symmorphos image – Jesus and I utterly braided together in the same revelation of the Father.
Formed together, Jesus first with me and me then with Jesus.
Christ Personal As Us
We know Christ personally as us and we personally as Christ only through our faith. Symmorphos cannot be by human achievement, but only by believing Jesus already true, already complete. But we must express Christ personal by the speaking of our mouths. Thus, in all things, I make Christ personal to me. I say “Jesus with ME and ME with Jesus, braided utterly together.” Yet as you read those words, always, ALWAYS, speak them as yourself. It is you the Father wants to merge together with His Son.
By Faith Alone
I do not find any immediate purpose in inserting the dictionary definitions of “symmorphos” and “conform.” No intellectual definition, no human reason, can ever cause us to know symmorphos. Symmorphos is known only inside the intimacy of union, the communion you share with Jesus alive and real in your heart.
Your job is to know Him in you. His job is to reveal the Father through you. Jesus is very good at what He does. Wrap yourself utterly with Him – by faith alone. He has already come into union with you.