Worship
The term “worship” is translated from several
different Greek words in our English translations. For example, when
Jesus is quoted in John 4:24 as saying, “God is Spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” the Greek word for
“worship” is PROSKUNEO. Vine’s defines this as, “to make obeisance, do
reverence to (from pros, towards, and kuneo, to kiss), is the most
frequent word rendered to worship.”
When Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their “vain worship” in
Matthew 15:9 the word used is SEBOMAI meaning, “to revere, stressing the
feeling of awe or devotion…”
Philippians 3:3 is translated “worship” from the Greek word
LATRUEO meaning, “to serve, to render religious service or homage…”
In addition, the ignorant worship Paul exposed in Athens comes from the
Greek term EUSEBEO meaning, “to act piously towards…”
In each definition, various traits of the worshipper are revealed as we
understand more of what it is to “worship.” Clearly, it is not something
done to us, but an act we offer to God. Are these attitudes apparent as
you gather to “worship” God?
May 2006