New Testament Words Explained: Psalms - Rest

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Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs.
These occur in Eph. 5:1919Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19) and Col. 3:1616Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16), but although they have here each only one corresponding Greek word, still it may be well briefly to point out the essential difference between them. Psalmos meant primarily to touch, then to touch a harp, then the harp itself, and finally it came to mean the song that was sung with the music. In the above passages the Psalms no doubt are those of David, Asaph etc., contained in the Old Testament. Humnos (hymn) originally was always in praise of God, never being merely descriptive or occupied with complaint or lamentation, as a Psalm, but always full of praise. The early Fathers taught that there were three essentials to a hymn, which we would do well to remember. First, it must be sung, Second, it must be praise, Third, it must be to God. We find hymns, in Luke 1:46-55; 68-7946And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (Luke 1:46‑55); Acts 4:24; 16:2524And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (Acts 4:24)
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25). Odee (Spiritual Song) was originally a song used on a festive occasion, as for example at harvest time, after battle, etc. It is a freer composition than a hymn, and the meaning is well represented by the word used.
Remission.
The general word used for this is aphesis, but in Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25) however, we find another word paresis, which means not a remission of sins or a putting them away, but a praetermission, or a putting them by, which was the case with the sins of Old Testament saints until by the sacrifice of Christ their sins were put away. Since the death of Christ the word aphesis and not paresis is applied to us.
Rebuke.
Two Greek words are thus translated, epitimao meaning simply to rebuke, and elencho to rebuke and convict or convince, that is, to bring the rebuke home to the person. Jesus was rebuked by Peter (Matt. 16:2222Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. (Matthew 16:22)), and one thief rebuked (same word) the other at the cross (Luke 23:4040But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (Luke 23:40)), but elencho is used in John 8:4646Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (John 8:46), " which of you convinceth me of sin?" also in John 16:88And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8), " He (the Comforter) will reprove (convict, R.V.) the world of sin," etc. It is also used in John 3:20;8. 9.
Repent.
Metanoeo, one of the two words thus translated, means literally " to know after; " this after knowledge came to mean a " change of mind" for a second thought often differs from a first. It then implied regret, and lastly a change of conduct arising from the change of mind. But outside Scripture all this might be for evil equally as well as for good,-thus a murderer who spares a child, but afterward goes back to kill it, is said to repent in this sense. In Scripture, however, metanoeo always means a change of mind for the better. Metamelomai (Matt. 27:33Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3); Heb. 7:2121(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (Hebrews 7:21) etc.), while it may be used in the same sense as metanoeo, literally means an " after care," and hence a repentance often arising more from a dread of consequences than from a real inward change of mind.
Rest.
The two Greek words both translated "rest" are not exactly alike in meaning. The one anapausis means "ceasing from labor" and is the word used most appropriately by the Lord in Matt. 11:28, 2928Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28‑29). Paul on the contrary, as in 2 Thess. 1:77And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7), uses the other word anesis, which has the force literally of relaxation, that is, the loosing of cords of endurance.