Category Archives: Beloved

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Beloved, Bible, Romans, Scripture, Servant, Service, Slaves

ANOTHER BELOVED

ROMANS 16:8

“Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.”

Man, Paul had a lot of “beloved” people in his life. He uses that word 27 times in his letters. Did you know he was also called “beloved” by James in Acts 15:25. “‘it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,” Maybe that’s why he calls so many people “beloved.” He felt loved by others himself.

In today’s verse, we have another obscure name that appears nowhere else in Scripture. This is all we know about him. He is in Rome and Paul loves him. I did some digging and found this from one source. It seems Ampliatus was “‘a common Roman slave name’. Sanday and Headlam give inscriptions from the cemetery of Domitilla, which make it probable that a person of this name was conspicuous in the earliest Roman Church, and may have been the means of introducing Christianity to a great Roman house.” Isn’t that interesting? It is amazing to me how other historical evidence continues to confirm Scripture.

APPLICATION

Okay, you are probably asking yourself, “How can Carl apply this verse to our lives?” Let’s see. For one, we know that Ampliatus was important enough in Paul’s life for him to be mentioned in this letter. Remember, these letters were almost always read aloud to the church or person who received them. I bet Ampliatus was present the day this letter was read. Can you imagine how he felt hearing his name in this letter? He probably felt humbled and honored. We can do that for others. We can honor those we love by sending them notes of encouragement.

Secondly, if the historical record is true, Ampliatus had a great impact on a prominent Roman house. This meant as a slave in that household he exhibited Christlike traits and spoke respectfully to his masters, thus winning some, if not all, to the faith. You may have a neighbor or boss who is not a believer. Don’t underestimate your influence in their lives. If a Roman slave could lead his master’s family to Christ, you can sure witness to someone around.

Finally, remember it is God whom we are pleasing, not man. Ampliatus was simply doing what he felt the Lord told him to do. He had certainly been of service to Paul at some point in his life. That’s why Paul called him “beloved.” We can serve others, too. But don’t expect to be called “beloved.” Lol. Maybe they will thank you or maybe not. The words of Colossians 3:23-24 remind us our duty. “23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Father, make me as faithful as Ampliatus. Let me not look for the accolades of men but only Yours.  

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Beloved, Bible, Love, Ministry, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

MY BELOVED

ROMANS 16:5b

“Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.”

Do you have anyone who calls you “beloved”? That’s not a term we use a lot in the U.S., but when it is used it draws your attention. I have an acquaintance who has regularly used that term when she was talking to her followers. Because I know this person, I know that her “term of endearment” was genuine. She really loves those who follow her ministry and read her books.

Why did Paul call Epaenetus “beloved”? This is the only time in the entire New Testament when his name is referred to. He is only described as Paul’s first convert in Asia. He obviously lives in Rome at the time of the writing of this letter. I wonder if he was still there and was able to see Paul when he arrived. Wouldn’t that have been a grand reunion? They had certainly kept in touch since Paul knew he was in Rome. But why is he “beloved”?

APPLICATION

The word “beloved” is the Greek word agapétos which comes from agape. We all know that as God’s kind of love, right. K. Wuest describes it as “divinely-loved-ones.” That is a good description. A beloved person may not be the easiest person in the world to love, but they are someone you love because of the love of Christ that is in you and them. That makes them beloved.

So, why was Epaenetus so loved by Paul? The Topical Lexicon may lend some reasons. It says, “1. God often begins great movements through one receptive heart. 2. Early believers carry a stewardship to model faithfulness for those who follow. 3. Personal affection and recognition within the body, as Paul shows toward Epaenetus, nurture perseverance and unity.” Epaenetus’ conversion may have started the movement in Asia. We don’t that for sure, but we can speculate he had influence there.

Who calls you beloved? You can count on one person – the Lord Jesus Christ. Even He was called “beloved” by His Father. In Matthew 3:17 we see these words, “and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” God looks down on you right now from heaven and declares you beloved. Never forget that. Now, see who you can call beloved on His behalf.

Thank You, Lord, for calling me as one of Your beloved saints.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Beloved, Bible, Enemies, Forgiveness, Gospel, Promises, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

ENEMIES AND BELOVED?

ROMANS 11:28

“In relation to the gospel they are enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved on account of the fathers;”

How is it possible to love your enemy? It isn’t possible on our own. But you have read where Jesus tells us to do just that. In Matthew 5:43-45, we read His instructions He gave the people during the Sermon on the Mount. “43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.” 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.’”

Paul had undoubtedly heard these words spoken by Jesus, either through word of mouth or perhaps he was present in the crowd listening in (this is pure conjecture on my part). But He also knew of God’s election of the Jewish nation and how much God loved them. Let’s take a look a look at the two words used to describe them in today’s verse – “enemies” and “beloved.”

APPLICATION

The word used by Paul here which is translated “enemies” is exthrós, which HELPS Word-studies describes as “someone openly hostile (at enmity), animated by deep-seated hatred. Exthros implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a ‘personal’ hatred bent on inflicting harm (DNTT).” This word is used to describe Satan and his demonic army of fallen angels who are bent on our destruction. That’s a pretty strong word to describe the unbelieving Jews. But this was referring to their actions toward the believing Gentiles. Paul knew this all too well. Remember he was on the way to Damascus to arrest and even perhaps kill followers of Christ when he met Jesus face to face.

The other word Paul uses is “beloved.” That’s the Greek word agapétos which is used to describe God’s relationship with the Jewish nation. No matter what they did, God still loved them. The Topical Lexicon says it this way. “Divine affection is not merely sentimental; it describes the covenantal bond established by the blood of Christ.” Christ’s blood was shed for the Jewish nation, even though many of them rejected it. God was still in covenant with them and sought to redeem them.

We have a choice today. We can be enemies of the cross or God’s beloved. Which do you prefer? One holds certain judgment and damnation while the other promises eternal security and living in the presence of the Lord. One invites struggles and hardship while the other gives us the power to face life’s uncertainties knowing the One Who can calm any storm. 1 John 4:7 tells us, “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Father, I am grateful that I am one of Your beloveds. You love me with an everlasting love. 

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Beloved, Bible, Calvary, Covenant, Love, Scripture

BELOVED OF GOD

ROMANS 1:7

“to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Okay, be honest. Have you ever called someone “your beloved”? It’s not a word we throw around a lot. I mean, we know what it means, and we probably have people we would consider our beloveds, but we just don’t go around saying that. It sounds so biblical, doesn’t it? Well, it is. Let’s take a look.

In today’s verse, Paul uses the Greek word for “beloved” which is used over 60 times in the New Testament. I love what the Topical Lexicon said about this word. “The church lives, serves, suffers, and hopes as the ‘beloved of God.’” Yep, that’s us, isn’t it? We are His beloved. It’s an intimate word. It comes from the word used by God when He says He loves us (John 3:16). It’s a deep, personal love for another.

APPLICATION

In Matthew 3:17 we read, “…and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” God used the same word to describe His Son. This belovedness (yes, I just made that word up) began in the Trinity and was passed down to us so that we can pass it on to others. It’s not a thing to hold tightly. The more you share this belovedness, the more it grows.

We see this same word used by the half-brother of Jesus in Jude 3. “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.” In many of the New Testament books “beloved” is used to attract the reader’s attention before giving a command or a warning.

So, look around, beloved. Who are your beloveds? To whom can you show the kind of love God showed to you on Calvary? You have this love in you as His beloved. He expects you to treat others the same. I dare you next Sunday to go up to someone at church and greet them by saying, “Hello, beloved. So good to see you.” You may get a strange look from them. Then tell them why you said it. You may both leave feeling more beloved.

Father, I know I am Your beloved. Help me love others the same.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Beloved, Bible, Scripture, Servant, Service, Trust

A TRUSTED BROTHER

COLOSSIANS 4:7

“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.”

Do you have someone in your life with whom you could entrust information of high importance? Maybe you have appointed someone to be the executor of your will or to oversee your financial affairs. Maybe you are that person for someone else. People in those positions have earned that trust through how they have proved themselves and by their character. We should all strive to be that kind of person.

Paul had such a person – Tychicus. Not much is known about him except he was from the region of Ephesus and delivered the letter from Paul to Colossae. We are not told when he came to Christ or what became of him. Paul did consider him to succeed Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12). Paul had great trust in Tychicus. He is mentioned in Acts, Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Timothy and Titus. I bet Paul and he had a great reunion the day Titus arrived in heaven.

APPLICATION

In Acts 20:4, Tychicus is named among a number of men who accompanied Paul went he left Greece. “And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.” Do you think for a second that Tychicus thought his name would be recorded in God’s Word for us to read about? I don’t think so. He was just serving Paul.

In the last letter written by Paul, he mentions Tychicus once again. 2 Timothy 4:12 says, “But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.” He was probably delivering another letter to the church which we don’t have. When Paul wrote 2 Timothy, he was in his last days in a Roman prison. He trusted one of his most trustworthy servants to go to Ephesus, a place Paul dearly loved.

How can you be a Tychicus? Whom can you serve that way? Husbands, how about your wife and children? Wives, how about your husbands and children? Deacon, how about your Pastor? We all have someone to whom we can show that kind of service. Do it today.

Father, make me like Tychicus, an unfailing servant of others.

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Affection, Beloved, Bible, Chosen, Compassion, Favor, Godliness, Intimacy, Love, Relationships, Scripture

BELOVED

EPHESIANS 1:6

“to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.”

To call someone “my beloved” implies a deep, personal, intimate relationship. My wife is my beloved. My children and grandchildren are my beloved. The fellow down the street whom I hardly know is not. He cannot be the object of my love since I do not know him. As we go through this verse today, think about your beloved(s).

Paul uses a title which has been given to Jesus by the Father. Elliott’s Commentary explains the word, “Beloved,” this way,
“This special title is given to our Lord to mark a connection with the ‘love’ declared in the last verse (verse 5) to be the source of God’s predestination. It is a love to all mankind, as in God’s foreknowledge already made one with His beloved Son.” Jesus is God’s Beloved. He is the recipient of His love.

APPLICATION

Let me get technical for a second. “Beloved” is the dative passive participle of agapao, which is God’s divine love. The dative case means someone is the recipient of the action of the verb. In this case, Jesus is the recipient of God’s agape love, His divine love.

Have you ever wondered why the apostle John uses that word, “beloved,” so much in his writings. Just to show a few:

1 John 3:2 – “Beloved, now we are children of God…”

1 John 3:21 – “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us,…”

3 John 1:2 – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper…”

We are told in John 13:23, “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” Look at that. John was the recipient of Jesus’ love. He was Jesus’ beloved friend and confidant. He was the one to whom He entrusted his mother at the cross. You have to be close to do that. So, John knew something about being called “beloved.”

You are God’s beloved child. He cares for you. He knows you better than anyone. He longs to hear from you. He cherishes each moment you spend with Him. You are His beloved! So, live like it. Love others. Make them your beloved. Treat them like your beloved. You can through His love.

I am so blessed to know that I am Your beloved, my God and my Redeemer.

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