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Follow After

Romans 14:19
   Let us therefore follow after [dioko] the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

    The Greek word translated "follow after" in this verse is the word "dioko."  Dioko is used 44 times in the New Testament and is translated as follows:
 

Persecuted 13 times      The Greek word "dioko" means
"to pursue after with great zeal
as if chasing a fleeing enemy."
Persecute 8 times
Follow 7 times
Persecutest 6 times
Suffer Persecution  3 times
Followed 2 times
Given 1 time
Follow After 1 time
Persecuting 1 time
Press 1 time
Ensue 1 time
Matthew 10:23
   But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Acts 22:3b-4
   . . . and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
   And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Acts 26:11
   And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceeding mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Philippians 3:6
   Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

   The majority of the uses of the word "dioko" in the Word of God are regarding this zealous pursuit of a fleeing enemy.  However, this word is also used in a positive light regarding some of the things that we as believers are to pursue with the same zeal that the Apostle Paul had when he persecuted the church.

Romans 14:19
   Let us therefore follow after [dioko] the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

   We are to pursue with great zeal the things which make for peace and edification in the body of Christ.  This verse is set in the context of not putting a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in a brother's way.  We are to walk in the love of God one toward another in the body of Christ and we are to (with great zeal) pursue peace and edification of one another.

2 Timothy 2:22
   Flee also youthful lusts: but follow [dioko] righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

   Together with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, we are to zealously pursue righteousness.  God has already made us righteous in Christ Jesus.  Now, we run together in pursuit of a walk that is right before God.   Faith is believing.  Together we are to zealously pursue a walk of believing God and His Word.  Charity is the love of God in manifestation one toward another.  Together with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart we are to zealously pursue demonstration of the love of God one toward another.  And, as we saw in Romans 14:19, we are to follow after peace in the body of Christ.  We pursue these things together as one body in Christ.

Hebrews 12:14
   Follow [dioko] peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

   We are to pursue with great zeal peace and holiness.  Both peace and holiness have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  We have peace with God.  We are holy because He has placed His gift of holy spirit in us.  Now, we are to pursue peace and holiness for all.  We are to walk in peace and holiness one toward another and we are to bring others to a knowledge of the peace and holiness available in Christ so that they also may "see the Lord."

1 Peter 3:8-11
   Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
   Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
   For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
   Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue [dioko] it.

   Within the body of Christ we are to zealously pursue peace.  We are to be of one mind (have the same thoughts one toward another.)  We are to love like brothers and sisters.  We are to have compassion one of another.  We are to turn away from evil and evil speaking.  We are to bless one another, love life, do good, and zealously pursue peace within the body of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
   See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow [dioko] that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

   We are to zealously pursue that which is good, both among ourselves and to all.  We do not render evil for evil.  Rather, we zealously pursue that which is good.  God is good.  His Word is good.  This is the focus of our walk and our witness.

Romans 12:13
   Distributing to the necessity of saints; given [dioko] to hospitality.

   We are to zealously pursue hospitality.  The Greek word translated hospitality (philonexia) means "to be fond of guests."  Within the body of Christ we are to take care of the needs of one another.  We are to distribute to the necessity of the saints.  We give of our abundance to take care of the needs of the believers.  We are to zealously pursue a fondness for guests.  We run to serve the needs in the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:1a
   Follow after [dioko] charity, and desire spiritual gifts, . . .

   This verse is set in the context of utilization of the manifestations of holy spirit in the church.  We are to zealously pursue the love of God in action in the church and desire spiritual things to edify one another in the body of Christ.

1 Timothy 6:11
   But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after [dioko] righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

   Timothy was told to flee covetousness for "the love of money is the root of all evil."  There is nothing wrong with money in itself.  But to love being rich and pursue a love of money will cause error because you have placed the focus of your life on material things rather than on God.  We are to run away from such desires and zealously pursue after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.  The focus of our pursuit must be God and His Word.  We are to pursue a life that is right before God.  We are to pursue a spiritual relationship (godliness.)  We are to pursue belief of God's Word.  We are to pursue demonstration of the love of God.  We are to pursue patience which is a continual faithfulness to do God's Word day by day as we anticipate the return of Christ.  We are to pursue meekness which is humility to God and His Word.

Philippians 3:12-14
   Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after [dioko], if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
   I press [dioko] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

   Spiritually we received perfection in Christ Jesus when we believed Romans 10:9-10.  We are now to zealously pursue, in our walk, the perfection of God in Christ Jesus.  We know that we will not reach this goal until Christ returns.  Yet, with all zeal we are to put behind us the things of the past, the old man nature, and pursue the great prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


Cortright Fellowship
URL http://www.cortright.org/pursue.htm
© Copyright November 2001 Michael Cortright