More Than Conquerors by Phil

On Easter Sunday the sermon was based on one of my favorite chapters in the Bible - Romans 8. I was following along in my Blue Letter Bible app*, and tapped on the phrase “more than conquerors” in verse 37. I knew from previous study that in the Greek this phrase is just one word - Hypernikao, but I’d never looked at the tense of the word. I’m not a Greek scholar, but here’s what I understand. In ancient or Biblical greek, each verb has one of four moods, three voices, three persons, and three numbers. They pack a lot of meaning in one word!

Hypernikao is actually a combination of two words - hyper which means “over, beyond, more than” and nikao which is “to conquer”. (Fun fact, the noun version of nikao is nike. Does that bring to mind any shoe brands?) As far as the tense, hypernikao is a verb that is present active indicative, first person plural. Let’s take a look at each of those and dig into some hidden Bible treasure.

1. First off, hypernikao is a verb. It is usually translated “more than conquerors,” but that is a noun. Nouns are passive, and the Christian life is anything but passive. We don’t just sit on our sofas and be “Christians,” we are called to get off our hineys and do something! We follow Christ, live out his instruction and serve others with His strength. Those are all actions. A better translation would be we “overwhelmingly conquer,” not by our own strength, but “through Him (Jesus) who loved us.” I’m already getting pumped up and we’ve barely started!!
2. Hypernikao is present tense. Not something that we have done in the past or something we will hopefully do someday - God’s power to overwhelmingly conquer is available right here and right now.
3. Hypernikao is active. We covered this in point 1, but I’m reminded of the Nike shoe slogan, “Just do it!”
4. Hypernikao is indicative. That means it is a simple statement of fact. Not a wish or a maybe, it’s a done deal. We overwhelmingly conquer through Christ, and as the old phrase says, you can take that to the bank!
5. Hypernikao is first person. This makes it personal. Paul’s not talking about Christians in general, He’s talking about you. Conquering through Christ is not something you get to do if you do enough good works or jump through the the right spiritual hoops. Jesus won the victory for you on the cross and with the empty tomb. And as we said before, this is a fact!
6. Hypernikao is plural. Paul most likely meant this statement of truth applied to himself and everyone he was writing to, but I like to think of “we” in this statement as relating to us and God. It’s a great reminder that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26 We aren’t called to overwhelmingly conquer by our own strength. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to each of us - “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” - Romans 8:11 and “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” - 1 John 4:4

Need a little more encouragement?

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. - Exodus 15:2

Christianity isn’t a spectator sport, get out there and live it. Remember, God sees you as more than a conqueror. With His strength it’s not just who you are, it’s what you do!
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Amen and amen!
Phil and Pam
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*Check out the Blue Letter Bible. It is incredibly easy to use and packed with study helps. My favorite Bible phone app by far!

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