Hello Mike!

I was thinking a lot about admonition’s meaning. I’m a bit confused because some dictionaries and Greek commentaries define differently the meaning of admonition.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition (G3559), upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Dictionaries say: calling attention, warning, caution, reproof, rebuke, counsel, etc.

Strong & Thayer in G3559: calling attention, mild rebuke, warning, and exhortation.

Also it said “A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G3563 and a derivative G5087

G3563: Mind, understanding, in thought, feeling, purpose, and desires.
G5087: To set, put, place, to put down, to set on, establish, and ordain.

I’m lost. I don’t really understand the meaning of admonition “…happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition (reproof, warning, attention, or ?),…”

It is very amazing, but I have understood your letters (articles and FAQ) since 2005! If you really understand what is admonition’s meaning in 1Co 10:11, I would be very appreciate to hear from you.

Your brother in Christ,

B____

Hi B_____,

It is always good to hear from you and to know you are still being edified by what you are reading.

Thank you for your question concerning the meaning of the word admonition in this verse of scripture:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

“The ends of the world” should be translated “the ends of the ages”, and that “ends of the ages” is the day of judgment which is the lake of fire where death is at last destroyed:

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

This is the destruction of death:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

When we are told in 1Co 10:11 that everything that happened to Israel “happened to them for ensamples [Greek: tupos, types of us] and they are written for our admonition…” what we are being told is that the entire history and economy of the peoples of the Old Testament was really all lived out and it was all written down for the sakes first of us as God’s elect.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Then, after we have been given the redemption of the purchased possession, we will be used of God as the channel for the salvation of all men of all time:

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

“All things are for your sakes… that through your mercy… He might have mercy upon all”. That is God’s formula, which He is in the process of working out. Everything that happened to ancient Israel happened to them, and it was written “for our sakes”, so we would know to repent of being as those people were. Notice that I did not say ‘So we would know not to be like those people’, rather I said “So we would know to repent of being as those people were”.

I hope this all helps you to see that those people in ancient Israel were “ensamples of us”; they were “tupos” of us; they were types of us in our own rebellious and carnal minds. But being able to see what God did to the rebellious and carnal Israelites admonishes us to repent and to submit ourselves to Him and to His fiery judgments, which are typified by how He dealt with Israel’s rebellions in the wilderness. By seeing how God punished ancient Israel for building that golden calf, for questioning His choice of Moses instead of Aaron, and Moses and Aaron instead of Korah, and Dathan and Abiram, and all of the other rebellions of Israel, you and I are admonished to repent of those sins in our own lives and to submit to our heavenly Father and to His Son Jesus Christ.

That is the purpose for admonition.

Your brother in the Christ,

Mike