It Starts Small

There are a lot of things that go into my study of God’s Word. Using a Strong’s Concordance, a Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew translation guide, and lots of prayer. LOTS of prayer. I also primarily use a King James 1611 Bible along with the New Living Translation and the Message translation. I use the Old King James because when it was written we had a standard in English speaking culture. They used words then that are not so popular today. When KIng James translated scripture, he used the best associated word in our language, and sometimes those words fall short or all together misunderstood in culture and society today.

peculiar.

Peculiar is one of those words that is misunderstood. The Merriam Webster defines the adjective use of peculiar as:

1. characteristic of only one person, group, or thing : DISTINCTIVE
2. different from the usual or normal:
   •  SPECIAL, PARTICULAR
     • a matter of peculiar interest
   • ODD, CURIOUS
     • It seems peculiar that she would leave town without telling anybody.
   • ECCENTRIC, UNUSUAL
     • The play had a zany plot and very peculiar characters.

Further, it gives us the noun definition of peculiar: something exempt from ordinary jurisdiction.

God’s Word on several occasions calls us to be a peculiar people. Is God calling us to be special? Odd? Eccentric? What does he mean when he say we are peculiar?

Many times we hear preachers and teachers tell us that we, as Christians, aught not conform to this world because we are to be a peculiar people. It begs the question, did Jesus die to make us odd, unusual, or eccentric? Many times those preachers and teachers put these verses together to form this idea of the modern usage of peculiar.

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9

The term in questions is The Greek term in question is periousios, which means “chosen, special.” This is why the NSAB version is translated “a people for his own possession” and the NIV translated it as, “a people that are his very own.” Today, when we say something or someone is peculiar we are saying they are odd or weird. This is very different from the original meaning of peculiar.

The modern use of the word would be telling people to be weird and odd to prove that we are holy. Being weird or odd does not bring glory to God. The original meaning of peculiar means, “more than a mere possession rather a treasure.” The word periousios constitutes a costly possession, specially chosen good, that is costly. We are a costly possession of Jesus Christ!

In 1 Peter 2:9. the word used is peripoiesis, which means, “obtaining or acquisition of, possessing, procession, or property“. Talk about a stark difference! So the NSAB phrase, “a people for God’s own possession” and the NIV translating it to be “a people belonging to God,” are the correct usages of the original word that was translated because our modern day use of peculiar has lost its original meaning. We are a possessed people. We are defiantly called to be different from the world because of our commitment to Jesus, but not called to be odd or eccentric.

Possessed. Treasured.

SO now that we have the right idea of what the word means, what does it actually mean to be possessed, a treasure to God?

If we back up to the verse above in 1 Peter 2:9 we can discover several amazing truths about who we are because Jesus is our Lord and Savior:

A chosen generation – a generation planned and ordained by God, hand-selected, and unique;

A royal priesthood – you are not just a servant, but a son of God and a member of his royal family;

A holy (dedicated), nation – set apart by God Himself;

A purchased (peculiar) people – you are His priceless, precious treasure

By the blood of Jesus we have been purchased and now we belong to God and we are treasured by Him. He bought us and is now responsible for us! Malachi explains that we are a jewel to our Heavenly Father:

¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:16-18

Often times, the word peculiar used in the Old Testament meant wealth that was being shut up of closely protected. If you own a valuable jewel, you are not going to put it on the coffee table for thieves to take. Instead, you are going to lock it away in a safe, hide that safe, and keep it protected. You do not want it to loose value by being damaged. Some things people keep are rare and expensive, but other things people treasure because of sentiment. It means something to the owner.

God is revealing HImself to us by showing our value and His sentiment to us. He reveals His character to us but the value he places in us and considers in us. God declares our value and calls us a jewel. Not only does he consider us valuable, He promises to protect, preserve and save us! We are kept and guarded by God himself.

God has declared you as valuable to Him – extremely valuable! You are God’s jewel. You are His peculiar – special – treasure. Not only are you precious to Him, but you are protected by Him as well. God has declared that He will protect you, preserve you, and save you. You are kept and guarded by God Himself!

⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Exodus 19:5

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

When we put into context the actual meaning of peculiar, we have to reason that God does not treasure or protect the disobedient. Obedience is what what causes you to become God’s treasure. When we are in obedience we are not contaminated by the world. A life out of obedience causes God’s treasure to become contaminated.

¹⁶ This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. ¹⁷ Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: ¹⁸ And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; ¹⁹ And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. Deuteronomy 26:16-19

God’s Word say we are a holy people, set apart by God and the Lord has chosen us to be a treasure unto Him above all. What makes us peculiar is that we are set apart from everyone else. Those who have found true redemption, make a deep commitment to God – His will, His ways – are set apart from everyone else. Those set apart are not bound by sin and death and they do not walk, talk, or act like people of this world. They are a holy, consecrated people by our Heavenly Father.

Have you been completely redeemed? Have you made that true decision of redemption, to lay aside yourself and return back the God what is was purchased by Jesus? Have you truly committed your life to God and allowed Him to claim you, possess you, protect you, care for you?