Greek Participles & Sanctification

The last two weeks of Greek have been tough. The material hasn't been too difficult, but I've just been really bored. I think it's because I've been so caught up in the grammar that I've not taken the step back to remember the reason why I am learning the Greek language to begin with.

While learning about present participles tonight, though, God reminded me why I'm taking Greek. One, to know his word better that I might know Christ deeper, and secondly to one day share the deep riches of His word with the church and the world around us. The following is a quote from my Greek textbook about the importance of a participle in II Corinthians 3:18. You don't have to be learning Greek to benefit from this quote, and I hope it will inspire you as it has inspired me to grow deeper in my knowledge of God's Word.

"At the heart of the Christian experience is a radical transformation from what we were by nature into what God intends us to become by grace. Nowhere is that transformation stated with greater clarity than in 2 Corinthians 3:18. And at the heart of this verse is a present participle that reveals the secret of Christian growth & maturity."

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18

"What this verse tells us is that a wonderful change is taking place in the life of the believer. Although a veil remains over the mind of the unbeliever, that veil is lifted for those who are in Christ. They are being changed into the image of Christ, from one degree of glory to the next.

The secret of divine transformation lies in the participle 'katoptrizomenoi.' It comes from a verb which originally meant "to look into a mirror." Then it came to mean "to gaze or upon" or "to contemplate." Taking the participle in the instrumental sense we read, "We all are being changed into the image of Christ by beholding the glory of the Lord."

Transformation into the likeness of Christ is the inevitable result of gazing upon his glory. We become like that which dominates our thoughts and & affections.

Note that the participle is present tense. It is a continual contemplation that effects the transformation. As the participle is present tense, so also is the finite verb "are being changed" The transformation keeps pace with the contemplation. They are inextricably bound together. By continuing to behold the glory of the Lord we are continually being transformed into his image."
-Robert H. Mounce