What Is Topos?

I. EXORDIUM:

What is topos?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To define the meaning of topos.

IV. TEXT:

Acts 1:25 (Amplified Bible)

1:25 To take the place in this ministry and receive the position of an apostle, from which Judas fell away and went astray to go [where he belonged] to his own [proper] place.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for as I pay attention to You, Your light breaks through the gloom and the Morning Star rises in my heart.

2 Peter 1:19 (Amplified Bible)

1:19 And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts.

VI. TITLE:

What is topos?

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Luke, the beloved physician

B. Date written: Probably 62 A.D.

C. Purpose: To document the growth of the early church

D. To whom written: Specifically, Theophilus.

E. Main Theme: The history of the development of the early church from the Ascension of Christ to Paul's imprisonment at Rome and the opening of his ministry there.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

F. Key words: HOLY SPIRIT and the Church

G. Key verses:

Acts 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

1:8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

Acts 2:42-47 (Amplified Bible)

2:42 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.

2:43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).

2:44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;

2:45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.

2:46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,

2:47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Definitions of topos: [Sources: Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, Thayer's Greek definitions]

1. place, places, room, quarters

2. Greek definitions: a spot, location (position, home), figuratively: condition, opportunity

3. specifically: scabbard - a sheathe or placeholder for swords.

Because the WORD of GOD is Sword, so the WORD of GOD is JESUS CHRIST within us and JESUS CHRIST is on a place holder. You don't carry a sword in bare hands, it will cut you, you need a scabbard to hold it while not in use. We are not in use, because the LORD JESUS is the One being used by GOD within us.

Ephesians 6:17 (Amplified Bible)

6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Philippians 2:13 (Amplified Bible)

2:13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

Thayer Definition:

1) place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space

1a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district

1b) a place (passage) in a book

2) metaphorically

2a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly

2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting

The word "topos" has 92 occurences in the New Testament and also a common word for one of my bible college professor. It's worth a study, because it's commonly connected with Judas, one of the 12 apostles who left his office, position or place.

B. Some incidents/notable events and notable persons in the bible regarding topos: