Aliens, Strangers and Exiles

So, I’ve been called a lot of things in my life…

…alien, stranger and exile are interesting labels that got me to pause when reading I Peter 2  (Amplified) this morning (see verse 11). 

Peter implores us to conduct ourselves properly among the Gentiles (peoples of the world).  Okay.  I’ve heard the phrase “living in the world not of the world,”[1] and I have tried to do my best in this regard.  I’m also familiar with the thoughts that Christians are “strangers in this land,” “just passing through” and that “this world is not our home.”

But, this verse 11, with this description of Christians being “aliens, strangers and exiles” evoked a curiosity to look at the original Greek words[2] Paul used to see what further meaning I could discover in these interesting descriptions of, well, ME!

The Greek word used for “aliens” and “strangers” is Paroikia.  It has the following meanings:

• Sojourning
• Dwelling in a strange land or temporary residence
• Dwelling as strangers

The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says, “A stranger/foreigner who lives in a place/land without rights of citizenship.”[3]

Whoa.  I’ll get back to this.

The Greek word used for “exiles’ is Parepidemos.  It has the following meanings:

• Passing through
• One who comes from a foreign country to a country or land to reside alongside the natives
• Pilgrim
• Stranger
• Sojourning in a strange place

“A sojourner or foreigner who is passing through but still with a personal relationship with the people in that locale (close beside).  This temporary but active relationship is made necessary by circumstances.”[4]

Whoa.  I’ll get back to this, too!

Sometimes I feel totally out of place in the world.  Sometimes I get weary.  It is, at times, hard living— here in this world, and, yes, I do feel like a “foreigner or stranger in this land.”  I don’t belong here, my home is elsewhere, and therefore there is this constant rub against the grain of the world that is uncomfortable, awkward and sometimes difficult.  This weird, un-comfortableness should not surprise us.  It is all because we are temporarily living in this land without rights of citizenship. 

Rather, we share a citizenship with “God’s own people…belonging to God’s own household.” Ephesians 2:19 

Sidebar:  THIS…THIS is why it is so important to be active in a community of believers.  Don’t be alone, out there in this foreign land (the world), by yourself.  Christians were not meant to be islands.[5]  Reading on in Ephesians 2, verses 20-22, Paul reminds us that we each are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone.  Paul says, “the whole structure is joined, bound, welded together and continues to rise, grow into a holy temple…In Him, and in fellowship with one another, you, yourselves are being built up into this structure, with the rest, to form a fixed abode, dwelling place, of God.”

Though we are sojourners and foreigners just passing through, we should have “active,” “personal” relationships with the people of the locale…those “close beside” you.  I wonder what “this temporary but active relationship is made necessary by circumstances” means?  Perhaps these “relationships” are necessary to conduct business…to live harmoniously.  In order to live successfully in a foreign land, one has to work actively together with those around them to create a peaceful, safe and thriving community.  Thus, we’re back to Peter imploring us to conduct ourselves properly among the Gentiles.

A lot packed into these three words— aliens, strangers and exiles.  Though we will always feel “not at home” here and sometimes living as exiles will be uncomfortable, God instructs us to live in close, active relationship with “the locals” and in witnessing your good deeds they will “come to glorify God in the day of inspection.” I Peter 2:12

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[1] Great blog on this subject  http://www.compellingtruth.org/in-world-not-of-world.html

[2] Jamee, you would be proud!

[3] Thayer’s Greek Lexicon © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by biblesoft, Inc.

[4] HELPS Word-studies ©1987, 2011 by HELPS Ministries, Inc.

[5] Swift kick in the butt for Cindy regarding her sometimes erratic church attendance