Pursue

Greek Word Pronunciation: di-OH-ko
Strong’s Number: 1377
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 1503
Key Verse: “Always seek after that which is good for one another." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:15

The verb, dioko, in classical Greek, was used for an animal pursuing its prey. Its basic meaning is to run after, follow, drive away, or persecute, frequently with the intention of doing harm. In the New Testament, the noun form, persecution, is used 10 times. The verb form appears approximately 45 times, and out of those, 14 are of a non-hostile usage. The majority of these times, the word is a command and in present tense, indicating ongoing zealous pursuit of activities in Christian faith. The NIV and NASB have a variety of translations, whereas the KJV routinely translates this word as follow.

In Luke 17:23, Jesus warned his disciples not to run after the false teachers that were to come. In 1 Peter 3:11, Peter quotes Psalm 34:14, “the one who desires life, must seek peace and pursue it.” In Hebrews 12:14, we are to urgently exhorted to pursue peace and sanctification. This was a favorite word of Paul to denote the pursuit of moral and spiritual ends. In Romans 9:30, 31, the reference is to Gentiles not pursuing righteousness, while Israel did pursue righteousness. In Romans 12:13,14, “practising (given to) hospitality,” the believers were to pursue hospitality with the same earnestness as their enemies pursued them. In Romans 14:19, we are to “pursue the things which make for peace” in the body of Christ, as opposed to pursuing things that cause quarrels. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, believers are exhorted to “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts.” In Philippians 3:12-14, twice Paul uses the verb, translated as “press on.” It is the image of a Greek runner streaking down the race course, keeping up the chase, pressing on toward a fixed goal. In both 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 2:22, righteousness is to be pursued, as well as godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

In 1 THESSALONIANS 5:15, we are exhorted to always seek that which is good for one another." This is the focus of our walk and our witness. Robert L. Thomas writes, “dioko is immeasurably more than half-hearted effort. It is eager expenditure of all one’s energies in doing good. Christians must endeavor diligently to produce what is intrinsically beneficial to others.”