Paul writing to Titus in Titus 2:14 said this, “Who gave Himself (Jesus Christ) for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity. and purify unto Himself a PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS”. The New King James Version has, A SPECIAL PEOPLE.” Both translations obscure the original meaning. Some assume that the word peculiar intimates some strange or oddball people. This is not at all what is intended. The word is translated from a Greek word which is actually made up of two words, one, which means “around” as a circle, the other which means, “to be.” Putting them together “to be around” we have the sense of the text. Those people that Christ gave Himself for that He redeemed and purified, is an “encircled people.” In the Psalms David shows that he understands this when he says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” He speaks also of the Lord having hedged or enclosed him, being “behind and before” him, and on his right hand and his left hand. The original word, which is literally “to be around” can be understood as a circle is around a dot. As that circle is around the dot so God is around His saints. They are His own special and private possession, HIS PECULIAR TREASURE. He has reserved them for Himself. In I Thessalonians, 1:1 we are enabled to see the idea, “The Church of the Thessalonians in God.” The Greek case is locative of sphere. The Church of the Thessalonians is in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God and surrounded by Him. We see this also in the case of Job in the Old Testament. Satan complained to God that He could not get to the old patriarch because God had Job “hedged around.” What a position to be in! To be surrounded by the Sovereign God, to be preserved and protected by Him who governs all things, whether in heaven, earth, or hell! What a high privilege. To be inside the circle means that nothing outside the circle can enter the circle without God’s permission. God only permits this for the good of His people and His glory. In other words He sanctifies adversity or affliction in the life of a child of God to that child’s greater spiritual good and God’s greater glory. Of this Mr. Gill says, “All mankind are filthy and unclean by nature, in all the powers and faculties of their souls; nor can they cleanse themselves from their impurity of flesh and spirit, by anything that they can do: Christ has a peculiar people among these, A CHURCH whom He loves, and for whom He has given himself, that he might sanctify and cleanse them from their sins; which He has done by shedding His blood for them, and washing them in it, which cleanses from all sin, and He has purified them unto Himself, for His own use and service, for His pleasure and delight, and to His glory.
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