Zealous (2207) (zelotes from zeo = to boil, be hot or glow) describes one zealous (fervent and enthusiastically devoted) for or eagerly desirous of something. A zelotes is one who is earnestly committed to a side or cause and thus could be described as an enthusiast, an adherent, or a loyalist. Zelotes - 8 times in the NT - Lk. 6:15; Acts 1:13; 21:20; 22:3; 1 Co. 14:12; Gal. 1:14; Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 3:13 Some have accused their brethren of being too zealous, and there may be some truth in their accusations but as Brother Andrew said It's easier to cool down a fanatic than warm up a corpse. Secular Greek writers used zelotes to describe an emulator, admirer, imitator or follower of anyone. Zelotes in other New Testament (not counting the two uses as a proper noun "Zealot") is used to describe those who are "zealous for the Law" (Acts 21:20), "zealous for God" (a Jew with great concern for the Mosaic law) (Acts 22:3), "zealous of spiritual gifts" (1Co 14:12), "zealous for... ancestral traditions" (Ga 1:14) and "zealous for what is good" (1Pe 3:13-note) From these uses you can observe that one can be zealous in a negative or in a positive sense. As Thomas Brooks explains "Zeal is like fire; in the chimney it is one of the best servants, but out of the chimney it is one of the worst masters." John Calvin adds that "Zeal without doctrine is like a sword in the hand of a lunatic." Zelotes was used twice as a proper noun. One of Jesus' apostles was "Simon who was called the Zealot (zelotes)" (Luke 6:13), which described a fanatically patriotic Jewish group in Palestine who wanted to be independent of Rome. The Zealots were the fanatical patriots, who were pledged to liberate their native land by every possible means, and after the example of Phinehas (who was called "jealous" = "zealous" in Nu 25:11, 12, 13) were even prepared to take their lives in their hands, to sacrifice ease and comfort, home and loved ones, in their passionate love for their country. From the time of the Maccabees (105-63 B. C.) the Zealots rigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and even resorted to violence after the example of Phinehas (Nu 25:11, 12, 13) in order to prevent their Jewish from being violated. Neither God nor humans are cold, unfeeling beings. Persons have emotions as well as intellect and will, and often these emotions are strong. To be zealous describes one of the stronger emotions. Zelotes describes one who is one stirred to action by a strong emotion. Zeal thus describes an intense emotion which compels one to action. One who is zealous manifests an energetic, unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause, in this case "good deeds". We are to be eagerly desirous to perform good deeds, veritable "zealots (albeit Spirit-controlled) for good works." Am I Spirit controlled "zealot" for Jesus? Or are the embers of my heart just barely glowing? Am I abandoned to God, consecrated to God, passionate for God, wholeheartedly for God, etc? Not all Christians have great mental powers, or are extrovert personalities, but all should be zealous. - Timothy G. Alford It is better to wear out than to rust out. - Richard Cumberland Paul had a good antidote for "low glow embers" speaking directly to Timothy but applicable to all believers: I remind you to kindle afresh (continually keep fanning it full flame) the (charisma = spiritual) gift of God which is in you... (see notes 2Ti 1:5; 1:6) When we think of the zeal of men for sports, politics, and business, we should be provoked to godly jealousy and inspired to good deeds. It's amazing how zealous some false religious zealots can be in regard to a lie, while true believers languish in a state of apathy even though they possess the absolute Truth. As John Wesley once wrote... Get on fire for God and men will come and see you burn. Zelotes is used 6 times in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew word qanna' (7067) and every use of zelotes is a description of Jehovah! In each of these OT uses, zelotes translates the Hebrew word for "jealousy" and thus portrays a very strong emotion, a passionate desire. Below are some of these OT uses: Exodus 20:5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous (zelotes) God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me" Comment: Jealousy in marriage is an image used in the OT to describe the relationship between God and His covenant people (see Isa 54:5, Je 31:32, cp Je 2:2; Hos 2:19 - all referring to God's "wife" Israel), paralleling the relationship between husband and wife. Here in giving the Mosaic Law [the "10 Commandments"], Jehovah announced to Israel that they must remain faithful and committed to Him and not turn to idolatry, often equated in the OT with marital unfaithfulness. The idea was that God was Israel's "Husband" and Israel was viewed as His "wife" and therefore His jealousy was founded upon their "marital relationship". God's "jealousy" thus communicates the fierce intensity of His commitment to His people, even when they turn from Him. They may be unfaithful but He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself. Thus While the anger of God is an expression of God's jealous wrath, the acts of judgment recorded in the OT continue to be for the ultimate benefit of His "wife" Israel who must be brought back to a right relationship with Him if they are to experience blessing. Exodus 34:14 -- Jehovah says to Israel "you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous (uses the related adjective zelotos), is a jealous (zelotes) God" Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Nahum 1:2 A jealous (Hebrew word = qanno') and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. Spurgeon writes... See what Christ died for, see what Christ lives for, see what we are to live for,-that we should not only be a people purified, but purified unto Himself. We are not only to have good works, but we are to be zealous of them; we are to burn with zeal for them, for zeal is a kind of fire, it is to burn and blaze in us until we warm and enlighten others also....As well a chariot without its steeds, a sun without its beams, a heaven without its joy, as a man of God without zeal...If by excessive zeal we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master's service, then glory to God, we shall have so much less of earth and so much more of heaven. William MacDonald who spoke passionately about what defines a true disciple of Christ put it well when he said... A disciple can be forgiven if he does not have great mental ability. He can be forgiven also if he does not display outstanding physical prowess. But no disciple can be excused if he does not have zeal. If his heart is not aflame with a red-hot passion for the Saviour, he stands condemned... The disgrace of the church in the twentieth century is that more zeal is evident among Communists and cultists than among Christians. The fiery bishop from yesteryear J C Ryle gives a similar challenge... A zealous man in religion is a man of one thing. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God...A zealous Saviour ought to have zealous disciples. Lord give us men like Count Nicolas von Zinzendorf who lived what he said when he declared... I have one passion only: It is he! It is he! John Piper asks a question that we should all seriously ponder... If you dropped dead right now, would you take with you a payload of pleasure in God or would you stand before him with a spiritual cavity where covetousness used to be? (Piper, John. Future Grace) As an aside you might also consider (if you dare) reading Dr Piper's book entitled Don't Waste Your Life Is God stirring your heart to be zealous for Him, zealous for good deeds? Then beloved, you dare not miss His timing and His call, for as John Trapp so aptly put it... One live coal may set a whole stack on fire. (And you may indeed be that "coal" in your local body.) Chapell writes that... The indulgence of ungodliness and worldly passions ultimately is a denial of the Word of God and message of the Savior. In contrast, our zeal is a consequence of wanting our Savior to be known as the One who has rescued us from evil, from compulsion, from infectious sin, from the evaluation of a person’s worth by the degree of pleasure that he or she can bring me. We should be living so that people will know their worth in Christ as the gospel proclaims—this must change us because the gospel changes everything!... ...Revival in all the areas the apostle identifies as requiring Christian transformation will be terribly costly. Who has any zeal for this and what will ignite it? The answer must be love for Him who gave Himself for us. Such love the apostle sparks by reminding us of our Savior’s actions and attitudes in our behalf. (“Intolerant” Grace: Titus 2:11-15 - Revival and Reformation 7:3 Summer 1998) (Theological Journal Subscription info) (List of 22 journals - 500 yrs of articles searchable by topic or verse! Incredible Online Resource!) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/titus_214-15.htm#Zealous