What is Bible "worship"?

The English word “worship” is developed from the original 1300 Old English "worthiness or meritoriousness" (Merriam-Webster). Fundamentally, God is “worthy." The suffix "-ship" is added which means "to be" or “office of”.

Today, "worship" is used in many contexts that have nothing to do with the Bible. Merriam-Webster gives the following related categories that are related: adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration; idealization, romanticization; affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love; appreciation, esteem, regard, respect; approval. When the boy tells his beloved that he "worships" her, he isn't necessarily using it in a Biblical sense.

The English word "worship" therefore is used in contexts that have nothing to do with Sunday "worship." It behooves us to know which "worship" the Spirit is talking about. We can do this usually by studying the context in English. In our day and time, especially with computers, we have access to the original language. Hence, we are able to solve interpretive problems ourselves by looking at the Spirit's original choice of words.

Behold! We find that the English translators have indeed used the word "worship" to translate many Greek words in different contexts. In other words, English "worship" is used to translate different ideas and activities than what I would personally associate with my "worship."

1. It would be appropriate to look at the meaning of some of these words that are sometimes translated “worship”:

#1 Matthew 15:9 “in vain do they worship me” sebomai^G4576. Middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, that is, adore.

#2 Luke 14:10 (KJV) really is honor or glory (doxa^G1391, in this context to the man who humbly accepts the lower room). "...then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them." Here, the word "worship" translates honor or glory.

#3 Acts 17:23 “..ignorantly worship” (eusebeō^G2151: "be pious & respectful, towards God or parents.") Athenians were respectful to not overlook any other gods. In English it sounds as if the Greeks were seeking to serve the Living God. They weren't.

#4 Acts 17:25 “worshipped with man’s hands” (therapeuo^G2323: "to wait upon menially, to relieve (of disease)-cure, heal"). This is where English therapy comes from.

#5 Colossians 2:18 "worshipping of angels" (thrēskeia^G2356 "ceremonial [religious] observance")

#6 Acts 19:35 "a worshipper"; "neōkoros^G3511" (a vowed temple servant of the idol Diana in Ephesus).

2. There appears to be only two major Greek words used in the Bible for “ worship” that directly has to do with our "worship" of the true and Living God.

The devil tempted Jesus to worship him. Jesus used the main two Greek words for worship in response to the devil's invitation to "worship." "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). "Worship" and "serve." These two words are the two words that are the bases for the "worship" controversy initiated by the modern translations of Romans 12:1. Jesus used them because they mean two different types of "worship." Both the KJV and the ESV2011 translations correctly translate them in Matthew 4:10 so that we see that there is a difference. One is holy service (work) and the other is a specific act of reverence.

Jesus quotes a combination of two passages, Deuteronomy 6:13 and Exodus 34:14. By doing this, Jesus silences the Devil's seduction totally on the subject.

3. The first word we consider is not really what we normally associate with Sunday "worship" although it indirectly applies. It is really what we can call devoted “work service.” We can better understand if, I think, if we ask the question, to whom do I commit my allegiance to live my life for?

Deuteronomy 6:13 is the passage that Jesus used for the "serve" worship. The passage was translated from the original Hebrew "'aboda^H5647" which meant "service associated with the work done in the Temple.” However, the labor of a slave or hired servant is also described by this term. In fact, the first time the word is used is in Genesis 2:5 and 2:15 where Adam works the ground and dresses the garden.

The OT Greek Septuagint uses "latreuo^G3000" to translate "'aboda^H5647." "Latreuo^G3000" according to Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's means "to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage [from latris 'a hired menial']." It refers then to religious work in the OT, especially the duties related to the sacrifices of the Temple. The New Testament continues to use this word "latreuo^G3000" in the same way.

Romans 9:4: “Who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

Hebrews 9:6: “Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services; ”

John 16:2: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour comes, that whosoever kills you shall think that he offers service unto God. ”

Therefore, in the New Testament, latreuo^G3000 is an allusion that Christians should offer their own bodies as living sacrifices in the current Temple where God dwells, in our individual bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19) and in the corporate body, the church (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Romans 12:1: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.- logiken latreian umon."

Whereas modern translations tend to translate latreian as "your spiritual worship", the KJV this clearly as "your reasonable service." This is consistent with the word "service" ascribed to Jesus during His wilderness temptation by most versions.

A related word “leitourgia^G3009” (translated “service”) is used by the apostle Paul to refer to monetary gifts collected for Jerusalem saints (2 Corinthians 9:12), for his work (Philippians 2:30) , and “leitourgos^G3011” (servant or serve) is used of Christ (Hebrews 8:2), angels (Hebrews 1:7), earthly rulers (Romans 13:6), Epaphroditus’s delivery of Paul's gift (Philippians 2:25) and Paul's ministry to Gentiles (Romans 15:16). Hence, “latreia” and its associated words refer to work (derived from its base ergon^G2041 which means work or doing). According to use, the word includes all work, when directed toward God. Whatever you contribute of your time, labor, fruits for the Lord is "service" worship.

An example is in Romans 15:27: "Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister^G3008 unto them in carnal things."