The Hyper-Nike-Men — Andrew Forrest

I have some questions for you:

Are Some People Predestined to Hell?
Why Did So Many Jews Refuse to Believe in Jesus?
Are the Jews Still the Chosen People?

You know you’re interested! Our final All-Church Bible Study of 2024 is TONIGHT, Wednesday, 10/30, and we’ll be covering those questions as we look at chapters 9-11 in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. 6:30-8:00 PM. Sanctuary. Dinner beforehand.

P.S. Our new Romans reading guides are in! Pick yours up at Asbury, or email Sandie and she’ll mail you one. Readings begin on 11/1, and I’m really excited to work through this final section of Romans with you.

This is going to be a fascinating evening, and I hope you’ll make every effort to attend. Bring friends!

Romans 8:37

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

“We are more than conquerors” is five words in English, but just one verb in Greek.

Until my recent study of Romans, I had always assumed that “more than conquerors” was just hyperbole that Paul is using for effect, like saying “we didn’t just win, we dominated.” But, in fact Paul is here making a profound point about the Christian life.

The Greek verb can be transliterated hypernikōmen. It is a compound verb that means “to be completely victorious.” In Greek the goddess Nike is the goddess of victory, and there is a verb based on that name—“to nike” something is to triumph over it. By using the prefix “hyper” Paul is talking about “hyper-nike-ing” something or “super nike-ing” something. It’s a verb for complete and total triumph.

What does he mean by that?

In the deep mystery of the gospel, how is it that Jesus defeats death?

By dying.

In other words, Jesus uses the power of His enemy against itself. The very thing that is working against Him becomes the very thing that is working for Him.

This is why the devil is no match for God—God is so powerful that He can even turn weakness to strength.

It’s the ultimate jiu-jitsu move.

In this way, Jesus is a “more-than-conqueror”—He doesn’t just defeat His enemy, He uses His enemy’s strength against Him. It is a complete, utter triumph.

So, why would Paul use the phrase hypernikōmen here, when describing Christians who are facing difficulty and suffering?

Because it is through suffering and difficulty that we triumph. The things that are arrayed against us become part of a testimony of God’s grace toward us.

In Revelation, John sees the beast kill the martyrs, but though it seems like the beast is victorious, it’s actually the martyrs who have overcome the beast. Why?

Because the very fact that the beast kills the martyrs proves that it doesn’t have power over them—it can’t make them renounce the truth.

So, we are “more-than-conquerors” because even great suffering and difficulty are being turned to our good because they are shaping us into Christ’s image and because through our weakness we testify to God’s strength.

This is what Tertullian—the church father from the second century—meant when he said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” In other words, even when the Christians were killed by the Romans, their very deaths testified to the power of the Gospel, and more

people came to faith as a result.

The way of Jesus is the way of the cross:

There is difficulty and suffering;

But that very suffering becomes the sign of victory through the love of God. How can you be “more-than-a-conqueror” through

Cancer?
Grief?
Divorce?
Addiction?

We are the “hyper-Nike-men.”

(Maybe my favorite Greek word ever.)