A study of the phrase: one accord.

What does this phrase mean, “one accord”? Let’s look at some verses and do a bit of digging into the Greek, shall we?

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:14

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart… Acts 2:46

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM… Acts 4:24

At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. Acts 5:12

The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. Acts 8:6

… seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul… Acts 15:25

… so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:6

I haven’t listed all the 11 places where this same word is used, but I think you get the idea. The Greek word here is homothymadon  and is translated (in the NASB): with one accord, of/with one mind, with one impulse. Now, I am NOT a Greek scholar but my short study of the word gives an insight that I think is important.

One thing that we humans LOVE is rules.

You’d think we don’t, but we do. We love to keep them and we love to break them. We love having everyone on the same playing field; everything equal and fair. All the same. This is uniformity.

A cursory look at this word (and these verses) might leave one with the idea that homothymadon means every one the same. All with the same idea and thought. Identical. But it doesn’t. It really seems that a closer understanding of the word would be harmonious.

When I think of harmonious, I think of music. My family is a musical family (none of which comes from me). I love listening to them sing and play. Different ones will work within the melody and come up with notes and beats that are different but fit well within the beauty of the piece. In fact, the harmonies added make the melody all the more lovely and rich. Different sounds, different actions, even different beats but all with the same purpose, the same mind, the same accord for the entire piece. This is unity.

Wow! This opened up a whole new imagery for me with the saints!

But doesn’t this sound familiar from someplace else?

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Cor 12:4-7

Even in the body of Christ, God has worked His harmony within the unity of the Spirit! We all have different roles to play, different gifts, different ministries, and even different effects. But all by the same Spirit. All in one accord, one mind, one passion, one purpose.

God didn’t create us to be Stepford Wives living like clones of one another. He created us each different and unique to express His glory.

He creates us for unity NOT uniformity!

How can we live out the uniqueness of our creation while still building the unity (one accord) of  His body? How can we work to express the harmony of the saints together with all the heavenly host to be of one accord for Jesus?

Download my FREE e-book on how to study the bible so you can teach others.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB.
Unless otherwise indicated, photos from pixaby.com