Monday, April 25, 2005

Philippians 2:3

Textus Receptus:
μηδεν κατα εριθειαν η κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων

King James:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Comments:
strife: This word is used in conjunction with many other words for conflict, as in 2 Corinthians 12:20. This particular word apparently refers to the use of divisive tactics to further selfish ambition. Paul is contrasting the men who manipulate others for selfish gain with Christ who allowed himself to be violated for the benefit of others.

vainglory: This word is a compound of "kenos," or vain, and "doxa," or glory. Most significantly, man's desire to attain glory even when he is nothing (vainglory) is contrasted with Christ's willingness to divest Himself of glory to make himself nothing, or of no reputation. The root of the word used in verse 7 for "made himself of no reputation" is also "kenos," or vain.

let each esteem other better than themselves: Paul's admonition for believers is incompatible with contemporary psychological models of the self.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Do not create strife to promote your agenda. Do not try to make yourself something glorious when you are nothing. Instead, with a humble mind every believer should consider others superior to self.

Friday, April 15, 2005

Philippians 2:2

Textus Receptus:
πληρωσατε μου την χαραν ινα το αυτο φρονητε την αυτην αγαπην εχοντες συμψυχοι το εν φρονουντες

King James:
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Comments:
my joy, that ye be: The wording in Greek makes it clear that Paul is not saying that the content of his joy is their being like-minded. Instead, he is saying that if they fulfill his desire for Christ to be realized in their living, then the result will be that they will be like-minded. Christ will be realized in them as they submit to the teaching of, for instance, verses 5 and following.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Complete the confidence and peace I have in Christ with the result that you think the same things, having the same love, souls joined, thinking together.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Philippians 2:1

Textus Receptus:
ει τις ουν παρακλησις εν χριστω ει τι παραμυθιον αγαπης ει τις κοινωνια πνευματος ει τινα σπλαγχνα και οικτιρμοι

King James:
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Comments:
This entire verse sets the context (or conditions) within which verse 2's commands and verses 3-4's prohibitions and commands become possible.

in Christ...of love...of the Spirit: The characteristics of Christian family relationships named in verse 1 are possible because they are found in Christ, and because they come from love and the Spirit. To paint the picture differently: because believers are in Christ they can share in that to which He has called them. Because they are in Christ, they can experience the compassion that comes from love and the sharing that comes from the Holy Spirit. But the priority is being in Christ.

consolation...comfort...fellowship: Consolation is a form of the word used by Jesus to describe the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) in John 14:16-17. Here, because it is had "in Christ", the focus is on being found in commonality with others. Comfort has an etymological appeal to origins, as if to say believers should see and treat each other according to their common origin, like brothers, for instance. Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1. Fellowship is the Greek word "koinonia." The ongoing commonality among believers is the Holy Spirit's presence.

bowels and mercies: These characteristics are not given location or source apparently because they the behavioral and attitudinal outflow of being in Christ with the products of love and the Holy Spirit. In other words, to be called together in Christ with brothers and sisters of common origin and purpose should be sufficient to produce compassionate and forgiving behavior between believers. Ephesians 4:32.

Expanded Paraphrase:
If it is true that you have been called together into Christ where you now abide, and if it is true that all of you are together in Christ because of the love He has given you and commanded you to share with each other, and if it is true that all of you share all things from the Holy Spirit in common--and therefore if tender compassion and undeserved respect and forgiveness are to be shared among you--then your attitude and actions ought to be different from what they were before you were in Christ.

Monday, April 04, 2005

Philippians 1:30

Textus Receptus:
τον αυτον αγωνα εχοντες οιον ειδετε εν εμοι και νυν ακουετε εν εμοι

King James:
Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Comments:
conflict: The Greek word translated as "conflict" here is transliterated as "agony." Paul uses the same word to describe what he went through in Philippi in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, likely referring both to the turmoil he faced there as well as the brief imprisonment that turmoil produced (Acts 16:16-24).

Expanded Paraphrase:
You who are in Philippi are having the same struggle you saw through me and face the same conflict you hear I am going through even now being in prison.

Friday, April 01, 2005

Philippians 1:29

Textus Receptus:
οτι υμιν εχαρισθη το υπερ χριστου ου μονον το εις αυτον πιστευειν αλλα και το υπερ αυτου πασχειν

King James:
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Comments:
not only to believe...but also to suffer: Belief (faith) and suffering are associated here not arbitrarily but necessarily. Real faith is only tested when circumstantial ease and confidence evaporate--one point, for instance, of 1 Peter 1:6-7. While believers do not pursue suffering, they do pursue a faith which is both strengthened by suffering. James 1:2-6.

Expanded Paraphrase:
What God has given you then in this world is the responsibility not only to have faith in Christ on account of Christ, but also to suffer on account of Christ.