Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Philippians 2:20

Textus Receptus:
ουδενα γαρ εχω ισοψυχον οστις γνησιως τα περι υμων μεριμνησει

King James:
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

Comments:
no man likeminded: Paul is most likely claiming that there is no one to send to the Philippians as sincere in his concern as Timothy is, not that no one else genuinely or naturally cares for them. In other words, "likeminded" is more likely a comparison to Timothy than Paul.

naturally: The word used here for "naturally" provides the etymology for the English word "genuine" and is a relative of the Greek word for which "genesis" is a transliteration. In other words, Timothy's concern, like Paul's, comes from who he has become in Christ, not just a feigned or assumed interest. The "natural" concern of Christians for each other, missing in their lives outside of Christ, is explained by passages like Ephesians 2:19.

Expanded Paraphrase:
There is no one else I can send to you who will have the sincere care for your things that Timothy does.

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