Monday, February 12, 2007

Philippians 4:8

Majority Text:
Το λοιπόν, αδελφοί, ὅσα εστιν αληθη, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα αγνά, ὅσα προσφιλη, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις αρετη και εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταυτα λογίζεσθε·

KJV:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Comments:
true…honest…just…pure…lovely…good report: Paul uses a similar (but not identical) list mingled with some contrasting characteristics in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. The first four terms are fairly common in the New Testament. "Honest" is from the word sometimes translated "grave." "Lovely" only shows up in this passage (conveying something like "desirable"), and "good report" only here and in 2 Corinthians 6:8.

virtue…praise: It seems likely that the contrast between these two more general characteristics is between that which is intrinsic to some specific quality (virtue) and what is publicly appreciable in it (praise). Interestingly, the only other uses of "virtue" in the New Testament are in Peter's epistles. The distinction between the two and value for both and each is important, since believers are to be committed to good things both for the value of the things themselves and for the impact goodness has on those who observe it.

Expanded Paraphrase:
The rest of what I need to say to you regards the things you ought to value. Say of what is that it is and of what is not that it is not, and praise those who do so. Similarly prize straightforwardness, righteousness, chasteness. Hold what is desirable over what is offensive and speak of that worth speaking well of. In short, the things you ought to prize are the things that are virtuous in themselves, and those that have value for conveying your transformation in Christ to the observing world.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Philippians 4:7

Majority Text:
και η ειρήνη του Θεου η υπερέχουσα πάντα νουν φρουρήσει τας καρδίας υμων και τα νοήματα υμων εν Χριστω ᾿Ιησου.

KJV:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Comments:
the peace of God: Interestingly, Paul mentions the God of peace only two verses below, in verse 9. His point there is not really very distinct from the point here--with the exception that he changes the emphasis from peace to God. That is, the point in this verse is that when believers trust God, He blesses them with a certain kind of peace. In that verse, when believers are living obediently they are blessed with the presence of God (who happens to bring peace with Him).

which passeth all understanding: When turmoil ends there is peace. When a problem finds resolution there is peace. But this peace is more than that. The peace God provides is not simply a resolution of the conflict. It has the added dimension of confidence and hope that comes from realizing that the resolution came from One who is faithful to provide in all circumstances--the point of the peace leading also through tribulation to hope in Romans 5:1-5.

Expanded Paraphrase:
When you learn to depend on God for the things about which you would otherwise worry, you put yourself in a position to receive both real resolution to your conflicts and the attendant comfort and confidence that come with that resolution. But you receive from God a peace outside the bounds of human provision, because neither you nor any other fallible man provided it. God addresses your need. And because God addresses your need you find permanent peace in your growing awareness of His faithfulness--a peace no one unaware of God's provision comprehends.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Philippians 4:6

Majority Text:
μηδεν μεριμνατε, αλλ᾿ εν παντι τη προσευχη και τη δεήσει μετα ευχαριστίας τα αιτήματα υμων γνωριζέσθω προς τον Θεόν.

KJV:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Comments:
Be careful for nothing: Paul's admonition to worry about nothing matches Jesus' lesson from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-33. There, the same Greek word for "be careful" is translated in the KJV as "take thought."

prayer: While not necessarily public, the word used for prayer here does provoke the idea of spoken prayer. It is, for example, the word Jesus uses in Matthew 21:13 to say that the Temple should be a house of "prayer."

supplication: This word points to pleas motivated by a particular need. It is often used in conjunction with "prayer" as it is in this verse. It is not necessarily exclusive in meaning from prayer. It is simply a prayer more directed toward a particular need.

with thanksgiving: This addition to the command to pray, plead, and let requests be known matches 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Worry about not one single thing. Instead, in every circumstance let your petitions be known before God through your spoken prayer and your personal petitions. And don't forget to give thanks--after all, you are able to bring your needs before God and He cares about you.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Philippians 4:5

Majority Text:
το επιεικες υμων γνωσθήτω πασιν ανθρώποις. ο Κύριος εγγύς.

KJV:
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Comments:
moderation: The moderation required in this verse is the gentleness of James 3:17, for example. The Greek word conveys the importance of responding appropriately to circumstances. It is the spirit of the qualifier, "as much as lies in you," in Romans 12:18.

unto all men: Paul certainly does not want moderation to be a show. There is no reason to assume his desire here is inconsistent with Ephesians 6:5-7, where he disdains doing things in order for men to see. Moderation is apparent to men because it is practiced in public and relational settings, and it is obviously in contrast with the natural behavior of men.

The Lord is at hand: While this phrase can imply temporal proximity--that the Lord will return soon--it seems in the context of the previous verse and from the contrasting meaning of moderation that here it means spatial proximity. That is, the reason a believer's behavior can be appropriately responsive to circumstances and at the same time governed primarily (or even solely) by the Lord's influence is that the most important, real part of any believer's circumstance is the Lord. He is "right here," so to speak, even when His presence is not obvious to a natural man.

Expanded Paraphrase:
As men observe you, let them see that you neither simply react nor over-react to any circumstance, no matter how excessive a reaction it might provoke in anyone else. Let them see instead that the most important part of any circumstance for you is the Lord's presence. Let them see in your behavior what you see in truth--that the Lord is always with you.