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Positive and negative golden rules
1. Positive and negative golden rules
This content is being developed.
2. Canons, cannons and canyons
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [kjv]
In general, a "
canon" is a principle or rule that is accepted by a group.
A "
rule" in Greek is related to a hollow "
reed". Such a "
reed" was used to "
measure".
That "
measuring" became, through Latin, a "
canon". Hollowed out tubes were used as weapons to send projectiles against an enemy. There were called "
cannons".
The Greek word for "
canon" came from the Semitic and is related to the name of the town called Cana is in the "
wedding" at "
Cana" in John 2. Jesus uses the idea to refer to John the Baptist.
3. Galatians 6:16 Rules
Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. [kjv]
και οσοι τω κανονι τουτω στοιχησουσιν ειρηνη επ αυτους και ελεος και επι τον ισραηλ του θεου [gnt]
… regulam … [v]
… reule… [wy]
… Regel … [lu]
The German word
"Regel" ≈ "rule" is from the Latin word
"regulam" ≈ "rule" which could refer to a "
nobleman". Historically, the Germanic hard "
g" in the middle of a word became a "
y" sound. Thus, "
Regel" goes to "reyel" goes to "
rule".
The hard "
g" is in words such as "
regulation", "
regular", etc.
4. Burger King slogans
The newer Burger King slogan (to slug you with) is "
You rule".
Is this the (effective) slogan of some churches?
What is the vision statement of an old style Burger King church?
Have it your way.
5. Positive and negative golden rules
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. [kjv]
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [kjv]
The "
Golden Rule" appears in many cultures and religions, including the Bible.
Here we are interested in what the Bible has to say.
Positive Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Negative Golden Rule: Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.
Platinum rule: Do unto others as they want to have done to them.
6. Golden rule in Matthew and Luke
How does the "
Golden Rule" follow from the "
law" and the "
prophets"?
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. [kjv]
παντα ουν οσα εαν θελητε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι ουτως και υμεις ποιειτε αυτοις ουτος γαρ εστιν ο νομος και οι προφηται [gnt]
The "
Golden Rule" in Luke is similar to that in Matthew.
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [kjv]
και καθως θελετε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι ποιειτε αυτοις ομοιως [gnt]
7. Luke 6:31
KJV: And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Greek: και καθως θελετε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι και υμεις ποιειτε αυτοις ομοιως
8. Gold and rules
One often hears the phrase "
Whoever has the gold makes the rules".
French: Le riche tient la loi dans sa bourse.
English: The rich holds the law in his purse.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) in 1764.
9. Government money
We have the best government money can buy.
Mark Twain (Author and Humorist, alias Samuel Clemens)
10. Golden Arches
The "
Golden Rule" does not appear to be related to the "
Golden Arches" (of MacDonalds) even though one Greek word for "
rule" and the Latin word for "
arch" appear to be similar.
The ancient Greek word
"ἀρχή" ≈ "beginning, origin, sovereignty, authority" and could be the end of a rope, stick, etc., or the corner of a sheet. In context, it could be a "
rule".
The English word
"arch" comes, through French, from the Latin word
"arcus" ≈ "bow, arc, arch".
[keystone, catenary]
11. Ethic of reciprocity
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [kjv]
The "
Golden Rule" appears in many cultures and religions, including the Bible.
Positive (active) Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Negative (passive) Golden Rule: Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.
The general category of the "
Golden Rule" is considered as an "
ethic of reciprocity". That is, it goes both ways as an symmetric/commutative relationship.
12. Negative rules
How can one avoid ever making a mistake?
Never do anything. I made a mistake once, but later found out I was wrong.
To fulfill a
negative (
passive) rule, one need do
nothing. Nothing is something but a negative (passive) rule allows nothing to satisfy the requirements of the rule.
A
positive (
active) requires you to do something. Nothing is something so nothing may be a viable option in a given situation.
13. Matthew 5:46 Tit for tat
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [kjv]
εαν γαρ αγαπησητε τους αγαπωντας υμας τινα μισθον εχετε ουχι και οι τελωναι το αυτο ποιουσιν [gnt]
The general idea of the "
Golden Rule" is that of distributed behavior. This is not "
tit for tat" (of game theory) where one returns whatever is received. It is an idea that what you do to others will influence what they do to you. There is much more to it but that is sufficient for the present purposes.
Some outcomes of two player games include the following.
win-lose (zero-sum)
win-win
lose-lose
14. Matthew 5:46 Back-scratching
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [kjv]
The idea of "
tit for tat" can be thought of as "
you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".
It is not unusual to see horses scratching each other's backs.
15. Quid pro quo
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [kjv]
The Latin word
"quid pro quo" ≈ "something for something".
In the Middle Ages (and at other times), the Pope might grant power to an authority who made a significant contribution to the Catholic Church.
Similar phrases:
"give" and "take".
"tit" for "tat".
You "scratch" my back, I'll "scratch" yours.
16. Wikipedia
In 1654, the expression quid pro quo was used to generally refer to something done for personal gain or with the expectation of reciprocity in the text The Reign of King Charles: An History Disposed into Annalls, with a somewhat positive connotation. It refers to the covenant with Christ as something "that prove not a nudum pactum, a naked contract, without quid pro quo." Believers in Christ have to do their part in return, namely "foresake the devil and all his works" Wikipedia (as of 2024-12-02)
Reference: L'Estrange, Hamon (1656-01-01). The reign of King Charles : an history disposed into annalls. London : Printed by F.L. and J.G. for Hen: Seile, Senior and Junior, over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet, and Edw: Dod, at the Gun in Ivy-lane.
Is the idea to "forsake the devil and all his works" more of a positive (active) or negative (passive) statement?
17. Brethren Baptismal vows
1.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He brought from heaven the saving gospel?
2.
Do you willingly renounce Satan and all his pernicious ways and sinful pleasures of this world?
3.
Do you covenant in Christ Jesus to live faithful until death?
The Schwarzenau Brethren, the German Baptist Brethren, Dunkers, Dunkard Brethren, Tunkers,[1] or sometimes simply called the German Baptists, are an Anabaptist group that dissented from Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed European state churches during the 17th and 18th centuries. Wikipedia. (as of 2024-12-04)
[Early Church Father, Egyptian pursuit]
18. Overview
19. Leviticus 19:18
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. [kjv]
και ουκ εκδικαται σου η χειρ και ου μηνιεις τοις υιοις του λαου σου και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον εγω ειμι κυριος [lxx]
לא תקם ולא תטר את בני עמך ואהבת לרעך כמוך אני יהוה׃ [he]
Both trying to "
avenge" (active or action) or bearing a "
grudge" (passive or inaction) that is "
against " a neighbor is
not to be done.
"grudge" is passive inaction
"avenge" is active action
Focusing on these words and the differences can be a "
red herring" that distracts from what is more important.
20. Leviticus 19:18
KJV: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Hebrew: לא תקם ולא תטר את בני עמך ואהבת לרעך כמוך אני יהוה׃
Greek: και ουκ εκδικαται σου η χειρ και ου μηνιεις τοις υιοις του λαου σου και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον εγω ειμι κυριος
21. Leviticus 19:33-34: Strangers
Leviticus 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. [kjv]
εαν δε τις προσελθη προσηλυτος υμιν εν τη γη υμων ου θλιψετε αυτον [lxx]
19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. [kjv]
ως ο αυτοχθων εν υμιν εσται ο προσηλυτος ο προσπορευομενος προς υμας και αγαπησεις αυτον ως σεαυτον οτι προσηλυτοι εγενηθητε εν γη αιγυπτω εγω ειμι κυριος ο θεος υμων [lxx]
These verses about "
strangers" appears to help clarify the idea of a "
neighbor".
22. Leviticus 19:33
KJV: And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
Hebrew: וכי יגור אתך גר בארצכם לא תונו אתו׃
Greek: εαν δε τις προσελθη προσηλυτος υμιν εν τη γη υμων ου θλιψετε αυτον
23. Leviticus 19:34
KJV: But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Hebrew: כאזרח מכם יהיה לכם הגר הגר אתכם ואהבת לו כמוך כי גרים הייתם בארץ מצרים אני יהוה אלהיכם׃
Greek: ως ο αυτοχθων εν υμιν εσται ο προσηλυτος ο προσπορευομενος προς υμας και αγαπησεις αυτον ως σεαυτον οτι προσηλυτοι εγενηθητε εν γη αιγυπτω εγω ειμι κυριος ο θεος υμων
24. Gospels - love neighbor as yourself
25. Paul and James and OT - love neighbor as yourself
Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: [kjv]
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. [kjv]
What happens if the "
as thyself" is omitted - as is often done in modern times in order to justify bringing the world's culture into the church even when it violates God's laws?
26. Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed
Jesus clearly states the two laws on which the law and the prophets hang in Mark 12:30-31 (and elsewhere).
Law/Pearl 1: Love God (and the rules of God).
Law/Pearl 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Some churches omit the "
as yourself" in order to help get world culture (that goes against the rules of God) into their church.
The religious establishment at the time of Jesus emphasized law 1, "Love your God", but ignored law 2, "Love your neighbor as yourself" rule. This is, literally, "against the law" (of God).
According to Jesus, both rules are needed. What happens if the religious establishment ignores "Love your God" and emphasizes only "Love your neighbor" and often leaves out "as yourself"? This is, literally, "against the law" (of God)
27. Neighbors
Who is my neighbor?
Jesus answers that question in the parable of the good Samaritan. Did the Samaritan follow the "
Golden Rule"? Which version was followed?
☐
Positive (active) Golden Rule:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
☐
Negative (passive) Golden Rule:
Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.
Short answer: Your "
neighbor" is anyone who is "
close" to you using a suitable definition of "
distance" and "
nearness".
[Didache, negative version of love thy neighbor as yourself]
28. Historical Biblical example
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. [kjv]
παντα ουν οσα εαν θελητε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι ουτως και υμεις ποιειτε αυτοις ουτος γαρ εστιν ο νομος και οι προφηται [gnt]
A historical and Biblical example of a symmetric property is the Golden Rule as expressed in the book of Matthew.
According to Aristotle, the "
law" in based on "
opinion" of the majority (in control). Thus, the "
law" is that based on the "
opinion" of God which may be added to by the opinion of others. The true "
prophets" spoke the "
opinion" of God.
.
The Greek word for "
glory" had the meaning of "
opinion".
29. Matthew 7:12
KJV: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Greek: παντα ουν οσα αν εαν θελητε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι ουτως και υμεις ποιειτε αυτοις ουτος γαρ εστιν ο νομος και οι προφηται
30. Negative golden rule
A negative version of the "
Golden Rule" appears in the Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part of the Scriptural canon by Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy (and some others): (Wikipedia)
"Do to no one what you yourself dislike." Tobit 4:15
"Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in mind your own dislikes." Sirach 31:15
The negative version of the "
Golden Rule" also appears in the Didache.
31. Didache: Negative Golden Rule
The ancient Greek word
"διδαχή" ≈ "teaching". The start of the
Didache (second sentence), sometimes called the Teaching of the Apostles, states the
negative Golden Rule.
English: Now this is the way of life: First, you shall love God, who made you. Second, you shall love your neighbor as yourself; but whatever you do not wish to happen to you, do not do to another. (Holmes, p. 344)
Greek: Ἡ μὲν οὖν ὁδὸς τῆς ζωῆς ἐστιν αὕτη· πρῶτον ἀγαπήσεις τὸν θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντά σε, δεύτερον τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· πάντα δὲ ὅσα ἐὰν θελήσῃς μὴ γίνεσθαί σοι, καὶ σὺ ἄλλῳ μὴ ποίει. Didache [1.2]
[Didache, negative version of love thy neighbor as yourself]
32. Platinum rule
A variation of the "
Golden Rule" is the "
Platinum Rule". In general, platinum is more scarce than gold and thus more valuable.
Golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Platinum rule: Do unto others as they want to have done to them.
Discuss:
Platinum: Did Jesus always do unto others as they wanted to have done to them? Why or why not? [John 6 - food, religious establishment asking for a sign, similarity to toleration or Russell paradox]
Golden: Did Jesus always do unto others as he would have wanted done to him if he were in their situation? [compassion, not just empathy]
33. Aristotelian ideas
Two ideas from Aristotle are used in the analysis.
A potentiality of X means that one has the power to actually do X.
An actuality of X means that one has the potentiality to do X and, in fact, one does X.
Some people have
potentiality to
actualize but, for various reasons, do not actualize that
potentiality.
Someone with the potential to be a professional athlete may actualize that potential.
Someone without the potential to be a professional athlete will never actualize that goal.
34. Matthew 5:14 Hill climbing potential
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη [gnt]
In Greek philosophy (e.g., Aristotle), the word in the
GNT often translated as "
energy" or "
work" is that of
"actuality". In the same manner, the word often translated as "
power" is that of
"potentiality". In modern
OOP (Object Oriented Programming) programming terms:
"potentially" relates to the idea of a class (abstract idea) [Plato's original sense]
"actuality" relates to the idea of an object (concrete reality) [Aristotle's added sense]
This is especially true for the writings of Paul since he was writing to a Greek audience who would have understood those parts of Greek philosophy.
35. Reflexive application
Here are the two versions of the Golden Rule. A precondition of both rules are that one should "
love neighbor as yourself" and not do nor support nor condone "
evil" or "
oppression". Otherwise, one can find logical issues with the rules.
Positive (active) Golden Rule:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Negative (passive) Golden Rule:
Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.
Can these ideas be applied
reflexively to oneself?
Positive (active) Golden Rule:
Do unto yourself as you would have yourself do unto you.
Negative (passive) Golden Rule:
Do not do unto yourself as you would not have yourself do unto you.
The reflexive rules appear to create no logical issues.
[recursive application, fixed points]
36. Order of events
Here is another way to view the "
Golden Rule". The order of events appears to be important for the "
Golden Rule". Consider the simplified situation where there are two people, you and someone else.
1. Consider the domain of situations where you have a potentiality to achieve an actuality (without evil or oppression).
2. If you were in the other position, would you want that potentiality followed through to an actuality.
To do these events in the other order (e.g., backwards) appears to create logical issues.
37. Backward order
Consider the following reasoning.
2. You would like someone to give you $1,000,000, even though empirical evidence from lottery winners does not appear to support the idea that this will make your life better.
1. You do not have $1,000,000 to give.
Thus, the "
Golden Rule" does not appear to work in that you cannot do what the rule says. However, if you do not have the
potentiality and, thus, the
actuality, to give $1,000,000, the "
Golden Rule" does not appear to apply.
38. Good Samaritan
Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan.
1. You (the Good Samaritan) have the
potentiality and actuality to provide help to someone.
2. If you were in the position of needing that help, you would want that help provided as an
actuality and not just as a
potentiality.
If you
walk on by, then you have the potentiality to help but have not actualized that potentiality to actually help the other person. In this case, empathy is not sufficient.
Discuss: How might the idea of "
corban", as a form of "
oath", apply to this situation?
39. Walk on by
Song:
Walk on by written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Opening lines:
If you see me walking down the street, and I start to cry...
Each time we meet, walk on by.. Walk on by.
Make believe that you don't see the tears, just let me grieve
In private, cause each time I see you, I break down and cry...
Walk on by ...
Except for the Samaritan, the others saw the injured man and decided to "
walk on by"
Joke: Why did the Pharisee walk on by the injured man?
He saw that the man was already robbed.
40. Mark 7:10-11 Corban
The same idea of meaning and word changes have been present since language began.
Mark 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: [kjv]
μωυσης γαρ ειπεν τιμα τον πατερα σου και την μητερα σου και ο κακολογων πατερα η μητερα θανατω τελευτατω [gnt]
This verse is the setup for the "
euphemism" in the next verse. The word
"corban" was a way (loophole) to say that one did not need to honor any obligations to others such as father or mother.
7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. [kjv]
υμεις δε λεγετε εαν ειπη ανθρωπος τω πατρι η τη μητρι κορβαν ο εστιν δωρον ο εαν εξ εμου ωφεληθης [gnt]
How can "
oaths" be used to avoid doing what is right?
41. Blessed with wealth
Discuss each of the following options. If you are blessed with worldly riches that you did not oppress to get, which is your best option.
☐ Give all of your wealth to the destitute poor.
☐ Give all of your wealth to the church so they can use it.
☐ Use all of your wealth to further the message of Christ.
☐ Some other alternative.
Jesus uses the word for "
poor" that means the "
fallen" and does not use the word for the "
destitute poor".
Thought question: How many churches would say to
take your tithe for this month and use it to further the work of Christ?
 |
Details are left as a future topic.
|
[Dupont, let your peace return to you, prudence in making decisions]
42. Table grid
The relation R is "
as you would have". There are two actions of concern:
"good works" or "fruit".
"oppression" or "evil".
If what is required is a minimum and not a maximum, one might conclude the following.
To whom is given a lot, a lot is required.
To whom is given a little, a little is required.
In this sense, the rule is asymmetric. The same idea is expressed, in a somewhat strange way, in Luke.
43. Luke 12:48
44. Luke 12:48
KJV: But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Greek: ο δε μη γνους ποιησας δε αξια πληγων δαρησεται ολιγας παντι δε ω εδοθη πολυ πολυ ζητηθησεται παρ αυτου και ω παρεθεντο πολυ περισσοτερον αιτησουσιν αυτον
... more to be added ...
45. End of page
Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [kjv]
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. [kjv]
ο δε μη γνους ποιησας δε αξια πληγων δαρησεται ολιγας παντι δε ω εδοθη πολυ πολυ ζητηθησεται παρ αυτου και ω παρεθεντο πολυ περισσοτερον αιτησουσιν αυτον [gnt]
