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Philippians 1 review
by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640


1. Philippians 1 review
ScrollOne must read Paul's letters very carefully.

Paul often writes using puns and play on words.

What is not said can be as important as what is said.

Paul uses many Greek words that have specific meanings in Greek philosophy, history and/or culture to his Greek audience.

Main purpose: Call the leadership (bishops) to task for taking the church in directions not in line with Christ. Surprisingly, there is little if any mention of the modern English sense of "joy".

2. Verse 1
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.

3. A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor
The Greek word often translated as "joy" can be mistaken as meaning "merry" or "great happiness" or "bliss". The word "joy" comes, through French, from the Latin "gaudia""joy" and which became "gaudy".
The ancient Greek word "χαρά""favor, grace" was the word used to translate the Hebrew word. Following Jesus is not all "joy" in the modern English sense of the word.
Verse routePhilippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; [kjv]

At the time, the meaning of "suffer" was to "passively endure". So much of this endurance was painful persecution that the word took on the meaning it has today. Another Greek word meant "suffer" as in "to allow".

Information sign More: A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor

4. Review of joy
The English word "joy" comes, through French, from the Latin word "gaudia""joy" and is the source of the word "gaudy".

The ancient Greek word "χαρά""favor, grace" was the word used to translate the Hebrew word for "favor" or "grace".

English
word
English
meaning
Greek
meaning
joy merry, happy favor, grace
rejoice be merry, be happy greetings
hail
Note: The overlap in meanings between languages can be confusing.
This word is often translated as "joy" but can easily be mistaken as the English word meaning "merry" as in "great happiness" having been influenced by the English word "bliss".

Information sign More: A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor

5. Paragraph of recommendation
Here is a paragraph of recommendation.

To whom it may concern: You wrote to ask me for my opinion of John, who has applied for a position in your department. Source: Paulos, J. (1995). A mathematician reads the newspaper. New York: Basic Books., p. 43.

That is, while (many) computer languages are designed to be unambiguous, natural language is inherently ambiguous.

Information sign More: John Allen Paulos

6. 1 Timothy 3:1 Desire to reach out to be a bishop
Chess pieces Chess pieces
The ancient Greek word "ἐπίσκοπος""oversee, visit" and become the Christian "bishop". A "bishop" as a "sheep dog" can be contrasted with a "wolf dog".

Thus a "bishop" is someone whose "purpose" or "objective" is "over" something - such as a church or group of churches. The "Episcopal" church from 1752 is governed by bishops.

Progression: "e-pi-sko-pos" to "pi-sko-pos" to "bi-skop" to "bi-shop" .

German pun: Refer to the "Bischof" as a "Biss Schaf" (sheep that bites)

Information sign More: Sheep dogs and wolf dogs
Information sign More: 1 Timothy 3:1 Desire to reach out to be a bishop

7. Sheep dogs and wolf dogs
Dogs are known as man's best friend. The dog breed is related to the wolf breed and can interbreed. Two dogs may appear similar, but one may be a sheep dog and another a wolf dog.
Verse routeMatthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
Verse routeπροσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]

Jesus warns of this. It might be important and useful to distinguish these types of dogs.

Information sign More: Interbreeding
Information sign More: Matthew 10: 28-31 Taking care of the sparrows
Information sign More: Sheep dogs and wolf dogs

8. Rock and sand
Rock and sandBuild your house on the granite rock of Jesus and not on the human sand (or stones) of man, Matthew 7:24-27. Sand is a chip off the old block of granite and made in the image of granite. The higher one goes up the human sand hierarchy or sand tree, the more the temptation to ignore the foundation of the rock and to start to "influence" or "manipulate" others as "leaders" for one's own purposes.
To the extent that the Church of believers built on the sand of man helps one do what Jesus wants them to do, it is good. To the extent it does not, it is not good.
Some birds will make "stones" (sand on which to build their birdhouse) appear as "bread". That is, give "bad" "gifts" or "houses" to their "children".

Information sign More: Some shallow and yet deep ideas about organizational structure
Information sign More: Matthew 16: Calling a masterful gathering of outgoing church believers
Information sign More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

9. Matthew 25:36 Weak and visited by a bishop
Verse routeMatthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
Verse routeγυμνος και περιεβαλετε με ησθενησα και επεσκεψασθε με εν φυλακη ημην και ηλθατε προς με [gnt]
Verse routenudusinfirmusvisitastiscarcerevenistis … [v]

One often thinks of a "bishop" as someone, from the original meaning of the word, "visits" and "oversees" or "watches" the flock (and others). In a certain sense, we are all "bishops".

The "clothed" has to do with being "clothed" in "righteousness".
Someone who is "sick" is "weak" or "ill" as in "not strong", as in the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25.
The Greek for "prison" is that of being "watched". Some are in a physical "prison". Some are in a "mental" prison - enslaved by sin.

Information sign More: Matthew 25:36 Weak and visited by a bishop

10. Philippians 1 review
Bishop in scopePaul includes the "bishops" and "deacons" in the first verse.
The church at Philippi is being pulled in different directions.

Paul uses a Greek logic "syllogism" of sorts in verses 15-18.

Paul uses a number of play-on-word phrases targeted at the bishops.

11. Syllogism
Syllogism of Paul plainPhilippians 1:15-18 is a type of syllogism written by Paul to a Greek audience.

One should be "spotless" and "without horns".
Verse routePhilippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: [kjv]

Vertical spots Seek, not zeal, damage grouped Vertical horns Eristic logic


Information sign More: Philippians 2:1-2 consolation
Whether as "pretend" or as "truth", Jesus is preached.

12. Syllogism verses
Verse routePhilippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: [kjv]
Verse route1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: [kjv]
Verse route1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. [kjv]
Verse route1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I there in do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. [kjv]


13. Having begun a pun in the flesh
Verse routePhilippians 1:6 …, that he which hath begun a good work in you … [kjv]
Verse routeπεποιθως αυτο τουτο οτι ο εναρξαμενος εν υμιν εργον αγαθον επιτελεσει αχρι ημερας ιησου χριστου [gnt]

Considering the context, here is a possible pun, considering both Philippians 1:6 and Galatians 3:3. The pun words "in flesh remain" in verse 6 are used directly in verse 24.

Verse route1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [kjv]
Verse routeτο δε επιμενειν τη σαρκι αναγκαιοτερον δι υμας [gnt]



Information sign More: Philippians 1a: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi

14. Turn to my salvation
Verse routePhilippians 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, [kjv]

The exact same four Greek words for "shall turn to my salvation" in Philippians are "shall turn to me for salvation" in Job in the LXX (Septuagint). The follow-on words are more interesting.
Verse routeJob 13:16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him. [bs3]

Paul is going through trials and Job went through trials - both for eventual good. Paul appears to be calling the church leadership at Philippi "frauds".

Information sign More: Philippians 1b: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi

15. The flesh
Verse routePhilippians 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [kjv]

Why is it more "needful" for them? Remember the pun in verse 6.
Verse route1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: [kjv]
Verse routeGalatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [kjv]



Information sign More: Philippians 1b: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi


Information sign More: Philippians 1a: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi
Information sign More: Philippians 1b: A gracious favor of joy to Philippi

16. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640