Philippians 1a review

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One 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.
One must take into account his Greek speaking and educated audience. Paul uses many Greek words that have specific meanings in Greek philosophy, history and/or culture.

Some towns are named for "joy" such as "Mount Joy" in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Where is the "mountain"?

According to history, during the religious wars in England and Ireland between the Protestants and Catholics, a merchant ship loaded with provisions for Londonderry named the "MontJoy" (no space) rammed a barrier and delivered supplies to the starving city. Some of the Scottish Presbyterians later left Ireland for the New World and named their town "Mount Joy" (with a space).

For more information, see the Mount Joy Area Historical Society web site at https://www.mountjoyhistory.com/about/history-of-mount-joy/.

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

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.

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.

Philippians 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".

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

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".

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

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.

I cannot recommend him too highly nor say enough good things about him.
There is no other student of mine with whom I can adequately compare him.
His thesis is the sort of work you don't expect to see nowadays and in it he has clearly demonstrated his complete capabilities.
The amount of material he knows will surprise you.
You will indeed be fortunate if you can get him to work for you.

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.

More: John Allen Paulos

Here are some highlights from Philippians 1.

Paul includes the "bishops" and "deacons" in the address, unlike any other of his letters. Why?

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