Tag Archives: Philippians 4:10

Romans, Part 75

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Live in harmony (φρονοῦντες, a form of φρονέω) with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.  Do not be conceited.[1]  I can’t find live or harmony in the Greek here, τὸ αὐτὸ εἰς ἀλλήλους φρονοῦντες.  The phrase translated do not be haughty is μὴ τὰ ὑψηλὰ φρονοῦντες (literally, “no lofty thought” or “no high-mindedness”).  I would translate the first sentence, “Think of one another” or “Consider one another, not generalities, but specifics,” the down and dirty, nitty-gritty of another’s life and outlook.  For by the grace given to me, Paul already wrote, I say to every one of you not to think more highly (ὑπερφρονεῖν, a form of ὑπερφρονεώ) of yourself than you ought to think (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) but to think (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) with sober discernment (σωφρονεῖν, a form of σωφρονέω), as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.[2]

Paul prayed, and I assume believed, that God would give his readers this thinking (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) of one another, translated unity below:  For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance (ὑπομονῆς, a form of ὑπομονή) and through encouragement (παρακλήσεως, a form of παράκλησις) of the scriptures we may have hope.  Now may the God of endurance (ὑπομονῆς, a form of ὑπομονή) and comfort (παρακλήσεως, a form of παράκλησις) give you unity with one another (τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις) in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.[3]

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord!  This must not happen to you!”  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind (φρονεῖς, another form of φρονέω) on God’s interests, but on man’s.”[4]  Mark’s Gospel informs that Jesus spoke this way to Peter after turning and looking at his disciples.[5]

Then Jesus said to his disciples, Matthew’s Gospel continued, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”[6] This his disciples were already doing in the most literal way imaginable, but in their thinking they walked according to the flesh.  The Holy Spirit had not yet been given.  As Paul wrote the Romans, those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped (φρονοῦσιν, another form of φρονέω) by the things of the flesh…[7]

The Holy Spirit transforms our thinking: but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit,[8] Paul continued.  Keep thinking (φρονεῖτε, another form of φρονέω) about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.[9]  I thank my God every time I remember you, Paul wrote believers in Philippi.  I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.  For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  For it is right for me to think (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.[10]

Paul expounded on this Holy Spirit thinking in his letter to the Philippians (2:1-13; 3:18-21 NET):

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind (φρονῆτε, another form of φρονέω), by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose (φρονοῦντες, a form of φρονέω).  Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.  Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.  You should have the same attitude (φρονεῖτε, another form of φρονέω) toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.  He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!  As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [e.g., yehôvâh] to the glory of God the Father.   So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed (ὑπηκούσατε, a form of ὑπακούω), not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,  for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think (φρονοῦντες, a form of φρονέω) about earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

Paul stressed that this thinking is not something we accomplish in the flesh.  He trusted God to accomplish it through his Spirit (Philippians 3:4b-15 NET):

If someone thinks (δοκεῖ, a form of δοκέω) he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials (σαρκί, a form of σάρξ), I have more: I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.  I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.  In my zeal for God I persecuted the church.  According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.  But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.  More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.  My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this.  Instead I am single-minded [ἓν δέ; “but one” or “one moreover”]: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind (σκοπὸν, a form of σκοπός), I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view (φρονῶμεν, another form of φρονέω).  If you think (φρονεῖτε, another form of φρονέω) otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

In Galatians Paul was concerned specifically about Gentile believers accepting circumcision as necessary or beneficial, but I think we can hear his words in this context as well, if we were to turn this thinking from the Holy Spirit into a human program to “live in harmony” (Galatians 5:4-10a NET Table):

You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!  For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love.  You were running well; who prevented you from obeying (πείθεσθαι, a form of πείθω) the truth?  This persuasion (πεισμονὴ) does not come from the one who calls you!  A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise!  I am confident (πέποιθα, another form of πείθω) in the Lord that you will accept (φρονήσετε, another form of φρονέω) no other view.[11]

Thinking of one another implies a mutual concern: I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) for me. (Now I know you were concerned [ἐφρονεῖτε, another form of φρονέω] before but had no opportunity to do anything.)[12]  And it implies some tolerance for one another’s quirks: One person regards (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω) one day holier than other days, and another regards (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω) them all alike.  Each must be fully convinced (πληροφορείσθω, a form of πληροφορέω) in his own mind.  The one who observes (φρονῶν, another form of φρονέω) the day does (φρονεῖ, another form of φρονέω) it for the Lord.[13]

While I don’t doubt that this thinking from the Holy Spirit will result in something like harmony or unity or agreement eventually, I’m not entirely comfortable when forms of φρονέω are translated agree: I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) in the Lord;[14] and, Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree (φρονεῖτε, another form of φρονέω) with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.[15]  I don’t believe that the Holy Spirit meant some form of group-think or committee work.

The Jerusalem council agreed unanimously to send a letter to the Gentiles which read: For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden (βάρος) on you than these necessary rules.[16]  James’ abbreviated version of the law followed.  It took individual believers not some corporate entity to set this error aright: For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments do not weigh (βαρεῖαι, a form of βαρύς) us down, because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world.[17]

I would like to think that μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρ᾿ ἑαυτοῖς (literally, “not become wise from himself, herself or themselves”) meant to become wise through the Holy Spirit.  But Paul used φρόνιμοι (a form of φρόνιμος) facetiously three other times (Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 4:10 and 2 Corinthians 11:19 NET).  Do not be conceited may be an adequate translation.  Only Jesus used φρόνιμοι seriously (Mathew 10:16-20 NET):

I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise (φρόνιμοι , a form of φρόνιμος) as serpents and innocent as doves.  Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues.  And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles.  Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time [Table].  For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Romans, Part 76

Back to Romans, Part 80

Back to Romans, Part 83

[1] Romans 12:16 (NET)

[2] Romans 12:3 (NET)

[3] Romans 15:4-6 (NET)

[4] Matthew 16:21-23 (NET)

[5] Mark 8:33 (NET)

[6] Matthew 16:24 (NET)

[7] Romans 8:5a (NET)

[8] Romans 8:5b (NET)

[9] Colossians 3:2, 3 (NET)

[10] Philippians 1:3-7 (NET)

[11] NET note 11: “Grk ‘that you will think nothing otherwise.’”

[12] Philippians 4:10 (NET)

[13] Romans 14:5, 6a (NET)

[14] Philippians 4:2 (NET)

[15] 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NET)

[16] Acts 15:28 (NET) Table

[17] 1 John 5:3, 4 (NET)

Romans, Part 70

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I’ll continue to consider Contribute (κοινωνοῦντες, a form of κοινωνέω) to the needs (χρείαις, a form of χρεία) of the saints, pursue hospitality.[1]  And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, Paul wrote, when I left Macedonia, no church shared (ἐκοινώνησεν, another form of κοινωνέω) with me in this matter (λόγον, a form of λόγος) of giving (δόσεως, a form of δόσις) and receiving (λήμψεως, a form of λῆψις) except you alone.  For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία).[2]

Here I begin to investigate contribute / shared in and the needs of the saints simultaneously.  Paul began this section of his letter with the words, I have great joy (Ἐχάρην, a form of χαίρω) in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me.[3]  He didn’t say, I was really pissed off because you haven’t sent me any money in a long time.  Young’s Literal Translation is clunkier in style but probably carries the tone better:  And I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye flourished again in caring for me, for which also ye were caring, and lacked opportunity…[4]

Was Paul worried about them?  It’s very likely: there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern (μέριμνα) for all the churches,[5] He wrote the Corinthians.  The Philippians had shared with him in the past, but then lacked opportunity.  Could it imply something more than lack of opportunity?  Thankfully, no.  Now I know you were concerned (ἐφρονεῖτε, a form of φρονέω) before but had no opportunity to do anything.[6]

Paul (and the NET translators) went out of his (their) way to say that he shared the joy (χαρὰ) of the Holy Spirit greatly (μεγάλως) in the Lord, because the Lord had kept the Philippians in Paul’s absence, and when the opportunity presented itself again the Lord’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in and through the Philippians expressed itself in tangible concern (φρονεῖν, another form of φρονέω) for Paul.

Am I adding words here?  Yes, I am, but I believe I have the heart of Paul and the Holy Spirit.  In Greek χαρὰ (joy) comes from χαίρω (rejoice).  But in the fruit of the Holy Spirit our χαίρω comes from his χαρὰ.  I tried (and failed, I think) to express a similar joy to my daughter when she picked me up at the airport.

I’ve known her since she was six-years-old, too small to drive.  I remember helping her learn how to drive.  I shared her anxiety when she failed her first driver’s test, and her elation when she passed the second.  But there is no way her mother or I would have been comfortable asking her to navigate airport traffic then.  I remember taking a taxi from the airport to the hospital where she lay pathetically, helplessly in a hospital bed after a stroke.

I remember what it was like when she and her brother and her mother greeted me at the airport.  And I remember when their greetings became more and more infrequent, until there were none at all.  And I certainly know what it is like now to land at the airport and make my own way home to a dark, empty apartment.

When she pulled up to me, waiting at the curb at the airport, yes, my daughter saved me some taxi fare (though I may have spent as much or more filling her empty gas tank).  But the money had nothing to do with my joy.  I lacked the presence of mind to say to her, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, though it’s clear to me now that’s what I meant.

I am not saying this because I am in need (ὑστέρησιν, a form of ὑστέρησις), Paul continued, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.[7]  And this is the context of an often misquoted verse (Philippians 4:12, 13 NET Table):

I have experienced times of need (ταπεινοῦσθαι, a form of ταπεινόω) and times of abundance.  In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.  I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

This last verse came up out of context in the movie Soul Surfer.  There will be spoilers here for those who haven’t seen it.  And please remember I’m not saying anything about the real Bethany Hamilton.  I don’t know Bethany Hamilton.  I’ve never even read her book.  I’m writing about a character in a movie named Bethany.

In the hospital after a shark attack, Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) asks her father Tom (Dennis Quaid), “When can I surf again?”

“Soon,” Tom answers.

“How do you know?”

“Because [you] can do all things,” Tom prompts her.

“Through Him who gives me strength,” Bethany finishes the quote from Philippians 4:13 (ESV/NIV).

She trains hard with this hope and learns to surf again on a very small board.  But when she tries to compete she discovers, “I can’t do this anymore!…I don’t understand.  What happened to ‘I can do all things’?”  Thus Philippians 4:13 is laid to rest in Soul Surfer.

It’s not a big deal if one knows what Philippians 4:13 actually means.  Earlier in the film she won graciously.  Here she lost; she failed.  It was one of those times of need Paul wrote about.  The Greek word translated times of need was ταπεινοῦσθαι, to depress, to humiliate, to make low, bring low.  And Bethany did learn to be content when she was depressed, humiliated, made low.

She returns to competition and has a tremendous ride that would have assured her win if it were not disqualified for starting past the allotted time of the final heat.  With a peace and joy that surpasses even Tom’s understanding Bethany is as gracious in defeat at the end of the movie as she was in victory near the beginning.

“Are you upset you didn’t win today?” a reporter asks.

“I didn’t come to win.  I came to surf,” Bethany answers.

She can do all this—be content in times of need and times of abundance as it related to losing and winning surfing competitions—through him who gives her strength.[8]  Conversely, if one doesn’t already know what Philippians 4:13 actually means, it probably won’t be gleaned from Soul Surfer.  After the hard-work montage preceding the final competition the message of the film on that count is something like he-who-gives-me-strength is not as good at making one a world class surfer as hard work.  This is a true message by the way.  People become world class surfers by training hard, irrespective of their faith in Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, if your goal is to share in the righteousness of God, the best your hardest work can achieve is hypocrisy.  You will be an actor, play-pretending at righteousness.  AnnaSophia Robb is one of the best young actors in the business, but Bethany Hamilton and Alana Blanchard did the difficult surfing scenes.  Hard working actors don’t become doers (poets) of the law either.  For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”[9]

Nevertheless, you did well to share with (συγκοινωνήσαντες, a form of συγκοινωνέω) me in my trouble,[10] Paul continued.  And again, he emphasized, I do not say this because I am seeking a gift (δόμα).[11]  And, For I have received everything, and I have plenty.  I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.[12] Rather, I seek the credit (καρπὸν, a form of καρπός) that abounds to your account (λόγον, a form of λόγος).[13]  I’m not so sure about translating fruit (καρπὸν) credit here.  The account, of course, is the λόγον each of us will give to God.  Who wouldn’t want to be able to say, I shared with Paul in his trouble?

My point, however, is that we trust God to work in us and through us by his Spirit, rather than second-guess Him by trying to establish our own works.  For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.[14]  And my God will supply your every need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία) according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.[15]  There is no quid pro quo here: Send money to Paul and his God will supply your every need.  Paul’s God supplies the desire and wherewithal to contribute as surely as He supplies every other need.  May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever.  Amen.[16]

In Soul Surfer when Bethany is depressed, humiliated and made low, Tom attempts to encourage his daughter.  Cheri (Helen Hunt), Bethany’s mother, effectively shuts him down.  “Listen to her,” she says.  But when Bethany is ready to compete again, she comes to her father, working in his surfboard shed, saying, “Hey, Dad, I need your help.”

Bethany has analyzed her problem.  With only one arm she can’t duck dive under the big waves paddling out to the line.  She gets caught, tumbling under water, in the impact zone.  Her father smiles, reaches up into the rafters and retrieves a surfboard, already prepared for her, with a handle in the center of the board she can grasp with one hand to duck dive.

The first of the needs (χρείαις, a form of χρεία) of the saints listed in the New Testament comes from the mouth of John, baptizing in the Jordan River.  Jesus came to him to be baptized but John protested, “I need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία) to be baptized by you…”[17] He had already described Jesus’ baptism by contrast to his own: I baptize you with (ἐν, or, in) water, for repentance…He will baptize you with (ἐν, or, in) the Holy Spirit and fire.[18]

As an introduction to how we should pray Jesus promised, your Father knows what you need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία) before you ask him.[19]  Are we afraid to approach Him?  When religious people questioned Jesus’ disciples, why he ate with sinners, He answered, “Those who are healthy don’t need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία) a physician, but those who are sick do.  Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’  For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”[20]

Jesus vigorously defended his followers from the judgment of the religious: “Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?”[21] they said as his disciples walked through the field plucking grain to eat.  “Have you never read what David did when he was in need (χρείαν, another form of χρεία) and he and his companions were hungry,” Jesus asked them, “how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?”[22] But Jesus didn’t let it drop there.  He took it one massive step further, saying, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.  For this reason the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”[23]

And finally, I come to a tale of two sisters, Martha and Mary.  It is particularly interesting to me because I think I was a Martha who wants to be a Mary (Luke 10:38-42 NET):

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened (ἤκουεν, a form of ἀκούω) to what he said.  But Martha was distracted (περιεσπᾶτο, a form of περισπάω) with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work (διακονεῖν, a form of διακονέω) alone?  Tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed (χρεία).  Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

[1] Romans 12:13 (NET)

[2] Philippians 4:15, 16 (NET)

[3] Philippians 4:10a (NET)

[4] Philippians 4:10 (YLT)

[5] 2 Corinthians 11:28 (NET)

[6] Philippians 4:10b (NET)

[7] Philippians 4:11 (NET)

[8] Philippians 4:13 (NIV) Table

[9] Romans 1:17 (NET)

[10] Philippians 4:14 (NET)

[11] Philippians 4:17a (NET)

[12] Philippians 4:18 (NET)

[13] Philippians 4:17b (NET)

[14] Ephesians 2:10 (NET)

[15] Philippians 4:19 (NET) Table

[16] Philippians 4:20 (NET)

[17] Matthew 3:14b (NET)

[18] Matthew 3:11 (NET)

[19] Matthew 6:8b (NET)

[20] Matthew 9:12, 13 (NET)

[21] Mark 2:24 (NET)

[22] Mark 2:25, 26 (NET)

[23] Mark 2:27, 28 (NET)