still hardly any followers ???
You've read the tags and might be wondering what Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics might have to do with the Gospel of Matthew and my ongoing #Whatjesussaid series of posts ?
Okay Todays short quote really demos how knowing some Greek and reading "pagan" literature and philosophy is a good thing for Christians doing Bible Study and GREEK Philosophy students!
Matthew 14:27
The apostles have seen Jesus walk on water towards them and think its a ghost of spirit or something. Note that Matthew uses the word PHANTASMA in Greek in verse 26. Now Phantasma is the origin of Phantom and a Phantom is NOT just a ghost or spirit but the APPEARANCE of something that SEEMS and can be SEEN as UNREAL ODD UNUSUAL such as a man walking on water on a dark and stormy night? They really werent quite sure what they were seeing but it startled them literally "Spooked" them?!
Jesus doesnt give them a long speech about the nature of reality or miracles but just short and simply commands and encourages them
THARSEITE EGOO EIMI MEE PHOBEITE
It could be translated here as be brave / confident / happy /
and its coupled with its opposite state PHOBEOO / PHOBOS FEAR
So where's the Aristotle link?
Are you aware of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and his Doctrine of Means.
Read book two and read other sections in which he discusses courage.
WHile he uses the word andreia note how he uses thrasutees to mena rashness or over confidence and a kind of BAD courage.
Yes Thrasutees also comes form Tharsoo due to the greek habit of reversing some syllables ! especially thra / thar clusters!
Aristotle's usage confirms that a word can change meaning in different contexts or have an extra meaning that that mind require a NOTE added to the translation.
Thi ties too to 14:31 which we will dicuss next time!
Please do consider reading Aristotle's Ethics if you have not already done so if only to increase your vocabulary of words used to discuss ethics!
And read the whole second part of Matthew 14 with its theme of the power of faith.
Finally in reference in recent events don't support ISLAMOPHOBIA
Remember we share a PROPHET.
Reach out to any Muslim neighbours with RAOK random acts of kindness. Don't preach or discuss politics unless they want to! Show them they have nothing to fear and protecting them from bigots is the best way to prevent "radicalization".
Thank you for reading this.
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