EPILUSIS 2 Peter

EPILUSIS

2 Peter 1: 20

on interpreting prophecy and scripture

τοῦτο πρῶτον γινῶσκοντες

ὅτι πᾶσα προφητεία γραφῆς ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται

this thing first knowing

that every prophecy of writing

of personal / private selfish implied loosening / solution not happening

Peter is about to tell about how to spot a false prophet ….

by prophecy of writing he means the Old testament prophets but many people have interpreted this as the Scriptures as a whole including the New Testament.

So why is this important? The next word is ἰδίας which is one of those Greek words you have to check the context of usage of for it can mean private or personal and usually with an implication of selfishness involved.

Some take this as meanng only mnisters and scholars should interpret scripture but others say it means not to interpet scripture to support your own personal views?

Note the use of ἐπιλύσις

Peter is talking about using scripture to look for solutions to problems or maybe condemning the sort of reading that looks for secret codes or those who claim their “loosening” of a verse is the word of God and then proceed to behave in away that shows their opinion.

Ἐπιλύσις means release loose solve explain and interpret.

How to assess interpretations. Peter gives us a guide.

False prophets and teachers disrupt religion deny jesus are greedy and make profit off their followers and they are self willed full of bravado speaking evil … judge them by their actions.

Think carefully about the Greek and English and be careful how you teach others.

And do read the whole of chapter 2 ?

This poster has an M.A. in Classical Greek and also blogs on Classical Greek culture and other related matters. 

Matthew AMEN

Matthew 5: 17 – 18 AMEN

Jesus begins his comments on the “LAW”

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας.

οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.

Ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθη ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ,

ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεράία οὐ μὴ παρέλθη ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου,

ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.

Literally not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets (the Old Testament)

not I came to destroy but to fulfill!

Truly for I say to you until pass away the sky and the earth (or heaven and the world)

dot one or one stroke = not any part however small will pass away of the law

until all happens (as prophesied)

νομίσητε from νομίζω N.b. Aorist Subjunctive plus negative

he is commanding his audiences to pay careful attention to his message

sometimes this use of the aorist subjunctive as a negative prohibition is translated as Let Not !!!

It's an order. While Greek did have an aorist Imperative there sems to be a preference for the subjunctive for “Don't do” type orders

καταλῦσαι is the aorist infinitive of καταλῦω …my aim is not to destroy ...

the law and the prophets

the books of law and prophecies were regarded as the most important part of the Old Testament

Amen is a loan word from Hebrew. Verily truly really indeed is all valid translations.

The amen says that the speaker wants you to trust what he says s being true and reliable.

There are many words in Hebrew Arabic Syriace and Aramaic derived from the A – M – N radical.

Παρέλθη another Aorist subjunctive

a dot or stroke … remember this is an age of handwritten letters.

Part of a letter could be intentionally or accidentally scraped off papyrus or parchment.

Note the DOUBLE NEGATIVE lest no not no none nothing οὐ μὴ until all happens

Now go and reread the whole passage in Greek or English or both!

However while the law abides to the world's end we have to apply the Law with compassion and justice. He does not say obsess on every detail he drwas our attention to its endurance. Some people claim only the most literal interpretations of scriptures are valid.

More on this next time. A note given the length of the following passages I will be not doing a word for word translation just drawign your attention to certain features of importance in greek.

Next week our Lord teaches about the Ten Commandments! Go and read Matthew 5 to get ready!

Readers in australian time zones I normally get this posted earlier but there was wifi interference! Sorry!

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 9

Blessed (are) the peacemakers for they sons of God will be called.

μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοὶ , ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.

Note well that the verse says peace MAKERS not just keepers but makers!

Εἰρήνη PEACE and ποιοὶ makers from the verb ποιέω

The name Irene is derived from the word for peace.

I do wonder why huios was used rather than paidos. This is one of the signs that indicate Matthew's first language was Hebrew or Aramaic.

Κληθήσονται is the future passive of καλέω call summon name.

Why κλη as a stem in the passive. Greek has a feature called metathesis and an tendency to avoid triple consonant patterns especially involving aspirated consonants like th.

What can we do to create peace for ourselves and others? 

Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 8

#Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 8

Blessed (are) the pure in (the) heart for they God will see.

μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

A simple straightforward verse expressing a beautiful idea.

The dative form of καρδία means no preposition ἐν is necessary in  Greek.

Ὄψονται is indeed the future form of horaoo ὁραω despite its p stem.

Its one of those irregular verbs you need to learn more details of so please consult your dictionary and grammar for full details.

Ὁραω is the present but in other tenses the stem is op – οπ – or heo when the augment is added leading to ἑόρακα. 

My next post for Christmas Eve will be about Luke Chapter 2 and the Angels

and there will a xmas ecard watch out for it !

Matthew 5 verse 4 COMFORT and ew verbs

Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 4

μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται

blessed those who are mourning for they will be comforted

noteworthy features

both verbs are εω verbs whose stems end in an e so they follow this contraction pattern ε + ω = ω ε + ει(ς) =εῖ(ς) ε + ο = οῦ etc.

πενθέω lament mourn grief here in 3^rd person plural participle form

παρακληθήσονται is the future passive 3^rd person plural of παρακαλέω

the same verb from which paraklete and para kleetos derive

summon call to help encourage exhort

however receiving help from the divine does not excuse us from our human obligations to try and help others so  remember what is written in James about faith and works.

Test Everything

TEST EVERYTHING

Or its okay to be a critic but not a fool.

Πάντα δοκιμάζετε Test or examine everything.

The verb Paul uses in Thessalonicians 5.21 is one that means you should be looking for proof and evidence the dokima or marks of genuineness like a metal assayer testing the purity of metals.

Paul also advises Timothy and Titus not to allow their congregations to be caught up in endless vain discussions of myths genealogies and speculations that lead to foolish strife quarrels and controversies. Note that he does not ban speculation or discussion but he wants it to be instructive not divisive or destructive. Note also he's talking about church doctrines not practical science.

Πάντα δοκιμάζετε Test or examine everything.

A good motto for a scholar whatever their beliefs?