A Sensible Belief Thoughts on Logike

A Sensible Worship 

Thoughts on Logike's Usage Romans 12:1 

One of the few translations I do have issues with is the RSV reading of Logike in Romans 12:1 as spiritual

KJV has reasonable service 

Other versions translate logike as reasonable or rational.

The actual words in Greek are 

Logikeen latreian 

Paul asks the Romans to offer their bodies as a living offering holy and acceptable for you 

I support the use of reasonable or even sensible here for look at the next verses

12:2 the renewal of the mind nous proving the will of god 

Belief and faith as a process and result of thought ? 

Then in 3 he asks people to soophronein to think to think moderately with good common sense to be sensible about faith and he also goes on to link this to actions and gifts

Anyway read Romans 12 and I especially recommend that very useful passage Verses 9 -21 

Don't let discussing one word become a hindrance and overcome evil with good v.21.     

MIA

 #mia #classicalgreek #adjective #julievaux #wordstudy

OVER on my METOUSIA PATREON I'm posting this month about MIA the adjective meaning ONE used with feminine gender nouns . There are pdfs and pngs Mostly free Some in the $1 and $5 tiers 

Please come and pay a visit and learn more about MIA  METOUSIA _ PATREON

Partiality and Faces

There's a word only used in the #NewTestament in #Greek that gets translated as favoritism respect bias or partiality. #prosoopolee(m)psia.

It appears in Romans 2:11, (RSV) "For God shows no partiality."
It is also used in Acts 10:34, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9, and Colossians 3:25.

It appears to have been created to translate Hebrew verbs expressing the same idea such as those used in Deut 10:17. and other verses. Google partiality in the Bible and you'll see a wide variety of terms in the Old Testament but words used in the Greek Testament are a smaller group?

Now the Greek is face/ appearance prosoopon plus le(m)psia which derives from lambano.
Literally its face taking so it appears  that for Paul and Peters congregations bias and favoritism was having your respect for a person or giving a person respect or privilege based on their OUTwards appearance or social persona, rank, ethnicity, or religious.

God does not make binary or other distinctions between Hebrews and Sojourners, Jews and Greeks, slave and free, rich and poor, a convert like Cornelius the centurion or Jew by birth like Paul.

Divine and human justice is not based on privilege or who you are but what you have done.

Dunasthe

#Markchapter14verse7 #dunasthe  #wordstudy #koinegreek

Mark Chapter 14 Verse 7 is definiteky one of those verses where a knowledge of Greek helps.

Pantote gar tous ptookhous ekhete meth' heautoon 

kai hotan theleete dunasthe autois eu poieesai, 

eme de ou pantote ekhete

I want to draw your attention to the words hotan theleete dunasthe !

whenever you will / wish want to note the SUBJUNCTIVE PRESENT

then the Middle of dunamai ... most translations use can or may but this is a  bit weak 

dunamai I am able I have the power to do something 

whenever you are willing to 

you have the power or possiblity to do good 

some of us have the desire and not the power or vice versa

ideally we would have both ?

Is AGAPE A LOAN WORD

Is AGAPE a loan Word from an West Semitic Afroasiatic language?

I've seen arguments for and against but I think yes for THREE reasons

ONE

There are no cognates to AGAPE in other IndoEuropean languages
even if you prefer the agape is aga with a verbal suffix added why no other cognates ?

TWO Hebrew Aramaic and Arabic have cognate words !

Aramaic has Chav / Hoeba etc KH-V
Hebrew has AHAV  HB
Arabic has H B B  hubb habba ahabba.

But Agape appears in Homer!
 Yes and so do Phoenician traders and stories about Greeks and Phoenicians intermarrying.

But Hebrew and Aramaic the Rkh M stem  more frequently!

So how do I explain this?

I think just as it is in modern standard colloquial Arabic likewise in ancient time it was a popular non literary term. Slang even !

It was brought to Greece maybe as early as the Mycenaean period by refugees from the collapse and defeat of the Hyksos dynasty described in myths as Egyptians and hearing it used by later Phoenician traders reinforced its usage plus there would have been Greek mercenaries who picked it up working in the Near East for the Assyrians and Persians alongside others who spoke West Semitic languages.

Frankly I expect there is a reasonable chance cognates to H B B will turn up on ancient tablets yet to be discovered.

One last point.

How did or could (a)H vowel B change to agape?

There is evidence many words or syllables starting with p or b may be been gw or kw sounds in older forms of Greek.

The sound written H in our alphabet in modern Western Semitic languages is an unvoiced version of AYN and ... we tend to hear ha but maybe greeks could only say gwa or hwa and changed the BB to a P the two Bs fusing into one P ?

We can't know for sure but this is what I speculate happened!

Your choice which you prefer!

If anyone reading this blog is far more fluent in Aramaic than me I've love to see and add some more examples that are NOT cited in the most common Google searches.

PRIDE

#greeknewtestament #bibelstudy #wordstudy #hypereephania

The Word used in the Greek New Testament and other secular prose and poetry that we translate as Pride or Arrogance has a very different etymology and origin than the word we use in English which is borrowed from French.


In #mark7:22 HYPEREEPHANIA is listed as a human sin

Note that the long e is inserted as the greeks had an almost involuntary hardwired dislike of  certain combinations of medial double consonants except in passive verb forms. You see r + ph in short words but the greeks with their passion for rhetoric were very careful about having balanced euphony to the thought of obsession.

It literally translates as over+appearance with the idea something is TOO obvious conspicious or bright and while sometimes used as a compliment was often used to describe people who thought too highly of themselves.

IN English we sometimes use Pride with a meaning of self respect but the Greek word does not have this connotation in texts I've seen. This is the form of Pride that's an egomania or obsession with status or thinking of one as being better or more important than others when you're not.

Having Too Much PLEONEXIA

In #mark 7 Jesus lists #pleonexia as a sin. #biblestudy #greeknewtestament #pleonexia

The Greek New Testament uses this word meaning avarice or greed also translated as covetousness in some older and other versions.

Coveting again is not just desire but misdirected desire.

The word breaks down into two roots pleo(n) probably from pleioon more and exia from ekhein to have.

This is more in the sense of EXCESS TOO MUCH having and wanting so sometimes in Greek it can also mean arrogance or advantage but however here it is clearly greed being referred to so remember

GREED IS NOT GOOD 

Moikheia and Adultery Spoiling Relationships

#wordstudy #biblestudy #newtestamentgreek

IN Mark 7 Jesus includes Adultery in a list of sins and our text uses the word MOIKHEIA probably to translate Hebrew /Aramaic * Naaph or some variant thereof.

(Sorry I have limited Hebrew / Aramaic ... if anyone reading knows for sure please share info via comments)

Now Adultery is listed separately from Porneia because its not just sexual immorality but a sin that alters relationships and the Greek and Latin words we translate as adultery also translate as spoil or corrupt or seduce.

Adultery is a wilful disruption of a stable relationship. Perhaps not just marriage?  Or even religious marriage but civil or de facto also ?

But affairs are romantic impulse you claim ... well sometimes yes and also there's the issue of people having abusive spouses or being trapped in an arranged marriage.

Just don't cheat on your spouse.

 Make as clean as possible a break if your bonds emotional or legal or other are broken beyond repair.

And support people who have to escape abusive relationships or arranged marriages to an incompatible partner! Don't tell them to stay and suffer for the "sake of the children" or family "honor" or because their partner might change?

Common and profane and Koinos

#word study #koinos  #newtestament
The words koinos and koinoo are often translated as profane or unclean or defile but the actual words originally mean common or shared.

The use of koinos and koinoo as an insult may have contributed to the change of meaning.

In Mark 7 the Pharisees and Scribes criticized the disciples of Jesus for not following a hand washing ritual before eating. The word used in Greek is KOINOS. This suggests perhaps many ordinary "common" people were eating without ritual hand washing unlike stricter followers of tradition.

Now the Pharisees regarded this as not just being unhygienic or untraditional but sinful hence Jesus rebuttal pointing out it is sin that defiles not food.

Also bear in mind the modern English usage of disdaining an action as being "terribly common" and how "vulgar" came to have a negative connotation when it originally meant popular or common and you'll see how koinos became "profane".

However sadly some late Christian ascetics carried this to the opposite extreme claiming bathing and other hygienic was sinful.

Don't follow either extreme just be sensible!

METANOEITE - change yourself

#METANOEI

#wordstudy #gospel #greeknewtestament #classicalgreek

One of the first direct quotes from Jesus in Mark's Gospel is a statement that includes the word METANOEITE,( Mark 1:15) generally translated as REPENT, however its actually more a command to think again about previous actions and thoughts, you change because you have changed your mind or NOOS.

Note that Jesus doesnt say repent your sins but just METANOEITE!

You can check the LSJ online Lexicon sitehttp://stephanus.tlg.uci.edu/ to confirm this but I want to recommend you look at one of Wesleys Sermons: VII of the 44 collected sermons. NO I'm not a Methodist but I found a copy of his sermons at a book sale and allowing for the 18th century context there is much sound common sense in them.

Some quotes from Wesley: " 'repent"; that is, know yourselves."

and further along "cease from evil, and learn to do well,

Modern readers may find his discussion of sin and guilt disturbing but bear in mind he also advises his listeners and readers to "be deeply sensible of this,"

Awareness of error is part of changing your mind.

Why cite Wesley. Remember he was a scholar who studied Latin and Greek before he became a preacher.

Metanoeite could also be literally translated as "Have after thoughts" or Consider your previous actions. Note also this is place before the words have faith in the Gospel.

Repentance is change. Metanoei Metaballei

KAIROS

KAIROS

#kairos #time #greeklanguage #oratory #biblestudy
There's a word at the beginning of Marks Gospel that also features in Classical Greek Literature and Oratory and Discussions of Rhetorical Technique

KAIROS

Mark 1:15 RSV translation "The Time is fulfilled ..." its Kairos not Khronos in Greek!

"Pepleerootai ho kairos " Why Kairos and not Khronos?

Kairos is not just time in general or season or event but the moment to take action, a kind of pivotal turning point during which action will have results whether its stabbing someone in a vital organ leading an attack giving a speech that's an exhortation to action or in the case of Marks Gospel, Jesus "heralding the good news from god" and telling people to repent and believe.

The use of kairos is an exhortation and a calling to action.

A final note on Kairos. The Romans translated it with a word that is the ancestor of our English word opportunity.

So whether you are reading about it in Aristotle Isocrates or the New Testament think about what sor tof "Time" is being referred to: Khronos or Kairos.

EXOUSIA

#greeknewtestament #wordstudy #biblestudy #koinegreek

The last words of Jesus in Matthews Gospel are an exhortation even an order to go and make students of all the nations to baptize them and teach people to keep on doing what Jesus taught.

( I should note there that matheuoo could also be translated as instruct rather than make to learn though it was strengthened by the use of the Imperative)

I'm going to analyze this paragraph in more detail over the next few weekends but first I want you to consider one word:

EXOUSIA

Verse 18 in the final chapter 

"It has been given to me ..."

Power and Authority over all heaven and earth!

What a startling statement this is when you give it deeper thought.

Many of my readers may be thinking "Yes Jesus is Lord!" but think about how great this power is!

Jesus is saying to his disciples that he has power greater than the Roman emperors and the magistrates and officials who served i,t or the temple theocracy or other powers, human , and more than human! Think how shocking that use of exousia would be to people in the first century who saw Rome dominating the known world.

Does he tell the disciples to worship him or rebuke them for doubting his resurrection?

No he commands them to do what he did, to travel about and teach others, to continue and complete the ongoing mission.

I end by reminding you what Jesus stated to be the two greatest commandments.

Love God and your neighbors with all your heart mind and soul.

PRESSURE or why we use Tribulation to translate thlipsis

PRESSURE

Why is #tribulation used to translate #thlipsis?

#wordstudy #biblestudy #greeknewtestament

The word thlipsis appears three times in Matthew 24 and Paul uses it 3 times in Romans and once in Thessalonicans 1: Chapter 3 - 4

Now Thlipsis and the related verb Thliboo mean to to press hard or rub something so it gets translated as Affliction Suffering Oppression and frequently as TRIBULATION.

Tribulation is cognate to thlibow its stem is tribo rub and its easy to see how t in Latin corresponds to th in Greek and the r to the l.

Consider the relationship of the VULGATE to the King James Version

The Vulgate usually translates thlibo and thlipsis to tribulatio.

The translators of the KJV probably learnt and used Latin far more frequently than Greek and would have grown up with the Latin Vulgate version.

Tribulatio would have been an obvious choice.

However the translators of the RSV and other later versions in English wanted to respect the traditional familiar KJV yet also reflect the Greek texts more accurately than the KJV too so in the RSV we see afflictions oppressions and suffering  used as well as tribulations.

Finally in Latin a tribula or tribulum is a sledge used for crushing the husks off wheat and other grains so a negative pressure a crushing.

EAN and IF EVER

Before we start Chapter 18 time for another word study.

If you read the #gospels in #newtestamentgreek and also read #Classicalgreek you have probably noticed #koinegreek in the #newtestament uses #ean and #subjunctive a lot more than #ei and subjunctive or #optative.

So a note on #EAN

EAN is defined as a Conjunction used at the start of a clause that contains a #conditional statement expressed by the use of the #subjunctive #verb mode in GREEK. It is a fusion of EI - IF and AN a conditional marker and has an #adverbial function!

It does not just say if  but it shows you that some that might might happen a probable condition event or action is a topic. Probable NOT Actual.

Compare if you have a dictionary ei to ean,  ho (relative not article) to hotan and epeidan to epei etc.

IF A THEN B is possible

oR ean mee A = NOT IF B is NOT ? UNLESS EXCEPT

Then we have ean and av plus relatives changing who what or which to SO EVER or EVER
Who A does B then ... UNFILLED CONDITION

As far as I can make out from my VERY limited knowledge of Aramaic and some googling of Aramaic that language has several ways of saying IF or IF SO EVER IF THAT and one of them is Word the site transcribed as Aen OeAn or D'eaN ... mmm very similar to AN and EAN?

I can see Jesus picking that form cos the word had a very similar meaning in both Greek and Aramaic and as several of the disciples may have been bilingual ...?

However the important thing to remember is that if you see EAN you will see a SUBJUNCTIVE verb and the sentence that verb appears in will be what grammar texts call CONDITIONAL.

A statement about something that is probable hypothetical general ... uncertain not fixed or finished ...

This is perhaps more elegant logical and powerful  than the English language's can could shall should may might etc...etc ...?

If you are reading this because you can't read Greek but are intrigued by notes in your commentary YES SUBJUNCTIVE is VERY IMPORTANT in GREEK.

Keep an eye out for those subjunctives. Some translators and commentators tend to under stress or over simplify them!

And use the Conditional carefully and thoughtfully in English too ?

FAITH GROUP

 The “FAITH” group of words deriving from a * πιτ stem is interesting for several reasons whether you are a #biblical or# classical scholar or student.

Faith trust confidence and persuasion are all related in Greek deriving from a *pVdental stem

     πει(σ)      πειθ     ποιθ     πιστ

Cognate with Latin #Fides and English #faith which also comes from latin via ME feith OF feid also the origin of Modern French Foi .

Apart from the semantics issues of a wide group of words generated from one stem there's the sound changes aspects as this group also demonstrates the alternates of o / e and the dentals s t and the aspirated dental t^h that later became a fricative.

We have πείθω and πείθομαι and the related verbs πιστεύω and πιστόω along with the adjective πιστός and that adjective used to rebuke the Disciples ὀλιγοπιστίαν and faith itself, πιστις.

Back to semantics Faith is an action and a relationship as well as virtue.

One might obey rely upon trust believe or be persuaded because something or one is also allegedly and hopefully faithful credible and trustworthy.

Seeing πείθ- or πιστ- start a word is like a signpost helping one establish a possible meaning even if its a verb form or rare variant you are less familiar with.