spirit_manifest (original) (raw)

12:17 pm - Philippians 2:5-7

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God,

did not consider it robbery to be equal with God

, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (NKJV)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped

, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (NIV)

as i compared these two translations, i couldn't help but notice the significant difference in meaning of the underlined phrase.

the NKJV says Jesus did not think being equal to God was robbery, something acquired illegitimately. Jesus was legitimately equal to God.

the NIV says Jesus did not think being equal to God was something to be grasped - the meaning of this is not as clear. does it mean He did not think it was something to be reached out for? attained? or does it mean grasp in the sense of "held onto"?

i looked up the passage in greek at http://bible.crosswalk.com and found that the word being translated is harpagmos. its a noun that carries the idea of seizing, "a thing seized or to be seized", and comes from a root word which means "to seize". it's hard to translate because we don't really have a workable noun for that in english. the closest fit might be "seizure", but that word strongly implies heart failure =)

using a literal, minimalist translation, the phrase reads, "did not consider it seizure [harpagmos] to be equal with God".

hrm. still not much help.

so what do bible geeks do when cornered? they google. i found a LOT of commentary on this topic. most of it was by grammarheads who speak their own, incomprehensible language. but i did come across a reference to an article in the 1971 edition of Harvard Theological Review, Volume 64 which turned out to be very helpful. i dug through my collection of HTR back-issues, found the article, and scanned it to post here.

(important note:

no i didnt!

dont believe me when i say stuff like that. i only do it to mess with you.)

the article does a good job of demonstrating that the greek expression "to consider a thing harpagmos [something to seize upon]" was an idiomatic phrase that meant to take advantage of something.

we have a similar expression in english but we use a verb instead of a noun and only use it in reference to time or opportunity. we say, "seize the day" or "seize the moment", meaning to take advantage of the time. the greeks would have said "consider the day harpagmos [something to seize upon]".

i think this goes a long way in making sense of the verses in Philippians.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God

something to take advantage of

, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

there are advantages to being God. Jesus chose to forego them, suffering the weaknesses and pains of life in mortal flesh, and the torment of being hung to death on a cross with all our sins heaped upon Him.

08:21 am

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink.
She noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and asked, Why are some of your hairs white, Momma?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this for a while and then asked, "Momma, how come ALL of Grandma's hairs are white?"

11:59 pm

And do not fear those who can kill the body but not the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. - Matt. 10:28

09:35 am

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:18-30

01:24 pm - one thing that I desire...

For my brothers and sisters who are saved by Him:

We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.

::excited shake::

09:54 pm - The parables of Jesus

Current Mood: thoughtful

09:24 am - 1 corinthians 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

01:13 pm

"I am the vine; you are the branches," said Jesus. "If a man abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

10:40 pm

When the Devil comes knocking at your door with doubts, fears or weird thoughts, what should you do?
a) Throw open the door & invite him & his little doubtlets in to sit down & have a chat!
b) Start concentrating on & analysing every weird thought, fear or doubt so that you can logically argue against them.
c) Slam the door so hard & fast in his face, that it cuts his nose off!

The answer is C, AMEN!