Politics as Usual?

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20  NASB

Citizenship –  When you read this verse, doesn’t anything seem odd to you?  It doesn’t matter if you read it in the NIV (“but our citizenship is in heaven.”)  Both English translations say pretty much the same thing.  What they say implies something that might not fit the orientation of a Hebrew thinker like Paul.  The Greek word (politeuma) doesn’t quite mean what the English translations suggest, (we mentioned it here).  We have to dig a bit to see why.

Politeuma is only used one time in the New Testament.  It’s part of the polis family of words (our idea of politics).  But rather than being about a citizen, politeuma is really about the state itself, the commonwealth or community administration that governs its members.  The word politeuo means “citizen,” as we see in Acts 22:28, but the emphasis of politeuma is not on the individual who is a citizen but rather on the governing commonwealth.

Read this verse again.  When we read it with the English translation “citizenship,” where does the emphasis lie?  Doesn’t this translation imply that each of us is a citizen?  Doesn’t the translation focus on our individual rights and calling as God’s children?  Doesn’t it suggest that we should be carrying passports issued from heaven?  But what would this verse suggest if the word politeuma were translated “commonwealth” or “community”?  Suddenly the Greek individualism disappears.  Now the verse suggests that we are all one within the commonwealth, that the most important thing is not you and me but rather the relationship we have to the governing administration of heaven.  Now Paul sounds like a Hebrew rather than a Greek.

When you read this verse the first time, did this Greek emphasis on the individual citizenship bother you?  Did it raise a tiny question in the back of your mind?  Did you hear a little voice saying, “Wait a minute!  That’s doesn’t sound very Hebraic to me.  I wonder what the Greek word really means?”  Probably you didn’t think like this.  That’s OK.  That’s why you read expositions like this one – so someone else will raise questions that often go right by us.  But now your awareness has been tweaked.  Now you will have to read with a sharper eye, sorting out the Greek philosophical perspective from the deeper layers of Hebrew thought.

If you step back a few verses, you will find that Paul is exhorting readers to walk according to the governing principles of the commonwealth of heaven.  In other words, live as God expects.  It’s fascinating to notice that there is only one commonwealth of heaven, only one heavenly administration.  Everyone who belongs comes under the same legislation.  One God.  One Torah.  One Messiah.  One community of the saints.

 Topical Index:  politeuma, citizenship, commonwealth, polis, Philippians 3:20

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Christina Venter

Amein and Amein! Abba want peace and unity in the body of Moshiach! Lets start bracking down the divitions and barriers so that His love can flow freely to everyone He wants to reach. A Humble heart and brocken spirit will do the job! All glory to our Father and King for what He is doing in His Yisrael!

carl roberts

“ONE LORD! ONE FAITH! ONE BAPTISM! One G-d and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4.5,6,7)
“For you are all children of G-d through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” (Galatians 3.26-29)
“A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133.1)
“For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers.., (Hebrews 2.11)

Michael

“One God. One Torah. One Messiah. One community of the saints.”

Hmmm

Apparently, the One Messiah can take two forms: “Suffering Servant” and “Warrior King”

Both tend to endure a lot of pain, or so it seems to me.

Jan Carver

i hope death is much more than this life because i have been looking forward to leaving this old world behind – something has to be better than this in Christ. Life is hard & by the sweat of our brow(s) but i have always looked forward to going “home” & my citizenship being elsewhere – something far beyond my/our comprehension as we are told in His Word(s) – beyond all we can imagine & i’m sure also that it is “good”… ♥

i think we on this earth don’t think about what is in/the here after – heaven – being with HIM & how what we do here will affect what happens there – yes, this world & our life here is a means to an end or should i say/state/type a beginning… ♥

perhaps i am to heavenly to be any earthly good (but i doubt it)…

@Michael – we all will/shall/are sharing in the suffering(s) of Christ Jesus = PAIN… ♥

jan

Michael

“Politics as usual?”

Hmmm

According to the hero of the movie The Professionals:

Jesus Raza: “Everything is as usual. I need guns and bullets, as usual. The war goes badly, as usual.
Only you, you are not as usual.”

(Note Jesus is in Warrior King mode here)

His comrad, Bill Dolworth, now works for money (a professional)

But Jesus works for La Revolución (a higher law)

Jimmy Burgess

Jan,

The subject of “going” to heaven seems to be the most discussed issue among the people today. In his book Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo has succeeded in doing what countless others have done through the years which is to take people’s focus off of “how to live” and shifted it to “where we go.” I find myself in the discussion of the afterlife far too often. I, too, long to escape troubles and trials, but the thought of leaving this world to enter into a heavenly utopia does not seem to fit the teaching of Scripture.

I have often asked this question when I sense a fixation on the “perfectness” and longing for heaven (escape): If our belief is that heaven is the perfect escape from pain and suffering, and we are instantly ushered into the presence of God, then why don’t we all just commit suicide? It seems logical to seem. After asking the question, some think I have lost my mind. Others suggest it is because we are here to help others see the Way……ahhh, to which I respond “Exactly!”

Blessings,
Jimmy

Jan Carver

Mr. Burgess, I had to laugh at your response & wonder if you read the same scriptures that I do in regard to heaven. I haven’t read anything in a long time (in regard to what man has written) regarding heaven & going there or been there & came back – not that I don’t believe that can happen.

But I think that in scripture we are to look toward our heavenly home because our citizenship is not in/of this world. I don’t find myself in conversations about the after life at all except just recently in my last two posts/comments here. AND – I am not trying to escape anything & nor do I nor my believing friends think that we should commit suicide to get there – that is a pretty ludicrous idea for sure (on your part).

I am not fixated on “perfectness” but know there is no One perfect except HIM & His Word(s) promise there is no pain & suffering there/heaven. I also feel/think/read that what we do here will determine what we do there/heaven & I look forward to receiving many crowns/jewels/mansions – if it were not so – He would not have told us so – He goes to prepare a place for us – do you not believe this utopia He talks/writes of in the scriptures???

Yes, my mind is set on Christ & my heavenly home with Him & it surely is not all about this world that I/we live in…

jan

btw: i can only praise HIM because i experience no pain or suffering in my body or emotionally – not like some people in this world do – so i really don’t have anything to try to escape from – life is pretty good for me at this point in time – but it would be nice to escape from the worldliness of what we believers live in & live with our King in peace for at least a 1,000 years or more…

Jimmy Burgess

Jan,

My suggestion of suicide is merely fun hypothetical sarcasm. You are correct in that I probably do not read the same Scripture you do if you are simply reading an English, Greek biased translation. The Hebrew idea of Heaven is quite different than the contemporary idea. I shall simply refer you to Skip’s article posted this month.

https://skipmoen.com/2011/07/02/knock-knock-knocking-on-heaven%e2%80%99s-door/

In Christ,
Jimmy

Jan Carver

I found this posted on an article on my face book this morning & thought it would be a great scripture to share with you concerning where my thoughts/mind is about heaven. I guess you or Skip can pick it apart & give us the “real” meaning of it:

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,not earthly things.” For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:1-3

Ms. Jan

btw: suicide is never ” merely fun hypothetical sarcasm” – suicide is from the enemy – stealing, killing, destroying & should never be poked at for mere fun hypothetical sarcasm.