Shrink Wrap
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB
Honorable – What does Mark 7:7 have to do with Isaiah 29:13 and Philippians 4:8? The two Greek texts connect us to the Hebrew word kibduni (from kabed), “to be heavy, weighty with respect.” But the Greek word itself is about fear, not glory. Homer uses the word in the sense of “shrinking from” something that brings about awe. Eventually this word takes on the sense of veneration, and becomes part of the Greek idea of religious worship. But when we find the word in the New Testament, some oddities need to be explained.
The expected word for Gentiles who worship YHWH is “God-fearers” (phoboumenoi). You can see the word phobos (fear) in this construction. But six times in Acts our word sebomenoi (honorable) is substituted where we would expect to find phoboumenoi. Why? Because the audience made up of Gentiles (Greek speaking people in these cases) would have found phobos a very strange way of speaking about worship and God. Unlike Hebrew where yare’ carries the nuance of awe and reverence, phobos suggests trepidation and fright. In the Greek mind, this is not motivation for worship. So these instances in Acts use sebomenoi, a word that conveys honor and veneration, thoughts much more akin to worship in Greek thinking.
This is quite interesting. It suggests that Paul and Luke chose words that communicated their message according to the understanding of the audience. They translated a Hebrew idea into an appropriate Greek term even though it meant choosing a word that wasn’t the usual equivalent.
Now we find a derivative of this same word in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Here the word (semna – semnos) means “what is worthy of reverence, majestic, honorable.” In the few occurrences in the LXX, it can mean what is holy or sacred. Paul’s use makes it clear that it is about behavior. It isn’t simply about your thoughts. It is about the resulting practice of what you think. To dwell on these things is to make them into actions that exhibit your life’s character.
Let’s combine our findings. From the Hebrew background we see that what is honorable is connected to God’s glory. We also find that translating this into the Greek culture requires us to use a term that speaks of veneration and reverence, avoiding the misunderstanding about fear. Then we discover the term includes nuances about holiness and the sacred. And finally, we learn that it isn’t merely cognitive. It is about what we think and do. From this we can draw a picture about what Paul means when he says “whatever is honorable.” “Whatever is honorable” is essentially whatever delights God. It is whatever brings Him glory, shows reverence for His name, lifts up His holiness and exhibits His character in our actions. Perhaps this little linguistic exploration will expand your understanding of the scope of Paul’s carefully chosen word. Then you can ask yourself, “Is God smiling with me today?”
Topical Index: honorable, semnos, Philippians 4:8, yare’, kabed, phobos
“what is worthy of reverence, majestic, honorable.”
God Morning Skip!
Something about this post reminds me of my Mother! So, with the guidance of the Sweet and Holy Spirit, i am led to share this recipe:
“I steep a combo of thyme, rosemary, savory, & mint, with honey & lemon to heal; flu, bronchitis, coughs, upset stomach – and rid my pets of parasites. Great for canine cough too!”
Fresh is best, but you might be able to find a prepration in tea bag form. Don’t forget to steep! (hey – that is what shrink wrap reminds me of! Saran wrap!
Buttermilk is good for stomach ailments.
Walking in the Sonshine,
me
“Something about this post reminds me of my Mother!
So, with the guidance of the Sweet and Holy Spirit,”
Hi Jeanette,
That “reminder” of your mother is a reflection of your own sweet and Holy Spirit
My takeaway from this post reflects one aspect of my mother as well
My mother did not “suffer fools gladly” and, when provoked, was known to have a “sharp” tongue
And I must admit that when I read Mark 7, I can feel the same venom in the words of Jesus
When it comes to dealing with Hypocrisy
For example, when the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus
Why his disciples did not live according to the tradition of the elders
And instead ate their food with “unclean” hands
Jesus replied:
“It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture:”
Mark 7:7
This people honors me only with lip service
While their hearts are far from me
The worship they offer me is worthless
The doctrines they teach are but human regulations
What I see now and what I’ve always tended to believe is the following slogan
Karl Marx 1844
“From each according to his ability
To each according to his need (or needs)”
For me, the truth of Marx’s ethic above
Can be seen most clearly
In my AA meetings
BTW
I was watching the Bloomberg Channel last night (tech/business programs)
And a special documentary on the life of Rupert Murdoch started to play
Murdoch was a “corporate raider” who always struck me as the epitome of capitalism
What I learned last night was that as a young man attending Oxford University
Murdoch was a devout Marxist
he was a devout Marxist
Hi Mikie!
Well, you know that adage “X marks the spot?” Been seeing a lot of exes lately.
Shalom!
BTW
I was watching the Bloomberg Channel last night (tech/business programs)
And a special documentary on the life of Rupert Murdoch started to play
Murdoch was a “corporate raider” who always struck me as the epitome of capitalism
What I learned last night was that as a young man attending Oxford University
Murdoch was a devout Marxist
~ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting ~ (Psalm 139.24)
My what? David had “anxious thoughts?” David, you Greek-thinker you.. Don’t think at all. David, don’t be Greek. Be Hebrew. Just do.
True Jews (apparently) don’t worry or fret or “think.” Only in the Greek world do people think “anxious thoughts,” and when Jesus said, “do not be anxious about tomorrow,” He must have been talking to a Greek audience for the “true Jews” would ask, “are You talking to me?.” What? Me worry?
And even the scores of exhortations (written for who?) in our (he said “our”) Bible, (These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us- “who” is “us?”) -“Fear not!”
What was the first announcement spoken to the adams (the shepherds) tending their flocks at night when the angel (the messenger) of the LORD appeared unto them? -And lo, they were “sore afraid,” but the angel said unto them.. (what?) “Fear not!” For behold, (take a good long look y’all) I bring unto you “glad tidings of great joy” – (the first ever “gospel” presentation!) which shall be “to the Jew only..(?).”
No Hector.. try it one more time.. -“which shall be to (who?) – which shall be to “all people..” The gospel, (the good news) of Jesus (who is the) Christ is for all people- everywhere. No one, (not one) is excluded- not even the Gentiles. ~ For I am not ashamed of “The Gospel,” because it is the power of God for the life of ALL who believe in it, whether of The Judeans first, or of the Aramaeans ~
Busted. But what is the “gospel?” What a wonderful “Bible” word.
“And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Matthew 27.37)
Matthew was written to convince the Jews that Yeshua was (and remains!) the promised Messiah. The book opens with a genealogy to prove that Jesus was an heir to King David.
Matthew was written primarily to the Jews. Above His head on the tslav (the execution stake) was written in three languages – here is Yeshua/Jesus/G-d -King of the Jews. “Melekabod” – My God is King.And God, through the apostle Paul in Romans tells us “the gospel,” the “good news,”- Jesus saves.
~ And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS ~ (Luke 23:38) (the Jews require a sign..)
~ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved (and are being saved) it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach/proclaim Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; But to them which are called, *BOTH* Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God ~
Who then, may be saved? Who is “right?” Salvation, (which is the gift of God) is offered to “who?” The Jews or the Gentiles? And the answer is…. ?
“Whosoever will”- may come.
If “any man” (Jew or Greek or even an Episcopalean epicurean) be “in Christ!”
~ For God “so loved” the Jew..(yes- He came unto His own).. For God “so loved” the Gentile.. ( there would have been many “outsiders” if He didn’t).. Because God “so loved” the world.. He made a Way, through the blood of His cross- for “any man” to enter into the kingdom of God. Any man who will today, “kneel at the cross” and confess with his mouth “God have mercy on me, – “the sinner.”
Who has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? According to the scriptures.. “all.”
Hi Carl!
“The book opens with a genealogy to prove that Jesus was an heir to King David.”
i’ve been thinking a lot about Mary, the Mother of our Messiah. Womdering what she was like, etc. Wondered if she could have been black. Any thoughts?
http://www.therain.org/appendixes/app20.html
Hi jeanette,
I think Matthew wants us to see Jesus as an heir to King David, but doesn’t mean to prove it
As I understand it, most Jews believe that the Messiah ben David has not come yet
Logically speaking, they could believe that Jesus was the Messiah ben Joseph
Your attached document states: “It is a gratuitous assumption that Abel had no posterity.”
I don’t think there is any evidence that Abel had children, is there?
Mikie! Yah is GOOD. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. You would make a great study partner!
Black? Not a chance! Jewish – absolutely.
shaking my head. 🙂
p.s. were you there?