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Ischuros May 27, 2008

Posted by enkurio in Philippians.
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Philippians 4:13a  “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

bungee jump

Paul uses the greek word (English transliteration) ischuros (do) in this passage which means to be strong, or to have strength.

What about the phrase “all things?”  Can I as a Christian really do anything and everything?  I find many persons interpretation of this verse disturbing.  Can we as Christians perform any spiritual gift or go without food or water indefinitely.  How about overcoming one’s fear of bungee jumping?  Can we really do ALL things through Christ?

Interpreting and applying this verse demands one to look at the context of this verse.  Look at the previous 2 verses:

Philippians 4:11,12 “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Furthermore, look at Philippians 4:14.

“Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.”

What Paul meant was that he could do anything through Christ within the context of being content.  Paul didn’t mean that we Christians are supermen (women) who can ride “The Scream” at Six Flags Fiesta Texas or who can do things beyond one’s God-given ability (including spiritual gifts).  Not to mention a person’s physical limitation which includes sleep, food, water etc…  When Paul says “all things” he is speaking materially not physically.

So Paul is saying that I’m strong enough (ishuros) to go through anything because of Christ.  When times are tough, I can get through the situation because I lean on Christ to get me through it.

So, the bigger question for us with this verse is: “Are we content with the situation that God has put us in?”

Whether we are poor or rich or anywhere in between, let us praise and thank God for the situation that He has placed us in.  Furthermore, let us rely on God to get us through our difficult situations.

Lex Talionis May 26, 2008

Posted by enkurio in Matthew.
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Matt 5:38,39 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.  But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Was Jesus correcting the Old Testament law when he spoke these words?  Perhaps Jesus was “enhancing” the Old Testament law, known as the law of retaliation, in Latin, “the Lex Talionis.”

This is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible.  Like today, people through the ages have used this Mosaic law to justify personal retaliation.  God established this law to prevent personal retaliation.  How’s that?  If you lived at a time with very little government and your neighbor wronged you or attacked one of your family members.  What do you do?  Do you attack them back?  Perhaps you take the life of one of your neighbors kids and in your anger set his fields on fire.  Then your neighbor decides that this was not fair and decides to retaliate back.

The law “set the record straight” and prevented further retaliation.  The problem of Jesus’ day was that the religious leaders were mis-interpreting “the Lex Talionis” sort of speak.  The law that was supposed to prevent retaliation was being used to justify it.  People were taking a law that was reserved for the courts, the law of the land, or the government and mis-applying it at a personal level.  This is what Jesus was addressing.  “So you want to apply “the Lex Talionis” at a personal level, well let me get personal about it then.”

Notice also that Jesus talks about crimes of personal inconvenience.  They are not crimes of murder, death and maiming that “the Lex Talionis” was really focused on.

Slapping on the cheek.  Stealing of a tunic.  Carrying a Roman soldiers pack 1 mile.

One more observation: Jesus instructs us to action.  He doesn’t say, “when you get slapped on the right cheek, do nothing.  No, turn and offer the other cheek.  Give the person your cloak as well and go the extra mile.

Look for opportunities to do good, even in your personal trials and injustices.

For an indepth study of this topic, I found this article to be very detailed.

Enkurio May 6, 2008

Posted by enkurio in Hebrews.
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Hebrews 6:19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,”

Anchor

This is the only symbolic reference in the New Testament pertaining to an anchor.

Imagine a ship adrift in an ocean storm being tossed to and fro. Now contrast that with an anchored vessel within that same storm. The first vessel may crash into the shoals or be taken off course hundreds of miles, while the second ship stays in place avoiding danger allowing for it to eventually reach safely to a harbor.

Like sailors, when the anchor is dropped, we cannot see the object of our hope but rest assured the anchor holds within the vale. Remain on course and do not drift with every billow of life.

Archaeology has revealed many catacombs and tombs depicting a symbol of an anchor. It has been found that an anchor was used within the early church symbolizing safety in the storm of persecution.

It has been further speculated that an anchor may have been used as a symbol of a cross in disguise only recognized by believers.

This speculation is emphasized by the play on words in the Greek: The Greek word for anchor, pronounced an-kur-a sounds similar to the Greek phrase “in the Lord”, pronounced en kur-i-o.

My purpose for this blog is three-fold:
1. To give glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. To help keep me accountable in studying God’s Word.
3. If by chance more than one person reads this blog, perhaps God will use it to motivate others who are “in the Lord” (enkurio).