2 Timothy 4:10 - TON NUN AIWNA

Steven Lo Vullo slovullo at mac.com
Thu Dec 26 22:31:45 EST 2002


On Thursday, December 26, 2002, at 02:00 PM, Mike Sangrey wrote:

> The complete clause is:
>     DHMAS GAR ME EGKATELIPEN AGAPHSAS TON NUN AIWNA
>
> The phrase I'm specifically interested in is:
>     AGAPHSAS TON NUN AIWNA
>
> Could this simply mean:
>     being short-sighted?
>
> In other words, Demas didn't have a long term outlook on what Paul and
> the other fellow workers were accomplishing.  The pressure was on, so
> Demas left Paul (essentially) alone.

Mike, I think "short-sighted" is too mild by a long shot. Note the 
following examples of the phrase hO NUN AIWN:

1Tim. 6.17 TOIS PLOUSIOIS EN TWi NUN AIWNI PARAGGELLE MH hUYHLOFRONEIN 
MHDE HLPIKENAI EPI PLOUTOU ADHLOTHTI ALL' EPI QEWi TWi PARECONTI hHMIN 
PANTA PLOUSIWS EIS APOLAUSIN
"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, 
nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who 
richly provides us with everything to enjoy."

The "present age" here is implicitly contrasted with the "age to come," 
as I think is indicated by the designation TOIS PLOUSIOIS EN TWi NUN 
AIWNI and the presence of the word HLPIKENAI ("to have one's hope 
set"). What seems implied is that in this present age people are 
tempted to set their hopes on riches, which are uncertain, instead of 
on God, who will certainly reward the faithful with lasting riches in 
the age to come. hO NUN AIWN seems to be an age characterized by 
materialism, and rich Christians are to be charged not to participate 
in the materialism that characterizes it.

Titus 2.12 PAIDEUOUSA hMAS, hINA ARNHSAMENOI THN ASEBEIAN KAI TAS 
KOSMIKAS EPIQUMIAS SWFRONWS KAI DIKAIWS KAI EUSEBWS ZHSWMEN EN TWi NUN 
AIWNI
"training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live 
self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age"

Here again the "present age" is implicitly contrasted with the "age to 
come." The grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly 
passions and instead to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives 
in the present age. What seems implied is that the present age is 
characterized by ungodliness and worldly passions, and is sorely 
lacking in self control, uprightness, and godliness. Christians are to 
buck this system, living a lifestyle quite unlike that which 
characterizes those who belong to the present age.

So I think Paul was explaining that Demas preferred the present age and 
its allurements to the age to come and the lifestyle that characterizes 
those who hope for its coming. This is a serious spiritual failure.
=============
Steven R. Lo Vullo
Madison, WI




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