[B-Greek] Phil 4:2 A Disagreement with Euodia or something else?
Eric Inman
eric.inman at wescorpflex.com
Tue Jul 18 10:47:53 EDT 2006
Hello,
Philippians 4:2: TO AUTO FRONEIN
Philippians 2:2ff: TO AUTO FRONHTE,
THN AUTHN AGAPHN ECONTES,
SUMYICOI,
TO hEN FRONOUNTES, ...
TOUTO FRONEITE EN hUMIN hO KAI EN CRISTW, ...
Romans 12:3: MH hUPERFRONEIN PAR hO DEI FRONEIN,
ALLA FRONEIN EIS TO SWFRONEIN,
Romans 12:16: TO AUTO EIS ALLHLOUS FRONOUNTES,
MH TA UPSHLA FRONOUNTES
ALLA TOIS TAPEINOIS SUNAPAGOMENOI,
MH GINESQE FRONIMOI PAR EAUTOIS.
Based on context, my opinion is that TO AUTO FRONEIN is used here not to
talk about intellectual agreement on a topic, concern or issue, but rather
to talk about what one person thinks of another, particularly with regard to
status or importance. So I think he's telling Euodia and Syntyche to regard
each other as equals as opposed to one trying to appear superior to the
other.
In Philippians 2:2ff, Paul seems to me to be using the participial clauses
to define and/or elaborate what he means by TO AUTO FRONHTE, using Christ as
the ultimate example, who exchanged his high status for a lowly one.
Romans 12:16 also seems to use participial clauses to elaborate the finite
clause (I changed the punctuation after the third line from a period to a
comma).
Anyhow, I get the impression that Paul uses FRONEW to talk about how we
regard each other rather than about what we think about a particular issue.
I think TO AUTO FRONEIN means to regard (the other/s) as equals, and does
not mean to be in intellectual agreement on some topic.
I'm interested in hearing what the experts think.
Eric Inman
Greek enthusiast
-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Iver Larsen
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 2:14 AM
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Phil 4:2 A Disagreement with Euodia or something
else?
> In Philippians 4:2 Paul pleads with Eudioa and Syntyche. The NIV says
that
> Paul's pleading is for them to "agree with each other in the Lord." The
KJV
> says it is to "be of the same mind in the Lord." (also NRSV while RSV says
> "to agree")
>
> Literally the sentence seems to read: "I plead with Euodia and Syntyche to
> "think the same thing in the Lord." It seems to me that this could mean:
(1)
> To agree (RSV NIV), (2) to be of the same mind (KJV), (3) even to be in
> harmony (NASB). But what if the meaning has nothing whatever to do with a
> disagreement?
>
> It is possible that Paul is not asking them to resolve a disagreement. We
> know nothing of these two individuals and nothing of any problems
associated
> with them. Obviously one would have to explain why Paul goes out of his
way
> to same something like this. Actually in fact, Paul does same something
> like this in Phil 2:5. He even uses the same Greek word "to think" (Greek
> phroneo) which KJV renders "let this mind be in you" or NIV "your attitude
> should be the same." Are these two passage perhaps pointing not to a
single
> problem with two individuals but to a general exhortation to the church
body
> of Philippi to simply have a Chrsitian attitude in all matters? Have
Bible
> Translators gotten the Greek wrong on this passage all along? What say
you
> on this matter?
>
> David Ritsema
TO AUTO indicates some kind of sameness, togetherness or harmony, but the
scope of that togetherness depends on the
context.
Bible translators are guided by context, and IMO they have got it right in
Phil 4:2.
In Phil 2:2-3 the KJV says:
"ye be likeminded (TO AUTO FRONHTE), having the same love, [being] of one
accord, of one mind.
3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than
themselves."
An appeal to be likeminded or be in harmony implies a potential disagreement
or "strife" as v. 3 says (NET: selfish
ambition). Paul uses the same expression in Corinthians where he admonishes
his audience to avoid
divisions/disagreements.
The difference between TO AUTO FRONEIN in Phil 2:2 and 4:2 is that in 2:2 it
is a general admonition to the whole
audience to be in harmony and not be guided by selfish ambitions, while in
4:2 it is specific to two ladies. In the next
verse Paul asks one of the church leaders to help the ladies, because they
used to be working together with Paul and
others for the gospel. It is implied that they no longer do that because
they have had a disagreement of some kind. If
they had no disagreement, there would be no reason to talk specifically to
just these two ladies in addition to the
general admonition to the whole church in 2:2. It must have been a major
case of rivalry with negative impact on the
whole church, since Paul considers it important enough to single them out.
Iver Larsen
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