[B-Greek] LOGIZOMAI as a process (BDAG2)

Kimmo Huovila kimmo.huovila at kolumbus.fi
Fri Jan 16 08:17:08 EST 2009


BDAG gives LOGIZOMAI the sense "to give careful thought to a matter, think 
(about), consider, ponder, let one's mind dwell on" (2). I understand this to 
refer to thinking as a process, not as the result. Many of the examples 
referred to are examples of a result of thinking; some refer to a process of 
trying to reach a conclusion; none that I found refers to meditation of any 
kind.

He gives the following examples: PsSol2, 28b; ApcEsdr 3:9, Philo, Leg. All. 3, 
227, Jos. Ant. 6, 211, Phil 4:8, PsSol 2, 28a, Philo, Somn 2, 169, Jos., Ant 
11, 142; Ath., R. 9 p. 57, 30; John 11:50; Hebr 11:19, 2 Cor 10:11, 7; B 1:5, 
Hs 5, 2, 4; Luke 24:1 D; Hs 9, 28, 4; Dg 7:3 (Mel. T. 63, 455), X., An. 2, 2, 
13; 1 Macc 6:19; 2 Cor 10:2a; Ps 51:4, 2 Cor. 3:5, Wsd 2:1, 1 Cor 13:11.

Phil 4:8 has often been interpreted as "letting one's mind dwell on these 
things", "meditating on these things". I am not quite sure this is a real 
meaning of this word and therefore a possible interpretation of the verse 
despite the BDAG definition sounding as if it would be. I have not checked 
all of BDAG's examples, but the following is a sample.

1 Macc 6:19 LXX KAI ELOGISATO IOUDAS EXARAI AUTOUS KAI EXEKKLHSIASE PANTA TON 
LAON TOU PERIKAQISAI EP AUTOUS.
- Result of thinking. Judas was not thinking of whether to destroy them, but 
he purposed to do so and called the people to besiege them for that purpose.

Ps 51:4 LXX ADIKIAN ELOGISATO hH GLWSSA SOU
- The tongue was not just contemplating injustice, but had deviced it.

Wisdom (SOFIA SALOMWNOS) 2:1 EIPON GAR EN hEAUTOIS LOGISAMENOI OUK ORQWS
- This also refers to the conclusion of the thought process. They were of the 
opinion that is expressed by what comes next in the context.

Luke 24:1 D: THi DE MIAi TWN SABBATWN ORQROU BAQEWS EPI TO MNHMA HLQON 
FEROUSAI hA hTOIMASAN KAI TINES SUN AUTAIS ELOGIZONTO EN hEAUTAIS: TIS ARA 
APOKULISEI TON LIQON.
- This is one of the closest ones to the idea of meditation. This is an 
attempt to figure out, not an attempt to meditate on a theme.

John 11:50 OUDE LOGIZESQE hOTI SUMFEREI hUMIN hINA EIS ANQRWPOS APOQANHi hUPER 
TOU LAOU KAI MH hOLON TO EQNOS APOLHTAI.
- Result of thinking clearly referred to.

1 Cor 13:11 hOTE HMHN NHPIOS, ELALOUN hWS NHPIOS, EFRONOUN hWS NHPIOS, 
ELOGIZOMHN hWS NHPIOS.
- I made childish conclusions, not necessarily that the thinking process was 
childish.

2 Cor 3:5 OUX hOTI AF' hEAUTWN hIKANOI ESMEN LOGISASQAI TI hWS EX hEAUTWN.
- We are not sufficient to come to any conclusion about anything as of our own 
ability.

2 Cor 10:2a DEOMAI DE TO MH PARWN QARRHSAI THi PEPOIQHSEI hHi LOGIZOMAI 
TOLMHSAI (EPI TINAS TOUS LOGIZOMENOUS hHMAS hWS KATA SARKA PERIPATOUNTAS.)
- Result of thinking

2 Cor 10:7 TA KATA PROSWPON BLEPETE. EI TIS PEPOIQEN hEAUTWi XRISTOU EINAI, 
TOUTO LOGIZESQW PALIN EF' hEAUTOU, hOTI KAQWS AUTOS XRISTOU, hOUTWS KAI 
hHMEIS.
- Result of thinking, let him be of this opinion.

2 Cor 10:11 TOUTO LOGIZESQW hO TOIOUTOS hOTI hOIOI ESMEN TWi LOGWi DI' 
EPISTOLWN APONTES, TOIOUTOI KAI PARONTES TWi ERGWi.
- Result of thinking, let him be of this opinion.

Phil 4:8 TO LOIPON, ADELFOI, hOSA ESTIN ALHQH, hOSA SEMNA, hOSA DIKAIA, hOSA 
hAGNA, hOSA PROSFILH, hOSA EUFHMA, EI TIS ARETH KAI EI TIS EPAINOS, TAUTA 
LOGIZESQE.
- Take these things into account?

Hebr 11:19 LOGISAMENOS hOTI KAI EK NEKRWN EGEIREIN DUNATOS hO QEOS, hOQEN 
AUTON KAI EN PARABOLHi EKOMISATO.
- Result of thinking

Hermas, Similitudes 5, 2, 4 EN hEAUTWi OUN ELOGISATO: TAUTHN THN ENTOLHN TOU 
KURIOU TETELEKA: SKAYW LOIPON TON AMPELWNA TOUTON, KAI ESTAI EUPREPESTEROS 
ESKAMMENOS...
- Result of thinking.

Hermas, Similitudes 9, 28, 4 ... KAI ELOGISANTO EN TAIS KARDIAIS AUTWN POTERON 
ARNHSONTAI H hOMOLOGESOUSI...
- A process of trying to figure out a decision.

Diognetos 7:3 ARA GE, hWS ANTQRWPON AN TIS LOGISAITO, EPI TURANNIDI KAI FOBWi 
KAI KATAPLHXEI?
- Like someone might think (be of opinion).

Several of these clearly reflect the result of thinking, not the process. When 
there is a process, there is an endeavor to reach a conclusion, to figure 
something out.

How justified are we lexically to think that Phil 4:8 has something to do with 
meditating on "these things"? It seems that LOGIZOMAI is not used for 
meditation or letting one's mind dwell on someone without an attempt to 
figure something out and come to a conclusion.

Any opinions or thoughts?

Kimmo Huovila



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