[b-greek] Synonyms

From: virgil newkirk (virgilsalvage1@email.msn.com)
Date: Thu Jan 18 2001 - 02:09:30 EST


Dear David,

        I appreciate your contemplation concerning these synonyms...AGAPH,
AGAPAO...FILEW, FILIA. It appears this same contemplation is happening in
many of us, and as Carl eluded to, there has been substantial and
interesting exchanges regarding these important words as of late.

 I'm sure a few other things we
haven't mentioned will help us discover meaning....resulting in our
understanding being expanded, more and more. I say this in response to
David's wondering..." I wonder if I am missing something? I thought I was
getting a handle on this! Yes and no. In 1 Cor 8:2 Paul says to all....If
any one is thinking that they are knowing something in general about
anything...really they are knowing "nothing" yet in the way in which it is
being a necessity in the nature of the case to be really knowing. So we can
be grateful in our knowing something and yet know assuredly there is always
something " we are missing" There is always more of a handle to be had on
everything.

    I would echo what others, I believe have said, that is, that AGAPH and
FILEW must have a distinction. Carl pointed this out from Louw and Nida's
mentioning of a significant clue to possible meaningful differences in that
we are charged to AGAPAW one another, not PHILEO one another. The most
significant distinction though I think, is that John does not state that God
is PHILEO, but that God is AGAPH. Yes there is that AGAPH that is
characterized by what Demas and some of the religious rulers exercised.
There is an AGAPH that was being exercised by Amnon and Shechem....this
shows us the definition that some living people were having concerning their
concept of AGAPH ( the living translators of the LXX ) in that it is when we
are exercising our very being toward something....it doesn't seem that
Shechem or Amnon were able to stop their demented and deviant AGAPH, at
least the LXX translators saw it that way. They chose to use AGAPAW. It
seems to me that just as there are false Christs to be warned of, there is
an AGAPH to be warned of and steered clear of. Obviously this is not the
AGAPH that is God Himself as John mentions.

     Trench...Zodhiates...Kittels...even Vine alludes to AGAPH as being
something not necessarily first having to do with relationship....but "
attitude, a conveying of the will...pg.21 in Vines EDNTW.

    In conclusion...David McKay asks....Is the point possibly that each word
may not have a unique meaning, but may have a special meaning in context?
David, I wouldn't think of it like that, rather that the context makes more
clear, expands, and puts more flesh on the bones as it were, to that
sometimes unique meaning. In an example brought up often to suggest there
isn't much difference between AGAPH and PHILEO, there is, it seems to me two
different contexts that brings this distinction out in a clear way. That is
where we read in John 3:35 that the Father AGAPA the Son. In John 5:20 the
Father is PHILEI the Son. A clear test to the concept...is there a
distinction? I propose that in John 3 there is something happening there
that agrees with the concept of the exercising of the will...the very being.
Fitting in with lexicon, LXX translators concept and context clarification.
If PHILEO is that which has to do with the total range of loving
relationships....what we see in John 3:35 is far beyond that. We see the
very being of God being exercised. John 3:33-36 God is presented, verse 35,
GAR...verse 36 an expansion of what was stated in verse 35...The one God has
sent " is speaking the word's ( genitive case ) the word's that are actually
characterized by and that are God...GAR, or to explain further...this One
that has been sent is not just in relationship with God...He is not just One
that has the Spirit according to some amount of measure.....verse 35 This is
a very definition of AGAPH...God is directing His very being to the
Son...AGAPH...35b....The Father has ( PERFECT INDICATIVE ACTIVE ) completely
and as a finished result given, resulting in the putting EN His hand..(
dative case ) ...ALL! ALL! ALL! And what is this all? Just
relationship? Love...caring...connection...NO! verse 36...He that is
believing into the SON (present indicative active) is having that ALL!
Eternal Life! The last time I checked...Eternal Life is God Himself! and he
that is not believing the Son shall not see LIFE, but only wrath that is
characterized by God and that's what will be remaining on him.

     Now, there must be a difference that is clear to see in John 5:20 or
this whole concept of a distinction between AGAPH and PHILEO will possibly
not exist. What is the context? What is being described...what I think is to
be seen there is PHILEO and as has been alluded to....some of the range of
relationship and that which is characterized by interaction and connection.
verse 19..Then answered Jesus and said to them, for sure, for sure, I am
saying to you...The Son is not, concerning and as relates to Himself,
continually...is not doing anything from Himself, but whatever He is
repeatedly seeing the Father repeatedly doing, that's what He is doing.
GAR..or to further expand on this...whatever things perhaps that this One is
doing...these things the Son is doing in the same way....GAR...or to explain
further.....what is happening here is that the Father is sharing with and
connecting with the Son and is showing Him the full range of things that HE
Himself is doing, and, HE will be showing Him greater works than these, so
that you will repeatedly be amazed. There is relationship here...there is
limitation here...because we are told there is MORE and GREATER to come.
JOHN 3:35 The whole being..." AGAPH " John
5:20...PHILEO.....relationship...partnering....more to come... But look at
verse 21...GAR..even this PHILEO issues out with LIFE...Marvelous! Amazing!

      Hoping that this gets through and that it is of value and useful with
respect to understanding what the Greek says,

      Virgil Newkirk
      Salt Lake City, Utah

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