Chapter # 12 Paragraph # 4 Study # 9
June 21, 2020
Humble, Texas
(056)
1769 Translation:
16 [
Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [
rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [
is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1901 ASV Translation:
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but
condescend to
things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [
of God]: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- I. The Second "Application" of Unhypocritical Love: One's "Attitude" Toward Others Continued.
- A. Prior studies of unhypocritical love.
- 1. The major thesis: Let love be without hypocrisy: 12:9a.
- 2. The first sub-thesis: Let this be true in respect to the saints: 12:9b-13.
- 3. Current Studies: The second sub-thesis: Let this be true in respect to the "enemies": 12:14-21.
- a. "At Issue": Unhypocritical Love, being rooted in a strong antagonism toward "the evil" (in oneself) and in a "welded unity" (of oneself) with "the good".
- b. Paul's opening command [ (051)].
- c. Paul's next command [ (053)].
- B. Paul's continuing instructions; a series of participles.
- 1. These participles are translated in the NASB as imperatives, but they may all be the verbal ideas that are presented before the main verb (ginesthe).
- a. fronountes -- [Present Active Participle Masculine Plural Nominative]
- 1) This verbal idea in found in 6 texts of Romans (out of 19 total in the New Testament) and in 7 texts of Philippians.
- 2) There is a sense of "determination" involved (as in Romans 8:5 and 14:6) where the direction of the "mind" is deliberately focused.
- 3) There is also a sense of a "self-satisfied, fearless, confidence" (as in 11:20) where the emotional attitude ought to be fear, but is not because of an over-weaning sense of superiority.
- 4) It shows up again in 12:3 where the "sacrificed life" tends in the direction of having a sense of moral superiority because of the "faith" and "sacrifice" that exists in the context.
- 5) As noted, it is in our current text (12:16) twice, with the same concept found in 11:20. The common thread here is "thinking of oneself as superior" to others. The importance of this issue is revealed by the fact that Paul insists in 12:16; 15:5 and Philippians 2:2 on "thinking the same way about every believer" with that "same way" being that there is a unity of love, spirit, intention, and purpose as shown by Philippians 2:2 as it expands the concept. This is somewhat problematical in that these four "unities" do not exist in many who claim to be "believers" and what is one to "think" regarding them? They are those who "think of themselves more highly than others" (yet are totally unqualified to think that way), but the "others" have to also be very careful about how they think.
- b. fronountes -- the same word in exactly the same form, but, in this case, focused upon the absence of "ta hupsela". These "high things" are identified in our text as the opposite of humility and the presence of what our culture would call "self-esteem".
- 1) The "hupsela" things are addressed in 11:17-24 in terms of "boasting against" those who were "broken off" because of persistent unbelief. The thought here is that those of faith are seriously tempted to think that their "faith" and all of its benefits are somehow traceable back to something in them. All "arrogance" (the translation of "katakaucho" twice in 11:18) has its roots in the confidence that one's status before God is somehow rooted in one's own "glory" instead of the pure mercy and grace of God Who makes us differ (1 Corinthians 4:7). We may freely exult in our state of blessedness as an outcome of the actions of God, but we may never legitimately exult over someone who is in lesser "blessings".
- 2) These "hupsela" things are also directly addressed in our current text by reason of Paul's placement of them over against "tois tapeinois", a term that indicates some form of "lesser privilege" (less "money" in James 1:9; less "emotional enthusiasm" in 2 Corinthians 7:6; less "public status in respect to the exercise of authority over others" in Luke 1:52; and less willing to attempt to dominate others in 2 Corinthians 10:1 and Matthew 11:29. These are always viewed as "less blessed" by those who tend toward thinking of themselves more highly than they ought.
- c. sunapagomenoi -- [Present Passive Participle Masculine Plural Nominative].
- 1) This verb is only used 3 times in the entire New Testament.
- 2) In the other two texts (Galatians 2:13 and 2 Peter 3:17) the idea is clear: being made to think in a way (drawn down a path of thought) that causes one to make flawed decisions and take poor actions.
- 3) In our current text, however, the verbal idea is "positive" rather than "negative": being made to think "highly" of the "lowly".
- 2. The primary verbal idea (ginesthe) coupled to the main concept (fronimos).
- a. This verb is a Present, Imperative, and is highly likely to be the main verbal idea under which the participles are to be "arranged" even though the participles come first. It is tied to "a comparison with oneself" (para plus heautois).
- b. A corresponding translation, then, would be: "Being of the same mind toward one another, not minding the high things, but being led together with those of a humble station, stop becoming 'superior in mind' in respect to oneself". Stop feeding into the mindset of one who sees himself "superior" to others by thinking the same way about others (viewing them as "blessed of God" in ways not true of oneself), not thinking about 'high things', and being led into the same paths of those who are of a 'low' station in the minds of others.