tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post113702394344126075..comments2024-03-22T16:09:48.895-04:00Comments on Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Philippians 1:29 And The Gift Of Faith (Part One)James Swanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-1138473702116563172006-01-28T13:41:00.000-05:002006-01-28T13:41:00.000-05:00Hi Ray-I will be working through these comments af...Hi Ray-<BR/><BR/>I will be working through these comments after I finish up the others-<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your continued interest.James Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136781934797867593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19795707.post-1138218043142113652006-01-25T14:40:00.000-05:002006-01-25T14:40:00.000-05:00Hi Jim,The following is an alternative view of the...Hi Jim,<BR/><BR/>The following is an alternative view of the context and its interpretation for you and others to consider.<BR/><BR/>Context: <BR/><BR/>Paul is addressing believers on the topic of their participation in the gospel (vs.5) for the sake of Christ. In vs. 6, he begins a long discussion of their roles and responsibilities concluding in vs. 29 that their role includes not only believing, but suffering. Paul notes that the Lord began a good work in you, and will complete it. He prays that their love may abound in full knowledge & discernment (vs. 9) so that they may approve excellent things and be above reproach ( vs. 10) having been filled with the fruit of righteousness (vs.11). In vs. 12 Paul begins to relate suffering toward the goal he just describe, i.e., their love abounding as a fruit of the righteousness they possess by virtue of being a believer, noting that the end objective is that Christ be proclaimed. He particularly notes that suffering is used by the Lord as a bonefide way to spread the gospel. In vs. 25, Paul notes that his particular situation (which will likely include much suffering) if he remains in this life will be for their benefit as they move forward in their spiritual growth. Then, in vs. 27, anticipating that they can be distracted from this path of progress, offers a warning that they must conduct themselves in a worthy manner so that Paul may hear that they are standing firm for the gospel in spite of opposition which incidentally is a sign of their opponents future destruction and is also a sign of the Phillipian's salvation which is from God. Finally in vs. 29, he puts the entire passage in perspective by stating that it is their function now (roles & responsibilities) as believers to not only believe, but also to suffer for the plan of God (the on-behalf-of-Christ thing – to uper christou). <BR/><BR/>Interpretation<BR/><BR/>The literal definition of charizomai provided by Mr. Swan is absolutely correct. All the lexicons agree. However, what's important to realize here is that many words can be used firguratively. Their employment is generally recognized by looking at the context of the passage in which they are used. <BR/><BR/>In Phil 1:29 we have several clues that charizomai is being used figuratively. The first, of course is the context. The first chapter of Phillipians is not addressing systematic theology, but rather roles and responsiblities of believers as they progress in their spiritual lives. There is no soteriological development going on here such as the nature and source of faith or the respective roles of God and man therein. Instead, Paul is addressing the spiritual growth of the Phillipians and their role in supporting the "on-behalf-of-Christ things" such as suffering. In fact, because suffering clearly is used by the Lord as a bonefide way to spread the gospel, he specifically tells the Phillipians that suffering is one of their roles just as it is for Paul. Viewed this way, vs. 29's meaning not only makes sense but has a clear relation to the previous 28 verses (contextual conguity). Look at it again framed within the roles and responsibilities paradigm: "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." This might be paraphased as "For Christ's sake there are to you (given to you) other roles than just believing. It is also your role (given to you) to suffer for the spread of the gospel."<BR/><BR/>By the way, "believing" is not only the beginning of salvation, but it is also an ongoing responsibility of the Christian essential for spiritual growth and the spread of the Gospel. That the latter role of believing (daily faith – trusting the Lord for daily provisions) is in view in this context should not be ruled out. <BR/><BR/>Mr. Swan's discussion of this verse and its interpretation may be correct, but it seems to lack contextual congruity. The context as well as the 2nd half of vs. 29 seem to be talking about the role of suffering and how it is used by God to spread the gospel. No where in the previous context is there a discussion of whether faith or suffering is a gift? How does interjection in this context of the debatable maxim that "faith is the gift of God" help communcate the theme of this passage? Readers must judge for themselves. The point that I would like to make is that the interpretation offered by Mr. Swan is only one of at least two. When one considers such a passage in support of a theological system such as Calvinism, it's important to be aware of alternative interpretations and whether or not they support that position clearly or weakly. I believe Mr. Swan's (and other Calvinist's) interpretation of this passage is weak. If one wants to prove that faith is a gift provided wholly by God, then go to those sections of the Bible (verses as well as context) where it's discussed. Interestingly, you find none. Instead, what you find is passages like Phil 1:29 where at best you find only indirect (and debatable) linkage and there other equally if not better interpretations are available. This is one of the weaknesses of Calvinism, i..e., lack of direct proof of its important maxims such as total depravity.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955465970771864995noreply@blogger.com