Philippians 4:10 – Decoding Paul

Jigsaw puzzle (Pixabay)

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 

Summary: It is helpful to remember that not everyone reads words the same way. Sometimes, who we are influences how we understand certain phrases.   

When you read Philippians 4:10 in modern English, the words tumble together like a kind of Rorschach test. Who you are and how you were raised have a big impact on how you understand Paul’s words. 

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Colossians 4:3c – The Mystery of Of

Old fashioned typesetters at work with the words "mystery" and "Christ" floating in the air.

… so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ …

Summary: Sometimes there are mysteries within mysteries. In this passage, we are presented with a mystery that involves language. Why did the translators add to God’s Word? 

You might have noticed that we sort of skipped over part of this verse in our last meditation. The reason is that I thought it might be good to spend some time focusing on the “mystery of Christ.” 

The Greek word for “mystery” is “mystḗrion,” which is very similar to our English word while at the same time sounds even more mysterious! 

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