and through the operation

I was asked a great question about Ephesians 4:16 and after looking into it a bit more, I am convinced that the rendering from Papyrus 46 is the correct one. But let me explain.

Ephesians 4:16 (ASV) from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16 (RcV) Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.

Nearly every English translation of the New Testament follows the American Standard Version (ASV) for Ephesians 4:16, the phrase in questions being "according to the working." Only the Recovery Version (RcV) is different, translating this phrase "and through the operation." This is because virtually every Greek manuscript of Ephesians has in it's text "kat' energian" which is correctly translated "according to [the] operation." Only one manuscript (albeit an incredibly old one, ca. AD 175), Papyrus 46, has a different rendering, "kai energias." The Recovery Version chose to follow the minor variation in Papyrus 46, rather than the rest of the bulk of New Testament manuscripts. But after looking into the matter further, I am convinced that both from a textual critical standpoint and from a proper view of the divine revelation, Papyrus 46, and hence, the Recovery Version's rendering of this phrase is the correct one.

First, it isn't hard to conceive that the iota at the end of the word "kai" (and) was accidentally crossed and the following word was later corrected to match it ("energias" would have to be changed to "energian" to be grammatically correct). Further support for "kai energias" comes from the fact that only Paul uses this word (energia) and in every case that it follows "kata" (according to), it is preceded by a definite article (2 Thes. 2:9 is slightly different, but I won't get into that here). In Ephesians 4:16, there is definitely no article and therefore it would be an anomaly in Paul's style if he were to have left it out here.

But from the side of the divine revelation, it makes even more sense that this phrase should be "and through the operation," not "according to the operation." A simple comment on another passage in Zerwick's A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament helps with this. Philippians 1:19 speaks of "your petition and [the] bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Only one article is used for both "petition" and "bountiful supply" (before petition) and Zerwick comments "the one art. perh. showing the close relation in which the two stand in Paul's mind." So, apply the same idea to Ephesians 4:16. Instead of having members (joints) of the Body supplying it "according to" the operation of each one part in a way that implies distinction and even separation between the joints and each one part; we have the joints and each one part working together in an intimate relationship to cause the growth and building up of the Body of Christ. Both are necessary, and their respective functions can't be separated.

Textual criticism is a proper and necessary way to determine the accurate rendering of the Greek text of the New Testament. However, sometimes asking about the spiritual significance of possibly different readings can provide direction as well. Ephesians 4:16 stands as an example of this, and I am happy to primarily read a version of the Bible (the RcV) that considers both the manuscript base and the divine revelation when translating.

To close, a quote from the introduction to the Recovery Version of the Bible. "Translating the Bible depends not only on an adequate comprehension of the original language but also on a proper understanding of the divine revelation in the holy Word."

Papyrus 46 - Eph. 4:15-16 (from University of Michigan Papyrus Collection)

Goldi(locks) and the Three Bears

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Goldi who lived in a house in the forest. Now Goldi was a bit eccentric and one peculiar trait about her was that she did everything in threes. One morning, after getting out of her three beds (a big one for her head, a medium one for her back, and small one for her feet) she went downstairs to read the newspaper. Climbing into her three chairs (a big one for her back, a medium one for her rear, and a small one for her feet), she picked up her newspaper and began to read. After scanning the comics and international news headlines, she realized she was hungry, climbed out of her three chairs, and went into the kitchen. There she saw a giant pot of porridge her mother had made sitting on the stove. Dishing it out into her three bowls (a big bowl, a medium bowl, and a small bowl), she set them on the table and took a bite. "Ouch, this porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed. And with that, Goldi decided to go for a walk in the forest. Grabbing her coat and closing the door behind her, she left the house.

Now a family of three bears just happened to be passing by the house and they smelled the porridge through the kitchen window. This family consisted of a Daddy Bear, a Mommy Bear, and a Baby Bear. Being hungry, the Daddy Bear nosed open the door and went in to the kitchen, followed by the Mommy and Baby Bear. The Daddy bear went up to the big bowl of porridge on the table and took a bite. "Growl!" he growled (bears can't talk, of course), because the porridge was too hot. He knocked the bowl onto the floor, spilling the porridge all over, and began to lap it up. Meanwhile, the Mommy Bear had eaten up the porridge in the medium bowl as it was a more agreeable temperature (the porridge in this story obeys the laws of thermodynamics). The Baby Bear whined at his parents because the porridge in the small bowl was too cold. The Mommy Bear growled at him and he reluctantly ate it up. After their breakfast, the three bears migrated into the living room and spied the three chairs. Selecting the chair appropriate for their size, each bear took a seat. However, none of the three chairs was sturdy enough to hold a bear's weight and all three broke with a crunch. The Daddy Bear roared, the Mommy Bear growled, and the Baby Bear whined some more. After strewing the pieces of broken chair around the room, the bears went upstairs to Goldi's bedroom. Seeing the three beds, the Bear family laid down and soon all three were snoring loudly.

Now Goldi returned home from her walk and was surprised to see the front door open. Cautiously venturing into the kitchen, Goldi saw her three bowls either licked clean or scattered in pieces on the floor. "Somebody's been eating my porridge," she said. Next she went into the living room and saw the broken mess of her three chairs. "Somebody's been sitting in my chairs, and they've broken them to pieces." Stooping to inspect the damage, she heard a rumbling noise coming from upstairs. She tiptoed up the stairs and peeked into her bedroom. When she saw the three bears in her beds, she screamed loudly, "Somebody is sleeping in my beds!" This frightened the Bear family so much, that they woke with a start and tumbled past Goldi down the stairs and out of the house.

After this incident (with appropriate "Bear Sighting" reports being filed with the local Forest Service), Goldi immediately had her father install three locks on the door of their house. Now, every time Goldi goes out for a walk, she takes her keychain out of her pocket and locks the door behind her, with a big lock, a medium lock, and a small lock. She has never had trouble with bears again, but her friends have since called her Goldilocks, since they have to wait for her to unlock the door whenever they come to play.

The End

Stream of Jolene

Some authors write in "stream of consciousness," I've decided to write a "stream of Jolene." The following conversation took place around 8:15 PM on Friday, November 14, 2008. Jolene's words are in normal text and my responses and comments are italicized.

The scene begins with Daddy sitting at the computer recording the conversation and Jolene behind him in her high chair.

Ahhhh, ahhhhh, I just cracked it Daddy. Daddy I cracked it. Daddy I cracked it. I cracked it. Ehhhhweeee, ayyyyayyyyhaaahaaaayyyyayyyy, cough, cough, cough, cough. Push up. Your turn yet. My turn, go push, I go games.

What are you talking about?

It's not your turn guys, they're getting a turn. That guys, go. Not your turn, that proody Daddy, do dee Daddy, doo dee dee.

What was that?

That was me. O do dee da dee do, loo lee la lee lo (to the tune of Farmer in the Dell). La la la la, cough, cough. Mommy.

I do that. Can you say I do that? I do that. I do that.

I do that.

I do that. Can you say I do that Daddy? Owww. Bye you. Daddy I fight.

Who do you fight with?

I fight with Mommy and Daddy.

Why?

Daddy, I want dinosaurs, Daddy I want dinosaurs, can I have dinosaurs?

Hang on, I'm typing.

Are you typing? You're not typing, you're lettering, you're lettering notes. Daddy are you lettering notes?

Yes.

You're not lettering notes.

What am I doing then?

Can I get down Daddy, pleeeease. I did do dee, I did do dee, I did do dee, time to go home. Do dee. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Ahhh, ahhh ahh ahhh.

Ok you can get down.

Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, that's better. No that's not your turn. Go, go, gooo. Thumbs up Daddy. Thumbs up Daddy. Daddy, thumbs up.

Ok.

No not thumbs together. One thumb Daddy, one thumb. Doggy, try to go up here, get down, get down, get down, get down, get down, get down. Go, go go go, go, let's run. Mommy, we're coming...

Exit Jolene.

Salk

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla is a great place. Aside from the groundbreaking work in Neurobiology, Cancer research, plant biology, and other important fields being accomplished there, the grounds are so nice that people take daily tours.

Here is a series of three pictures of the Salk courtyard I took using various zoom levels, blended together in Photoshop. Click on the image for a larger version.

Satisfaction

I really enjoyed a hymn with some other believers in Christ tonight. In the collection of hymns (appropriately titled Hymns), published by Living Stream Ministry, it is number 325.

Others have written an account of the background of this marvelous hymn (see the book Hidden Pearls, chapter 7), so I will not describe it again in detail.

Rather, what we enjoyed tonight was that Christ Himself is our satisfaction. Inside every human being is the longing to be satisfied. While we may try to fill this desire with many different things, physical, intellectual, even spiritual, ultimately everything other than Christ leaves us thirsty. But some can say, as the first line of the chorus of this hymn does, "Hallelujah! I have found Him." As long as we keep coming to the Lord Himself, putting aside all other things including doing things for the Lord, we will be satisfied.

One final thought about this hymn tonight regards the last line of the final stanza, "My Redeemer is to me." Not "My Redeemer gives to me" but "...is to me." Miss Clara Tear Williams (her story is detailed in the previously mentioned book), who wrote this hymn, may have realized that the Lord Himself is our satisfaction. It is not merely what He gives us, but His very person coming to us, staying with us, and interacting with us, that ultimately satisfies our deepest longing.

Geisel

Yesterday I was walking by the library in the morning and in the evening and took two pictures of it. Here they are with a combined image in the middle. Click on the the image to see a larger version of it.

The Throne, the Temple, and Light

The center of the holy city is the throne of God and of the Lamb from which proceeds everything for the existence and supply of the city. This throne represents God’s administration under His authority and headship. The base and support for the throne of the New Jerusalem is the gold of which the city is composed. This signifies that the foundation of God’s throne is His divine nature, one attribute of which is righteousness (cf. Psa. 89:14). Also, from the throne proceeds the golden street in which flows the river of water of life. This signifies that it is only out of the throne of God that there can be communication or fellowship between God and man and that in this communication is the consummated Spirit of the Triune God as our flowing supply. Therefore, on the one hand, the throne is the center of the city, and on the other, it is the source out of which the entire city is supplied.

In our daily living, as those becoming the New Jerusalem, we need to have the throne of God in the preeminent place in our being. When we submit to the throne and allow the Lord to rule and reign in us, He is able to communicate and fellowship with us and supply us with the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19). As we become the New Jerusalem in our experience, the throne of God will be our source and center.

The second furnishing of the holy city is the temple. John saw no temple in the New Jerusalem, but the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Rev. 21:22). The significance of the temple is that the almighty redeeming God is the dwelling place of His redeemed elect and the place where they serve Him. As priests to God we dwell in God as the temple and serve Him (Rev. 1:6; 22:3). But the God in whom we dwell is also the King and that makes us His royal family, sons of the King (Rev. 21:7). Therefore, we are a kingly, royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) and we serve God and reign with Him forever and ever.

Today, we must have the realization that God is our dwelling place and that we are priestly kings who live the kingly life of our Father. Wherever we go, we should remember that we are kings and priests, not living according to our fallen nature in Adam, but according to our divine nature in Christ.

The final furnishing of the New Jerusalem is its light. In the city, there is no need of the sun, the moon, or the light of a lamp because the glory of God illumines it and its lamp is the Lamb (Rev. 21:23; 22:5). Natural light is signified by the sun and the moon and artificial light is signified by a lamp. In the New Jerusalem, there is no need of any natural or artificial light, but only God as light, the true light, the light of life (John 1:4, 9; 8:12).

Light is an important theme running throughout the Bible from Genesis 1:3 until Revelation 22:5. As New Testament believers, we walk in the light, we are children of light, and we even are light in the Lord (1 John 1:7; Eph. 5:8). Since we have received the light and have been born of God, we must refrain from any natural light or artificial light. As those who will consummate the New Jerusalem, we have no need of natural light or artificial light. God is our light. While reading the Bible, preaching the gospel, or doing anything, we should not rely on our own understanding or try to create any light of our own. Rather, we should stay in the fellowship of life with the Triune God and walk in the light as described in 1 John chapter 1. Then we will be those living in the reality of the New Jerusalem today.

As we pay attention to the matters of the furnishings of the New Jerusalem and live a life according to the principles revealed by the significances of these furnishings, we will have a living that is according to the New Jerusalem. As this city is not physical, so also it is not to be apprehended only in our mentality. Rather, we need to apply the interpretation of all the details of the city to our living today.