I will though quickly show some more of the story to one of the verses you mentioned. Paulās thoughts go beyond that single scripture but bleeds into the next snd the next.
Philippians 1:6
New American Standard Bible
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.
The first thing I noticed was the phrase was different in your post than when I typically hear it.
Yours said ā in youā but I typically hear it ā among youā. When literally used itās in, but metaphorically itās used as among. I checked also and thatās the case 124 times. We donāt actually have changes in our heart. Itās a metaphor for becoming a better person through our actions and thoughts. So among is a pretty good candidate for that translation. But given the next arguments this one is almost a moot point.
Next thing is bringing up some of the verses in the next few chapters because again this was Paulās thoughts being carried out further.
He says he is confident that the good works will be completed. Then he says this also.
Philippians 2:8-16
New American Standard Bible
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining or arguments; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding firmly the word of life, so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.
A few things to see here.
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It says that Jesus was obedient to the point of death and thatās why God highly exalted him. Likewise, when we are obedient , for that is how we love God, we too will be exalted.
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It says for them to work out their own salvation. We are saved by the blood of Christ. But this salvation is not given out randomly. Grace and mercy is poured out on those God chooses and thatās those that seek him. Thatās why it mentions Lyndia was a worshipper of God. Work is a action. People can become lazy and stop running the good race.
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Paul says to hold firmly to the word of life. Why would they hold on if they canāt let go?
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Paul says that he does not want his running to be have labored in vain. Thatās because he did not want to have wasted his life for those who did not hold firm and so he was encouraging them to contine holding firm. To continue running thr good race.
In the next chapter, 3 we read this passage.
Philippians 3:12-16
New American Standard Bible
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, letās have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, letās keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
In these verses Paul writes that he does not actually believe that heās taken hold of it yet or became perfect. But that he is focused on what lies ahead and that all should share that mindset. To look forward to it means heās not yet got it.
So thatās surrounding context. But by reaching out to other books in the Bible, including the Torah, we can continue to better understand these verses.
Well Iāve dedicated over an hour today of debating it.
I will continue sometime tomorrow perhaps with them original verses in the link.
