tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post2594674137059903380..comments2023-10-26T06:30:14.934-04:00Comments on New Testament Perspectives: Functional or Official?: "Bishops and Deacons" in Philippians 1.1Matthew D. Montoninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16771037323124064875noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-38692331300210686602009-04-30T00:03:00.000-04:002009-04-30T00:03:00.000-04:00Mike,
I have always had problem posting in Greek ...Mike,<br /><br />I have always had problem posting in Greek until recently. I used to use Zhubert, but that sadly, went offline. I have just discovered recently that my BibleWorks 8 is able to cut and paste from the program. I believe the BibleWorks is unicode so it now shows up on my posts. <br /><br />Other bloggers may go at it differently, but I believe this is the easiest way I have found.Matthew D. Montoninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771037323124064875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-65296742893891294952009-04-29T19:17:00.000-04:002009-04-29T19:17:00.000-04:00Matthew,
I think you can safely rule out official...Matthew,<br /><br />I think you can safely rule out official episkopos etc, but you already know that. Not sure I follow your logic re" SUN. I may take a look at it later.<br /><br />good blog.C. Stirling Bartholomewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03571440237755902925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-40865656391026006922009-04-29T14:11:00.000-04:002009-04-29T14:11:00.000-04:00Hey Matthew,
I just had an off-topic question: ho...Hey Matthew,<br /><br />I just had an off-topic question: how do you type out Greek letters in your blog?<br /><br />I didn't know there were different font options...<br /><br />thanks!<br />-MikeMike S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07140338309203734699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-4390590707873031042009-04-29T08:18:00.000-04:002009-04-29T08:18:00.000-04:00Well, that's a bummer. I can't find one single po...Well, that's a bummer. I can't find one single point to argue with in what you said. ;)<br /><br />"<I>if we are honest with ourselves</I>"<br /><br />Yeah, you a'ite.<br /><br />Of course, it might be worth noting that "administration" and "pastoral care" are tags one could drive fleets of trucks through, if one wanted to. (I'm just saying.)<br /><br />See you around, brother. Thanks for the conversation so far...Bill Heromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-75663405748383607272009-04-28T21:58:00.000-04:002009-04-28T21:58:00.000-04:00Bill,
Thanks so much for your comments and for vi...Bill,<br /><br />Thanks so much for your comments and for visiting my blog.<br /><br />To answer your first query, yes, it is fair to say that I am somewhat in agreement with Fee. I do think both senses are there, and I do agree that it comes very close to splitting hairs in drawing a line between function and title. I guess my thoughts conveyed in this post are more preliminary than anyhting else.<br /><br />I'm also glad to see you point out that these 'episkopois' are only addressed here in the letter. This is something that I had in my original post before I edited it down. I think Paul's point here is more rhetorical than it is anything else. He wants all the Philippians (saints, overseers and servants) to understand that they are being addressed in what follows. I am not sure what this says about what kind of role they play, but the NT evidence suggests in the case of episkopois, that their role was in caring for people, "in most senses of that term, including administration,hospitality,and pastoral care" (Fee; 69).<br /><br />Unfortunately, the evidence that we do have from the NT is scant at best. What we have in today's churches is more influenced by later developments (i.e. the Church Fathers)than what we find in the NT, if we are honest with ourselves.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments and questions.<br /><br />MatthewMatthew D. Montoninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771037323124064875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-13858230699194226312009-04-28T16:41:00.000-04:002009-04-28T16:41:00.000-04:00Hi, Matthew. I think this is an important topic a...Hi, Matthew. I think this is an important topic and I'm glad to see someone blogging about it. Is it fair to say your closing statement is somewhat in agreement with the Fee quote? What I mean is, you both seem to agree that an aspect of function AND position are both included to some degree. Suddenly, to me, it starts to feel like an awfully fine line...<br /><br />Not to make an argument from silence, but what do you think about the fact that these 'episkopois' are only addressed, and never given particular instructions in the letter? Does that suggest anything about their duties (or lack thereof)? And does Fee consider that in his writings?<br /><br />Full disclosure: I happen to take a contrary view to much of traditional practice. Where many ministers today justify their <I>directorships</I> with the scriptures about elders & overseers, my opinion is that an NT overseer, quite literally, mainly watched. Not to get off topic, but perhaps so you know where I'm coming from.<br /><br />Thanks for the post.Bill Heromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.com