I just finished a translation of the entire book of Philippians for a final project in my Koine Greek Class. What's interesting about this verse is the word for "only" (monon) is implied; it's not actually there; this is normal, because Greek often has implied words that aren't there. In her commentary, Novakovic writes, "the sense of μόνον [monon] in the first clause is most likely implied. This means, as Runge notes, that 'Paul is not asking his readers to forsake their own interests altogether, but rather to not limit their concern to theirs alone.'" So you are absolutely correct in your interpretation of this verse! Good job on this article!
Source:
Novakovic, Lidija. Philippians: A Handbook on the Greek Text. Edited by Lidija Novakovic, Baylor University Press, 2020, p. 46.
Thank you Kelsie! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts here as well as your academic insights. Both are certainly helpful. Gilda helped me see that as I was writing this and I probably should have included that information, but you’ve done it so nicely with the works cited added. It’s easy to skip over that “not only” in Christian culture and miss the point of self care. So, thank you!
Thanks for the response. I was just trying to share a nerdy fun fact. Your article is not missing anything by not including a note about the implied monon. The only reason to include such a footnote would be for goofy nerds like me :) haha. Since people with much more experience than myself like the expert translators behind the NIV, NLT, and ESV translate the verse with an "only," it is clearly an accurate translation. So your article is accurate as it is. I did not mean to imply a change was necessary.
I apologize if I didn’t respond more accurately. I was actually applauding your response to include that note about the word and the reference. Well done Kelsie. Gilda and I both love nerding out on the original language of scripture and studying it through. You just helped a lot! So thank you! Now you’ve also given us a new book we want in our library!! 😊
It’s refreshing when we understand that balance. I believe He exemplified that balance as shown to us in scripture. Thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts. G. Wray
I just finished a translation of the entire book of Philippians for a final project in my Koine Greek Class. What's interesting about this verse is the word for "only" (monon) is implied; it's not actually there; this is normal, because Greek often has implied words that aren't there. In her commentary, Novakovic writes, "the sense of μόνον [monon] in the first clause is most likely implied. This means, as Runge notes, that 'Paul is not asking his readers to forsake their own interests altogether, but rather to not limit their concern to theirs alone.'" So you are absolutely correct in your interpretation of this verse! Good job on this article!
Source:
Novakovic, Lidija. Philippians: A Handbook on the Greek Text. Edited by Lidija Novakovic, Baylor University Press, 2020, p. 46.
Thank you Kelsie! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts here as well as your academic insights. Both are certainly helpful. Gilda helped me see that as I was writing this and I probably should have included that information, but you’ve done it so nicely with the works cited added. It’s easy to skip over that “not only” in Christian culture and miss the point of self care. So, thank you!
G. Wray
Thanks for the response. I was just trying to share a nerdy fun fact. Your article is not missing anything by not including a note about the implied monon. The only reason to include such a footnote would be for goofy nerds like me :) haha. Since people with much more experience than myself like the expert translators behind the NIV, NLT, and ESV translate the verse with an "only," it is clearly an accurate translation. So your article is accurate as it is. I did not mean to imply a change was necessary.
I apologize if I didn’t respond more accurately. I was actually applauding your response to include that note about the word and the reference. Well done Kelsie. Gilda and I both love nerding out on the original language of scripture and studying it through. You just helped a lot! So thank you! Now you’ve also given us a new book we want in our library!! 😊
I like that balance that Christ brings to us. Thank you for sharing.
It’s refreshing when we understand that balance. I believe He exemplified that balance as shown to us in scripture. Thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts. G. Wray