The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

1980

PHILIPPIANS

1:16 This word ( sincerely ) is the Greek word cDJQZ9 ( hagnos ) and means “ holy; sanctified; separated unto God .” Hagnos is taken from the Greek word for “saint” (hagioi). It signifies “ separation to God ” and is normally rendered “ sanctification .” Sanctification (or, sainthood) is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it (I Thess 4:3,4,7). Holiness, by definition, is a separation from that which is “common” (man) or “unclean” (man’s old nature) ( Isa 6:3c ), and cannot even be practiced by mere mortals ( Heb 12:14b ). 1:17 This word ( defence ) is the Greek word DSοOοJLDQ ( apologian - apologetics) and means, “ to answer for oneself in defense of one’s position .” Apologetics is the discipline that teaches Christians how to give a reason for their hope. John Frame in Apologetics to the Glory of God notes: According to Frame, there are three aspects of apologetics: 1. Apologetics as proof : presenting a rational basis for faith (proving Christianity to be true) 2. Apologetics as defense : answering the objections of unbelief (Phil 1:7) 3. Apologetics as offense : attacking the foolishness (Psa: 14:1; I Cor 1:18-2:16) of unbelieving thought NOTE - Apologetics should be the practice of every Christian. Christians should do a better job at defending what they believe than people in cults. Christians should be able to defend themselves “openly” in at least three areas: 1. The passing theories of science Evolution (began in Greece c. 550 BC by Anaximander of Miletus - Religious Note after Daniel 8:27, Job 26:7 , Eccl 1:9 , Mt 12:12 , Gen 1:11,24 , Acts 17:18 a,b,c , Heb 1:2 , Gen 1:3 a,b, Colo 1:17 and II Pet 3:3 ) 2. The errors of worldly philosophy Humanism (began in Greece c. 400 BC by Socrates - Religious Note after Mal 4:6, Jud 21:25 and Colo 2:8 ) Worldly psychology ( I Cor 15:45 and Eccl 1:14 ) The question of evil ( Gen 2:9 ) Christian apologetics (which has nothing to do with ‘apologizing’) seeks to serve God and the church by helping believers to carry out the mandate of I Peter 3:15-16. We may define it as the discipline that teaches Christians how to give a reason for their hope . 3 Mythology (began in the Garden of Eden c. 4000 BC by Satan - Religious Note after Gen 3:5) Polytheism (began in the Garden of Eden c. 4000 BC by Satan - Religious Note after Gen 3:5) Judaism (began in Canaan c. 1400 BC by the followers of Moses - Religious Note after Deut 34:12) Hinduism (began in India c. 1000 BC - Religious Note after I Ki 6:38) Atheism (began in Greece c. 600 BC by Thales of Miletus - Exo 20:3 and Religious Note after Dan 1:21) Buddhism (began in India c. 500 BC by Gautama Buddha - Religious Note after Dan 4:33) Taoism (began in China c. 500 BC by Laozi - Jn 4:24b ) Confucianism (began in China c. 497 BC by Chiu, a Chinese sage - Religious Note after Dan 8:27) Gnosticism (began in Syro-Palestine c. AD 50 - Colo 2:16 ) Unitarian Universalism (began in Syro-Palestine c. AD 100 - Jn 4:24b ) Catholicism (had its roots in Asia Minor c. AD 300, but didn’t really get started until c. AD 700) Islam (began in Arabia c. AD 622 by the followers of Mohammed - Gen 16:10 and Religious Note after Gen 16:12) Anglicans (began in Europe in the 1500’s - broke off into the Church of England and Episcopalian - Jn 4:24b ) Unitarians (began in Transylvania in Eastern Europe in the 1500’s - Jn 4:24b ) Masonry (began in the 1700’s - Num 9:3 ) Mormonism (began in America in 1830 by Joseph Smith - Psa 82:6 ) Apostolic Church (began in America in 1832 by John Bate Cardale - Jn 4:24b ) The Stone-Campbell “baptismal regeneration” Movement (began in America in the 1830’s - Jn 4:24b ) Disciples of Christ (began in America in the 1830’s... DOC is a break-off of the Stone-Campbell Movement - Jn 4:24b ) Socialism (began in Europe in 1848 by Karl Marx - Jn 4:24b ) Seventh Day Adventists (began in America in 1863 by Ellen White -a break-off of the Millerites - Jn 4:24b and Gen 2:2 ) NewThought (began in America in 1866 by Phineas Parkhurst Quimby... NewThought is a break-off of Hinduism and Pantheism - Jn 4:24b ) New Age (began in America in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky... New Age is a break-off of Hinduism , Buddhism , Taoism , Gnosticism and Pantheism - Jn 4:24b ) ChristianScience (began inAmerica in1879 byMaryBaker Eddy... CS is a break-offof NewThought and Pantheism - Jn4:24b ) Jehovah’s Witnesses (began in America in 1884 by Charles Taze Russell... Jehovah’s Witnesses is a break-off of the Seventh Day Adventists - Psa 37:9 ) Unity School of Christianity (began in America in 1891 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore... Unity School of Christianity is a break-off of Hinduism and Pantheism - Jn 4:24b ) Education ( Prov 23:7 ) Government ( Gen 9:6 ) The universe ( Gen 22:17 ) Alternative lifestyles ( Gen 13:13 & 19:24 ) Abortion ( Jere 1:5 , Exo 21:23 , Lev 17:12 and Jn 9:3 ) 3. False religions ( Gen 3:15a and Jn 4:24b )