Greetings, Siestas!
I am cold.
How are you?
I will have you know that Houstonians have been notified that we have a 70% chance of snow flurries over the next twenty four hours. We are all nestled at home by the fire, awaiting the likes of the Chicago blizzard. The doors of schools and workplaces have been locked and abandoned. Food stuffs have long since been purchased. Shelves are practically empty. In short, we are all certifiably insane.
In other news, on Tuesday night at Bible Study my Mom read out of Philippians 1.19:
For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (NASB)
Every time I hear this verse, a bell starts ringing in my head and it drives me crazy because I can never identify it. But, at last, the other night I finally discovered that the echo is coming from Job 13.16. We can see that the phrase “this shall turn out for my deliverance” in Philippians 1.19 (τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν) finds a word for word correspondence in the Greek version of Job 13.16:
Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! (NIV)
For those interested, you can see the correspondence in the Greek below:
Philippians 1.19 οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας τοῦ πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Job 13.16 καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν οὐ γὰρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ δόλος εἰσελεύσεται.
The Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible are known collectively as the Septuagint (commonly abbreviated LXX). The LXX is overwhelmingly the Bible that Paul uses in his letters. What is fascinating about this instance in Philippians 1.19 is that Paul does not use any introductory formula (for example, something like, “the Scripture says”) to introduce his allusion or echo of Job 13.16. This discussion is a conversation in intertextuality. Intertextuality, in simplest terms, is the relationship between texts. So what I am getting at with this particular discussion is, how is Paul using Job 13.16 in Philippians 1.19? If that question does not make sense, think of it this way: what is the relationship between Philippians 1.19 and Job 13.16?
There are several explanations as to what may be going on but here are just a couple of general options:
1) In spite of the verbatim verbal correspondence, Paul has not consciously invoked Job 13.16. It is sheer coincidence and no implications should be drawn about the relationship between these two texts.
2) Paul has uttered the words “this will turn out for my deliverance” in passing, without too much thought. It is noteworthy that we do this all the time, not because we are trying to invoke entire contexts of biblical passages, but because of our familiarization with a certain verse. For example, when we have a friend who has suffered a loss, we might say, “All things work for the good of those who love him” without even realizing we just quoted half of Romans 8.28. Our intention was not to point our friend to the entirety of Romans 8 but simply to quickly apply a very familiar verse to a new and relevant situation.
3) In Philippians 1.19, Paul has intentionally echoed the language and context of Job 13.16 because he is identifying himself and his circumstances with Job, the paradigmatic righteous sufferer who, in his suffering and affliction, hoped in God for ultimate vindication and redemption.
Discussions of intertextuality, like this one, can be quite fascinating and complex since the line between option two and option three is often difficult to discern. If you wish to do so, take a look at the pertinent verses and let me know what you think. First, look at Philippians 1.19 and its surrounding context. Second, check out Job 13.16 (read all of Job 13 if you really want to make the most of the discussion). Finally, go back to Philippians 1.19 and try to discern the nature of the relationship between the two texts.
As a side note, today I forgot my Bible, so I am using one of my Mom’s old ones and it is dated to approximately 1990. The marginal notes are full of stars, exclamation marks, and observations in curly little cursive handwriting and it is making me so happy.
Have a great evening, dear ladies. Whatever you do, do not make your way to Houston; Chicago, Antarctica, the North Pole, anywhere would be safer than Houston.
Love,
Melis
matthew. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…… I am very blessed to have found this website and looking forward to next Jan to meet all these folks I read about … my daughter told me about this and we plan to attend… to God be the glory. sue
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Proverbs 3:7 (NIV)
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIW
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jill, Crystal Springs, MS
Hebrews 4:16 NIW
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Debbie, Crystal Springs, MS
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
By using scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to every good thing. 2 Timothy 3:17 NIV
Psalm 33:20-22
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Vicki from Waco: Exodus 14:13a NLT–“But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.'”
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you!!!!!!!!”. Memorizing this with my sister!!
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you!!!!”
3/15/11 Psalm 27:14 (NIV) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
1 John 4:19-20
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Shandra – Dallas, TX
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Cor 12:9 NIV 2011
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Proverbs 31:30 “Beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” NIV
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Hey Melissa,
Thanks for your work on that verse! I did my own study on intertexuality this week. I noticed that Christ’s words of rebuke in Mark 8:33 were VERY similar to Paul’s words of exhortation in Colossians 3:2 (“set your minds on things that are above…”). I blogged about it.
YOUR thoughts??