This is one of those verses that I want to read in several translations to see if I can gather insight from different word usage....
NIV - Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
English Standard Version - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Good News Translation - Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
New Living Translation - Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
and finally, The Message - Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
I love seeing the "full picture" of a verse through several translations...I don't know if it helps you, but it really does help me "get it"! Don't you see a lot more to Philippians 4:5 than you did when you read just the Holman Christian Standard version? In the Greek, the actual word that is translated as graciousness, gentleness, reasonableness, gentle attitude, considerate, and "on their side" (love that, don't you?) is epiekes and carries with it the idea of seemingly, suitable, equitable, fair, mild, gentle. All the translations are accurate, just looking at the word from a little different angle.
Since our subject matter is still joy, God's kind of happiness, which of the translations evokes in you an attitude that will most likely produce joy within you? When you read through them, and picture yourself reflecting the directed behavior in your life, which verse gives you something that you feel that if you really lived that out, you would be more joyful?
Is it seeing yourself as being gentle in your responses to others? Is it picturing yourself as just a totally reasonable person - able to weigh all situations with proper priority? Does the idea of yourself being viewed by others as sincerely considerate make you smile? Or do you, like me, love the picture of being the kind of person that is always, automatically, an advocate of people...letting them know that you're on their side, encouraging them, not tearing them down. Maybe because I realize that I am not always that kind of person that the idea of being more like that is so appealing to me.
Whatever translation hits home with you, take the verse to heart. The point of the first sentence of this verse, to me, is to be enough of "that kind of person" that it is part of your reputation. That people talk about you in that regard...whether they use the adjective of gentle, reasonable, considerate, or "what an encourager"...that you are known for displaying the attitude of Jesus. An attitude that is unmistakably loving and...you guessed it...joyful.
NIV - Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
English Standard Version - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Good News Translation - Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
New Living Translation - Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
and finally, The Message - Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
I love seeing the "full picture" of a verse through several translations...I don't know if it helps you, but it really does help me "get it"! Don't you see a lot more to Philippians 4:5 than you did when you read just the Holman Christian Standard version? In the Greek, the actual word that is translated as graciousness, gentleness, reasonableness, gentle attitude, considerate, and "on their side" (love that, don't you?) is epiekes and carries with it the idea of seemingly, suitable, equitable, fair, mild, gentle. All the translations are accurate, just looking at the word from a little different angle.
Since our subject matter is still joy, God's kind of happiness, which of the translations evokes in you an attitude that will most likely produce joy within you? When you read through them, and picture yourself reflecting the directed behavior in your life, which verse gives you something that you feel that if you really lived that out, you would be more joyful?
Is it seeing yourself as being gentle in your responses to others? Is it picturing yourself as just a totally reasonable person - able to weigh all situations with proper priority? Does the idea of yourself being viewed by others as sincerely considerate make you smile? Or do you, like me, love the picture of being the kind of person that is always, automatically, an advocate of people...letting them know that you're on their side, encouraging them, not tearing them down. Maybe because I realize that I am not always that kind of person that the idea of being more like that is so appealing to me.
Whatever translation hits home with you, take the verse to heart. The point of the first sentence of this verse, to me, is to be enough of "that kind of person" that it is part of your reputation. That people talk about you in that regard...whether they use the adjective of gentle, reasonable, considerate, or "what an encourager"...that you are known for displaying the attitude of Jesus. An attitude that is unmistakably loving and...you guessed it...joyful.
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