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| Ernest Hepnar photo, presently touring Rome and Italy. |
Thursday, November 30, 2017 Philippians & Ephesians: Thankfulness
Sunday, July 28, 2013 Spiritual Education (MPhil)
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 MPhil Wales 2003
From
2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University
Today, our needs are often misunderstood. In the evangelical Christian church it is sometimes said that God will always meet our needs; however, there could be confusion with the concept of ‘always’. Let us not forget that there are Christians who are blind, or missing limbs for example. Both sight and limbs are basic human needs. Some realize this in philosophical terms, but often these people are living in lonely rooms and homes, away from the mainstream, so they may not be seen and/or experienced by many in the church. In reality, God does always meet what we see as basic human needs, or scientifically what can be deemed as basic human needs such as good health; however, what God promised, mainly, is everlasting life if we believe in Christ as Saviour, and judgement for all humanity.
In Philippians 4:19, Paul promises his readers that God will supply their needs in Christ. However, Martin noted that: "The precise meaning of will meet as a wish-prayer, not a statement of fact, is a helpful insight." Martin (1987: 184). The fact that Paul is waiting for God to supply the reader’s needs means there is an element of faith involved, and in matters of faith, God sometimes does not deliver as expected although he will meet the needs of his people in order for them to best serve him.
God will meet the needs of the believer, mainly in the context of making it feasible for a person to complete his will for their individual life. This unfortunately, from a human perspective, leaves much room for suffering. Yes, God loves his people, but he has knowledge of what must take place in a believer’s life in a more complete way than any human being could be aware of. He alone is omniscient.
MARTIN, R.P. (1987) 'Philippians', in Leon Canon Morris (gen. ed.),Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Leicester/Grand Rapids, Inter-Varsity Press/William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
WOODS, B.W. (1974) Christians in Pain, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
I have shared this work above previously from my British, MPhil thesis and in the Spiritual Education, article.
September 14, 2019
Bible Hub
Cited with my work in brackets:
your needs χρείαν chreian Original Word: χρεία, ας, ἡ
needs, business
Bible Hub
Philippians 4:19 N-AFS (noun, accusative feminine, singular)
(Accusative, meet (verb) needs of you)
GRK: πληρώσει πᾶσαν χρείαν ὑμῶν κατὰ
(will fill up or meet all needs of you according to)
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The New Testament Greek to me with a definition of needs and business, could be described in context, as the needs and business of the individual Christian in serving God, being met, more so than all of the ontological needs of the individual Christian, all being met.
