1 Timothy 3 v. Titus 1: Overseer Qualifications

page 319

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

For the previous 'Titus' entry, yesterday, I searched through the 'Encountering' text and viewed this interesting graphic within the section Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus

I agree with the author's that there is theological consistency.

Titus 3: 5-7: Regeneration

Baltinglass Abbey, Ireland

Titus 3: 5-7: Regeneration

Non-exhaustive, revised article for an entry on academica.edu, January 16, 2023

Titus 3:5-7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life.

Bible Hub

Strong 3824

παλιγγενεσιας 

'Strong's Concordance paliggenesia: regeneration, renewal 

Original Word: παλιγγενεσία, ας, ἡ 

Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paliggenesia

Phonetic Spelling: (pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah)

Short Definition: a new birth, regeneration 

Definition: a new birth, regeneration, renewal.'

From Titus 3: 5

The main text

Spiritual rebirth (figurative), spiritual regeneration (figurative). (72).

Being spiritually transformed by God, to be in relationship, fellowship with God through the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ. Spiritually enlightened by the triune God in order to accept the salvific work of God. The Father sends, the Son completes the atoning and resurrection work and the Holy Spirit regenerates and yet the trinity is of one infinite, eternal essence and works together in unity.

Greek scholar Bauer documents this as:

The rebirth of the redeemed person. (606). The regeneration and rebirth via the Holy Spirit. (606).

Greek New Testament:  With five Greek manuscript versions there is agreement on: παλιγγενεσιας 

Abarim Publications

Cited παλιγγενεσιας 

of rebirth noun

Commentaries

Pastor Courson explains that those in Christ have been 'washed and renewed' (1424), not because of our own human righteousness, but because of the work of Jesus Christ. (1424). We have been renewed and washed. (1424). Washing is symbolic, in part at least through baptism, in my view. Although there is the idea of being cleansed of sin through the sanctification process.

Nute suggests in his commentary that washing is the cleansing in the new birth. (1496). And this may include the thought of baptism as a symbol of cleansing. (1496). The Pocket Dictionary defines regeneration as rebirth or re-creation as in being born again. (101). But salvation does include legal justification and the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ to believers, and as well, sanctification.

Theology

John Murray (1937-1966)(1977) explains that the Holy Spirit ‘summons men into union and fellowship with his Son so that, united to him in whom all spiritual blessings are treasured, they come to possess Christ and all that belongs to him in his capacity as Saviour and Redeemer.’ Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 167). Regeneration takes place which is a powerful change in the human being via the Holy Spirit, Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 171) which transforms one corrupt and in sin in opposition to God, to one pleasing to God and trusting in God. 

There is ‘no compulsion of the will in regeneration.’ states Shedd. Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 136-137 Volume 2). Calvin reasons that a person is not forced or coerced to believe in the gospel. Calvin (1543)(1996: 68). I would view conversion as taking place simultaneously with regeneration in a person, although I firmly state that God alone via the Holy Spirit causes the regeneration process. (In agreement with Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 172)) This means as God chooses to regenerate a person he simultaneously persuades one to freely believe. Salvation remains alone a work of God.

BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1847-1848)(1955)(1966) On Authority and Revelation, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Harper and Row, Publishers, Incorporated. 

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1848-1849)(1961) Christian Discourses & The Lilies of the Field and The Birds of the Air & Three Discourses at The Communion on Fridays, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Oxford University Press.

MURRAY, JOHN (1937-1966)(1977) Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. 2: Select Lectures in Systematic Theology, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

NUTE, ALAN G. (1986) in 'Titus', The International Bible Commentary, F.F. Bruce, General Editor, Grand Rapids, Zondervan/Marshall Pickering.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Pickering, Ontario, Welch Publishing Company.

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Robson Corporation: A man, a wax dummy or other??? Click! Only in USA?

Miracle on 224th Street: The Revenge of Chucky v. The Cousin's Buff

 Five minute walk from Chucky, fifteen from mine & also Buff's.

Miracle on 224th Street: The Revenge of Chucky v. The Cousin's Buff

Walking downtown to my fine Indian barber, she has several business neighbours celebrating Christmas in Maple Ridge.

Yet another Canadian-American, Christmas on 224th Street, classic. Of course in the fictional world it will be in America.

The Universe of Classes

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York.

≡df = Equivalence by definition
: = Equal (s)
ε = Epsilon and means is
⊃ = Is the same as
⊨ is Entails
˜ = Not
∃ = There exists
∃! = There exists
∴ = Therefore
 · = Therefore
< = Is included
v = a logical inclusive disjunction (disjunction is the relationship between two distinct alternatives).
x = variable
· = Conjunction meaning And
0= Null class

The Universe of Classes

Previously we documented a system of houses (157), as example of K=interpreted as houses and a dyadic. (157)

'When a relation-symbol stands in a construct, the number of terms grouped with it reveals the degree of the relation. But when it is not actually used, but merely spoken of, it is sometimes convenient to have some way of denoting its degree. This may be done by adding a numerical subscript; for example, "kd2" means that "killing" is dyadic (a pair), "bt3" that "between" is triadic.' (55).

In such a dyadic system, all the elements have to expressible in terms of two elements. (157). There is a fixed element that relates to an element on the other end of the pole, so to speak. (157).

Every class is therefore relative to some given element. (157).

The defining form of the class must be in dyad (157) such as with Langer's example of K nt2.  These are the houses north of a stated element.

Langer explains that if the elements had begun with a triadic (group of three not two as in dyadic relation), such as using the term 'between', then two fixed elements would have been used to generate a class. (157). The class between a and b or the class of terms not between a and b.

Using dyadic:

K=interpreted as houses
nt=interpreted as north of...

K= (a, b, c... =nt2)

a, b, c... are houses north of x within this deductive system and universe of discourse.

My example:

C=interpreted as Cities

a= Prince George
b= Prince Rupert
c= Yellowknife

C= (a, b, c...=nt2)

a, b, c... are cities north of x=Vancouver within this deductive system and universe of discourse.

This serves as a logical means of categorization.

If this is legitimate, this is a pretty sad attempt to bring in attenders.

Symbolic equality/Necessary v. Contingent

Fraser Valley (Not my photo)

Symbolic equality

Edited for reference for an entry on academia.edu, 20240316

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. The Langer philosophy text review, continues. Some key symbols from the textbook:

≡df = Equivalence by definition
: = Equal (s)
ε = Epsilon and means is
⊃ = Is the same as
⊨ is Entails
˜ = Not
∃ = There exists
∃! = There exists
∴ = Therefore
· = Therefore
<= Is included
v = a logical inclusive disjunction (disjunction is the relationship between two distinct alternatives).
x = variable
· = Conjunction meaning And
0= Null class
---

Philosopher Langer next deals with the concept of Equivalent Expressions. This is complex and will be reviewed, bit by bit.

K= int (interpreted as) 'houses'.
nt = int (interpreted as) 'north of'.

She provides an example basically stating that if (149):

(a nt b) . (b nt c) ⊃ (a nt c)

House A is north of House B and House B is north of House C, is the same as House A is north of House C.

(y) Means no house is north of itself. This concept explained earlier in the text and in my website archives. No two houses are to the north of each other. (150)

(∃x)(∃y): y nt x (150).

X house exists, and Y house exists, equals Y house is north of X house.

The condition of being north of x may apply to any number of K=interpreted as houses. (150).

Langer then explains that for the purposes of the text, henceforth, y nt x shall be equivalent to y ε Ax. (150). Therefore it could be stated that (z) : (z nt y) ⊃ (z nt x) meaning z is north of y is the equivalent expression of z is north of x.

Recent

Updated November 7, 2020

Necessary v. Contingent

1. The necessary must exist.
2. God is necessary.
3. God's plans are necessary.
4. The contingent exist.
5. The necessary supersedes the contingent.
6. Human beings are contingent.
7. Human being's plans are contingent.
8. Human being's needs are contingent.

Therefore, the suffering of the contingent is permissible.

I am not stating that God by nature had to create anything, or anything finite. God does have significant free will within divine nature. His plans reflect nature. I am stating that God's plans must occur and therefore are necessary. It could be stated that it is a weaker sense of necessity in point 3 than points 1 and 2. Some may view God’s plans as contingent as opposed to necessary.

If God’s plans for humanity are contingent, because he could have done otherwise, the fact these contingent plans come from a necessary being would still have them supersede the plans and needs of the contingent.

However...

Open Edition Journals: Philosophia Scientia What is Absolute Necessity? Bob Hale 16/2/2012 

Cited 

Absolute necessity might be defined as truth at absolutely all possible worlds without restriction. But we should be able to explain it without invoking possible worlds.

By my definition 1,2 are absolutely necessary in all possible worlds, in other words, of absolute necessity.

3. God's plans are necessary. 

This could be explained as relative necessity.

Relative Necessity Reformulated Bob Hale & Jessica Leech Journal of Philosophical Logic volume 46, pages1–26(2017)

Cited 

The standard account defines each kind of relative necessity by means of a necessitated or strict conditional, whose antecedent is a propositional constant for the body of assumptions relative to which the consequent is asserted to be necessary.

The relative necessity of (3) has as antecedent the absolute necessity of (1,2).

Further, God, within his infinite, eternal nature, would only be morally obligated to keep his revealed word, as in promises, in regard to contingent, human beings. These are documented in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament within a theistic, Christian worldview.