Either Or

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Is it selfishness or conceit? That is according to the ESV.

Philippians 2:3 King James Version

 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;

In the KJV the word selfish is not used and conceit is vainglory.

Perhaps the either or should be either the ESV or KJV?

Translations came about because English is a confusing language that changes over time because dictionaries list how words are used by society and society changes from generation to generation. 

But the nature of man does not change.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Both versions agree where our trust must rest.

Whatever version we choose to use, the goal is to understand the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Foresight

Psalm 77:9-10 English Standard Version

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

King David expresses his sincere emotions as a King of Israel that has known his share of trouble. I would hope that none of us have ever known his troubles.

Being human carries with it all that life throws at us and I will not diminish the trauma that we have to endure. In this moment I would look to point out something we have that was not available to David at the time he penned this psalm.

For David the years of the right hand of the Most High was foresight, a thing to happen.

For us the years of the right hand of the Most High is behind us, a thing accomplished.

Psalm 77:11-12 English Standard Version

11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

In the time of David’s trouble the years of the Lord’s favor had not happened.

Isaiah 61:1-2 English Standard Version

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Luke 4:21 English Standard Version

 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

We get to remember better things that had not happened yet in King David’s time.

Daily Christian Devotionals