Can someone give me a good explanation of the Exegetical Summary Series?

Ron

I asked this in the "best bible study" thread, but I know it was off-topic there and would have been a thread-jacking if it had gotten answered...so I started a new thread.

Matthew made a comment in that thread:

Have you ever given "Passage Guide" a try
under Logos 4?  And if your library includes The Exegetical Summaries
Series http://www.logos.com/products/details/4293 
prioritized in your resources, it will return study results that knocks
everything else off the table.

I was hoping he (or somebody else) could expand on that comment.  Can I get an explanation (beyond what's available on the product page) of what this resource offers?  Perhaps even a snippet from the resource itself to get an "example"?  It sounds like an interesting resource, but I'm having a hard time picturing what it offers or how it works and I'm trying to decide if it is worth adding to my wishlist...especially since it is a relatively pricey resource.

Thanks!

TCBlack

I have an earlier version of one of these resources:  An Exegetical Summary Of Philippians - J. Harold Greenlee

 

Here is a block from Phil 2:1  Perhaps it will be sufficient to help you make a judgement call - note however that the newer set is just that, newer and more than likely contains updated information.

_____

Chapter 2 

 

2:1

If a therefore b (there is) any encouragement/exhortation c in d Christ, 

LEXICON—a.  εἰ  (LN 89.65):  ‘if’ [Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; KJV, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB],  not explicit [NAB].  This clause is translated ‘your life in Christ makes you strong’ [TEV],  ‘if you belong to Christ are you not strong?’ [TNT]. 

b. οὖν  (LN 89.50):  ‘therefore’ [ICC, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; KJV, NASB],  ‘then’ [HNTC; NRSV, REB],  ‘accordingly’ [Ln],  ‘so’ [NJB],  not explicit [Ea; NAB, NIV, TNT]. 

c. παράκλησις  (LN 25.150) (BAGD 3. p. 618):  ‘encouragement’ [BAGD, LN, NTC, WBC; NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV],  ‘consolation’ [KJV],  ‘comfort’ [Mou],  ‘exhortation’ [BAGD, Ea, HNTC, WEC],  ‘power of exhortation’ [ICC],  ‘admonition’ [Ln],  ‘power to persuade you’ [Pl] ‘anything to stir the heart’ [REB],  ‘anything that will move you’ [NJB].  This word means persuasive and helpful speech [My];  it includes both consolation and exhortation [EBC, EGT]. 

d. ἐν  with dative object (LN 89.119):  ‘in’ [Ea, HNTC, ICC, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC; all translations except NIV, TNT],  ‘from union with’ [WEC],  ‘from being united with’ [NIV],  ‘in connection with’ [Ln]. 

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by οὖν ‘therefore’? 

1. It indicates a conclusion based on 1:27 [Bg, Ea, Blm, EBC, El, ICC, My(D), TNTC, WC]: since they must live worthily of the gospel, standing in one spirit and striving together, they must make Paul’s joy complete by being of the same mind, etc. 

2. It indicates a conclusion based on 1:30 [My]: since they are engaged in the same conflict as Paul, they should fulfil his joy. 

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by εἰ ‘if’ in the four clauses of this verse? 

1. The clauses indicate the incentive for the exhortation that follows in 2:2 [Alf, Bg, Blm, Ea, EBC, GNC, HNTC, Lt, MNTC, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, WEC; all translations]: since, etc., therefore complete my joy. ‘If’ here does not assume doubt; rather, it assumes that the condition is true [Ea, Blm, EBC, GNC, HNTC, Lg, Ln, My, NTC, TH, TNTC, WBC]. 

2. Each ‘if’ clause contains its own apodosis; the verb ‘let it be’ is implied [Ln]: if (there is) any admonition, (let it be) in connection with Christ; if (there is) any solace, (let it be) of love; if (there is) any fellowship, (let it be) of spirit; if (there is) any (such fellowship, let it be) with tender mercies and compassion. 

QUESTION—What verb is to be understood in these four ‘if’ clauses? 

Most supply the verb ‘to be’ [Bg, Blm, Ea, EBC, Lg, Ln, Mou, My, NIC, NTC, WBC; KJV, NASB, NJB, NRSV]: if there is … Alternatives are: ‘if you have … ’ [NIV], ‘if … has the power to move you’ [HNTC], ‘if … exists among you’ [Ea]. 

QUESTION—What is meant by encouragement/exhortation in Christ? 

1. Encouragement comes from their being in Christ [Alf, Mou, NTC, WBC]. They are encouraged because they are in union with Christ [Mou, NTC]. They are Christians who have been encouraged by appeals from Paul, a fellow Christian, and should therefore respond to his present appeal [WBC]. 

2. Exhortation comes from their being in Christ [EBC, ICC, Lt, My, NIC, WEC]. The fact that they are in Christ has power to exhort them to concord [ICC]. Being Christians, they are obligated to respond to orders from Christ and his apostles [EBC]. Brother exhorts brother from a living fellowship with Christ [My]. 

3. Exhortation is characterized as being in Christ [Ea, El, HNTC, MNTC]. ‘In Christ’ is its sphere and element [El]. Paul makes his exhortation to them in the sphere of Christ [MNTC]. Paul speaks to them within the sphere of grace into which they have access through Christ [HNTC]. 

4. It means  that Christ appeals to them [WC]. 

if (there is) any consolation/encouragement a of-love, b 

LEXICON—a.  παραμύθιον  (LN 25.154) (BAGD p. 621):  ‘consolation’ [BAGD, LN, HNTC, ICC, Mou; NASB, NRSV, REB],  ‘comfort’ [Ea; KJV, NIV],  ‘solace’ [Ln; NAB],  ‘encouragement’ [BAGD, Pl, WEC],  ‘persuasive appeal’ [NTC],  ‘incentive’ [NJB],  ‘power to move you’ [TNT].  This entire phrase is translated ‘if in any way my love has consoled you’ [WBC],  ‘if his love consoles/encourages you’ [LN],  ‘his love comforts you’ [TEV].  This word refers to encouragement by speaking [Ea].  It includes the quality of tenderness [EGT].  Their love for Christ and for one another should lead them to work together and to avoid divisiveness of any kind [EBC]. 

b. ἀγάπη  (LN 25.43) (BAGD I.1.a. p. 5):  ‘love’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations]. 

QUESTION—How are the two event words related in the genitive construction παραμύθιον ἀγάπης ‘consolation of love’? 

1. Consolation is given from love [Ea, EGT, El, HNTC, ICC, Lg, Ln, Mou, My, NTC, WBC, WC, WEC; NAB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, TEV, TNT]. They are consoled by Christ’s love for them [HNTC, ICC, TH; TEV]. They are consoled by Paul’s love for them [EGT, MNTC, WBC]. They are consoled by others loving them [Ea, EBC, WC]. Love has a persuasive power to move them to concord [ICC]. 

2. Encouragement is given from love [NIC, NTC]. It is a persuasive appeal they receive from Christ’s love for them [NTC]. 

if (there is) any fellowship a of-Spirit/spirit, b 

LEXICON—a.  κοινωνία  (LN 34.5; 57.98) (BAGD 1., 2. p. 439):  ‘fellowship’ [BAGD, Ea, LN, HNTC, ICC, Ln, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, TEV],  ‘sharing’ [Mou; NRSV, TNT],  ‘participation’ [REB]. 

b. πνεῦμα  (LN 12.18; 26.9; 30.6) (BAGD 5.d.β. p. 677):  ‘Spirit’ [BAGD, Ea, HNTC, ICC, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC, WEC; all translations except NAB],  ‘spirit’ [Ln; NAB]. 

QUESTION—How are the two nouns related in the genitive construction κοινωνία πνεύματος ‘fellowship of Spirit’? 

1. They fellowship with the Holy Spirit [ICC, Lt, Pl, TH, TNTC, WC; NJB, TEV]. 

2. The Spirit causes them to fellowship with one another  [Ea, EBC, GNC, WBC, WEC]: if there is any fellowship produced by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces like-mindedness [Ea]. 

3 It is both subjective and objective [HNTC, NTC]: if there is any participation in the Spirit and fellowship produced by the Spirit. 

4. They participate in the gifts and influence of the Spirit [El]. 

5. They fellowship with one another in regards to their spirits [Lg, Ln; NAB]: if there is any fellowship of your spirits. 

if (there is) any compassion a and mercies, b 

LEXICON—a.  σπλάγχνα  (LN 25.49) (BAGD 1.b. p. 763):  ‘compassion’ [LN; NAB, NRSV, TNT],  ‘tender mercy’ [ICC, Ln, NTC],  ‘tenderness’ [HNTC, Pl, WBC; NIV],  ‘affection’ [BAGD; NASB],  ‘kindness’ [TEV],  ‘warmth’ [NJB],  ‘warmth of affection’ [REB],  ‘heart’ [BAGD, Mou],  ‘bowels’ [Ea; KJV].  The phrase σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί ‘compassion and mercies’ is translated ‘the compassion that flows from the heart’ [WEC].  This word relates to the affections in general [Alf],  or the seat of the emotions [TNTC].  This word together with the following word οἰκτιρμοί ‘mercy’ are qualities which would make unity of spirit the normal thing [EBC]. 

b. οἰκτιρμός  (LN 88.80) (BAGD p. 561):  ‘mercy’ [BAGD, Ea; KJV],  ‘compassion’ [BAGD, LN, ICC, Ln, Mou, NTC, Pl, WBC; NASB, NIV, REB, TEV],  ‘sympathy’ [NJB, NRSV],  ‘pity’ [BAGD, HNTC; NAB, TNT].  This word relates specifically to the emotion of compassion [Alf].  It relates to the outward expression of the emotions [TNTC]. 

QUESTION—How is the singular pronoun τις ‘any’ related to the plural nouns σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί ‘compassion and mercies’? 

The singular pronoun is used because the two plural nouns are generic and thus singular in sense, and the two nouns together express one common idea [Ea]: if there is any compassion, any mercy. Paul probably intended to follow this τις ‘any’ with another singular word but then switched over to these two plurals to express his meaning [Pl]. 

QUESTION—What relationship is indicated by the phrase σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί ‘compassion and mercies’? 

1. They are distinct qualities [EBC, El, Mou, NTC; all translations] but closely related [HNTC, ICC]: tenderness and mercy. The first noun is the source of the feelings, the second noun is their manifestation [Lg, Lt, TH]. The second noun carries the idea of pity more strongly than does the first noun [MNTC]. 

2. The phrase is a hendiadys [TNTC, WBC]: merciful compassion/ affectionate sympathy. 

QUESTION—Who are the participants in the event words here? 

The reference is to compassion and mercy for one another [Ea, EBC, HNTC, ICC, Mou, TH, WC]: if you have compassion and mercy for one another. It may focus either on their compassion for Paul or for Paul’s compassion for them [MNTC]. It means God’s compassion for them [WBC]: if you know God’s compassion and mercy, respond by doing what I request. It means that if they believe in compassion and mercy, they should do what Paul requests [WC]. 

J. Harold Greenlee, An Exegetical Summary of Philippians (Dallas, TX: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1992), Php 1:30–2:1.