Paradox

[duxrow]

"The opposite of what one might think", a paradox is an incredible or unbelievable statement that may somehow be true; a kind of verbal miracle or two-headed monster that pits one rational thought against another in a mental tug of war. Like when the irresistible force meets the immovable object, or like pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.

A Bible paradox concerns how or why an omnipotent and omniscient and loving GOD would permit wicked satan to wreak such destructive havoc on Planet Earth, especially when the text often attributes the violence to GOD Himself.

The word 'paradox' isn't used in the Bible, but 'allegory' is used in Galatians 4:24, to say how The Two Covenants relate to Abraham's two sons. Now the allegory of sin says that WE have been given a limited time frame to be as wicked and hateful, or obnoxious and persnickety, as we want to be, but the end is coming! We have found the enemy and he is US.

The "Confounding of the Language", Gen11:7, may play a part here, considering the many figures of speech, poetic expressions, and our various cultures.
Some say that Adam was initially given domain, even over the serpent, but lost it through his disobedience. Not clear to me how that helps, but considering
scripture: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God", Heb12:2, as well as Rev4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created", we better not get too big for our britches, doncha think?

[joel]

Duxrow,

I would be interested to have your view on Luke 5:26, where as far as I can find, the only use in scripture of the word "paradoxos" is expressed.

The people who were witnesses to the healing of the man with palsy spoke the word "paradoxos" whom Jesus healed after He declared that the man's sins were forgiven.

Joel

[duxrow]

Thanks, Joel, I had missed that -- didn't know it was there. G3861 from Strongs. The 'Walk' in scripture is so extensive and probably not always speaking of putting one foot ahead of the other -- but I don't see a 'paradox' here as we would use it today. Maybe the contrast with "having done all, Stand'. ha.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Duxrow,

I would be interested to have your view on Luke 5:26, where as far as I can find, the only use in scripture of the word "paradoxos" is expressed.

The people who were witnesses to the healing of the man with palsy spoke the word "paradoxos" whom Jesus healed after He declared that the man's sins were forgiven.

Joel

Hey there my friend!

It's been a long time since we talked. I'm glad you stopped by for a visit.

I didn't even know that word existed in the Greek NT. Here's what the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says about it:

This word is quite common in secular Gk., Philo, Joseph.1 and the LXX. It always denotes an 'unusual event contrary to belief and expectation' (τό παρὰ δόξαν ὄν, cf. the LXX verb παραδοξάζω, 'I do something unusual'). In the NT it occurs only in Lk. 5:26, where it is designed to emphasise the unusual aspect of what was seen in Jesus: εἶδον παράδοξα σήμερον.

As noted, the word appears frequently in the LXX. The apocryphal Wisdom of Sirach uses it in this passage:

Sirach 43:24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, and we marvel at what we hear. 25 In it are strange (paradoxa) and marvelous creatures, all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters. 26 Because of him each of his messengers succeeds, and by his word all things hold together. 27 We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: "He is the all."

As an aside, I find the statement that "by his word all things hold together" very reminiscent of NT writings.

The word "paradoxa" seems to mean "strange wonder" like a miracle. That seems to be the meaning in Luke 5:26. It doesn't seem to have the same meaning as our modern word "paradox" which is often used to refer to a self-contradictory statement.

Great chatting! Don't be such a stranger.

Richard

[David M]

Good morning Richard

I didn't even know that word existed in the Greek NT. Here's what the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says about it:
This word is quite common in secular Gk., Philo, Joseph.1 and the LXX. It always denotes an 'unusual event contrary to belief and expectation' (τό παρὰ δόξαν ὄν, cf. the LXX verb παραδοξάζω, 'I do something unusual'). In the NT it occurs only in Lk. 5:26, where it is designed to emphasise the unusual aspect of what was seen in Jesus: εἶδον παράδοξα σήμερον.
As noted, the word appears frequently in the LXX. The apocryphal Wisdom of Sirach uses it in this passage:
Sirach 43:24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, and we marvel at what we hear. 25 In it are strange (paradoxa) and marvelous creatures, all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters. 26 Because of him each of his messengers succeeds, and by his word all things hold together. 27 We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: "He is the all."
As an aside, I find the statement that "by his word all things hold together" very reminiscent of NT writings.

The word "paradoxa" seems to mean "strange wonder" like a miracle. That seems to be the meaning in Luke 5:26. It doesn't seem to have the same meaning as our modern word "paradox" which is often used to refer to a self-contradictory statement.

It is not strange but annoying (to me) that people will seize every opportunity to cite apparent paradoxes in scripture to prove their case against scripture. The apparent paradoxes in scripture can be explained away and the opponents will then say that words are being stretched or twisted by the opposition to imply a different meaning. Paradoxes must be resolved in order to correctly understand the whole of scripture.

Just as the supporter of scripture must add meaning to that which at face value seems to oppose the truth, the opponent of scripture should ideally give a meaning to the side of the paradox that supports scripture. As in the case of "angels" there is the side that say angels can sin and the opposite understanding to that has been explained, yet those who say angels can sin, do not explain that God's will is done in heaven and therefore God's Angels in Heaven cannot sin.

Paradoxes are like puzzles - interesting.

All the best,

David

[joel]

In the verse cited, Luke 5:26, the crowd of people who witnessed the man's healing called it a "paradox" which Richard pointed out is "...an unusual event contrary to belief and expectation". There are two things that Jesus did towards the man; he healed his physical impairment, and, first off, he forgave the man's sins.
When these two separate blessings are put side to side, which is the greater?
Which affords greater glory to God?
The friends of the inflicted man were concerned with the physical issue. They wanted to see him healed and recognized Jesus as the One Who could heal him. The paradox may be that the higher glory, the forgiveness of sins, is uppermost in the heart of Jesus, but not in the friends of the man, and, by bringing him to Jesus the man receives a double blessing, the greater of which concerns spiritual matters.
Joel

[duxrow]

Sounds good to me, Joel -- good answer, I'm sure.

Remembering now when I first read that story, thinking "raising the roof?" Seems an incredible and extremely unlikely way to get into the presence of Jesus, though confess I'm not familiar with a type of roofing that would permit.
Anyway, there's so many figures of speech used in scripture that I'm STill inclined to view the paradoxos as 'raising the roof', going all-out, in pursuit of healing.

[joel]

Sounds good to me, Joel -- good answer, I'm sure.

Remembering now when I first read that story, thinking "raising the roof?" Seems an incredible and extremely unlikely way to get into the presence of Jesus, though confess I'm not familiar with a type of roofing that would permit.
Anyway, there's so many figures of speech used in scripture that I'm STill inclined to view the paradoxos as 'raising the roof', going all-out, in pursuit of healing.

One more thought on the matter.........paradoxa is a compound word. Para generally seems to mean "near". Doxa is "glory". If something is a paradox.......it is "near glory". It is close......maybe even right up beside....and not yet fully the same as the other thing that it is so near. Being healed physically is glorious. No doubt about it. But, it cannot compare in glory to being forgiven of your sins. The glory of the former pales in splendor when placed beside the glory of the latter. That helps me understand a "paradox".
In that vein, isn't it a paradox that Jesus came in the flesh? On the one hand, the flesh is demonstrating a certain glory. Jesus, while in the flesh, was manifesting a greater glory. One that originates in spirit. The paradox of being in flesh, while at the same time demonstrating the glory of the spirit, is a wondrous thing. Joel

[duxrow]

One more thought on the matter.........paradoxa is a compound word. Para generally seems to mean "near". Doxa is "glory". If something is a paradox.......it is "near glory". It is close......maybe even right up beside....and not yet fully the same as the other thing that it is so near. Being healed physically is glorious. No doubt about it. But, it cannot compare in glory to being forgiven of your sins. The glory of the former pales in splendor when placed beside the glory of the latter. That helps me understand a "paradox".
In that vein, isn't it a paradox that Jesus came in the flesh? On the one hand, the flesh is demonstrating a certain glory. Jesus, while in the flesh, was manifesting a greater glory. One that originates in spirit. The paradox of being in flesh, while at the same time demonstrating the glory of the spirit, is a wondrous thing. Joel

The story of Rachel and Leah is much more than curious -- Rachel represents the Jews and the Old Covenant, while Leah represents the Gentiles and the New Covenant.
Rachel (her name means "ewe") is barren at first, but figuratively is the one who births the Lamb of God, Jesus!

It's a paradox because the pedigree of Jesus actually comes through Judah, the 4th son of Leah. God saw the Jews first (and loved 'em), but its the Gentiles who are the 'Bride' !

Rachel sat on the sidelines while the first ten sons of Jacob were born, and then, finally, gave birth to Joseph, a type of Jesus.
Later, she died giving birth to Benjamin, another type of Jesus because his name means 'son of the right hand'. Gen35:18. Amen?

[duxrow]

The VAIL was what ID her (Tamar) as 'harlot'.. ?

Gen38:14 "And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place,
which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife".

But when Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel, was the vail especially thick, or was he especially drunk?

The VAIL in the Temple was torn at Calvary, and now they could see past the less-Holy place, into the Most Holy place,
even though it wasn't the Day of Atonement. Finally, the Covenant to the Gentiles was inaugurated!