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Absolutely! The Apostles did not conquer the world through violence, but through their Christ like virtues and their knowledge of God.Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
Is it referring to the sword in Ephesians 6:17?
I am more of a spiritual giant that Maximus was! I can allegorize even better! Surely the knapsack was full of Pixie-Dust and Unicorn farts, since that would have been useful to the Apostles! I have just as much scriptural justification to say what was in that knapsack as the next guy with a wild imagination!Absolutely! The Apostles did not conquer the world through violence, but through their Christ like virtues and their knowledge of God.
Quote:
Whoever possesses spiritual knowledge must always possess as well a rich store of virtue gained through his conduct. Scripture says, ‘He who has a purse,’ that is, spiritual knowledge, ‘let him take it, and his knapsack as well’ (Luke 22:36), that is, affluence of virtue with which he nourishes his soul. He who does not have a purse nor a knapsack, that is, knowledge and virtue, ‘let him sell his garment and buy a sword.’ By this Scripture means: let him give his own flesh (the garment) willingly to labors in pursuit of virtue, and for the sake of the peace of God let him wage war against passions and demons, wisely wielding the word of God (the sword) to discriminate (divide) between good and evil.
- Saint Maximos the Confessor, Two Hundred Texts on Theology
Do you lock the door on your house when you are home? How about when you are away?Why do you fear this so much?
People with weapons in possession for self defense in their own homes have still died....
Allegorize this! ‘let him sell his garment and buy a sword.’ to mean that salvation is something merely bought and sold? That you can purchase the Spirit? The inconsistency of the allegorical approach of Maximus makes as much sense as adding Harry Potter to the cannon of Scripture.
‘let him sell his garment and buy a sword’
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
First of all, it is a command to an individual, not every Christian! Secondly, it does not support selling to gain the Spirit or Salvation.sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 10:38-39 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Allegorize this! ‘let him sell his garment and buy a sword.’ to mean that salvation is something merely bought and sold? That you can purchase the Spirit? The inconsistency of the allegorical approach of Maximus makes as much sense as adding Harry Potter to the cannon of Scripture.
First of all, it is a command to an individual, not every Christian! Secondly, it does not support selling to gain the Spirit or Salvation.
Nice! I can see where you rip my words out of context like you do the words of Scripture!is it not in Let His body have all things in common: One bag where thief does no approach, One purse, One Sword of the Spirit (One body), One voice, One Mind that is the Mind of Christ...
The word knapsack comes from the word knapped which means to eat and sack for bag. In other words, it was used for storing food, especially by soldiers. Christ said that His food (John 4:34), and therefore that of His soldiers (the Apostles), was to do the will of His father. Virtue is nothing else but to know and do God's will.I am more of a spiritual giant that Maximus was! I can allegorize even better! Surely the knapsack was full of Pixie-Dust and Unicorn farts, since that would have been useful to the Apostles! I have just as much scriptural justification to say what was in that knapsack as the next guy with a wild imagination!
The parable of the talents makes such a metaphor. Of course God is the one that provides the capital (it's not a matter of us purchasing our salvation) and expects a return on His investment on us.Allegorize this! ‘let him sell his garment and buy a sword.’ to mean that salvation is something merely bought and sold? That you can purchase the Spirit? The inconsistency of the allegorical approach of Maximus makes as much sense as adding Harry Potter to the cannon of Scripture.
This does not change that fact that in Luke 18:22, Jesus is speaking to an individual. There is no command that is applied to anyone else.Speaking of bag:
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
sword or Sword of the Spirit
Curious Which would you rather: bags which wax old, moth eaten -and with holes ...or bags which wax not old, a treasure in heaven that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth consumes?
To derive a meaning by reverse engineering English etymology and saying that it is equivalent to Greek, is not a sound method of finding Biblical meaning. The Greek word merely means "bag" that is certainly not the same thing as "purse" which you are correct. What was carried in that bag would have not been limited to food, but any other essentials for travel/survival. You can point to anyone carrying a modern Backpack (Knapsack), and all you can do is play the odds and make a guess as to what was in that bag. Is it food, a nuclear device, a teddy bear or condoms? To assume would not be anything to build decisions upon. The point that Jesus was telling the Disciples is that He was sending them out without any means or support whatsoever.The word knapsack comes from the word knapped which means to eat and sack for bag.
In other words, the associations Saint Maximus is making are not arbitrary but scriptural.
Can also cause people to overreact and go too far with domestic violence.
Perhaps the swords were just for an earthly sense of security for the disciples while Jesus was arrested.
I think it's literal as well, Josho, but it's an interesting question as to why the Lord would command this of them.
The text is as follows:
... 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? ....
Again as an outsider of the USA, I do not get it, as you will see my reasoning in post #2.
Can also cause people to overreact and go too far with domestic violence.
ha and when will the import of that sink in, you gotta wonderhe was meant to be lifted up as Moses had lifted up the serpent on the pole.
why "sell his garment" iyo?let him sell his garment and buy one."
You haven't read about the Naked Swordsman in Scripture?why "sell his garment" iyo?
Kinda cryptic, huh
I think it's literal as well, Josho, but it's an interesting question as to why the Lord would command this of them.
The text is as follows:
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, "Suffer ye thus far." And he touched his ear, and healed him.
I think what He meant by, "Suffer this much" was "Allow them to crucify me, but do not simply allow them to arrest and/ or kill all of you." I think there might have been the possibility of this, had the Lord not prepared them in advance to arm themselves.