Moderation

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Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. [kjv]

το επιεικες υμων γνωσθητω πασιν ανθρωποις ο κυριος εγγυς [gnt]

modestia … [v]

Is drinking red wine (in moderation) good for you? Why?
Is drinking coffee bad for you? Why?

More: A fine way to stomach a lack of intestinal fortitude

Statistics attempts to infer a population mean from a small random sample of the population.

coffee is bad for you (did not account for heavy drinkers and/or smokers)
drinking red wine in moderation is good for you (what about doing everything in moderation?)

Note: There were ethical issues with the data in the red wine study.

Philippians 4:5

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KJV: Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Greek: το επιεικες υμων γνωσθητω πασιν ανθρωποις ο κυριος εγγυς

Latin: modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus Dominus prope

Wycliffe: Be youre pacyence knowun to alle men; the Lord is niy.

Luther: Eure Lindigkeit lasset kund sein allen Menschen. Der Herr ist nahe.

Spanish: Vuestra modestia sea conocida de todos los hombres. El Señor está cerca.

Is "moderation" the best word here? Would "patience" be better?

*G1932 *2 ἐπιείκεια (ep-ee-i'-ki-ah) : from G1933 ἐπιεικής; suitableness, i.e. (by implication) equity, mildness:--clemency, gentleness.

Usage

All

επιεικεια

Acts 24:4 ... that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

επιεικειας

2 Corinthians 10:1 ... by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in ...

*G1933 *5 ἐπιεικής (ep-ee-i-kace') : from G1909 and G1503; appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild:--gentle, moderation, patient.

Usage

All

επιεικες

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all ...

επιεικη

1 Timothy 3:3 ... not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

επιεικεις

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness ...

επιεικης

James 3:17 ... pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy ...

επιεικεσιν

1 Peter 2:18 ... only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. Saint Augustine (Early Christian father)

For those with overeating issues, try eating just a little of your favorite food and leave the rest for later. How long might that be?

More: Augustine of Hippo

Let us look at other verses in the GNT (Greek New Testament) and LXX (Septuagint) that use this word.

Acts 24:4

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KJV: Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

Greek: ινα δε μη επι πλειον σε εγκοπτω παρακαλω ακουσαι σε ημων συντομως τη ση επιεικεια

2 Corinthians 10:1

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KJV: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

Greek: αυτος δε εγω παυλος παρακαλω υμας δια της πραοτητος πραυτητος και επιεικειας του χριστου ος κατα προσωπον μεν ταπεινος εν υμιν απων δε θαρρω εις υμας

1 Timothy 3:3

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KJV: Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Greek: μη παροινον μη πληκτην μη αισχροκερδη αλλ αλλα επιεικη αμαχον αφιλαργυρον

Titus 3:2

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KJV: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Greek: μηδενα βλασφημειν αμαχους ειναι επιεικεις πασαν ενδεικνυμενους πραοτητα πραυτητα προς παντας ανθρωπους

James 3:17

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KJV: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Greek: η δε ανωθεν σοφια πρωτον μεν αγνη εστιν επειτα ειρηνικη επιεικης ευπειθης μεστη ελεους και καρπων αγαθων αδιακριτος και ανυποκριτος

1 Peter 2:18

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KJV: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Greek: οι οικεται υποτασσομενοι εν παντι φοβω τοις δεσποταις ου μονον τοις αγαθοις και επιεικεσιν αλλα και τοις σκολιοις

1 Samuel 12:22

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KJV: For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

Hebrew: כי לא יטש יהוה את עמו בעבור שמו הגדול כי הואיל יהוה לעשות אתכם לו לעם׃

Greek: οτι ουκ απωσεται κυριος τον λαον αυτου δια το ονομα αυτου το μεγα οτι επιεικεως κυριος προσελαβετο υμας αυτω εις λαον

2 Kings 6:3

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KJV: And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

Hebrew: ויאמר האחד הואל נא ולך את עבדיך ויאמר אני אלך׃

Greek: και ειπεν ο εις επιεικεως δευρο μετα των δουλων σου και ειπεν εγω πορευσομαι

Ezra 9:8

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KJV: And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

Hebrew: ועתה כמעט רגע היתה תחנה מאת יהוה אלהינו להשאיר לנו פליטה ולתת לנו יתד במקום קדשו להאיר עינינו אלהינו ולתתנו מחיה מעט בעבדתנו׃

Greek: και νυν επιεικευσατο ημιν κυριος ο θεος ημων του καταλιπειν ημιν εις σωτηριαν και δουναι ημιν στηριγμα εν τοπω αγιασματος αυτου του φωτισαι οφθαλμους ημων και δουναι ζωοποιησιν μικραν εν τη δουλεια ημων

Psalms 86:5

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KJV: For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Hebrew: כי אתה אדני טוב וסלח ורב חסד לכל קראיך׃

Greek: οτι συ κυριε χρηστος και επιεικης και πολυελεος πασι τοις επικαλουμενοις σε

Proverbs 12:26

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KJV: The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Hebrew: יתר מרעהו צדיק ודרך רשעים תתעם׃

Greek: επιγνωμων δικαιος εαυτου φιλος εσται αι δε γνωμαι των ασεβων ανεπιεικεις αμαρτανοντας καταδιωξεται κακα η δε οδος των ασεβων πλανησει αυτους

More: Augustine of Hippo

A variation of this "gut feeling" type of sensible mind is the ancient Greek word "σωφρονισμός" ≈ "teaching of morality or moderation" as in "self control" and which in the GNT is often translated as "sober" or of "right mind".

Details are left as a future topic.