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Physical substance and abstract quality
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640


1. Physical substance and abstract quality
In his Sophistic Refutations, Aristotle makes a contrast between "substance" and "quality" of arguments that can be logical or opinion.

The idea is that the Greek word for "substance" is similar to "this" (meaning an actual object) and that of "quality" is similar to "that" (meaning an abstract idea).

The Greek word for "substance" appears many times in the GNT (Greek New Testament) but the word for "quality" appears many fewer times an is often translated in the KJV (King James Version) as "such as", "such that", etc.

2. Sophistic refutations
Book: On Sophistic Refutations
Aristotle wrote a book called On Sophistic Refutations in which he detailed the "false reasoning" used by Sophists (from the Greek word for "wisdom") who would use invalid logic to convince others of ideas to make money for themselves. In English, "sophistic" logic or "false reasoning" is "sophistry".
One of the many types of invalid logic detailed by Aristotle was "eristic" reasoning. Paul uses that word often but it is often translated, without the "bad logic" connection, as "strife"

Information sign More: Eristic reasoning creates strife and contention
Information sign More: Aristotle

3. Substance and quality
Aristotle writes: (underlining added).

Greek: Τὸ γὰρ ψευδῆ ἢ ἀληθῆ λόγον ἢ δόξαν εἶναι οὐ τόδε ἀλλὰ τοιόνδε σημαίνει· ὁ γὰρ αὐτὸς λόγος καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς δόξης.

English: No, for the falsity or truth of a statement or opinion does not denote a substance but a quality; for the same account applies to an opinion as to a statement. Loeb #400, p. 115.

The Greek word for "opinion" is "glory" as in the "doxology".
The Greek word for "statement" is "logos" as in "rational explanation".

The Sophistic argument Aristotle is showing (omitted) is interesting but not important here. Only the meanings of the words are important here.

4. Substance and quality
Aristotle writes: (underlining added).

Greek: Τὸ γὰρ ψευδῆ ἢ ἀληθῆ λόγον ἢ δόξαν εἶναι οὐ τόδε ἀλλὰ τοιόνδε σημαίνει· …

English: No, for the falsity or truth of a statement or opinion does not denote a substance but a quality; … Loeb #400, p. 115. Here we are interested in the latter abstract "such that" word. This word, and inflections, appears many times in the GNT and forms the idea of an abstraction.

5. Abstraction
Abstraction 1
To abstract is to take away from the essentials and thereby to ignore certain differences.
The similarity is what is the same. The difference is what is different.

Human brains are built for complex abstraction.

The Latin word "abstractus""take away from". In abstract art, something is taken away, something remains, one needs to then interpret what is meant or intended.

Information sign More: Abstraction

6. Strongs - such kind

7. Usage - such kind
Word usage per chapter Words: τοιαυτα=9 τοιαυται τοιαυταις=2 τοιαυτας=2 τοιαυτη=3 τοιαυτην=6 τοιουτο τοιουτοι=6 τοιουτοις=3 τοιουτον=6 τοιουτος=5 τοιουτου τοιουτους=5 τοιουτω=2 τοιουτων=5


8. Suffer the children
Verse routeMatthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]
Verse routeο δε ιησους ειπεν αφετε τα παιδια και μη κωλυετε αυτα ελθειν προς με των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "ἀφίημι""send forth, send away" and is the word often used by the KJV for "suffer". The word is often used for "forgive" as in "release from" and comes from two Greek words. Is the "kingdom of heaven" used here best described as the "realm" of an "idea", a "way", an "area" or "people" (or something else)?

Information sign More: Matthew 11:12-14 Exploring the Kingdom of Heaven
Information sign More: Matthew: Forgive the modern psychology bait and switch

9. Kingdom of heaven
Verse routeMatthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]
Verse routeο δε ιησους ειπεν αφετε τα παιδια και μη κωλυετε αυτα ελθειν προς με των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]
Verse routeMark 10:14 … Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [kjv]
Verse routeιδων δε ο ιησους ηγανακτησεν και ειπεν αυτοις αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς με μη κωλυετε αυτα των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου [gnt]

Verse routeLuke 18:16 … Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [kjv]
Verse routeο δε ιησους προσεκαλεσατο αυτα αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς με και μη κωλυετε αυτα των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου [gnt]

The "such" indicates that this is an abstract pattern that has to do with the "kingdom of heaven" which may not be the same as the "kingdom of God".

Information sign More: Matthew 11:12-14 Exploring the Kingdom of Heaven

10. Prevent
Verse routeMatthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]
Verse routeο δε ιησους ειπεν αφετε τα παιδια και μη κωλυετε αυτα ελθειν προς με των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "κωλύω""hinder, prevent" and appears to be pre-Greek in origin.

11. Matthew 19:14
 All 
KJV: But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν αφετε τα παιδια και μη κωλυετε αυτα ελθειν προς με των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων

12. Mark 10:14
   Mark 10:14 
 All 
KJV: But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Greek: ιδων δε ο ιησους ηγανακτησεν και ειπεν αυτοις αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς με και μη κωλυετε αυτα των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου

13. Luke 18:16
   Luke 18:16 
 All 
KJV: But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Greek: ο δε ιησους προσκαλεσαμενος προσεκαλεσατο αυτα ειπεν λεγων αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς με και μη κωλυετε αυτα των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου

14. Miracles
Verse routeJohn 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. [kjv]
Verse routeελεγον ουν εκ των φαρισαιων τινες ουκ εστιν ουτος παρα θεου ο ανθρωπος οτι το σαββατον ου τηρει αλλοι δε ελεγον πως δυναται ανθρωπος αμαρτωλος τοιαυτα σημεια ποιειν και σχισμα ην εν αυτοις [gnt]

In an abstract way, the reference is to many miracles of various types not to one specific miracle.

Information sign More: Mark 8:23-25 Miracle of healing in two steps

15. Kudos for the glory of a Russian miracle
The Russian word "чудо" (choo-da) ≈ "miracle". A connection has been made to the Greek word «κυδος» meaning glory or fame, and from which we get the English word "kudos". The Greek word «κυδος» is used once in the LXX (Septuagint).

Verse routeIsaiah 14:25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. [kjv]
Verse routeτου απολεσαι τους ασσυριους απο της γης της εμης και απο των ορεων μου και εσονται εις καταπατημα και αφαιρεθησεται απ αυτων ο ζυγος αυτων και το κυδος αυτων απο των ωμων αφαιρεθησεται [lxx]
Verse routemontibusonus … [v]
Verse routeBergenBürde … [lu]
Verse routeгорахслава … [ocs]
Verse routeгорахбремя … [rus]
Verse routemontescarga … [es]

Note that the word is in the singular but a back-formation has been mode in English to assuming that "kudos" is plural and thus inferring a singular form of "kudo".

Information sign More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

16. John 9:16
   John 9:16 
 All 
KJV: Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Greek: ελεγον ουν εκ των φαρισαιων τινες ουτος ο ανθρωπος ουκ εστιν ουτος παρα του θεου ο ανθρωπος οτι το σαββατον ου τηρει αλλοι δε ελεγον πως δυναται ανθρωπος αμαρτωλος τοιαυτα σημεια ποιειν και σχισμα ην εν αυτοις

17. Third heaven
Verse route2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. [kjv]
Verse routeοιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εως τριτου ουρανου [gnt]

This in the verse that indicates that Paul had a gap of 14 years, during which time he could have learned a lot about what he would later write (e.g., Greek philosophy, etc.).

What is the target of the reference to "such"? It is not clear what is the "third heaven".

Future topic Details are left as a future topic.


18. Third heaven
Verse route2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. [kjv]
Verse routeοιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εως τριτου ουρανου [gnt]

The "caught up" is the word used elsewhere for "rapture". Note that the Greek word order does not need to match the English word order.

Information sign More: Crying wolf for the search and seizure of the rapture
Information sign More: Matthew 12:26-29 Snatching the raptured goods from the strong man

19. 2 Corinthians 12:2

 All 
KJV: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Greek: οιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εως τριτου ουρανου

20. Spot or wrinkle or such
Verse routeEphesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [kjv]
Verse routeινα παραστηση αυτος εαυτω ενδοξον την εκκλησιαν μη εχουσαν σπιλον η ρυτιδα η τι των τοιουτων αλλ ινα η αγια και αμωμος [gnt]
Verse routemaculamrugamaliquid eiusmodiinmaculata [v]

Some people desire a complete list of what to do and what not to do. The example of a "spot" or "wrinkle" by Paul are examples of a larger set of attributes or traits or behaviors not to have. There are many. Paul only provides a few examples.

The Latin appears to need two words for this ideas. The Latin word "aliquid""somewhat, to some extent" and "eiusmodi""of this sort, kind, manner".

21. Ephesians 5:27
 All 
KJV: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Greek: ινα παραστηση αυτην αυτος εαυτω ενδοξον την εκκλησιαν μη εχουσαν σπιλον η ρυτιδα η τι των τοιουτων αλλ ινα η αγια και αμωμος
Latin: ut exhiberet ipse sibi gloriosam ecclesiam non habentem maculam aut rugam aut aliquid eiusmodi sed ut sit sancta et inmaculata

22. Abstraction with algebra
Algebra can be used to abstract from a potentially infinite number of possibilities to a finite representation of those possibilities. Consider the following pattern.

Abstraction
f(0) = 2*0+1 = 1 f(4) = 2*4+1 = 9 f(8) = 2*8+1 = 17
f(1) = 2*1+1 = 3 f(5) = 2*5+1 = 11 f(9) = 2*9+1 = 19
f(2) = 2*2+1 = 5 f(6) = 2*6+1 = 13 f(10) = 2*10+1 = 21
f(3) = 2*3+1 = 7 f(7) = 2*7+1 = 15 ...

Many students have trouble abstracting the above to the following function.
f(x) = 2*x+1



Information sign More: Abstraction

23. Snoopy and Woodstock

Text: from Peanuts cartoon of March 23, 1990, by Charles Schultz. Snoopy is talking to Woodstock, who says nothing.
  • SNOOPY: And sometimes when a rabbit is frightened, it will sit very still like this so no one will see it...
  • SNOOPY: Of course you can still see me! I was just giving an example!!
  • SNOOPY: You can't explain anything to a bird!


Many people have trouble with abstraction - looking at similarities and ignoring differences. If they think not, try having them write a small computer program that requires abstraction. Many professional programmers have problems making appropriate abstractions.

Information sign More: Abstraction

24. Philippians 2:15
Verse routePhilippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [kjv]
Verse routeινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμα μεσον γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω [gnt]

The Greek for "sons" is "children" (gender unspecified).

25. Such in reputation
Verse routePhilippians 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: [kjv]
Verse routeπροσδεχεσθε ουν αυτον εν κυριω μετα πασης χαρας και τους τοιουτους εντιμους εχετε [gnt]

The behavior of that person is an example that others may have too.

26. Philippians 2:29
 All 
KJV: Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
Greek: προσδεχεσθε ουν αυτον εν κυριω μετα πασης χαρας και τους τοιουτους εντιμους εχετε

27. Such parables
Verse routeMark 4:33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι τοιαυταις παραβολαις πολλαις ελαλει αυτοις τον λογον καθως ηδυναντο ακουειν [gnt]

What is a "parable"? How does it differ from a "proverb"?

Information sign More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus
Since the Greek for "hear" assumes understanding what is heard, there were some who did not "hear" with understanding. Why might this have been?

Information sign More: Think after what you heard and repent
Information sign More: Mondegreens: misheard lyrics
Information sign More: Have you heard of the herd of swine? Did they sea it?

28. Mark 4:33
   Mark 4:33 
 All 
KJV: And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
Greek: και τοιαυταις παραβολαις πολλαις ελαλει αυτοις τον λογον καθως ηδυναντο ακουειν

29. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640