Blameless (677) (aproskopos [word study] from a = not + proskopto = strike at, to trip, dash against as foot against a stone) literally means without offense, without stumbling, not stumbling or not tripping. Not causing others to stumble or fail. Not giving offense (thus inoffensive). NIDNTT adds that aproskopos means "both giving no offense, unobjectionable, blameless, and taking no offense, unhurt." Aproskopos describes "relational integrity" (See digression on Integrity an attribute that is rapidly vanishing in American society and even in Christianity!) meaning that Christians are to live lives of true integrity that do not cause others to stumble. It is blameless in the sense of not offending or not causing someone else to stumble. It describes one who does not lead others into sin. Such a one is inoffensive and clear (in their conscience). Aproskopos - Only 3x in the NT - Acts 24:16; 1Cor 10:32; Phil 1:10. In Acts 24:16 aproskopos speaks of the apostle’s aim to have a conscience “void of offense toward God and men,” and in 1Corinthians 10:32, Paul exhorts the saints to “Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.” Marvin Vincent Aproskopos may be explained, not stumbling, or not causing others to stumble, as 1Cor. 10:32. Both senses may be included. If either is to be preferred it is the former, since the whole passage contemplates their inward state rather than their relations to men. Thayer has the following entry for aproskopos... 1) actively, having nothing for one to strike against; not causing to stumble; a. properly: a smooth road, Sir. 35: (32) 21. b. metaphorically, not leading others into sin by one's mode of life: 1Co 10:32 2). passively, a. not striking against or stumbling; metaphorically, not led into sin; blameless: Phi 1:10' b. without offence: not troubled and distressed by a consciousness of sin, Acts 24:16 (Not found in secular authors except Sextus Empiricus) There are only two other NT uses of aproskopos... (Paul declares) "In view of this (of his "having a hope in God... that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked"), I also do my best to maintain always a blameless (aproskopos) conscience both before God and before men. (Ac 24:15) (Comment: Aproskopos is here applied to the conscience, as not stumbling over or impinging upon anything for which our heart condemns us) (Paul commands the saints at Corinth to) Give (present imperative) no offense (aproskopos) either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God (1Co 10:32) (Comment: Paul is commanding them literally to "become offenseless". The idea is to continuously live in such a way so as not to cause moral or spiritual damage to anyone. Don't trip others up by being a stumbling block.) Barclay adds that... There are people who are themselves faultless, but who are so austere that they drive people away from Christianity. The Christian is himself pure, but his love and gentleness are such that he attracts others to the Christian way and never repels them from it. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press) or The New Daily Study Bible New Testament - Logos) Christians are to live lives of such integrity so that they do not cause others to sin. This kind of integrity requires a no-compromise attitude in accord with God's Word. We are to live deeply planted in the rich soil of biblical truth so that our roots tap deep into divine revelation and we flourish. That means many times you will find yourself standing against the world. (Ro 12:2, Jas 1:27, Jas 4:4, 1Jn 2:15) The eighteenth-century reformer John Wesley was blessed with a godly mother. When he went away to school she reminded him that "whatever weakens one's reason, impairs the tenderness of one's conscience, obscures one's sense of God or takes off the delight for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of one's body over one's mind, that thing is sin" UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST: eis hemeran Christou: (1Cor 1:8) LOOKING TOWARD THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY Until (eis) is a preposition marking motion (into, toward). In context, in a sense we are moving "toward" the glorious (for believers only!) day, the day of Christ. Note that until is an expression of time which indicates continuance of an action or condition up to a point in time (to the event mentioned or the time of that event, e.g., Ge 49:10 "until Shiloh comes" where Shiloh ~ the Messiah) and should always prompt you to pause and ponder with the 5W/H questions, questions like "When does until end?" (the day of Christ), "What condition is to continue until that ?" (in this case saints are to continue to be sincere, blameless, and fruitful) Are you ready? John exhorts believers to "be ready" at all times... And now, little children, abide (present imperative = command to keep on keeping on! Note the active voice = abiding is a choice we must continually make) in Him (Abiding or remaining in Christ is the divine antidote for false belief and "false conduct" ~ unchristian behavior), so that when He appears (When the invisible One comes the visible One [cp Rev 1:7-note]! John uses the certainty of the Second Coming [cp Jn 14:3] to strengthen his appeal to his readers to continue to abide in Christ), we may have confidence (parrhesia = It is used of confidence to speak in God's presence in Job 27:10 And so it describes the confidence with which a saved sinner may enter into the royal throne room and speak with the King of kings without fear! Boundless mercy and amazing grace indeed!) and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (parousia - used for the visit of a ruler to some part of his dominion, which served as an occasion for celebrating and rejoicing). (1Jn 2:28) Comment: Beloved, in that glorious day will you be able to sing with Charles Wesley... Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown through Christ my own (Play And Can It Be that I Should Gain?) Jamieson writes that the day of Christ refers to... The Lord’s coming, designed by God in every age of the Church to be regarded as near, is to be the goal set before believers’ minds rather than their own death. Maclaren exhorts all believers... to keep before us the thought that in that coming day all our works will be made manifest, and that all of them should be done, so that when we have to give account of them we shall not be ashamed. Berean Bible Church says that the day of Christ... is referring to the second advent of Jesus Christ. Paul is telling the first century Philippians that THEY are to live sincere and without offense until Christ returns. Would he tell them this if Christ wasn't going to return in their life time? If Christ wasn't going to return for thousands of years, why would Paul say this to the Philippians? The day of Christ was an event that all of the first century saints expected in their life time (Ed: See study of imminent and of imminency). I believe that many of the Philippians lived to see the second advent in AD 70 with the destruction of the Jewish temple. (How to Glorify God) Day of Christ - This time phrase (see expressions of time) alludes in part (see below) to the future day when believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Co 5:10-note). At that time... each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1Cor 3:11, 12, 13, 14, 15) . On the day when the Lord comes He will... both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. (1Co 4:5). Comment: Note that "each man" (each believer) will receive "praise...from God." So none will be left without some praise, even though much of their "work" during their life was burned up because it was not Spirit initiated and Spirit energized. At that time we will be rewarded according to our deeds, so let us heed our Lord's loving reminder Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done (Rev 22:12-note) (See multiple Scriptures regarding the Reward of saints) The sobering reality of the day of Christ should have a purifying effect on the life of every saint (Cp the motivating effect of our being made like Christ one day in the future = our future hope [absolute assurance!] = 1Jn 3:2-note, 1Jn 3:3-note) As an aside, given the motivating and purifying influence that a belief in the imminence of Christ's return can have on a believer's life, it is not surprising that roughly 1 in every 20 verses in the NT alludes either directly or indirectly to the Second Coming! Don't mock (turn your nose up to) this truth! (2Pe 3:3, 4-note) The Day of Christ Day (hemera) "has various meanings in Scripture in addition to that of the period of natural light. It frequently signifies a period of undefined length marked by certain characteristics. This is the significance in the present phrase. It denotes the period of the Parousia (coming) (Click "parousia" note) of Christ with His saints, a period with a beginning, a course and an issue (a final conclusion). The word Parousia has no English equivalent; it needs transliterating: it combines the thought of the coming of a person to a place with that of his presence there subsequently till a certain event transpires. The Parousia of Jesus Christ begins with the Rapture, when He comes for His saints, as mentioned in (1Th 4:16-note). (Ed note: for more discussion of His coming see The Comfort of His Coming) That is to be followed by the period of His presence with them when, having come to the air for them, and received them to Himself, He will take them to the place prepared for them, the Father’s “House,” (Jn 14:2), At the close of that period He will come with them in manifested glory for the overthrow of His foes and the establishment of His kingdom. This Parousia is described in similar phrases - “the day of Christ” (Php 1:10, Php 2:16); “the day of the Lord Jesus” (1Co 5:5; 2Co 1:14); “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1Cor 1:8.) In (2Pe 1:19-note) it is called “the day.” From these phrases, which all contain one or other or both of the titles Jesus and Christ, the phrase “the day of the Lord” is to be distinguished. In the Day of Jesus Christ the circumstances connected with “the Judgment Seat of Christ” will take place, as mentioned in (2Cor 5:10-note). (Adapted from W E Vine) COMPARISON OF THREE DIVINE DAYS DAY OF THE LORD DAY OF CHRIST DAY OF GOD Not a single day but an extended period that begins after the revealing of the Antichrist and includes the Great Tribulation, Christ's triumphant 2nd Coming, the 1000 Reign of Christ on earth (Millennium) and ends with the burning up of the heavens and earth, followed by the Great White Throne judgment of Revelation 20:11-14-notes and the appearance of the New Jerusalem, the New Heaven and the New Earth (Rev 21:1ff-note). Occurs after the Rapture of the church, is most probably in heaven during the seven year period of Daniel's Seventieth Week and is associated with glorification and reward for believers (Note: Specific Scriptural details are sketchy regarding this day so one must avoid being too dogmatic) Follows the 1000 year reign of Christ and the cleansing of the heavens and the earth by fire preparatory to the eternal new heavens and new earth and Christ delivering the kingdom to the God and Father. Note: Not all agree with this description. Some equate it with the Day of the Lord and in one sense it is the terminus of that "Day" for it is at the end of the 1000 years. Another reason for disagreement may be if one does not accept a literal 1000 year reign. OT = Isa 13:6, 9; 58:13; Ezek 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Obad 1:15; Zeph 1:7, 14; Mal 4:5; NT = Acts 2:20, 1Th 5:2 2Th 2:2,2:3,2:4 2Pe 3:10 (note) Php 1:6 (note) Php 1:10 (note) Php 2:16 (note) 1Cor 1:8, 5:5 2Pe 3:12 (note) 1Co 15:24-26, 27, 28 Philippians 1:11 having been filled (RPPMPN) with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: pepleromenoi (RPPMPN) karpon dikaiosunes ton dia Iesou Christou eis doxan kai epainon theou Amplified: May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]. KJV: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. NLT: May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: I want to see your lives full of true goodness, produced by the power that Jesus Christ gives you to the praise and glory of God. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: being filled full with the fruit of righteousness, which fruit is through Jesus Christ, resulting in glory and praise to God (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: being filled with the fruit of righteousness, that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. HAVING BEEN FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: pepleromenoi (RPPMPN) karpon dikaiosunes: (Phil 4:17; Ps 1:3; 92:12, 13, 14; Isa 5:2; Lk 13:6, 7, 8, 9; Jn 15:2, 8, 16; Ro 6:22KJV; 15:28; 2Co 9:10; Gal 5:22, 23; Eph 5:9; Col 1:6, 10; Heb 12:11; Jas 3:17 Jas 3:18) REDEEMED TO BEAR BOUNTIFUL FRUIT Constable summarizes Php 1:9-11 acknowledging the value of Paul's prayer as a model for the prayers of all saints... What an excellent prayer this is! In our day when we tend to voice prayer requests for physical needs primarily we need to follow Paul’s example of putting the spiritual needs of others high on our prayer lists. Christians still need God’s supernatural enablement to value highly the things of greatest importance as revealed in Scripture. Only then will we make choices that will prepare us to give a good account of ourselves at the judgment seat of Christ. Berean Bible Church says that... Love guided by knowledge and discernment leads to excellence which leads to integrity, which results in fruitfulness. (How to Glorify God) Having been filled - Paul has just described the coming Day of Christ when all saints will see and stand before their Lord. In this part of his prayer, his desire is that they might be filled with the fruit of righteousness in this future day. Gordon Fee explains that the perfect passive participle modifies “that you might be.” (Ed: In Php 1:10 = that you might be sincere and blameless...having been filled...) This is an excellent example of the nuance of the Greek perfect, which is not easily carried over into English. It reflects the present state of something that happened in the past; in this clause, which is from the perspective of the future day of Christ, the “past” is the present. (Paul's Letter to the Philippians. New International Commentary on the New Testament Gordon D. Fee. 1995. Eerdman's Publishing) Comment: In other words Paul uses the perfect tense in this context to picture the saint's standing at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2Co 5:10-note) and looking back over their life so to speak. At the Judgment Seat they are filled with spiritual fruit that has come through Jesus Christ. As we surrender to the Spirit of Christ in us, abiding in Him, He produces spiritual fruit in our lives which will one day be manifested and assayed at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1Co 3:12, 13, 14, 15). The perfect tense also speaks of permanence, so that the fruit that endures the Refiner's testing gaze (Rev 1:14-note), will endure throughout eternity. What will your and my "harvest" be like beloved? Will we have a "bumper crop" or will we pass into eternity with relatively "empty fruit baskets" so to speak because the majority of our righteous deeds even after our new birth have been "our" deeds, not His deeds through us! May it be the ambition of our life to continually strive and fight and seek to be pleasing to Him (2Co 5:9-note)! Don't miss this "once in a lifetime opportunity" to bear fruit that endures eternally (Jn 15:16)! The passive voice (subject receives the action - in this context the "divine passive") points out that believers do not fill themselves but are filled by an outside Source, in this case obviously God Himself. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_19-17.htm#Blameless