The Phronema is the self-sacrificial, daily, consistent, repeatable and verifiable mindset, outlook or overall spirit of the authentic, biblical Messianic Community (Church) through both its faith (trusting) and practice ('the faith', 'faithfulness'). The attainment of this phronema, as understood by Messianic Evangelicals, is only possible through a return to the moving spirit of the first Christians/Messianics through immersion or baptism in the fire of Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) contained within the mental and outwardly physical vessels of the original, historic core doctrines and practices of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) as experienced both individually and, very importantly, collectively or communally.
In short, it is the correct emunah (faith) incarnated by a body of believers who are perfectly echad (one) in the Messiah, Yah'shua (Jesus), and may also be described as the substance of His Kingdom which is conceived through the New Birth within each individual soul to then manifest outwardly into the collective community through the living experience of, first, the Shavu'ot (Weeks, 'Pentecost'), and secondly, the Sukkot (Tabernacles), covenants, attendant anointings and resultant progressive sanctification. The Phronema is the existential, mystical reality, and realisation of, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth contained and manifested in historial real time and space. It is the intersection point between the Old Creation life, in which mortals dwell, and the New Creation life in Christ which is both to come (in its fullness) and is already here (in part, as an initial deposit) through the penetration of resurrection power in the submitted, overcoming talmid (disciple) seeking Elohim (God).
The Greek word phronema, which translates to a combination of English words including 'mind', 'spirit', 'thought', '[way of] thinking', 'instinct', 'purpose' or 'will', can be used positively in common speech in the sense of 'high spirit', 'resolution' or 'pride' or negatively in the sense of 'presumptuousness' or 'arrogance'. Every society of human beings, large (like Western civilisation or a particular nation) and small (like a club or individual family) may be said to possess a 'phronema', whether secular or religious (typically mixed), a collective will, understanding or purpose which at certain times is more constant and at others in rapid flux. Thus over the centuries the 'phronema' of the Body of Christ has substantially changed as the denominational doctrines, practices, and attitudes have evolved, leading to the present chaos of tens of thousands of denominations and considerable disunity. It is our belief that from this muddy, muddled and mixed negative 'phronema' that Yahweh is gradually and systematically gathering out a Remnant through intense reformation and restoration through the active witness and guidance of contemporary nevi'im (prophets) and shlichim (apostles) called for this purpose.
The Greek word phronema appears four times in the commonly used Greek translation of the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) and only within Paul's Epistle to the Romans where it is used in both the negative and positive senses:
"To set the mind (phronema) on the [level of the (NEB)] flesh is mavet (death), but to set the mind (phronema) on the [level of the] Ruach/Spirit is chayim (life) and shalom (peace). For this reason the mind (phronema) that is set on the [level of the] flesh is hostile to Elohim (God); it does not submit to Elohim's (God's) Torah (Law, Doctrine, Teaching) - indeed it cannot, and those who are in [(on) the level of the] the flesh cannot please Elohim (God)...
"And Elohim (God), who searches the heart, knows what is in the mind (phronema) of the Ruach (Spirit), because the Ruach (Spirit) intercedes for the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) according to [the will (phronema) of] Elohim (God)" (Romans 8:6-8,27, NRSV - adapted).
The good or positive phronema carries "a sort of instinct...deep in the bosom of the mystical body of Christ" (John Henry Newman) resulting in what the Eastern Orthodox Church calls 'theosis', a transformative spiritual purification process of mind and body whose aim therefore is likeness to, or union (being echad) with, Elohim (God), in consequence of which 'theoria' or illumination results leading to a clear vision of Elohim (God). Theosis is achievable only through a synergy or cooperation between the activity of the believer and Yahweh's own uncreated energies, through trusting in, and submitting fully to, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) - who is Elohim (God) incarnate - resulting in holiness. In this understanding, Messianic Evangelicals lean more in the direction of the Eastern Orthodox understanding than in that of the Western (Catholic and Protestant) traditions.
(9 August 2019)
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