[Greek] ἡγέομαι (hēgeomai), [Latin] praecessor, [Latin] dux, [Latin] rex, [Latin] existimare, [Latin] superior, [Latin] aestimare, [Latin] primos, [Latin] arbitrari, [Latin] praepositos, [Latin] credere: to command, to rule, to lead, to consider, to govern; 29 scriptures
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to take over, to lead, to guide, to deem, to hold something important, to consider, and to count.
Xenophon’s Anabasis 2.4.5: “In the first place, we shall have no one to guide us.”
Xenophon’s Agesilaus 10.2: “Agesilaus prided himself less on reigning others but more on ruling himself. He ruled more on guiding them to all virtue.”
Euripides’ Phoennisae 834: “Lead on, my daughter, for you are an eye to my blind feet.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 1.126: “Do as I told you, and win your freedom. I hold you fully as good men.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus 278: “While you render honor to the gods, consider the gods to be fools.”
Aristophanes’ Clouds 1020: “This deceiver will persuade you to consider everything that is base to be honorable and what is honorable to be base.”
Euripides’ Medea 454: “But as for your words against the ruling family, count yourself lucky that your punishment is exile.”
Old Testament: This term means to lead, to guide, to go before, and to rule.
New Testament: This term means leader, to rule, and to be of an opinion (deem, consider, regard, count, think). I deem it is more important to focus on some examples of considering.
Scripture:
Acts 26:2: Paul counts himself lucky that King Agrippa is well versed in Jewish customs
Php. 2:3: Humbly regard others as more important than you
1Thess.5:13: Show esteem for those laborers and spiritual leaders
2Thess.3:15: Do not regard a disbeliever as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother
Heb.10:29: Do not think there is a punishment greater than turning your back on Christ and despising the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Jas.1:2: Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials
2Pet.3:9: Do not regard the Lord’s promise being delayed, but as His patience with you
2Pet.3:15: Consider the patience of our Lord as salvation
Etymology: The related noun hegemonia means dominance and leadership. The Latin noun praecessor means one who has gone before. The Latin verb aestimare means to value or to judge. The Latin verb arbitrari means to witness and to observe. The Latin noun praepositus means placed in front.
Conclusion:
Regal, rex, duke, superior, preposition, exist, esteem, estimate, credible, predecessor, hegemony, primal, prime, superior, arbitrary, arbitration
In Greek Hellenism, the more nuanced meanings include holding everything else secondary and deeming something necessary.
The greatest among you as the youngest: one called even to do menial things.
The leader as the servant: one called to serve others
Paul considered his circumstances fortunate to be able to defend himself with King Agrippa.
Paul calls others to consider themselves to be humble.
Paul calls others to consider the ones who came before them.
James calls each of us to consider that trials and suffering can produce perseverance. One’s struggles may often cause one to increase and strengthen their relationship with God.
Update: The Republican have taken over the legislative branch (divided govt.) to better respond to our country’s problems.
The Republicans are now being called to respond to Biden’s administration’s blind eye to immigration problems.
The Democrats are finding out that they do not have much a strong bench of potential presidential candidates.
Xenophon alludes to the character of a leader who focuses on guiding others to virtues. This has been unfortunately a rarity among political leaders.
In our current culture, many of us have foolishly honored such gods as wealth, fame, and power. Such gods are often fleeting and fleeting.
We now live in secular culture where traditional and Christians are often seen as hateful, intolerant, and extreme.
Thanksgiving reminds us that we must count ourselves lucky for the blessings we have in our life (mindful of others in more difficult situations).
As a result of our election, our country has divided government as the Founders intended. The Republicans are now in control of the legislative branch. The Republicans now control the cash strings of expenditure. The Republican leadership will continue to have the authority to question expenditures, lead investigations, and overturn legislation. The Republicans will now question problems, crises, failures, and the lack of accountability. Like walking and chewing gun, the Republicans will both lead and inquire.
Next post: to examine and to investigate