2 Corinthians 13:11-13; May 31, 2026; Trinity Sunday
Greet one another with a holy kiss and agree with each other? In these times? In this economy? In this age of moral bankruptcy?
Yeah… I’m not so sure about that. Especially when so many things feel so backward and irreconcilable right now.
I mean, maybe if times were more normal, we could do that. We could kiss each other in holiness, share some spiritual saliva, and be of one mind. But in a day and age when the Phillies have a worse record than the Pirates, and a former New York Yankee is currently managing them, just how is any of this possible?
Or maybe that’s a sign from above… that if Donny Baseball can hob knob with the Phillie Phanatic, then perhaps anything is possible, such that maybe we too can engage in acts of solidarity with cross-state/division/economic/party rivals.
“Agree with one another.” It’s interesting that it’s translated this way, as it’s the only occurrence that I could find where the same Greek word was rendered into this exact phrase in English. But before we get into that, let’s look at the root of the word itself and its stated definitions.
φρονέω (pronunciation: fron-eh-o)
1) to have understanding, be wise 2) to feel, to think 2a) to have an opinion of one’s self, though not letting one’s opinion exceed the bounds of modesty 2b) to think or judge what one’s opinion is 2c) to be of the same mind i.e. agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious…
Straight forward enough, and I think we can see where the translation “agree with one another” comes from.
φρονέω is used about 20 times in the New Testament, give or take, and appears in some notable passages:
- Mark 8:33 — But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,
“Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now
we see in a mirror dimly.”
- Col 3:2 — Think about things above, not things on the earth.
- Philippians 2 — Be of the same mind.
- Philippians 2 – Be of the same attitude toward one another.
- Philippians 4 — Have concern for another, looking after others
- Romans 12:16 – live in harmony with another
- Romans 15:5 – live in unity with another
Suffice it to say, I think the translators get it right capturing Paul’s original intent, that we are to agree with one another, so that we might kiss each other, so that we might one day actually live together in peace, in harmony, modeling the unity of the Trinity above in Heaven. After all, that’s truly setting your mind on things that are above, that are of and in God’s interests.
However… I must say, it is a bit ironic coming from Paul who, as we’ve discussed, not only persecuted and murdered Christians, but who even after his conversion still couldn’t find agreement with his own brethren; who was frequently at odds with Peter and other “super-apostles”; and who was ultimately imprisoned and executed because of disagreements about the Gospel he was preaching.
So… “agree with one another”// φρονέω? While certainly pretty and ideal, and what God ultimately wants for us, in this fallen world it is so much easier said than done.
Because, again, how can we possibly agree with one another when the issues and opinions of our days couldn’t be any further away from each other on the moral and ethical spectrum?
I mean it’s one thing to like agree that daylight savings should be abolished, but it’s quite another when it comes to things like immigration and ICE, to gender and race, and to so many other debates where attempting to agree with someone else, or some policy, would compromise our morality and wellbeing, not to mention Godly interests.
I mean how can Christians, and followers of Jesus Christ, find agreement with authoritarians and proponents of oligarchies? Call me crazy, but to me, they seem diametrically opposed and in total disagreement.
Which is why, I think, Jesus calls certain leaders hypocrites and flips over tables in the most holy of places. Because he had it and reached his limit! Thinking it was best and more righteous to actively disagree than passively acquiesce.
So… where do we go from here? Heck, better yet, where do I go from here in this sermon?
I asked this same question earlier this week.
So, as I often do, I went back to the Greek, to scripture. And it was then that I stumbled upon the same word, but another commentary, which offered an alternate definition for φρονέω:
- to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; intensively, to interest oneself in a concern
To exercise the mind!
Yes!
I think that’s the perfect descriptor for today when it comes to agreeing with each other. For it’s a bloody exercise, a workout, mental gymnastics that are likely going to cause stress, odor, and sweat. It’s not easy, or something we look forward to, but the end result could be great if we both agree to put in the work, to finish the routine, and to commit to try again.
More than simply agreeing with one another then, we are commissioned by Paul today to work at understanding each other by working out with each other. Struggling together. Building muscle together. Intensively learning and exercising our hearts together, growing them in tandem, seeing where there might be crossover and maybe even one mind.
This is Paul’s final appeal, his grand benediction; and its ours as well before summer begins. To model peace, harmony and health, by not letting our own opinions exceed the bounds of modesty, but to think/φρονέω on someone else’s as well.
Now, having said all that…
Just because we each have opinions doesn’t mean everyone’s will be right. Sometimes the 6 is actually a 6, and not a 9, you know what I mean?
And like some exercises need to be abandoned when there is injury, when there is stress, when it is too intense leading to tissue damage, so too should we quit when there are too many tissues, tears and tares, too much rupture and injury requiring emotional surgery.
Yes, sometimes we need to know when to stop, when to back away, knowing when the routine is over, so to flip some tables because we’ve reached our limit, shaking the dust off our sandals as we gracefully exit.
Because sometimes, my friends, there is greater peace and harmony, in distancing ourselves from the rhetoric; from the constant fighting.
Agreeing to disagree, if you will, saying “peace be with you on your way.”
Amen.
