Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow.
Mark Twain (Author and Humorist, alias Samuel Clemens)

Modern saying: I used to crastinate. I got so good at it I decided to go pro. [eager vs. lazy evaluation]
Can one reason backwards in time?

Today, I'm doing nothing because I started doing it yesterday and I wasn't finished.

Don't give up on dreams. Go back to bed.

More: Matthew 6:11 Our daily bread

More: Mark Twain - Samuel Clemens

Note: Augustus did not have full power until after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC (conspirators Cassius and Brutus defeated) and then after 31 BC (Mark Antony and Cleopatra defeated).

Here is a pun I created in the late 1980's using 3 words that each have 2 meanings.

All 2³ = 8 ways make some sense. One can slide the pronunciation between each choice as needed.

☐ Would you take offense to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would you take offense to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would you take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would you take a fence to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take offense to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take offense to a Roman shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take a fence to a roaming shepherd?
☐ Would a Jew take a fence to a Roman shepherd?

One might add more to this pun with "defense" and "the fence" or with "rushing" and "Russian", etc.

More: Punishment by punny puns

A Caesar cipher was done by wrapping a long strip of paper around a stick or pole, and then writing the message across the wrapped paper.

A substitute is something used in place of something else.

A substitute teacher teaches in place of the regular teacher.

In a sports game, one player may substitute for another player, subject to the rules of the game.

More: Codes: Transposition ciphers

It is said that Julius Caesar used a (simple and not that secure) message encryption system (against the Gauls in what is today France) whereby Latin was transliterated into Greek so that someone who could read Greek could read the transliterated Greek which would then be recognized as Latin.

More: Matthew 1:23 Emmanuel or Immanuel

About a 100 years earlier, in 75 BC, a young 25 year old Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was captured by Cilician pirates while traveling to study oratory at Rhodes.

Plutarch relates the story. Caesar captivated the pirates with stories, etc., and convinced the pirates that the ransom they were asking was too little for his value. He would, at times, banter and joke that he would have them all crucified. When the ransom was paid, Caesar raised a small naval force, returned to the site, captured the same pirates, brought them back, and had them crucified. Caesar was a born leader - for better or for worse.

More: Cilicia and pirates and sackcloth in ancient times

More: Everything being equal: To biff a translation

Sermon analysis analogy: (perhaps from a PhD dissertation)

• The group being asked is plural to show how many need to hear the message of the lost dog.
• The dog is female to show the importance of females (diversity, inclusion, etc.).
• The group asking is plural to show the importance of the group rather than the individual. Better (bitter) together!

More: Attractive refrigerator magnet sermons

More: Everything being equal: To biff a translation

The "Ides of March" is often associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC.
The Latin word "Idus Martiae" ≈ "Ides of March" was on March 15, eight days after the "nones", where March is named for the god of War. The Latin word "idus" ≈ "divide" from an Etruscan verb.

More: Months

To honor Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), the month of "Quintilis" (Latin for month 5) was named July in honor of him.

"Dog days" begin in early July.

[quintuplets][dog with a fever]
A legend created in the 13th century A.D. is that one day was taken to add to July to honor Julius Caesar, and one day was then taken to add to August to honor Augustus Caesar.

More: Months

The Roman (democratic) Republic (with Senate) essentially ended in 59 BC with the Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompeius and Crassus. The Greek word "democracy" means "people power".

• The Roman Senate never ended. They had no power over anything important.
• The USSR (Lenin, Stalin, etc.) had the Politburo. They had no power over anything important. Their state newspaper was called "Truth" or "Pravda".
• Hitler kept the Reichstag. They had no power over anything important.

In 44 B.C. Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius. Why? This act was made more famous by a play by Shakespeare. Thereafter, Rome was ruled, not by a king, but by a dictators called Caesar.

Antony and Octavian defeated these conspirators at the Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C. This is about 90 years before Paul visits the city and about 100 years before the letter to the Philippians by Paul.

More: Philippians: Background and introduction

After the Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C., many Roman veterans were settled here and many locals were awarded the coveted Roman citizenship. Paul will remind the Philippians of this twice in his letter. The KJV (King James Version) uses "conversation" as "citizenship".


From these veterans, the importance of law and order is seen in Paul's visit to Philippi in Acts 16 where the Philippians jailer is part of the story.

• Citizenship on earth.
• Citizenship in heaven.

More: Philippians: Background and introduction

• The Latin word "augustus" ≈ "majestic, venerable". In English, one can still say that a person is "august" is in "venerable" and/or "majestic".

Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius (63 BC - 14 AD) took on the name "Augustus" as a more formal title and became know by that name.

More: Increase and decrease

Caesar Augustus, ruling Rome at the birth of Christ, took on the name "august" in order to have more respect or reverence for him as he was young when he became Caesar.
The ancient Greek word "σεβαστός" ≈ "venerable, august".

The ancient Greek word "πόλις" ≈ "city".

Combined, one gets "Sevastopol".

That Greek name for "august" became the title of Russian Czarina (Augusta) Catherine II who founded the city Sevastopol in 1783.

Crimean War: (1853-1856)

• Siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855)
• Charge of the Light Brigade. Obviously outdated tactics would be used in the American Civil War (1861-1865)
• Florence Nightingale (care of wounded soldiers at Constantinople, improved nursing and medical treatment)
• Failure of Britain and France to support Austria-Hungry led to unification of Italy and Germany

More: Luke 2:1-6 Some cents about the need for a census

Note that the Vulgate "Augusti" and King James "Augustus" refer to Emperor at the birth of Jesus. The Greek, however, does not have this word - but it might be inferred from the word «σεβαστου» for "respected". The Luther German has "Kaisers" for "Caesar" which is the origin of the German word "Kaiser". All versions have "Caesar" at the end of this verse.

• The ancient Greek word "Καῖσαρ" ≈ "Caesar" from the Latin word "Caesar" ≈ "Caesar".
• The modern Greek word "Καίσαρας" (KEH-sa-ras) ≈ "Caesar".
• The modern Greek word "Αύγουστος" (AEE-gu-stos) ≈ "Augustus".
• The modern Greek word "σεβαστή" (seh-vas-TEE) ≈ "respected".

Here «διαγωςσιν» is "hearing".

Sevastopol: Late 18th century. From Ukrainian Севасто́поль (Sevastópolʹ) and Russian Севасто́поль (Sevastópolʹ), from Ancient Greek Σεβαστόπολις (Sebastópolis) from σεβαστός (sebastós, “august”) + πόλις (pólis, “city”), probably after Empress (=Augusta) Catherine II of Russia. Wiktionary: 2022-12-15

Emperor Tiberius Caesar (on taxes): It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.

At the same time, Jesus was walking and teaching in Judea. Jesus had a different idea about what it meant to be a "good" "shepherd".


9 AD: Arminius organizes Germans and slaughters Roman Legions under Varus at Teutoburg Forest

More: Matthew 17:24-27 Tacky attacks on a senseless tax

• "τίνος" ≈ "what, whose" (genitive singular) or "τινός" ≈ "what, whose" (genitive singular) and "η" ≈ "the" as the (feminine) definite article.
• "τι" ≈ "what" and "νόσοι" ≈ "sicknesses, diseases, illnesses" (nominative plural) from "νόσος" ≈ "sickness, disease, illness, plague, misery, suffering, distress"

More: Matthew 22:15-22 Show me the money

• Greek: Whose the image and the inscription? Why is each "the" needed?
• Play : What sicknesses (of the) house (you) burn epitaph?

The ancient Greek word "καίῃ" ≈ "(you) burn" (middle passive indicative) from "καίω" ≈ "light, kindle, set on fire, burn, burn up, make very cold (frost)". The ancient Greek word "καυτή" ≈ "burnt" (feminine singular) from "καυτός" ≈ "burnt"

More: Matthew 22:15-22 Show me the money

• "δηναρίον" ≈ "denarius, penny".
• "δια" ≈ "through" or "δι" ≈ "through" and "ἀρνίον" ≈ "little ram/lamb".
• "δια" ≈ "through" or "δι" ≈ "through" and "ορνεον" ≈ "bird".
• "δέ" ≈ "but (then)" and "ὀρνέων" ≈ "(of the) birds" (genitive).

How well does the "denarius" relate to the idea of "through" a "lamb"? How about "through" a "bird" or "but" "(of) birds"? Might there be two types of "reward" or "payment"? Might one be for the Father and another for Rome?

More: Matthew 22:15-22 Show me the money

• How well does the idea of "Abba" or "Father" compared to "Rome" or (human) "power" relate to the "vineyard" or "vineyards"?
• How well does the "denarius" relate to the idea of "through" a "lamb"? How about "through" a "bird"? Might there be two types of "reward" or "payment"? Might one be for the Father and another for Rome?

How well does the power and idea of "Caesar" relate to "serpent" or "serpents"?

More: Matthew 22:15-22 Show me the money

Why is the "and" "you" (singular) needed at the start of this verse?

• "και" ≈ "and".
• "συ" ≈ "you" (singular).

• "Καῖσαρ" ≈ "Caesar" from the Latin word "Caesar" ≈ "Caesar". Later, the hard "k" or "c" sound, as in the German word "Kaiser" ≈ "Caesar", became a soft "c". The transition sound is the Russian "czar"

In this and the following play on words, think of a Boston accent where the "r" sound is minimized.

More: Matthew 11:20-30 Upgraded baby yokes revealed

Punny paraphrase: ... I send you simple puns, extended puns, contorted puns. Out of them, the simple ones will kill you, the extended ones will crucify you, and the contorted ones will scourge (sting) you in your pews, and will pursue you from city (many) to city (many) (you will not be able to un-hear them.)

There are, then, three play on words in sequence (as a third level meaning).
[tongue in cheek vs. tongue in check]

More: Matthew 23:33-36 Prophets and wise ones and scribes

The Roman emperor at the time of Paul, and mentioned twice in the GNT (Greek New Testament) was "Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus", after Caligula and before Nero.

Legend has it that the name "Claudius" comes from "lame" or "crippled" however it appears that the name was adapted from an earlier name from a Sabine (from a tribe related to the original founders of Rome) word that was cognate to the Latin word "clausus" ≈ "shut, closed".

[Christopher Columbus sailing from Spain]

If Epaphroditus worked with Paul on the letter, they might have had a unique "synergy" of two individuals who liked to create puns, play on words, etc. This can be annoying to those who do not like it. It appears that Paul was under house arrest at this time since the household of Caesar was mentioned. I have heard pastors say that Paul was in a Roman prison at this time.

If you had been listening to Paul and Epaphroditus crafting such puns, etc., you might be glad to have that synergy gone. You would "greet" those (with pity) to whom this special letter is being sent.

More: Philippians: Epaphroditus

The ancient Greek word "ἔχιδνα" ≈ "snake, treacherous person" and comes from "ἔχις" ≈ "snake, adder, viper".
This is a "viper". The next verses will call this "viper" a "beast".What might be the connection between a "viper" and meaning of the word for "beast"?

If Paul was shielded from the wind, would this be a wind shield viper? This was during the reign (rain) of Claudius.

More: Revelation 13:1 Hunt for a monstrous beast

On a ship voyage, where the ship sunk, Paul is bitten by a small (diminutive) "beast", or "snake", on the "shore". In Revelation, does the "beast" or "serpent" get "shook" into the "fire"?

More: Mark 16:14-20 Pickup lines for serpents

More: Revelation 13:1 Hunt for a monstrous beast