Why we torture ourselves with grammar

You will recall that Bracketing is all about reading with careful attention. Part of this includes getting into the weeds of grammar so that we can look at the Bible with greater skill. This is a most worthy end as the following video from Desiring God reminds us.

What is a participle?

English participles are also fairly easy to identify given their -ing ending. However, note that not all -ing words are participles (eg. sing, bring, ending, etc). The participles in the text below are marked in bold.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. —Philippians 3:8-11

Participles to break into a new proposition

In Bracketing, we will only break off those participles which are functioning adverbially—that is, those participles whose connection point is another verb. There are two participles of this sort in the text above, and they should be broken off to start a new proposition.

and be found in him, | not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law (vs 9) and may share his sufferings, | becoming like him in his death (vs 10)

If we were to ask the question of how the words “not having” in verse 9 connects into other propositions in the sentence, the answer would revolve around the idea of being found in Jesus. In other words, the connection point is a verb. The same goes for “becoming” from verse 10 which connects to sharing in Jesus' sufferings.

Participles to not break off

There are three other ways we see participles functioning. (1) As a part of a multi-word “normal” (i.e. finite) verb. (2) As an adjective. (3) As a noun.

We have already touched on the first category. The word “going” in “I am going to the store” should be treated as a part of the singular verbal idea “am going.” On the other hand, you know a participle is acting like an adjective when it is describing some noun. Finally, you know a participle is acting like a noun when it is treated like a thing that someone could possess. In all these cases, you will not want to break the participle off to start a new proposition.

because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (vs 8)

In this proposition, the word “surpassing” is functioning as an adjective of the noun worth. What kind of worth is it? Answer: a surpassing worth. Thus, the connection point is not a verb as we saw above; the connection point is the noun it describes.

The word “knowing,” on the other hand, is functioning as a noun. Paul is talking about the worth of something. And it is a thing that can be possessed. In the case of this passage, Paul is speaking of his own knowing. In like fashion, we could speak of your knowing or my knowing. All this makes clear that knowing is acting just like a noun.

Quiz

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. —Philippians 4:14-20