Word Games
On more than one occasion over the years, I have been confronted with doctrinal sophistry. The perpetrators of such blather usually spout arguments about words they heard from some self-styled intellectual genius. The genius knows how to sound convincing, and their followers swallow their chicanery hook, line, and sinker. But those followers don’t understand what's involved at all, and they haven’t given it much thought so they don’t rectify their situation.
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
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