Lexicography
“All scripture,” as Paul observes, “is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
There’s some difficulty however connected with the study of Scripture in the English language. Sometimes the translations do not fully convey the sense of the original languages.
Hebrew is the original language of the Old Testament, and was most likely the language spoken in the Garden of Eden. Origen, Jerome, Augustine, and many other early church leaders are of this opinion. Various circumstances combine to prove, that Hebrew is the original language, and that it has never been improved or diminished by foreign idioms.
Hebrew was the language of Eber, from whom Hebrew was named, and was most likely the only language spoken before Noah’s flood. Genesis 11:1, “The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.” The Hebrew language does not appear to be adopted from any other language. Yet various languages of the present day, though they differ from each other, have many words of Hebrew derivation in them, retaining evidence of their origin. Arabic, Syriac, Chaldee, and Ethiopia, are dialects of the Hebrew.
To obtain a critical knowledge of the sense of Scripture, a correct grammar, and a complete and lucid dictionary are of indispensable importance. There are those who entertain the absurd idea that the average man on the street should not have access to the Scripture, or have the opportunity, or ability to learn. They also put forth the idea that they and a few others are only qualified to lead the masses of people. Many churches are keeping those in the congregation dumbed down.
James 2:5, “God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.” The spiritual meaning of many words and phrases has in some lexicons, dictionaries, and Bibles been neglected. There are many words and phrases that are to be understood in this light. For example:
Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel.” Nowhere do we read of Jesus being anointed, in the literal way; it is understood of being received, during the time of His ministry. It is to be understood that He was spiritually anointed, or endued, with power from on high.
Proverbs 8:23 “I = (Jesus) was set up = (anointed) from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
John 1:32 “John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit = (Holy Spirit) descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode = (remained) upon Him = (Jesus).”
Also we read of such Hebrew expression such as,
“The Rock of salvation.”
“The wings of the wind.”
“Wine that cheereth the heart of God and man.”
“The eye, the hand, the finger of God.”
“The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
When the religion of the Jews is not understood, the above phrases take on a form of mumbo jumbo.
What is Lexicography?
Lexicography is the science of words, that branch of learning which teaches and applies the proper signification and just application of words. Science is a systematic study concerning whatever object or subject that has been placed on the table.
A lexicon is a dictionary; a vocabulary, or book containing an alphabetical arrangement of the words in a language, with the definition of each, or an explanation of its meaning.
A linguist is a person skilled in languages. This term is usually applied to a person well versed in the languages. They are acknowledged as teachers of languages such as Greek, Hebrew, English, French, German, etc. Most of the great linguists have taught in the universities of the world. They are not one or two year Bible students.
To define a word, or the definition of a word, is to give an explanation of the significance of a word or term, or to give the idea of what a word is understood to express.
To translate: To translate means to interpret from one language into another language, words, phrases, etc. It is also to express the sense of one language in the words of another. Let me repeat that, to translate means to interpret one language into another, and to express the sense of that language into another.
The Hebrew Old Testament was translated into the Greek language more than two hundred years before Christ. Since then, both the Old and the New Testaments have been translated into most every language of the world. This work has been finished and completed by those whose love for God, and His Word were foremost in their minds and hearts.
Why do we need lexicons and dictionaries? Who are the people behind these works?
A full and scientific dictionary and lexicon of any language, embraces a wide field of research. The serious scholars who pursue the study of languages, both critically and philologically, will not rest until they have traced each word to its origin, investigating each word’s primitive form and signification.
These lexicons and dictionaries establish the various forms and senses of words and phrases in which they have been used. The author’s study includes the way words have been used throughout different periods of history, the particular people with their dialects, and the manner and order in which all these are deduced from the original root usage. This step is very important in getting at the truth of a words meaning. This is a step left out today, because of personal biases, lack of effort, and rush to publish.
Last but not least, lexicographers observe the relationship to which the words and phrases stand to other words, both in construction, phrases, and the various modifications which it has undergone in these respects. When all these above points are properly ascertained and arranged in their own minds, then and only then are these scholars, feel themselves to be masters of the word in question. Then the transcript of their view, and with the necessary documentation, is the true lexicography of the words published.
This is justly termed the histological method of lexicography. This has grown out of the general progress of the study of ancient literature and of relevant fields. It is linguistics, historical, logical, and comparative.
1. Historical: This in the sense that a word, phrase, or passage which is deduced from the circumstances of time, place, and under which it was written, its’ primary sense, as opposed to any secondary or even more remote sense.
2. Logical: Logic is the science of correct reasoning, implying correct thinking and legitimate inferences from premises, which are principles assumed or admitted to be correct. Logic includes the art of thinking, as well as the art of reasoning.
Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.” The Lord demands correct reasoning, correct thinking, and Holy principles in the study of His word.
3. Comparative: It is to estimate by comparison. Example, your body may be considered heavy when compared to a feather, but light when compared to a truck. To compare is to set or bring things together in fact, or in contemplation, and to examine the relations they bear to each other, with a view to ascertain their agreement or disagreement. God’s word is truth, is light, is life, is the way.
The above proceed upon the supposition that a language is in itself ancient and independent of every other language. Its words may therefore be traced to the ultimate roots within itself. This is true in both the Greek and Hebrew languages.
Languages go through stages. There is the Golden age, this is the historical base, pure and in its’ prime. Then because of economic trade, wars, conquest, the breaking up of countries, the merging of conquered armies, the founding of new colonies, the developing of cities occupied by people from every part of the world, changes are produced in the original language of a community and/or country.
For example, the language of the New Testament is the later Greek language. This later form of Greek was spoken by Jews mainly. The Greek tongue that these Jews spoke was applied by them to subjects on which it had never been applied by native Greek writers.
So what was the character of this idiom spoken? It was Jewish terms, words used in their religion and culture, an idiom meaning, the language of a peculiar group of people. Doctors have their own idiom or language. Computer people have their own language, for example: mouse, software, e-mail, etc. This language of idioms is a language within a language, spoken by the masses of people living within the community, but understood only by those within the community or profession.
Christianity had its’ own idioms concerning salvation by faith, virgin birth, Spiritual baptism, Son of God, Son of man, physical resurrection, etc.
Therefore, the meaning of particular Greek words used by the religious Hebrews, was understood only by those who practiced that particular religion. The same holds true for Christians, a new understanding of words used by Greek writers, taken from old law, culture, and procedure. It was needed, and it had to be taken from the language spoken at that period of time, that tongue = (language) being Greek.
The writers of the New Testament, except for Paul, and Luke, were not well educated. Like the rest of the general population, they knew the Greek language only from the intercourse of common everyday life, and not from a higher education.
With these writers, the Hebrew element of that language was mingled within their idiom, and would naturally have great prominence. The difference lies in the turn of the thought, or in the thought itself, rather than in the expression. Even where a verse is modeled after the Hebrew, it is seen more in the construction and connection of words in phrases and sentences, than as affecting the true meaning.
Have you ever listened to a foreigner try to speak our language? Many times their words take on a different form, and their construction of a sentence can hardly be understood.
The writers of the New Testament never had applied the Greek language to subjects on which it had ever been used by native Greek writers. No Greek writer, had ever written on Jewish affairs, or on Jewish theology and ritual. For example in Hebrew, to bless, in Greek meant to speak well of. So it is to be understood that God blesses us, which would not mean the same to us today, if it were said, that God speaks well of us.
Therefore, the writers of the New Testament were to be the instruments of making known a new revelation, this revelation being a new dispensation of mercy to mankind. A new circle of ideas and new doctrines were to be developed. Human languages were not yet prepared for this new doctrine of salvation by grace. This poverty of language was to be done away with, by enlarging the signification and application of words already in use, rather than by the formation of new words.
The New Testament was written by Jews, aiming to express Hebrew thoughts, conceptions, and feelings in the Greek tongue = (Language). Their idiom, consequently, in soul and spirit is Hebrew; but in its external form it was written in Greek. A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament is only a small portion of the Greek language as a whole.
When a good lexicon is used with the works that contain a treasure of illustrations in respect to the facts and antiquities of the New Testament, for example the works of Philo and Josephus (two ancient historians), it can be of tremendous value to those that are studying.
A well researched lexicon will make clear the meaning of a word, showing its authority and standing in the Greek language. It serves to show in what relation each word stands to the Septuagint and Jewish writings.
No language can contain its own truth predicate. A predicate is something that is either affirmed or denied of the subject in a proposition, or expression in logic. Why? Because if it did, then it would allow the formation of sentences such as;
“This sentence is false.” Clearly this statement is true if and only if, the sentence is false, which is an intolerable paradox, a paradox being a statement that seems to contradict common sense and yet is perhaps true.
Certain words in Scripture have caused a division in God’s church. This rift is caused by a few who chose to translate certain words according to their limited knowledge in the languages, or just blatant deception. Small cracks have developed into great chasm of division.
These divisions have isolated many; and the great danger is the loss of eternal life. Anything that makes a person take their eyes off the Lord Jesus, even particularly, may become an idol to that person, this in regards to them adding new meanings to God’s word concerning salvation. Example: What is the meaning of the word “tongues?”
The new interpretation of this word “tongues” has divided the Christian community. This division has occurred because of a few who chose to follow their own course. Their love for money and power have consumed these anti-Christ’s. They steal Christ’s glory, and trample His finished work into the ground. Self definition of words and phrases is their weapon of choice. They put out false information, molding for themselves a self serving, self-styled organizations that comes in the face of God.
Tongues, what does it really mean?
Because Christianity has its’ many spiritual identifying marks, and many of its’ terms were unknown, the thoughts that projected Christianity, needed new terms rooted in an old language.
Christian doctrine speaks to our consciences and to our hearts. Its’ roots are buried in the Hebrew culture, religious practices, and its’ language. Those outside the community of Christians can never, and will never understand the intent of God’s Gospel message concerning salvation.
Terms concerning the character of Jesus, His titles, etc., cause the blind to stumble. Verses such as;
1. A. In the Old Testament : Psalms 94:22, “God is the Rock.”
B. New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:4, “That Rock was Christ.”
2. A. Old Testament: Psalms 25:5, “God of my Salvation.”
B. Old Testament: Psalms 88:1, “O Lord God of my Salvation.”
C. New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 5:9,
“Salvation by our Lord Jesus.”
3. A. Old Testament: Psalms 78:35, “God their Redeemer.”
B. New Testament: Romans 3:24, “The redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
4. A. Old Testament: Psalms 27:1, “The LORD is my Light.”
B. New Testament: Ephesians 5:14, “Christ shall give thee Light.”
C. New Testament: John 1: 4, John said, “In Him = (Jesus) was life; and the Life was the Light of men.”
How can anyone, except a Christian, understand the above, much less the following:
5. A. Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of him = (Isaiah spoke of the future prophesy of John the Baptist) that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah, make straight in the desert a highway for our God = (Jesus).” This prophesy was written 700 years before the birth of John the Baptist.
B. Matthew 3:3, “For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias = (Isaiah,) saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness = (John the Baptist), prepare ye the way of the Lord = (Jesus), make His paths straight.”
6. A. Exodus 17:2, “Moses said unto them = (the Jews), wherefore = (why) do ye tempt Jehovah?”
B. Psalms 28:56, “They = (the Jews) tempted and provoked the Most High God.”
C. 1 Corinthians 10:9, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them = (the Jews) also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” According to Moses, the Israelites tempted Jehovah; and according to David, they tempted the Most High God. But Paul states that they = (the Jews) tempted Christ.
Point 6A. and B., can be understood when you connect it to 1 Timothy 3:16, King James Version. “God = (Jesus) was manifest = (appeared from heaven) in the flesh = (as a man).” To those who are not Christians it sounds like nonsense. But to the Christian, Scripture tells us that our Creator God took on the form of a man in order to give us the hope of eternal salvation.
Christ is called the First Fruits, the First Born of the Creation, our High Priest, the Lamb, etc. This is the new language, of a new covenant. Babbling to the unbeliever, but words of love and grace for the believer. These terms and many other take their meaning from Old Testament passages. This was to be the new Christian language, taken from a Jewish culture, its history, and religion. This language is understood only by those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18, “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us = (Christians) which are saved it is the power of God.”
Let’s examine this one particular practice that has drawn many to the Pentecostal movement. It is to speak in tongues = (to babble). Has this movement turned the focus of those who participate in this babbling away from Christ Jesus? And are they now focused on looking for signs or wonders from God?
What does the word tongues mean in its original Hebrew? Remember, the disciples did not have the Greek New Testament, for it had not yet been written. The disciples like Jesus, read and taught from the Old Testament, and attended the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, as also did the very early Jewish community of Christians.
This they did up to 70 A.D. when the Roman armies destroyed the city and the temple. The apostles taught concerning Jesus virgin birth, His death, burial, resurrection, and His return for the church. Yet they participated in Jewish service, and retained some Jewish laws.
Jesus said to His disciples, in Matthew 16:19, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou = (the disciples) shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The term, “bind” and “loose,” were common in the Hebrew legal phraseology, which meant to declare forbidden or to declare allowed. There were Jewish laws that the Pharisees, and elders of the Jewish religious system held the Jew’s accountable to. But the disciples were given the authority by the Lord Jesus to forbid, or to continue to allow certain aspects of the law and the legal system.
Israel was a conquered country, and many foreigners dwelt among the Jews. Many languages which were referred to as foreign tongues were spoken in the community. There were the languages of the Parthians, the Medes, the Elamites, those who came from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Egypt, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Libya, Cyrene, Romans, Cretes, and Arabians, and Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Aramic, Syriac, etc., these representing a few of the known languages and idioms of these strangers.
Is it any wonder God used the miracle of speaking in foreign tongues to recruit new Christian’s, not only the ability to speak in languages never studied, but also to be understood by these foreigners. The fact that these strangers understood the words was a miracle in itself.
Today men have developed computers for the United Nations, and other organizations that translate a person words into other languages. These computers or machines, break the message down from one language into the language and dialect of the person on the other end of the headphones. This is one of man’s attempts to be mimic God.
Tongue’s is a Hebrew Old Testament word. It is repeated 104 times in the Old Testament, and 24 times in the New. Twenty one times it is used in 1 Corinthians, and 3 times in Paul’s other letters, and aside from, 1 Corinthians, Paul quotes from the Old Testament concerning tongues in the book of Romans and Philippians.
1. Romans 3:13, is quoted from Psalms 5:9.
2. Isaiah 45:23, is quoted in Romans 14:11, and an allusion to this is quoted in Philippians 2:11.
Of the 104 times the word tongue’s is used, it never, ever, means anything other then a known language, or the dialect of a people or nation. At the Tower of Babel, God’s anger was put forth against human vanity and disobedience. In the beginning there was but one language. Genesis 11:1, “The whole earth was of on language = (tongue) and of one speech.”
God had designed the media of speech, and in an instant, made such changes in this medium as to have caused many languages to be instituted. This was God’s prerogative. Paul and Barnabas preached in the Greek tongue at Lystra. Scripture does not state that any of the Samaritans received this gift when the Holy Spirit was imparted to them, but the request of Simon to buy this power to apply the Spirit, is evidence that some external change did result. Acts 8:14-19.
Acts 2:1-13, in God’s decree and in Genesis, there were to be many languages spoken by men; this curse was reversed by God for a moment at Pentecost. This Pentecostal phenomenon clearly appeared again when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles at the House of Cornelius. Acts 10: 44-46. This served as a miraculous token of the divine approval and acceptance of the Gentile believers. This marked the full incorporation of the Gentiles into the Church, authenticating Paul’s teaching.
Pentecost was an external phenomenon heralding the coming of God’s Holy Spirit. This was now felt internally by the apostles, as they began to speak with other tongues = (languages). And those present in the square understood, each man in his own language and dialect the words spoken by these apostles. There is no express New Testament instance of this gift of tongues used to evangelize others.
Imagine if you can, men standing before you, and suddenly there comes a sound from the sky like a great wind. Then from the sky above, in the shape of divided tongues, fire descends, and lights on each of the disciples shoulders. (This would definitely hold my attention, and most likely yours.) This was God’s miracle, this was the beginning of the Christian church. Every man present heard in their own language the words of the new covenant, the Gospel message of salvation.
Now let’s talk about these verses in 1 Corinthians. Paul speaks of Spiritual gift as richly being bestowed upon believers. Paul now discusses the varied gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are enumerated, compared and evaluated concerning their usefulness in the Christian Church. Twice the gifts are listed, and twice tongues with their interpretation are at the bottom of the list. Thus, this gift of tongues was probably being improperly evaluated by the Corinthians.
Paul did not prohibit the use of this gift, but insisted that intelligent preaching in understandable words was vastly superior. He insisted that woman were not to speak in such meetings. 1 Corinthians 14:34, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” Remember the apostles had the authority to bind and loose law on earth.
What was the exact nature of the Corinthian “tongues?” Overwhelming views hold that they were foreign languages which the speakers were miraculously enabled to speak without having any previous learning. This view is demanded by Acts 2:1 through 13. If tongue’s is taught to mean intelligible babbling, it would need to be argued that the word “tongues” takes on some unknown Hebrew or Greek meaning. So, there you are, anti-Christ’s, putting a new spin on ancient Hebrew and Greek words; wolves in sheep’s clothing, waiting to devour the flock.
Thieves changing the definition of historical words and having no historical proof or foundation for these change, mumbo jumbo, emotional outbreaks, uncontrolled incoherent speech. The speaker’s own conscious and intellectual activity is suspended. The babbling is incomprehensible to the speaker as well as to the audience. 1 Corinthians 14:14, “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful = (without value).” Proverbs 8:1, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?”
1 Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit = (Holy Spirit) speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try = (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
If doctrines are not or cannot be proven from Scripture they are from Satan’s messengers. One unclear verse does not prove any doctrine of the gospel. Christianity is not a “make me feel energized, feel good, ranting, raving, incoherent abnormal experience.” Any form or manifestation of the gift of languages = (tongues) which is not under the control of the speaker is highly suspect.
In 1 Corinthians 14:32, we read, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”
If thought and reasoning are distinguished from the understanding, it is unfruitful, in the edifying of others, because the vehicle of expression is unintelligible.
Ephesians 4:23, “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick = Living), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The qualities attributed to God’s word in Hebrews 4, with the whole context, show that it is regarded in its’ judicial power dooming every unbelieving so called “Christian” from eternity with the Lord Jesus.
Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us = (believers) was the gospel preached, as well as unto them = (scoffers): but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” God’s word which is saving to the faithful, is destroying to the disobedient.
The Pentecostal movement as we know it today is just over 100 years old. They teach that all Christians should seek a post conversion religious experience = (a sign) called “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” This experience consists of some outpouring of gifts, and when received, it is accompanied by some sign. One of these signs is the supposed ability of that person to speak in a language entirely unknown to men, and unknown to the speaker. Of course how can this be proven? No one understands. Their translators are usually hand picked, and on the payroll. Again, “signs are for unbelievers.”
Despite this common belief in certain doctrines, Pentecostals have not united into a singular denomination. For a variety of reasons, they have not become established as one church, having many modes of worship, church governments, ordinances, etc.
Sects in past history have turned to this form of worship, many came and none remain. There are the Montanists, the Radical Anabaptist, the Camisards, the Jansenists, the Shakers, etc. The modern day Pentecostal movement was started at in 1896 with 100 persons in attendance. They began to speak in incoherently.
This happened again at Bethel Bible College in Topeka Kansas. The director was Charles Parham, this in 1901. One day a young student girl, stood up and said she had experienced a Spiritual baptism, and began to babble. Of course because this was the first time at this place, there was no interpreter. She broke two of God’s laws.
1. Woman are to remain silent in church:
2. Paul wrote, “Do not speak in unknown tongues if it does not edify the congregation, and if there is no interpreter.” In 1906, William Seymour started another movement in Topeka Kansas. Hit and run cases, growing into a multi-million member congregations. My advice is to check this movement out against what is said about it in Scripture. Feel good, doesn’t count. Satan is the greatest of deceivers, and will lead you straight to hell.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com