A Simple Key to Biblical Research
"Execution, I demand execution".
Upon reading the above sentence one would immediately think of some ruthless dictator who wants to get rid of a political enemy. Or perhaps a lawyer in his final remarks to a jury is pleading for justice for his client. These are perfectly fine scenarios based on the usage of the word "execution", but without knowing what came before or after this sentence there is no way to know for sure the proper meaning intended.
Here is the sentence as it is found in context:
"As the football players tried to get back into playing condition after being off for many months, they ability to perform was greatly hindered. As plays unfolded, they were run in a sloppy fashion due to out of shape bodies and tired minds. The coach had seen enough and decided it was time to ratchet up the level of practice a few notches. "Execution, I demand execution" he screamed as he tried to motivate his players to try harder and quit giving in to their tired body's demands."
As it turned out, the sentence being evaluated had nothing to do with dictators or lawyers. In reality, the usage of the word "execution" was not tied to the definition regarding killing someone for a crime committed, but to the proper carrying out of a function. There is a huge difference between the two definitions and the only way to know which one is being used is to look at the context where it is used.
This simple rule applies to Biblical research just as much as to any other field. Just as there are numerous words in the English language which have multiple definitions, so it is true with Greek and Hebrew words. When you see the English word "bank", it could mean many different things and to use the wrong definition in a particular usage could be quite embarrassing.
If I told you that I was going to the "bank", it would automatically be assumed I was going to the building where my money is stored in various accounts. But, what if in reality I had my fishing pole in hand and I was heading off to the "bank" of the river to catch some catfish? Perhaps I should have said I was going to the river, but technically I was going to the "bank". Even if I was going to the "bank" in the traditional sense of the word, I could be going to the food bank, financial bank or other places where things are stored.
When reading the New Testament, the English word "world" can be one of three Greek words which mean entirely different things. In John 3:16 we read:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son..."
In this verse, the word translated "world" is the Greek word "kosmos". This word basically means the abode of humanity, this place we call the world in which we live. This verse is simply stating that God so loved this place in which we dwell, that He gave His only begotten Son to provide a means of salvation. It is interesting to note that every single time the word "world" is used in the gospel of John; it is always the Greek word "kosmos". This is not true in the other gospels or in the other New Testament writings.
Look at another very well known verse in Matthew 28:20:
"Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen"
Here the word translated "world" is NOT "kosmos" but an entirely different Greek word "aion". This word in not referring to the abode of humanity but rather an age or a time lived. It denotes the unbounded time, past and future, in which the history of the "kosmos" is accomplished. Jesus promised to be with us always, even unto the end of the age (history). In the plural, this word would best be translated "ages".
For the most part, every time you read the English word "world" it is one of these two Greek words. To know which word it is, simply use a concordance and look up the word "world" and take note of the number of afterward. Then go to the back of the concordance and find the number. It will usually either be "kosmos" or "aion".
There is a third word translated "world". Please look at Luke 4:5:
"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him (Jesus) all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time."
In this verse the word translated "world" is the Greek word "oikoumene" which comes from the word "oikeo". This word means to inhabit. Thus, this word is referring to the inhabited world. This is different than "kosmos" in that this word is more political in nature and refers to the literal kingdoms and nations of the world.
Some would say regarding this post "what difference does it make"? I understand most people do not have the inclination to spend the time and effort to look up which word is used in a particular verse. Although this is understandable, it is too bad. Over my almost 40 years of "working the Word of God", there is nothing any more exhilarating and electrifying to me than doing some version of a simple word study.
There are so many wonderful things which can be learned taking a concordance and looking up the places where a particular word is used. Not the English word, mind you, but the Greek word. A very useful reference book to do this is the "The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament" by E. W. Bullinger. This is one of the very few books which allows you to look up the English word and then tells you the corresponding Greek word each place it is used. In fact, I used this book to find and document this post.
Part of being a good "Berean" is to learn a few basic skills regarding things like doing a simple word study. That way, when reading a verse and coming across an English word such as "execution" or "bank", you have a way to find out which Greek word is being used and thus avoid using the wrong definition for the word. I pray this little study helps you tap into a very exciting, yet simple way of "working the Word of God" and in the process allowing it to come more alive for you.
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 824 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1356
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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