The Gift

[doug555]

Here is a most interesting study and treatise relating specifically to the "Kingdom".

Attachment 2366

Thanks for this cite.

Searching for "entos greek meaning" led me to this work at: http://www.biblicaltheology.com/Research/MarcinR01.pdf

It focuses on this exact issue, as stated on page 3:

... the question of whether 'entos' truly is an ambiguous word. The purpose of this article is to explore the meaning of the Greek preposition 'entos' primarily from a semantic vantage point. The exploration will necessarily involve some theological inference, but it is hoped that theological preference is avoided.

Notice on page 2, footnote 3 (bold added):

The “in the midst of you” translation has a connotation that may appeal to many Christians. The thought is that Jesus is identifying the Kingdom of God with Himself; He (Jesus) is in their midst.This connotation is somewhat problematic, however, in that Jesus has just told His audience that the Kingdom of God does not come with observation, and He (Jesus) was certainly observable to His listeners.

Then on page 6 (bold added):

At this point, it does seem at this point in our analysis that the Kingdom of God is more within us than among us. Butto give a semantic answer – even a tentative one – is not necessarily to capture the full meaning of a word, especially its meaning in the context of so important a scriptural passage. Our trek continues.

The question, of course,remains whether there are nuances that we haven’t yet taken into account.

The Revised Standard Version actually uses “in the midst of” in its translation of the Luke 17:21 passage. Only slightly different – but perhaps enough so to add a nuance – is the New American Standard Version’s “in your midst”. Do the “in your midst” connotations inform the meaning of 'entos' One somewhat tenuous argument for the translation of 'entos' as “in the midst of” is the fact that as a preposition 'entos' takes the genitive case (the word most frequently translated as “among”, i.e. “ev”, takes the dative case).

Thus, even if we were to allow the fact that takes the genitive case to inform its meaning,we are not necessarily budged from our tentative conclusion that 'entos' means “within” or 7 “inside”. And yet “in the midst of” is also a plausible genitive form. It is yet possible that “in the midst of” might somehow express the meaning of 'entos', perhaps more clearly or more fully. Again, our trek continues.

Counterarguments, of course, have been made for the connotation of “among” or “in the midst of”, but they tend, to some extent at least, to be based more on theological preference than on semantic analysis. 5 Theological preference aside, analyses of the simple meanings of the preposition 'entos', its adverbial counterparts, its antonym, and its Septuagint usages in the Old Testament leave little doubt but that the Kingdom of God is “within” us, and provide scant support for the notion that the Kingdom is to be understood as being “among” us.

Notice especially the phrase "Theological preference aside" in the above cite. Can this exclusion be justified, especially in light of what the Scriptures say about how we are to arrive at the truth in Isa 28:10, 13 which shows that the context from the entire Bible is very important in order to understand any particular verse?

Now notice the footnote #5 referenced in this cite. It states this (bold added):

"Jesus was telling the Pharisees where, i.e., in what locale, the Kingdom can be found."

Please notice that this statement in footnote #5 ignores an important aspect about what is actually stated in the Lk 17:20, which is:

"20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;".

Notice that the Pharisees' question was about when - not where!

Now the heart of this issue becomes this:

Is this when aspect in this exchange a significant enough of a "connotation" that it can justifiably invoke a "theological preference" that overrides the "simple semantic analysis" to support the "in the midst of" translation over the "within" translation" in Lk 17:21?

I believe my previous post sufficiently answers that question, especially in view of the apparent contradiction regarding the "signs" issue, which both of these studies completely ignore, but which, however, is very relevant to this exchange and to the truth about the intended meaning of this Greek preposition "entos" in Lk 17:21.



BTW, this "kingdom is within you" issue stems from the Gnosticism that both John and Paul had to deal with in their days.

Let me be clear.

The position that the real truth is only allegorical is the "spirit of the antichrist" and the "spirit of error".

How can I say that?

Because the Apostle John clearly states that in 2 Jn 7 and 1 Jn 4:2-3,6!

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Be advised, this spirit is an even greater threat today (1 Tim 4:1).

Lk 17:21 is a perfect illustration of how diabolical and insidious this doctrine is.

Both 1 Jn and 2 Jn have the theme and focus of knowing the truth.

The real and whole truth is both allegorical and literal. The Christ literally came in the flesh! Likewise will the kingdom literally be established on this earth - on Holydays 3 and 6!

One must wonder what is so wrong about having a literal kingdom of God governing this earth?

Nothing that I can see... unless one wants to remain as god in his own imagination.

But that is the very mistake Adam made in the Garden of Eden, and which we are living under to this very day... justified under the doctrine of Pantheism... another great lie.

The Apostle John ends with this warning to us, which we would do well to take very seriously:

"Little children, guard yourselves from idols." (1 Jn 5.21)

The most subtle idol is ourselves - becoming god in our own allegorical reality, and denying the real literal world of the Eternal God's creation!

Now can you see why the "kingdom is within YOU" doctrine is so dangerous?