Redefining Terms

Comment by Urbanus on 2013-03-18 02:56:30

Thanks, again, Meleti, for a thought-provoking series of posts. Perhaps this topic will elicit a broad selection of terms that have been altered (even corrupted) in meaning to support non-Biblical understandings which undermine "Truth." (there's one now!)
Consider the six occurrences of "temple [sanctuary]" in Revelation in the NWT in relation to scriptural descriptions of "sacred service."
Footnotes equate "temple [sanctuary]" with “the divine habitation (dwelling).” Gr., ton na?on?; J17,18,22(Heb.), heh?khal?, “palace (temple) of.” “God,” ?AVgSyh; J17, “Jehovah.”
(Revelation 11:19) 19 And the temple [sanctuary] of God that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple [sanctuary]. And there occurred lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail.
(Revelation 11:1-2) 11?And a reed like a rod was given me as he said: “Get up and measure the temple [sanctuary] of God and the altar and those worshiping in it. 2 But as for the courtyard that is outside the temple [sanctuary], cast it clear out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. . .
So when we come to the identity and location in time and place of the "great crowd," what do we find in Scripture?
(Revelation 7:14-17) . . .“These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Interestingly, v.15 "rendering him sacred service* day and night in his temple*" is linked by footnote to Ex 3:12:
*** Rbi8 Revelation ***
“They are rendering . . . sacred service.” Gr., la?treu?ou?sin; J22(Heb.), we?oh?vedhim?, “and they are serving (worshiping).” Compare Ex 3:12 ftn.
Or, “divine habitation (dwelling).” Gr., na?oi?, dative, sing.; Lat., tem?plo; J17,18,22(Heb.), beheh?kha?loh?, “in his palace (temple).”
(Exodus 3:11-12) . . .” 12 To this he said: “Because I shall prove to be with you, and this is the sign for you that it is I who have sent you: After you have brought the people out of Egypt, YOU people will serve* the [true] God on this mountain.”
“You people will serve (worship).” Heb., ta??av?dhun?; Gr., la?treu?se?te, “you will render sacred service.” See KB, p. 671, for the rendering “worship a god.” See also Mt 4:10 ftn, “Service.”
(Matthew 4:10) 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

• Reply by Harrison Webster on 2013-03-18 05:02:39

  With understanding what the writer originally wished to say to us we have a number of problems when dealing with texts written centuries ago, hence that vast number of commentaries etc , even on things written as recently as Shakespeare.
  We need to know what the chosen words meant at the time they were written, hence it is easy to fall into the etymology trap, I feel the WT has done this on a number of occasions, looking at the basic meaning and origin of a word or phrase and not how it was used when it was actually written.
  The saying is true, a bible word or statement cannot mean now what it did not mean then.
  This highlights another problem that some have with exegesis, and that is reading the morals and mores of today back in to the text.
  Much more care should be taken, and much more honesty in the approach to interpreting scripture if the brothers writing our literature wish to maintain respect for their words.