CHANGING DEFINITIONS

According to the American College Dictionary of 1964, the primary definition of the word, “Gay” is “having or showing a joyous mood” however in 2003 and according to www.dictionary.com, the primary definition of the word, “Gay” is “Of, relating to, or having a sexual orientation to persons of the same sex”

There is another word that seems to have taken a great turn in definition and that is the word, “Repent”. The words “Repent, Repented, Repentance or Repenteth” are found in the King James Bible (KJV) Bible 133 times starting with Genesis 6:6 where our Lord says, “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth”. The Bible defines the meanings of it’s own words for the reader and with this understanding, let’s see exactly how the Bible defines the word “repenteth” in Genesis 6:6. The beginning of the definition for “repenteth” is found in the very next verse (7) showing that “the one that repented” has a change of mind or heart. “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” Although this “change of mind/heart” is the important first step in the definition of “repenteth”, the second step completion is evidenced in Genesis 7:23, “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”

The example above clearly shows that the definition for the word repenteth includes not one but two steps, (1) a change of mind or heart and (2) an action confirming this change of mind or heart. The Bible clearly shows that each time a variation of the word “repent” is found in the Bible that two steps are expected or commanded, (1) “a change of mind or heart” and (2) “a change of action” however in contrast if one were to look up the modern definition of the word “repent” in today’s dictionary, it is likely that just one step will be found as the primary meaning, such as “remorse or feeling sorry for one’s actions”. If the Lord is just telling us that the word “repent” means just to feel sorry for one’s actions in “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3), then why does Jesus also say “… go, and sin no more.” in John 8:11 and “sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” in John 5:14?

Here is another example that shows what can happen when one is taught Greek or other languages in today’s modern times. As most educated Biblical scholars know, there are two primary Greek sources of the New Testament, the received text (RT) and the critical text (CT). The received text (95% of manuscripts) was the bedrock of the KJV Bible and the critical text (5% or less of manuscripts) is the primary source for most all of the modern so-called Bibles. Although these sources are vastly different in some places, there is another factor that can be even more devastating when one translates the Bible using modern day corrupted definitions. Although one can easily get a copy of the Greek words from either of these two manuscript families, it can be much more difficult to get all of the correct definitions of the words as actually spoken. For example: “Fornication”, in Matthew 19:9 of the KJV, refers to sinful sexual relations between the unmarried, while adultery refers to sinful sexual relations of married persons, but outside of the marriage. So then why do most of the modern bibles use different words instead of “fornication”, in effect mistranslating the word “Pornea”? The reason is that the definition of the word “Pornea” has changed in modern years. “Young’s Analytical Concordance” (English translation of 1611) correctly list the translation for the Greek word “Pornea” as “Fornication” or “whoredom” and the English Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, fifth edition of 1948, defines fornication as “illicit sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried” or “Figuratively, esp. in Scripture, idolatry”. In the KJV, the word “Pornea” is correctly translated as “fornication” but like the redefinition of our English word “gay”, the modern Greek interlinear versions have redefined “Pornea” to include “Adultery” as a possible translation for “Pornea”, thereby causing complete confusion over the correct words of Jesus, in effect incorrectly teaching that “Adultery” is a grounds for divorce. See the results (over 50% divorce rate in USA) of changing the Greek definition of “Pornea” at: www.wtlministry.org/articles/marriage.htm

This article is not meant to discourage anyone from reading and studying dictionaries or Greek sources but is written as a warning that one who thoroughly studies will find modern definition corruptions that differ from the Bible. Who, other that God, can know exactly how many words have been falsely redefined in Greek, Hebrew or English and so also in conclusion, who will better understand and bear fruit with the words of our Lord, one who follows modern definitions or one that, in child like faith, studies and rightly divides the Word?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Way Truth Life Ministry 7-31-2003 www.wtlministry.org