Words Smallest unit of speech with complete meaning A group of letters arranged in a specific pattern to form a linguistic symbol representing an idea A brief statement (cf. Gal. 5:14) or command Promise News or tidings Logos--Creation; Jesus; divine communication Scripture Definition of a Word:

Words Letter Phoneme – a sound that serves to contrast meaning Morpheme – the smallest grouping of letters with independent meaning Word Sentence Discourse/book Unit/paragraph/pericope Levels of Analysis

Language is a triad of: phonology (sound) phonology (sound) morphology (spelling/structure) syntax (order) Language is a triad of: phonology (sound) phonology (sound) morphology (spelling/structure) syntax (order) Words Sound in the Bible: Alliteration (Psalm 119) Assonance (1 Tim 3:16; Lamentations) Paronomasia (pun) (Amos 8:2 – qets; qayits) Onomatopoeia (Gen 1:2)

Words Denotation vs. Connotation Words change in meaning Synonyms cf. Mt 26:22-25 “Lord” vs. “Rabbi” A single Greek word may be translated by several English words. A single English word my represent several Greek words. Synonyms cf. Mt 26:22-25 “Lord” vs. “Rabbi” A single Greek word may be translated by several English words. A single English word my represent several Greek words. Idioms Transliterations Religious Terminology Special Considerations

Words Dictionary Usage Context TCBL, NIDNTT, Kittle, BAG, etc. Concordances: Computer, NIV, Strongs, Wigrams Concordances: Computer, NIV, Strongs, Wigrams Three Sources for a Word Study Three Sources for a Word Study The Bible

Words Rules for defining a word: 1.Every word has only one intended meaning in each use -- the author’s. (Barring, of course, puns and other figures of speech). Therefore, context and usage determines the definition of a word. The best way to determine the meaning of a word is to play mental “follow the leader with the author.” 2.Words have multiple meanings within a given range. They also change, grow, get married, have kids, and sometimes die.

Words Rules for defining a word: 3.Meaning is not found in words, or even in sentences, but in the pericope. 4.Law of Parsimony: All other factors being equal, the simplest explanation is to be preferred. 5.Every word is interchangeable with its meaning. 6.Clusters of a word in one passage may offer a good definition for the word.

Words Rules for defining a word: 7.Words are to be understood literally unless the context demands otherwise; this would include religious and technical terminology. 8.New or rare words are defined by context, then etymology, the earliest versions, and finally by kindred languages and analogous words. 9.Most N.T. authors are Hebraic in thought; therefore one may need to trace the word back to the O.T.

Words Rules for defining a word: 10.Synonyms, when used together, generally accentuate their similarity rather than their differences unless a particularly acute distinction is being made. This is especially true in poetry.

Words Context Translations (See Wilson & Gardner p. 87) Concordances: Clusters, authors, dates, language Etymology Non-Biblical usage – history of the word Dictionaries and Word Studies Synonyms/Antonyms Steps for Researching a Word Commentaries Context

Words Etymology 1.Looking Back English examples--Butterfly, Pineapple, comfort. Greek examples--UPERETES = under-rower; MONOGENES = Only begotten. 2. Looking Forward Dynamite--Rom. 1:16, Hilarious giver--2 Cor. 9:7; Metamorphosis, Rom. 12:2. Errors in Word Studies

Words Badly Used Definitions 1.Definitions that are obsolete, unknown or unlikely MARTUS--cf. Carson, p. 35. Berkeley & Mickelsen, "The 'head' of the Epistles," CT 25:4 (Feb. 20, 1981): Using rare meanings without contextual support A.T. Robinson and the used of eis in Acts 2:38 to mean "because of" rather than "into." Errors in Word Studies

Words Misuse of cultural background material 1.Craming background material into a word. Water (Jn. 3:5) = male semen Tent-maker = leather worker. 2. Linking language and cultural mindset Silva, Biblical Words and Their Meanings, ; "Bilingualism and the Character of N.T. Greek" Bib 69 (1980); Hebrew has no future tense. (Watch TDNT) Errors in Word Studies 3. Semitic background in the Greek N.T.

Words Similarities between words 1.Parallelomania See Samuel Sandmel, "Parallelomania," JBL 81(1962): Synonyms and false categories: Words are more like concentric circles than boxes. Trench's synonyms of the N.T. is especially susceptible. Abused Synonyms--Love (agapao and phileo); know (oida and ginosko); etc. Errors in Word Studies