The Issue of Distance © John Stevenson, 2010 Cultural-Historical Context

Have you ever written a letter, a poem, or an article that was misinterpreted?

Who was Onesimus?Who was Onesimus? What was Paul’s attitude toward slavery, as exhibited in this letter?What was Paul’s attitude toward slavery, as exhibited in this letter? What was the cultural practice of slavery in that day?What was the cultural practice of slavery in that day? Did Paul’s attitude differ from the cultural norm? Would it lead to changes in the cultural norms?Did Paul’s attitude differ from the cultural norm? Would it lead to changes in the cultural norms? How should we “apply” any theological principles given in this letter?How should we “apply” any theological principles given in this letter? Page 39 Workbook

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Words are more than the sum of their parts

Original meanings do not govern meaning in later texts

Greek words that have later derived English meanings are not governed by those meanings For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation… (Romans 1:16).

Greek words that have later derived English meanings are not governed by those meanings …the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. (Revelation 18:3).

The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance

Lexical form of the Greek word

Lexical form transliterated

Part of speech (verb)

Frequency count

Root word

Basic definition

Various ways it is translated in the NIV

Look up the word “world” as it is used in the NIV From which Greek/Hebrew words is it translated? What are the other ways in which those words can be rendered? What are the various range of meanings?

Look up the word “transformed” used in Romans 12:2 From which Greek word is it translated? What are the other ways in which that word is rendered in the NIV? In what other places is that Greek word used in the New Testament?

Look up the word “love” as used in the New Testament From which Greek words is it translated? What are the other ways in which those words are rendered in the NIV? Is there a distinction in these various terms?