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Porneo, pleonexia and eutrapelia February 8, 2009

Posted by Zack in : Uncategorized , comments closed

When I started exploring churches, I was surprised more than anything else by the 15-minute-long sermon tangents about translation problems and nuances of single Greek or Hebrew words in the Bible. I’d look around and marvel that the 500 or 5,000 people in the church had actually gotten up early on a Sunday for this: a class in ancient literature and history. Many would be taking notes, and sometimes all had their personal Bibles, well worn with study.

Mars Hill Church pastor Rob Bell last week gave a sermon consisting almost entirely of such tangents. I’ve posted a few of them below to give people outside Jesusland an taste of what I’m talking about.

Rob was speaking on a passage from Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus. Read the passage and then listen to the clips I include below where Rob peels back the current meanings of the English words chosen by modern translators.

Ephesians, Chapter 5:1-8

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Now listen to Rob:

Sexual immorality ~ Porneo

Coarse joking ~ Pleonexia Eutapelia

Static vs. Creative “inheritance”

Wrath ~ Orge

My question to any Christian scholars who might be reading this: Is Rob stretching? Can this much really be known precisely about how Jews in the first century were using these Greek words?