The Forgotten Word

Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.

The word “etymology” derives from Greek ἐτυμολογία (etumologíā); from ἔτυμον (étumon), meaning “true sense”, and -λογία (-logía), meaning “study”; from λόγος (lógos), meaning “speech, account, reason”. Folk etymology is the sound, spelling and meaning of a word which is changed by the influences of cultures.

There used to be a rather short and direct word used frequently in the American lexicon. If you are over 50 you probably heard it quite frequently growing up. The younger you are the less likely you’ve heard this word. Your parents talked about it on occasion. It was used in the news media, found in newspapers and it’s use wasn’t considered out of the ordinary. However, most recently it’s use has almost disappeared. I can’t recall hearing the word used in its original context in quite some time. Even our churches have largely forgotten the word and that’s where it should be heard most often.

Have you guessed the word yet? It’s short. Only three letters to the word yet it carried a powerful connotation. Now days it’s most heard in references to Las Vegas, NV. You know, what happens if Vegas stays in Vegas. Meaning, it’s OK to _ _ _ as long as no one knows and really it’s OK to _ _ _ in Vegas!

The word is SIN.

When is the last time you heard a gospel sermon on sin? Not in the context of “us evil human beings,” but in the context of what it cost God to redeem us from sin? If you’re like me it’s been awhile.

Biblical Terminology of Sin

The word that best summarizes the essence of sin is lawlessness. I John 3:4. Luke 22:37 uses the word transgressors but the original Greek word,  anomos, means lawless. 2 Peter 2:8 describes sins as “lawless deeds.”

There are many other words used in the bible that depict the essence of sin. There are 15 categories but I’d like to look at five. They are the most common terms found.

The first Greek word is planaō. It is in the passive voice and denotes being deceived, to err, to go astray or to wander away. Jesus uses this word with the Sadducees in Matthew 22:29 in discussing their misunderstanding of scripture regarding the resurrection. The Sadducees denied existence of life after death. Jesus says, you have erred, or you’ve gone away from scripture. Other scriptures using this word are I Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 6:7 and James 5:19. Jesus used this word in his parables to describe sheep that had gone astray. Matthew 18:12-13. Additional passages include Psalms 119:176, Hebrews 5:2, I Peter 2:25 and II Peter 2:15.

The second word is hamartia. There are several variants for this word. It means “to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken.”Paul uses this in Romans 5:12. But he uses it multiple times through the book of Romans. Here’s a list of some additional verses where this word is used; Mark 2:10, Luke 5:23, Luke 5:24 and Galatians 2:17. The link to hamartia lists seven pages where this word is used.

The third word is adikeo. According to Thayer and it means to act unjustly or wickedly, to be a criminal, or to have violated the laws in some way. It occurs 36 times in 21 verses. Some of the verses it is used in is Matthew 20:13, Acts 7:24 and I Corinthians 6:8. When used as a noun the word is often translated as unrighteousness. Referring to sin as unrighteousness also makes it clear that its essence is lawlessness.

A fourth term is apeitheo. This word represents the concept of disobedience. The adjective form of this word describes children who disobey their parents as in Romans 1:30 and II Timothy 3:2. Mostly these words refer to disobedience to God in the way of the general refusal to follow God’s will. Romans 11:30-32, Ephesians 2:2 and Ephesians 5:6.

The fifth and last term under consideration today is parabaino. It carries the general meaning “to go over, to go aside or to pass beyond.” When referring to sin the general meaning is to transgress as in transgressing a command or going beyond an established limit. (In today’s society speeding coming to my mind. Oh, stepped on some toes there didn’t I?)

The general sense in all of these words is the idea of failing to keep God’s word, i.e. Lawlessness. This occurs two ways. Many times, but not all, they are committed overtly, or in the open where everyone can see them. Fits of anger at Walmart on Black Friday over over a $2 waffle maker come to mind. Do a Google search on the topic and be amazed at the numbers of stories of violence over things that will be thrown in the trash within just a few years.

The second way lawlessness occurs is internally; in the mind or in the heart. Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” John says anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, I John 3:15.

At the deepest level it is more than specific acts of lawlessness. It is more of an attitude toward God. Seething hatred, anger and hostility toward God are present. There is a spirit of opposition and a rebellion against God’s authority. This attitude and hatred of God is displayed in the militant atheists of our day. Their anger and hatred toward God and His people are on display. (I would provide a link but don’t want to increase a certain atheist’s hit count.)

Why does God hate sin so much? Why is sin so serious? According to God’s standard, are there any “good” people? Watch for these topics in follow up posts.