Does a word once defined in Scripture keep that definition throughout?

[daveleau]

I have held this belief when I was a younger Christian and I have heard several people say that they hold this belief. While, in some instances, it might be true, I'd like to post some evidence that this is a theory that could lead to misunderstandings and that as a rule, words have different meanings and are the definition is discovered by the context.

"Servant of God"
1- Israel (Isa 41:8, 44:1, 45:4, Exo 4:22)- God calls Israel His servant
2- David (Ps 18)- God calls David the servant of God
3- Messiah (Isa 52:13-53:11 and NT passages)

"Son of God"
1- Israel (Hos 11:1)- refers in a secondary sense to Jesus, but context is that of Jesus
2- Davidic Kings (2 Sam 7:14)- God calls David's descendants His sons
3- Messiah (Ps 2:7 and NT Passages)

Leaven does not always equal sin (Matt 13:33) otherwise the Kingdom of Heaven is like sin.

"son of man"
1- Messiah (many times in NT)
2- Ezekiel (throughout Eze)

"king of kings"
1- Hezekiah (2 Kings 18)
2- Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2)
3- God (throughout Bible)

There are other examples, of course. I hope this helps to bring better understanding.

God bless,
Dave

 

[ClementofRome]

As someone MUCH more wise than I said, "CONTEXT IS KING!"

 

[danceforjoy]

Dave,
I'll have a go and hope I don't make a fool of myself!
ISRAEL means overcomer as a prince with G-d. G-d gave Jacob, the father of the 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of the O.T., this new name because he had wrestled in prayer all night long successfully and overcame.

JESUS promises eternal life to every overcomer. Literal ISRAEL is no longer part of His kingdom, yet the name remains while the title have gone to other recipients, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a perculiar people...........Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of G-d. [1.Peter 2:9,10]

Dance

 

[daveleau]

Dance,
I agree that there is a figurative Israel, but my belief is that it is not frequent in Scripture. We have Israel (Jacob), Israel (the Nation), and the figurative Israel (the Church/ God's chosen people). I am a pretty conservative Bible believer, so I don't believe Israel is used figuratively unless the context gives explicit evidence.
And, no, you didn't make a fool of yourself. There are many good Bible believing Christians that take Israel's promises and place them on today's church. That is not an outlandish theology, it is merely one that I don't subscribe to, which doesn't make it automatically wrong.

God bless,
Dave

 

[billwald]

The Hebrew, Greek, and Aramiac words don't change their meaning. The words we use to translate them change as common usage changes.