Many times I have spoken on functionality of teaching. Perhaps it would be helpfull to understand the functional aspect of God and what he has created.
God does not have teachings or works that are dysfunctional. All of the things He does works toward helping His plan come about. Seeing functionality in scripture greatly enriches the understanding of verse. God veiws everything in His creation, including man, on the basis of functionality. Even relationship with Him is part of the function of man. An example is found in Genesis 1.
Genesis chapter 1.
The word Good (tov , Heb) would be better translated as functional. The opposite of this word is ra. these two words are used in the knowledge of good (tov) and evil (ra) In otherwords the knowledge of function and disfunction. God, His creation, His teachings, and His children should be functional. All teachings that prepose to help us, should function within Gods plan for His creation.
When God created the Earth and the beasts, He said it was functional.
25God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. (functional)
After God created man He said it was very good.
the word very in this verse meod which means abundantly.
31God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.(abundantly functional) And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
God does make a point that although His creation functions without man, it functions more abundantly with the addition of man.
As to the fall of man, it is clear that partaking of the tree of knowledge of Good (function) and evil (dysfunction) made man dysfunctional.
Gen 2
9Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good (function)and evil. (dysfunction)
17but from the tree of the knowledge of good (function) and evil (dysfunction)you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Gen 3
5"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good (function)and evil." (dysfunction)
Before the fall, man did not know dysfunction. He operated within a world that functioned perfectly as he did. It is also interesting to note that God set consequinces for mans dysfunction. Now the Earth was cursed and man no longer could live in a functional world.
These type of understandings open up many scriptures.
For instance the story of Joseph. After being sold into slavery and then his brothers coming to Egypt for help he explains what happened.
Gen 50
[20"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (function) in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Do you see the functionality in what happened to Joseph?
When mosses sent spies into Cannan, he sent them to se if the land ws functional or dysfunctional. As is common in hebrew writing things are said twice to bring clarity.Verse 19 Moses asks if the land is functional or dysfunctional. Verse 20 clarifies that question. Is tha land lean or fat? Is the land producing as functional land should? Are there trees or not. (Remember they have been wandering the desert for a generation. Having trees would be a sign of the lands functionality unlike the desert.) Seek to get some fruit of the land to ascertain its functionality.
Numbers 13
19"How is the land in which they live, is it good(functional) or bad (dysfunctional)? And how are the cities in which they live, are they like open camps or with fortifications?
20"How is the land, is it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.
David makes a functional deal with Abner. We might have said, That works!
2 Samuel 3
12Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, "Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you."
13He said, "Good! (functional) I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
Ezra seeking Livites for the priesthood says this;
Ezra 8:18
18According to the good (functional) hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men;
What God does is always functional. It works and produces something.
Notice in the following verses the action that is portrayed. The word good in these verses is speaking of Gods functionality.
Psalms 119
37Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.
38Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.
39Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. (functional)
40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.
Psalms 118
1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;(functional)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Proverbs 12
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good (functional)
man will obtain favor from the LORD,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 28
21To show partiality is not good, (functional)
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
Ecc 2
24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good (functional) This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
25For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?
26For to a person who is good (functional) in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good (functional) in God's sight This too is vanity and striving after wind.
Faith itself is an action word. It requires an action to be functional. Some think that faith is simply knowing or believing, but the Hebrew teaches something different.
Faith (emunah Heb.)
Comes from the root word which means firm or secure. Additional Hebrew meanings are added when it is translated faith. The primary one being that of a craftsman. The resulting meaning is to have faith one must act with firmness towards Gods will.
Real faith requires functionality. It requires a functional action to take place.
Though most of the New Testament was written in Greek. It was written by Hebrews and with Hebrew concepts. The Greek words translated good have much the same meaning.
1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good (functional) minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good (functional) teaching that you have followed.
Titus 2:7
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (functional) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good (functional) for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
Matthew 13:23
"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good (functional) soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
Matthew 13:37
And He said, "The one who sows the good (functional) seed is the Son of Man
Matthew 19:17
And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? (functional) There is only One who is good; (functional) but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Luke 8:15
"But the seed in the good (functional) soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good (functional) heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Ephesians 4:28
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, (Functional) so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
3 John 1:11
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good (functional) The one who does what is good (functional) is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Titus 2:3
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, (functional)
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good (functional) for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
Titus 3:14
Our people must also learn to engage in good (functional) deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 7:26
I think then that this is good (functional) in view of the present distress, that it is good (functional) for a man to remain as he is.
1 Thessalonians 3:6
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good (functional) news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good,(what is functional) to be rich in good (functional) works, to be generous and ready to share,
Titus 3:8
This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good (functional) deeds. These things are good (functional) and profitable for men.
Good and Evil. Functional and dysfunctional.
God does not have teachings or works that are dysfunctional. All of the things He does works toward helping His plan come about. Seeing functionality in scripture greatly enriches the understanding of verse. God veiws everything in His creation, including man, on the basis of functionality. Even relationship with Him is part of the function of man. An example is found in Genesis 1.
Genesis chapter 1.
The word Good (tov , Heb) would be better translated as functional. The opposite of this word is ra. these two words are used in the knowledge of good (tov) and evil (ra) In otherwords the knowledge of function and disfunction. God, His creation, His teachings, and His children should be functional. All teachings that prepose to help us, should function within Gods plan for His creation.
When God created the Earth and the beasts, He said it was functional.
25God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. (functional)
After God created man He said it was very good.
the word very in this verse meod which means abundantly.
31God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.(abundantly functional) And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
God does make a point that although His creation functions without man, it functions more abundantly with the addition of man.
As to the fall of man, it is clear that partaking of the tree of knowledge of Good (function) and evil (dysfunction) made man dysfunctional.
Gen 2
9Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good (function)and evil. (dysfunction)
17but from the tree of the knowledge of good (function) and evil (dysfunction)you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Gen 3
5"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good (function)and evil." (dysfunction)
Before the fall, man did not know dysfunction. He operated within a world that functioned perfectly as he did. It is also interesting to note that God set consequinces for mans dysfunction. Now the Earth was cursed and man no longer could live in a functional world.
These type of understandings open up many scriptures.
For instance the story of Joseph. After being sold into slavery and then his brothers coming to Egypt for help he explains what happened.
Gen 50
[20"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (function) in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Do you see the functionality in what happened to Joseph?
When mosses sent spies into Cannan, he sent them to se if the land ws functional or dysfunctional. As is common in hebrew writing things are said twice to bring clarity.Verse 19 Moses asks if the land is functional or dysfunctional. Verse 20 clarifies that question. Is tha land lean or fat? Is the land producing as functional land should? Are there trees or not. (Remember they have been wandering the desert for a generation. Having trees would be a sign of the lands functionality unlike the desert.) Seek to get some fruit of the land to ascertain its functionality.
Numbers 13
19"How is the land in which they live, is it good(functional) or bad (dysfunctional)? And how are the cities in which they live, are they like open camps or with fortifications?
20"How is the land, is it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.
David makes a functional deal with Abner. We might have said, That works!
2 Samuel 3
12Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, "Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you."
13He said, "Good! (functional) I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
Ezra seeking Livites for the priesthood says this;
Ezra 8:18
18According to the good (functional) hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men;
What God does is always functional. It works and produces something.
Notice in the following verses the action that is portrayed. The word good in these verses is speaking of Gods functionality.
Psalms 119
37Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.
38Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.
39Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. (functional)
40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.
Psalms 118
1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;(functional)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Proverbs 12
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good (functional)
man will obtain favor from the LORD,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 28
21To show partiality is not good, (functional)
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
Ecc 2
24There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good (functional) This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
25For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?
26For to a person who is good (functional) in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good (functional) in God's sight This too is vanity and striving after wind.
Faith itself is an action word. It requires an action to be functional. Some think that faith is simply knowing or believing, but the Hebrew teaches something different.
Faith (emunah Heb.)
Comes from the root word which means firm or secure. Additional Hebrew meanings are added when it is translated faith. The primary one being that of a craftsman. The resulting meaning is to have faith one must act with firmness towards Gods will.
Real faith requires functionality. It requires a functional action to take place.
Though most of the New Testament was written in Greek. It was written by Hebrews and with Hebrew concepts. The Greek words translated good have much the same meaning.
1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good (functional) minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good (functional) teaching that you have followed.
Titus 2:7
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (functional) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good (functional) for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
Matthew 13:23
"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good (functional) soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
Matthew 13:37
And He said, "The one who sows the good (functional) seed is the Son of Man
Matthew 19:17
And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? (functional) There is only One who is good; (functional) but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Luke 8:15
"But the seed in the good (functional) soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good (functional) heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Ephesians 4:28
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, (Functional) so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
3 John 1:11
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good (functional) The one who does what is good (functional) is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Titus 2:3
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, (functional)
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good (functional) for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
Titus 3:14
Our people must also learn to engage in good (functional) deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 7:26
I think then that this is good (functional) in view of the present distress, that it is good (functional) for a man to remain as he is.
1 Thessalonians 3:6
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good (functional) news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good,(what is functional) to be rich in good (functional) works, to be generous and ready to share,
Titus 3:8
This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good (functional) deeds. These things are good (functional) and profitable for men.
Good and Evil. Functional and dysfunctional.
