I Am Not A NT Scholar, But...

On a personal note I'm fighting a cold today and although it's not as bad as it was yesterday I'm still feeling tired and weak. With that said I really felt an emptiness from not doing my devotions yesterday, so today I will push through and just do this.

As you may or may not know I'm in my final year of a Master's education in Divinity. I have as my New Testament professor a brilliant man who, in my opinion, truly understands how the messages of the gospels are intended to be understood by the generation and communities in which we live. His scholarship is one of taking a look at the "historical Jesus" which teaches to look at more than just the words given to us within the bible, but to also understand the entire history of the people who wrote the words as well as the people for which they were originally written.

In this type of study we are asked to look at things such as literary style and genre, socio-economics at the time the words were written, possible redaction and editing, clues to underlying messages, and other things which might not be considered in the reading of the bible. We're also asked to take a look at alternate meanings of the Greek words as used and to fit those alternate words into the reading to see if the readings make more sense. This is what I did today and if you'll allow me to be "scholarly" I will attempt to walk you through a new understanding to an old verse.

Please read Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 and focus especially on verse 21. This verse has been used by those opposing what I will now call relationship equality (formally known as homosexuality). In the opposing of relationship equality we are all told that the word "fornication" refers to Jesus speaking out against such acts as gay/lesbianism, bestiality, incense, and the like. However, when I decided to see if there are any alternative meanings to this word I found this (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4202&t=KJV): 

2) metaph. the worship of idolsa) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols 

 The word fornicate is sometimes used as a metaphor for a form of idolatry by eating the sacrifices offered to idols. Now, reread the entire passage and insert this meaning of the word when you get to fornication. I ask you, which makes more sense? Which meaning of the word falls directly in line with what the argument with the Pharisees and Jesus is about?

Being a Christian means truly understanding what Jesus is talking about and what his message is. Jesus is not admonishing the actions of people. Jesus is admonishing the actions of the Pharisees in sticking to their antiquated principles and policies and not helping the people they are supposed to be a spiritual leader to understand that it's not what goes in to us, but what comes out from us that dictates who, or what we are.

I'm not asking you to take my meaning of the word as used in this passage to be the absolute truth. I'm just saying this is how I now understand it. If you disagree with me I actually think that's a good thing because it's through disagreement and the conversations done with kindness and acceptance of each other's view which come from that disagreement that true spiritual growth happens.

Maybe next time we can talk about some of the other words in that verse.