Concerning "Words"

A few thoughts to consider:

The definition of a word can change over time to mean something completely contrary than the original intent. 

For instance, the word "gay" used to have the primary meaning of "full of joy or mirth", "gay, merry" (1178 A.D.), and "brilliant, showy" (1300), with a change in meaning between the late 1800s and early 1900s to mean "homosexual". [1]  Now, the common definition is "of, pertaining to, or exhibiting sexual desire or behavior directed toward a person or persons of one's own sex; homosexual" and the original meaning (in essence) taking on the third or fourth definition in some dictionaries. [2]

This post is not meant to talk about homosexuality, but rather the change that occurred in the definition of the word "gay."  The modern definition is very different than the original definition.

Likewise, other words change over time.  Yesterday, as I was studying 1 Peter 3:15 and Titus 3:1-2, I did a word study on many of the words used to translate "peaceable," "gentle," and "humility" (NKJV).  Each of these words is translated in various ways depending on which version you are using (NKJV, KJV, etc), and what interested me was that 1 Peter 3:15 uses the term “meekness” and Titus 3:2 uses the word “humility” in the NKJV, but the KJV uses “meekness” for both passages. 

Have you examined the modern usage of the word “meek” or “meekness”? One definition for “meek” is “humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others”, which, in some instances, may be an applicable definition.  However, the secondary definition is “overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.” [3] Does such a definition fit with the Biblical depiction of “meekness”? Additionally, the World English Dictionary has the following secondary definition: “spineless or spiritless; compliant”.[4]

Do these definitions fit with how the Bible depicts those who are meek? Moses (Numbers 12:3), Jesus (Matthew 11:29), and Paul are considered meek (2 Corinthians 10:1) [synonyms of “meek” are used in these passages depending upon translation]; would we consider any of the above to be “spineless,” “spiritless,” or “overly submissive”? In regards to God the Father, yes they were submissive (spineless is a step I’m unwilling to take in regards especially with Jesus).  But in regards to man? Did Jesus depict spinelessness when zeal for His father’s house ate Him up in John 2? Or when He taught the 5000+ in John 6? Was Moses spineless when he faced down Pharaoh? And the list goes on…

In 1200 A.D., “meek” had a common definition or usage of “gentle, courteous, kind”, which changed to having an inherent “sense of ‘submissive’” in the mid-14^th century.[5]  Does “gentle, courteous, kind” fit with the rest of Scripture concerning the attitude with which a Christian should live their life? Absolutely! Does “spineless” or “spiritless” fit? Not when we examine the character of the righteous in the Bible, including Jesus.  Paul, in Titus 3:1-2, and Peter in 1 Peter 3:15, are talking about a common manner in which a Christian is to live their life, or a “general rule,” essentially.   Neither Paul nor Peter are excusing us from having boldness in our faith and zealously defending the faith when it is necessary (the etymology of “bold” is found in the Old English words “beald” and “bald”, meaning “bold, brave, confident, strong”). [6]

In essence, we need to be careful about how we apply modern definitions, particularly if such definitions obviously contradict other required concepts in the Bible. 

For humor sake, if we are not careful about what definitions we seek to apply to Biblical concepts, Paul is telling us by using the word “gentle”  in Titus 3:2 that we are to be of “good birth or family; wellborn”.  That is, of course, absurd, but it does emphasize the point that we need to be careful.

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[1] gay. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gay (accessed: August 12, 2014).

[2] gay. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gay (accessed: August 12, 2014).

[3] Meek. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Meek (accessed: August 12, 2014).

[4] Meek. Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Meek(accessed: August 12, 2014).

[5] Meek. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Meek (accessed: August 12, 2014).

[6] boldness. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boldness (accessed: August 12, 2014).