Opus 2026-074: Terms in Transition

We like to use words without being forced to define them.  There are so many different ways you can use the same term.  Currently a word that comes to mind it “ice”.  Spoken quietly at the dinner table it can mean you want a few more cubes in your glass.  Screamed in a mob it can mean, “Attack the nazi thug.”  Totally different uses.  My most common example is the word “can”.  Just stop and think of all the different ways it can be used.

What started me down this road is a recent discussion by Steven Gregg on the future of Israel.  In the process, a lot of time was spent on “Who is Israel?”  It occurs to me that this is a question that has parallels in New Testament vocabulary also.  Have you ever wondered “Who is the church?”  I find the same definitions are necessary.

In the OT you have the nation of Israel juxtapositioned with what might be called the True Israel.  One is based on DNA and geography.  The other is based on on faith and obedience.  The nation of Israel is repeatedly turned over to invasion and God’s wrath.  It is exciled and dispersed.  Words like “destroyed” are used and yet the Jews kept coming back.  The key word here is “remnant”.  In the midst of the threats of wrath there is a constant reminder that there will be a faithful remnant.  That represents the true Israel which is the recipient of the promises.

We see the same problem of definition emerging in the New Testament.  Here the word of confusion is “church”.  In the Greek it means “called out ones”.  During NT times it was probably a good word to describe the saved people of God.  In modern times the word has become almost meaningless.  It has become a building.  It is often nothing but a social club.  It has often lost its spiritual meaning.  We sometimes talk about the “true church” just like we might have talked about the “true Israel”.

There are Biblical words that are more accurate.  When you want to refer to the Israel that is the recipient of God’s promise it is the remnant.  When you want to refer to the church that God is saving, refer to the body of Christ.

I think that understanding would go a long way toward clarifying issues.  If you are one of those people who don’t want clarification then try reading the L.A. Times.

homo unius libri