Reason # 16: Problem Stated: A Failure to Understand the Strength and Implications of Particular Terms
Often a meaning of a text or passage can be gleaned by understanding the key words that describe some doctrine or event within the text. Learning how to place oneself in the time, in the moment, and in the context itself can help draw out a clearer understanding of the text. Too when we then grasp the idea behind the word or the strength of a word we can then move to the proper application of that idea to a reality. However, when we fail to grasp the strength of certain words in a text we often lose the ability to carry that strength from actual Scripture in its historical setting over to actual day-to-day living for modern life. By failing to do this we undermine the authority of Scripture and integrity of it by hypocritically confessing to believe the Bible all the while our lives contradict it. Take for example the single word "head" in the Bible. We find it often in the Bible and in particular to how we are to see the relationship between a man and his woman. But before we even venture into that relationship we can see that Christ Jesus as the Lord is also called a head. The Bible tells us this: "He [God] put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22). We find this phrase too in Colossians where the Lord said, "For in him [Christ Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority" (Col. 2:9-10). Jesus, being the fullness of God in the body, has all authority over heaven and earth (see Mathew 28:18-20). He rules over all and has authority over all. This term head has strong, clear, and direct implications on the doctrine of a man and woman in a consensual sexual love union. The Greek word here is "κεφαλή-kephale." The term has two clear meanings to it: (1) the top to which something else is related to it and (2) in a metaphorical sense it means the chief of which others are subordinate and in relation unto." Dr. William D. Mounce, a premiere Greek scholar says the term means: "superior, chief, principal, one to whom others are subordinate" (The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament, p. 280). This same term is then used to describe the relationship between a man and his woman. The Bible says this: "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a joined women is her man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3). Also we find this phrase: "For the joined man is the head of his woman even as Christ is the head of his body, and is himself its Savior" (Eph. 5:23). This term head is κεφαλή-kephale. This term is a strong term that has strong implications for the life of love unions or covenant unions.
Solution? The Calvinist theologian Tom Shipley has accurately noted that "patriarchy is God's purpose in the creation of man and woman. . . . polygyny is an immediate logical consequence of patriarchy. Polygyny is patriarchy in action" (Man and Woman in Biblical Law, p. 131). To resolve the problem of missing polygyny we must go back to see the direct or immediate implication of what it means to have a head. A head is the solitary source of authority of the superior member above one or more members. A chief is one who has members underneath his rule. The moderate or low Calvinist Baptist theologian Dr. Millard J. Erickson stated that there are degrees of authority in theological statements and positions. He notes that there are direct statements, direct implications, probable implications, inductive conclusions, conclusions based upon general or common revelation, and outright speculations. Those listed are in order from greatest weight to lesser weight. He sees that direct implications as the second to highest of the six in regard to degree of authority (Christian Theology, p. 79-80). He says of direct implications, "Direct implications of Scripture must be given high priority. They are to be regarded as slightly less authoritative than direct statements, however, because the introduction of an additional step (logical inference) carries with it the possibility of interpretational error" (Christian Theology, p. 79) In regard to polygyny we have direct correlations to help us solidfy the logical inference. What is the logical inference? It comes directly from Scripture. Christ is the head of his body and his body or his family is composed of many members and thus just as he is the head of his body so too is the man head of his body or his family which can include multiple members. We can have assurance that in this direct implication that the Lord has not left us to our own minds to make the logical leap. He has given to us in his word an exact example and connected the logical inference for us. The Bible even tells us this when it says to the saints, "you are the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Cor. 12:27). Christ is the head of his body and the man is the head of his body. Just as Christ is the chief or superior one above his members joined unto him so too the man is the head or chief one over the members he is in a union with (see 1 Cor. 12:12-27). To resolve this confusion we must return to the art of recognizing strong word descriptions in the Bible. If a feminist or confused believer or pagan argues against this then logically it would mean that there can be no chief of superior person in a business. Many argue against this logic because they think being subordinate or under authority is sinful. If that is so then they must also argue there can be no chief of senior leader in any business or organization too. Few if any will do that and those that do reveal to all the height of insanity one will go to in order to avoid forms of accountability and authority.
Often a meaning of a text or passage can be gleaned by understanding the key words that describe some doctrine or event within the text. Learning how to place oneself in the time, in the moment, and in the context itself can help draw out a clearer understanding of the text. Too when we then grasp the idea behind the word or the strength of a word we can then move to the proper application of that idea to a reality. However, when we fail to grasp the strength of certain words in a text we often lose the ability to carry that strength from actual Scripture in its historical setting over to actual day-to-day living for modern life. By failing to do this we undermine the authority of Scripture and integrity of it by hypocritically confessing to believe the Bible all the while our lives contradict it. Take for example the single word "head" in the Bible. We find it often in the Bible and in particular to how we are to see the relationship between a man and his woman. But before we even venture into that relationship we can see that Christ Jesus as the Lord is also called a head. The Bible tells us this: "He [God] put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22). We find this phrase too in Colossians where the Lord said, "For in him [Christ Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority" (Col. 2:9-10). Jesus, being the fullness of God in the body, has all authority over heaven and earth (see Mathew 28:18-20). He rules over all and has authority over all. This term head has strong, clear, and direct implications on the doctrine of a man and woman in a consensual sexual love union. The Greek word here is "κεφαλή-kephale." The term has two clear meanings to it: (1) the top to which something else is related to it and (2) in a metaphorical sense it means the chief of which others are subordinate and in relation unto." Dr. William D. Mounce, a premiere Greek scholar says the term means: "superior, chief, principal, one to whom others are subordinate" (The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament, p. 280). This same term is then used to describe the relationship between a man and his woman. The Bible says this: "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a joined women is her man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3). Also we find this phrase: "For the joined man is the head of his woman even as Christ is the head of his body, and is himself its Savior" (Eph. 5:23). This term head is κεφαλή-kephale. This term is a strong term that has strong implications for the life of love unions or covenant unions.
Solution? The Calvinist theologian Tom Shipley has accurately noted that "patriarchy is God's purpose in the creation of man and woman. . . . polygyny is an immediate logical consequence of patriarchy. Polygyny is patriarchy in action" (Man and Woman in Biblical Law, p. 131). To resolve the problem of missing polygyny we must go back to see the direct or immediate implication of what it means to have a head. A head is the solitary source of authority of the superior member above one or more members. A chief is one who has members underneath his rule. The moderate or low Calvinist Baptist theologian Dr. Millard J. Erickson stated that there are degrees of authority in theological statements and positions. He notes that there are direct statements, direct implications, probable implications, inductive conclusions, conclusions based upon general or common revelation, and outright speculations. Those listed are in order from greatest weight to lesser weight. He sees that direct implications as the second to highest of the six in regard to degree of authority (Christian Theology, p. 79-80). He says of direct implications, "Direct implications of Scripture must be given high priority. They are to be regarded as slightly less authoritative than direct statements, however, because the introduction of an additional step (logical inference) carries with it the possibility of interpretational error" (Christian Theology, p. 79) In regard to polygyny we have direct correlations to help us solidfy the logical inference. What is the logical inference? It comes directly from Scripture. Christ is the head of his body and his body or his family is composed of many members and thus just as he is the head of his body so too is the man head of his body or his family which can include multiple members. We can have assurance that in this direct implication that the Lord has not left us to our own minds to make the logical leap. He has given to us in his word an exact example and connected the logical inference for us. The Bible even tells us this when it says to the saints, "you are the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Cor. 12:27). Christ is the head of his body and the man is the head of his body. Just as Christ is the chief or superior one above his members joined unto him so too the man is the head or chief one over the members he is in a union with (see 1 Cor. 12:12-27). To resolve this confusion we must return to the art of recognizing strong word descriptions in the Bible. If a feminist or confused believer or pagan argues against this then logically it would mean that there can be no chief of superior person in a business. Many argue against this logic because they think being subordinate or under authority is sinful. If that is so then they must also argue there can be no chief of senior leader in any business or organization too. Few if any will do that and those that do reveal to all the height of insanity one will go to in order to avoid forms of accountability and authority.