Rhetoric, sophistry, and unrestrained emotionalism create
an environment of anxiety to the coercion of the population. If the voices
outside our head seem to be creating chaos in the world it is by design to the
brainwashing of the population. This bombardment of voices spewing partial
information and intentional misinformation creates a war on knowledge. The
louder the shouting the more we are conditioned to believe that what is being
said is true. Whether politics, or religion, or healthcare, the more times we
hear the same bombastic fallacious arguments, the less we recognize the truth. The
same goes for religion verses non-religion. The evangelist uses emotion to
convey a message of salvation while the atheist or non-religious use emotion to
convey a message against the need for a Savior. In like manner, the devil uses
many types of coercive techniques to keep knowledge of the Savior and knowledge
of the end times from human understanding. Sometimes the voices are louder, as
in shouting down holidays or feasts, and sometimes the twisting of information
simply is repeated over and over and over to the end that people believe what
they have heard is true and disregard searching out the truth. But there is a
physiological condition that affects victims of brainwashing which has a
parallel syndrome in the spiritual realm. We will explore this.
Maybe you remember the year 1973 and the United Federated Forces of the Symbionese
Liberation Army (SLA). They were an American left wing group of
revolutionaries who robbed banks, committed murders, kidnappings, and
considered themselves a vanguard army and urban guerillas. To gain attention to
their group and for their cause they kidnapped a 19 year old girl, Patty Hearst
who had just become engaged and whose address was printed in the San Francisco
Chronicle. Her captors abused her, tortured her, drugged her, and brainwashed
her. She eventually broke, psychologists calling it the “Stockholm syndrome”,
and participated with them in bank robberies. In this case, extreme abuse
caused this young girl to change her thinking and her beliefs. Patty Hearst
went to prison and was later pardoned by Bill Clinton. The process of
un-brainwashing Patty Hearst then began. This became known as de-programming.
Deprogrammers became popular during the late 1970’s/early
1980’s as a way of changing someone’s beliefs. The tactics used were coercion,
kidnapping, false imprisonment, beatings, and sexual abuses, denial of food and
sleep, and threats with guns. These are the exact tactics that the SLA used
against Patty Hearst. It became an abused practice in traditional churches by
people who believed their adult children were brainwashed by religious cults.
The fine line between free will decisions in one’s own life and the competing
beliefs in someone else’s life caused ethical conflict as to who should be deprogrammed.
When deprograming was abused, one person would claim that the other person’s
thoughts on religion, politics, or life in general were incorrect and invalid,
therefore must have been intentionally planted by someone else resulting in
brainwashing; and then the need to correct that wrong thinking. But really who
gets to be the thought police? Do we trust people in the Catholic Church to
police the thoughts of the Evangelicals, or do we allow the Protestants to
police the thoughts of the Episcopalians?
How about the Jews? Should they police the beliefs of the non-Jews? Do
we want Islamic people forcing their beliefs on others? No, we desire religious
freedom, to think for ourselves. Deprograming became a big business until
people recognized that the civil rights of those being deprogrammed were being
violated and their religious liberties were being dishonored.
When emotionalism and violence accompanies one group’s loud
protesting, it is an attempt at deprogramming those who think differently. The
intolerance and objection to someone else’s ideas and opinions makes that one a
bigot. The definition of a bigot is “one who is intolerantly devoted to his/her
own opinions especially one who regards or treats the members of a different
group with hatred and intolerance”. The same tactics are used as a brainwasher
or deprogrammer.
On a lighter note, many people watched the television
series I Love Lucy. The show always
had underlying themes of publicity stunts to promote something, such as Ricky
Ricardo’s show or a movie about women from Mars. The concepts on the I Love Lucy show were poking fun at the
ideas of free publicity, or getting one’s name in the papers, to create
interest. On the show, people hired publicity agents that sometimes created
crazy schemes to promote their show. While we laugh at those television shows,
the underlying truth is that sometimes people create a situation to promote
their own ideas, and the more they create false dichotomies, the more others
believe they are real. The contentions publicized by the media creates a
reality that may actually not be completely true or may not be all the truth.
These are not new behaviors, but in our time we are bombarded with news and the
more sensational a headline the more reads/hits the source will get. The
Apostle Paul warned us of this in Colossians. Colossae was located in Asia
Minor, inland, east of Ephesus, and just south of Laodicea.
Col 2:4 I say this in order that no one may mislead and
delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling
speech. AMP
Col 2:4G3778And
this G1161 G3004I say,
G2443that G3361not G5100anyone
G1473should
mislead you G3884 G1722in G4086plausible
arguments.
3884 LSJ Gloss: παραλογίζομαι to misreckon, miscalculate
Dodson: παραλογίζομαι I deceive, beguile I deceive,
beguile, reason falsely, mislead.
Thayer:
1) to reckon wrong, miscount
2) to cheat by false reckoning
2a) to deceive by false reasoning
3) to deceive, delude, circumvent
2) to cheat by false reckoning
2a) to deceive by false reasoning
3) to deceive, delude, circumvent
παραλογίζομαι paralogizomai par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee From G3844 and G3049; to misreckon, that is, delude KJV Usage: beguile, deceive.
4086 LSJ Gloss: πιθανολογία the use of probable arguments
Dodson: πιθανολογία persuasive speech.
Thayer:
1) speech adapted to persuade, discourse in which probable
arguments are adduced
2) in a bad sense, persuasiveness of speech, specious discourse leading others into error
2) in a bad sense, persuasiveness of speech, specious discourse leading others into error
πιθανολογία pithanologia pith-an-ol-og-ee'-ah From a compound of a derivative of G3982 and G3056; persuasive language KJV Usage: enticing words.
3982 πείθω peithō pi'-tho A
primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by
analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other
fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence
or authority), to rely (by inward certainty)KJV Usage: agree,
assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) content, make friend, obey,
persuade, trust, yield.
3056 λόγος logos log'-os From G3004;
something said (including the thought); by
implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the
mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation;
specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that
is, Christ) KJV Usage: account, cause, communication, X concerning,
doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question,
reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, +
none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
Paul warns not to let others deceive us with convincing or
pacifying words, logos. Accusatory
statements of character, such as bigot,
or intolerant, or racist, can be pacifying words because
no matter what the individual being accused may say, it can be intentionally misconstrued
and intentionally shouted down. If the accuser has a set of opinions, the
accused will never be allowed to differ, otherwise the name calling begins. He
goes on.
Col 2:6-9 As you have therefore received Christ, [even]
Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union
with and conformity to Him. 7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply
planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him,
becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you
were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. 8 See to it
that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his
so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and
plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather
than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and
elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ
(the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues
to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. AMP
Paul says make sure no one makes you captive by false
philosophy. The word philosophia, technically
translated friendly wisdom, has a
negative connotation here. It is the only place this word is used.
Col 2:8G991Take
heed G3361lest G5100[2anyone
G14734you G1510.8.31there
shall be G3588 G48123robbing]
G1223through
G3588the G5385fondness
of intellectual pursuits G2532and G2756empty G539deception,
G2596according
to G3588the G3862tradition
G3588 G444of
men, G2596according
to G3588the G4747elements G3588of the
G2889world,
G2532and G3756not G2596according
to G5547Christ!
4812 LSJ Gloss: συλαγωγέω to carry off as booty, lead
captive
Dodson: συλαγωγέω I plunder I plunder, lead captive; met: I
make victim by fraud.
συλαγωγέω sulagōgeō soo-lag-ogue-eh'-o From
the base of G4813 and
(the reduplicated form of) G71;
to lead away as booty, that is,
(figuratively) seduce KJV Usage: spoil.
5385 LSJ Gloss: φιλοσοφία love of knowledge and wisdom,
pursuit thereof, speculation, study
Dodson: φιλοσοφία love of wisdom, philosophy love of
wisdom, philosophy, in the NT of traditional Jewish theology.
Thayer:
1) love of wisdom
1a) used either of zeal for or skill in any art or science, any branch of knowledge. Used once in the NT of the theology, or rather theosophy, of certain Jewish Christian ascetics, which busied itself with refined and speculative enquiries into the nature and classes of angels, into the ritual of the Mosaic law and the regulations of Jewish tradition respecting practical life
1a) used either of zeal for or skill in any art or science, any branch of knowledge. Used once in the NT of the theology, or rather theosophy, of certain Jewish Christian ascetics, which busied itself with refined and speculative enquiries into the nature and classes of angels, into the ritual of the Mosaic law and the regulations of Jewish tradition respecting practical life
φιλοσοφία philosophia fil-os-of-ee'-ah From G5386; “philosophy” , that is, (specifically) Jewish sophistry KJV Usage: philosophy.
2756 LSJ Gloss: κενός empty
Dodson: κενός empty, vain, hollow (a) empty, (b) met: empty
(in moral content), vain, ineffective, foolish, worthless, (c) false, unreal,
pretentious, hollow.
κενός kenos ken-os' Apparently a primary word; empty (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: empty, (in) vain.
539 LSJ Gloss: ἀπάτη a trick, fraud, deceit
Dodson: ἀπάτη deceit, deception deceit, deception,
deceitfulness, delusion.
ἀπάτη apatē ap-at'-ay From G538; delusion
KJV Usage: deceit (-ful, -fulness), deceivableness (-ving).
3862 LSJ Gloss: παράδοσις a handing down, transmission
Dodson: παράδοσις an instruction, tradition.
παράδοσις paradosis par-ad'-os-is From G3860; transmission, that is, (concretely) a precept; specifically the Jewish traditionary law KJV Usage: ordinance, tradition.
In this context we have the idea of Sophistry. Reasoning, discussions, and arguments can be good ways
of communicating important ideas as long as the underlying intent is honest and
upright. If however one party intends to persuade others for evil or dishonest
gain, then all the discussion in the world will not make those ideas right.
Imagine someone lecturing others on the virtue of women’s rights in abortion.
The virtue of women’s rights could encompass equal pay or equal promotions in
business, but attempting to combine a woman’s rights where it infringes on
another human being is not a virtuous argument, it is a distorted argument.
This would be Sophistry.
Sophistry: the use of
reasoning or arguments that sound correct but are actually false 1: a reason or argument that
sounds correct but is actually false. Noun, plural Sophistries. 1:a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method
of reasoning. 2:a false argument; sophism.
Sophism is a style of teaching using philosophy and
rhetoric. Greeks used this method of teaching virtue to young men in the art of
government and politics. Sophists came under suspicion because they charged
money, similar to private schooling, to those who could afford it. The idea of
charging for wisdom led many to believe their teachings were deceptive.
Eventually this paid education really did become a tool to groom future
politicians who would steer the population with persuasive public speaking.
Sophists in Athens argued their points in the ekklesia, assembly, made up of free persons in a democratic
governing process. In a democracy, the mob rules so to speak, so the better
speakers could persuade the population with their arguments. Citizens were
expected to participate in the ekklesia and their attendance was monitored. Paul
ran into this on Mars Hill. Just prior to Paul’s dissertation he went into the
synagogue and into the markets to preach Jesus. As the people heard him they became
angry as to what he said. But Paul was pulling a publicity stunt.
Acts 17:16-32 Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens,
his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw that the city was full of
idols. 17 So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those
who worshiped there, and in the marketplace [where assemblies are held] day
after day with any who chanced to be there. 18 And some also of the Epicurean
and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion. And
some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say?
Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities — because he
preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him and brought
him to the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], saying, May we know what this
novel (unheard of and unprecedented) teaching is which you are openly
declaring? 20 For you set forth some startling things, foreign and strange to
our ears; we wish to know therefore just what these things mean — 21 For the Athenians, all of them, and the
foreign residents and visitors among them spent all their leisure time in
nothing except telling or hearing something newer than the last — 22 So Paul, standing in the center of the
Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens, I perceive in every
way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or
very reverent to demons. 23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your
objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the
unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth
to you. 24 The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it,
being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither
is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself
Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people]. [Isa 42:5.] 26 And He
made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to
settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted
periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their
settlements, lands, and abodes), 27 So that they should seek God, in the hope
that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each
one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of
your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring. 29 Since then we are
God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold
or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and
imagination, or anything constructed or invented. 30 Such [former] ages of
ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He
charges all people everywhere to repent (to change their minds for the better
and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins), 31
Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by
a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this
credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising
Him from the dead. [Ps 9:8; 96:13; 98:9.] 32 Now when they had heard [that
there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others said, We
will hear you again about this matter. AMP
They took Paul to Mars Hill to argue his philosophy. Paul
used Greek words eloquently as we see from his writings. Certainly Paul knew
the procedure was to persuade the assembly on Mars Hill, but by starting in the
synagogue and in the markets he drew a bigger crowd because everybody had been
talking about him. It was a publicity stunt. Paul caused a stir intentionally
so that many people would come to hear him on Mars Hill. He didn’t desire to
make a speech for a few heady Athenian officials, he wanted everyone to be
there. Paul didn’t want just the Jews from the synagogue to hear him on Mars
Hill, he wanted the Athenians to learn about Yahweh. He cleverly called the one
statue of the unknown god the Creator of all.
Acts 17:18G5100And
some G1161 G3588of the
G*Epicureans
G2532and G3588 G*Stoics,
G5386philosophers,
G4820engaged
with G1473him. G2532AndG5100some G3004said, G5100What G302ever G2309does [3want
G3588 G46912seed
picker G37781this] G3004to
say? G3588And
some said, G1161 G3581[4of
strange G11405demons
G13801He
seems G26043an
announcer G1510.12to
be]; G3754because
G3588 G*[2of
Jesus G25323and G35884the G3865resurrectionG14736to
them G20971he
announced good news]
5386 LSJ Gloss: φιλόσοφος a lover of wisdom
Dodson: φιλόσοφοςna philosopher.
Thayer:
1) a philosopher, one given to the pursuit of wisdom or
learning
2) in a narrower sense, one who investigates and discusses the cause of things and the highest good
2) in a narrower sense, one who investigates and discusses the cause of things and the highest good
φιλόσοφος philosophos fil-os'-of-os From G5384 and G4680; fond of wise things, that is, a “philosopher” KJV Usage: philosopher.
4691 LSJ Gloss: σπερμολόγος picking up seeds
Dodson: σπερμολόγος a babbler a babbler, gossiper, one who
picks up seeds and trifles as does a bird.
Thayer:
1) picking up seed
1a) of birds, esp. of the crow or daw that picks up grain in fields
2) metaph.
2a) lounging about the market place and picking up a substance by whatever may chance to fall from the loads of merchandise
2b) hence, beggarly, abject, vile, (a parasite)
2c) getting a living by flattery and bufferoonery
2d) an empty talker, babbler
1a) of birds, esp. of the crow or daw that picks up grain in fields
2) metaph.
2a) lounging about the market place and picking up a substance by whatever may chance to fall from the loads of merchandise
2b) hence, beggarly, abject, vile, (a parasite)
2c) getting a living by flattery and bufferoonery
2d) an empty talker, babbler
σπερμολόγος spermologos sper-mol-og'-os From G4690 and G3004; a seed picker (as the crow), that is, (figuratively) a sponger, loafer(specifically a gossip or trifler in talk)KJV Usage: babbler.
The slang term seed
picker, as we can see, is derogatory in nature, meaning Paul was a “buffoon
or a lazy gossip”. They didn’t like his style of speaking in the markets, but
when he got to Mars Hill he preached God the Creator who will judge, and they
all decided they would allow him to speak again. They only heard Paul once, he
didn’t get to repeat himself over and over on Mars Hill. He didn’t get to
record commercials and television appearances, and produce fear based advertisements
with regards to burning in hell, but he did a lot of talking in the market. He
subverted their system so that they could hear him. Paul’s publicity stunt in
the markets and synagogue forced discussion of his philosophy. The people
became intrigued by what he was saying. They were heady and learned people and
enjoyed learning new things, but Paul’s appearance was not like that of a
classic Greek Philosopher, he looked more like a homeless person, eating the
scraps in the fields. Back to Colossians.
Col 2:16 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in
matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a
Sabbath. 17 Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and
they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact
of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.
Notice that here Paul confronts the traditions of food and
drink on feast days and New Moon celebrations or Sabbath days. The Jews and non-Jews
alike were not forced to adhere to the Mosaic Laws, and Paul, who spent many
years un-learning and re-learning after his blinding visit from Jesus on the
road to Damascus, understood that symbolic traditions are not the substance of
one’s heart toward Christ. Today we have so many voices claiming we should eat
this diet or that meal plan, or take this pill or don’t take any pills, or eat
clean, or organic, or don’t eat sugar or fried foods. At some point one can
become anxious over all of it. There are campaigns for all kinds of health
related ideas, including pharmaceutical commercials for many different drugs,
and all the negative aspects of those drugs. Do not let anyone sit in judgment
over you on these matters. One eating plan or medication plan is not right for
everyone, we are all different with different needs. Paul goes on.
Col 2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and
declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on
self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims]
he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his
unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
Col 2:18G3367[2no
one G14734you G26031Let 3deprive]
of due reward, G2309wanting
G1722by G5012deprivation
G2532and G2356following a
religion G3588 G32of
angels, G3739[2things
which G33613he has
not G37084seen G16871entering
into], G1500vainly
G5448being
inflated G5259by G3588the G3563mind G3588 G4561of his
flesh,G1473
Notice again that Paul is warning us to guard our mind from
coercions and brainwashing towards fleshy religious rituals, so that we do not
lose our rewards. Remember the people who repeatedly claim to know some type of
“special secret knowledge” of God’s punishment on America. Oy Vey. Well, these
are fleshy philosophies vainly inflated by the mind of the flesh. People have
gotten so wrapped up in fear of the end of the world, or the tribulation, or
God punishing people, that they don’t even realize how erroneous their
knowledge base truly is. They spent so much time speculating “the end” they
forgot to read the Bible which tells them everything they need to know. This
war on knowledge is evident within the Body of Christ. Everyone wants the short
version, the cliff notes; but the Holy Spirit does not take people on the
expressway to knowledge, he takes us on the long winding road, over hills and
through valleys. We learn better that way. Paul gives us a clue to avoiding
false philosophies and intentional deceptions through useless arguments.
Col 3:1-2 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a
new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the
[rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right
hand of God. [Ps 110:1.] 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is
above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. AMP
You set your own mind on what is above. This means we must
actively think, actively consider, and actively focus on Christ. First and
foremost Christ is the head we look to in all philosophies as well as fruitless
religious rituals and laws that hold no power. We have to stop being
superstitious and ritualistic. If we tap our heads and spin around five times
we are not invoking a special pat on the head from God any more than if we eat
a certain way or keep a certain feast. We are plagued with superstitious
thinking because we have replaced true knowledge of God with mental games such
as not stepping on cracks in the sidewalk. You will not be cursed if you walk
under a ladder, nor will you be cursed if you sleep through the New Moon or the
declaration of the New Year. If our impression of our Heavenly Father, the
Creator, is that small, we have a knowledge problem. Unintelligence is no
excuse for us, especially if we attempt to use friendly wisdom, philosophy, to
persuade others into our distorted belief systems.
In our history there are many people who have attempted to
hide knowledge. The Jews, the Masorete’s, have attempted to hide Jesus. Their
rabbi’s over the course of one thousand years altered the Old Covenant over and
over again. Even to the end that the Masorete’s changed the calendar years,
shorting 240 years from the actual years so that Jesus would not be the
Messiah. This has caused secular historians to discredit the Old Covenant as
inaccurate. Really we could say that the devil has no hands but our hands on
this earth, and people do things such as this to further their own cause.
Likewise Jesus has no hands on this earth but our hands, and the Body of Christ
can be the unspoiled light in this world. We are the un-brainwashed individuals
who know our Savior Lives, and the enemy is busy attempting to convince humans
otherwise with mind numbing arguments and false philosophies. People become so disoriented,
they start to live for the god of this world, a spiritual Stockholm syndrome.
But in the end days, the knowledge will increase.
Daniel 12: 4 And
thou, Daniel, close the words, and seal the book to the time of the end; until
many are taught, and knowledge is increased.
Daniel 12:4G2532And G1473you G*Daniel
G1719.2obstruct
G3588the G3056words,
G2532and G4972set a
seal upon G3588the G975scroll
G2193until G2540the time
G4930of
completion! G2193untilG1321[2should
be taught G41831many],
G2532andG4129[3be
multiplied G35881the G11082knowledge]
4930 συντέλεια sunteleia soon-tel'-i-ah From G4931; entire completion,
that is, consummation (of a dispensation) KJV Usage: end.
1108 γνῶσις gnōsis gno'-sis From G1097; knowing (the
act), that is, (by implication) knowledge KJV Usage: knowledge,
science.
The words of the living and active logos (3056) were to be
sealed until the consummation of the dispensation, until many should be taught
and the knowledge be multiplied. The more that the knowledge of the Living God
is multiplied, the more the anti-knowledge or sophism is increased. Sophism
becomes louder and louder in order to brainwash humans against the knowledge of
Yahweh, repeating over and over and over the same old lies. Coercive arguments,
and multiple publicity stunts keep flooding over the earth, but that means that
the true knowledge of the Creator is multiplying too. It is not enough to abuse
people when the knowledge of Yahweh as savior enters our hearts. We can
withstand the shouting, the bullying, the brainwashing, and the heady
arguments, and declare that the war on knowledge is over for us. We can bind
the strong man.
Matt 12:28-29 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I
drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you
expected it]. 29 Or how can a person go into a strong man's house and carry off
his goods (the entire equipment of his house) without first binding the strong
man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. AMP
Matt 12:29G2228Or G4459how G1410is
anyone able G5100 G1525to
enter G1519into G3588the G3614house G3588 G2478of a
strong man G2532and G3588 G4632[2his
equipment G1473 G12831plunder],
G1437if G3361not G4412first G1210he
ties up G3588the G2478strong
man? G2532And G5119then G3588 G3614[2his
house G1473 G12831he
shall plunder]?
4632 σκεῦος skeuos skyoo'-os Of
uncertain affinity; a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally
or figuratively [specifically a wife as contributing to the
usefulness of the husband]) KJV Usage: goods, sail, stuff, vessel.
1283 LSJ Gloss: διαρπάζω to tear in pieces
Dodson: διαρπάζω I plunder, rob thoroughly.
διαρπάζω diarpazō dee-ar-pad'-zo From G1223 and G726;
to seize asunder, that is, plunder KJV
Usage: spoil.
1223 διά dia dee-ah' A
primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in
very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains
the same general import KJV Usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because
of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of,
by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to,
wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.
726 ἁρπάζω harpazō har-pad'-zo From
a derivative of G138;
to seize (in various applications) KJV Usage: catch (away,
up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
1210 LSJ Gloss:δέω to bind, tie, fetter to lack, miss,
stand in need of
Dodson: δέω I bind I bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I
declare to be prohibited and unlawful.
Thayer:
1) to bind tie, fasten
1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains
1b) metaph.
1b1) Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright
1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.
1b2a) to be bound to one, a wife, a husband
1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit
1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains
1b) metaph.
1b1) Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright
1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.
1b2a) to be bound to one, a wife, a husband
1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit
δέω deō deh'-o A primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind. See also G1163, G1189.
2478 LSJ Gloss: ἰσχυρός strong, mighty
Dodson: ἰσχυρός strong, mighty, powerful strong (originally
and generally of physical strength); mighty, powerful, vehement, sure.
Thayer:
1) strong, mighty
1a) of living beings
1a1) strong either in body or in mind
1a2) of one who has strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan, strong and therefore exhibiting many excellences
1b) on inanimate things
1b1) strong, violent, forcibly uttered, firm, sure
1a) of living beings
1a1) strong either in body or in mind
1a2) of one who has strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan, strong and therefore exhibiting many excellences
1b) on inanimate things
1b1) strong, violent, forcibly uttered, firm, sure
ἰσχυρός ischuros is-khoo-ros' From G2479; forcible (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: boisterous, mighty (-ier), powerful, strong (-er, man), valiant.
The reason we use our words in declaration by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit (remember rhema, logos, laleo, grapho) is to bind the strong
man. This is not asking in prayer, this is being the hammer. We cannot enter
the abode of a strong man and rob him if he is inside walking around. We have
to tie him up and throw him in a closet, then we can plunder, seize by force,
his vessels. The key to this understanding is in casting out demons by the
Spirit of God. Our words bring the kingdom of God here on earth. We are simply
announcing, brainwashing, binding the demons, or the strong man. Our speech can
render the evil spirits useless; then we can plunder and seize by force those
that he has held captive. This is the anti-type of the way evil influences
humans; we, the speakers of the Holy Spirit, are using virtue and righteous
philosophies, friendly wisdom, to bring the Spirit of the Living God to a lost
and dying world. Publicity stunts work here, just like with Paul. Instead of
making a grand speech to all our friends and families, we take one at a time
and share something or minister to them. When our actions cause a stir, we keep
going until we get to a family get-together and make a bold declaration. We do
not have to beat, abuse, or drug people into getting to know the savior of the
world, those are the devil’s tactics. We do not have to weave and twist clever
arguments, the Holy Spirit will work through us.
Likewise we cannot allow the noisy bloviated screeching of
the enemy to repeatedly wear us out. The enemy’s intolerance of the children of
light is personal because we rejected the devil. We rejected demons and their
gifts, and money, and the devil’s promises of what we could gain on the earth,
for Jesus, the one who laid his life down for us. We rejected the ungodly,
unrighteous, behaviors of the world, so this is personal to the devil and his
demons. The devil is a bigot. He is vehemently intolerant of anyone who does
not believe and follow him. If we know his tactics, if we understand his
tricks, if we can tune out his annoying ranting, we can use our words, speaking
by the Spirit (rhema, logos, laleo, grapho), to deprogram those who are living
with a spiritual Stockholm syndrome, and are used by the devil at his will. Many
people in the world live numb, like zombies, wandering about and agreeing with
the devil by their behaviors and actions. We, however, although born into this
world, have been deprogrammed from the beliefs and religious rituals of the
world. By our simple stance for Jesus, the ranting bigots spouting hatred and
evil become obvious to the saved, and hopefully to the unsaved as well.
