Let’s take time to consider what was happening with Peter and John in Acts 4. While the healing of the lame man happened in Jerusalem in the temple compound, we can see some of the same attitudes in our Churches today. The religious leaders hated that Peter and John facilitated a miracle in the name of Jesus Messiah the Nazarene. They considered Peter and John illiterate idiots. This is an attitude that is pervasive when a singular religion dominates a nation, a city, or a community. Everyone on the outside of the predominate religion is scorned and critiqued. The only religious leaders in Judah all adhered to the same brand of Judaism. They wanted to dominate the religious and societal culture of the nation as well as the political administration. While they could not override Rome and take over the political aspects of Israel, they could make their religion so cultish that people would not dare to counter them. Because cults manipulate, intimidate, and dominate their people, Judah became a strong arm of occultist behaviors run by the religious leaders. It is not a coincidence that Jesus lived outside of Judah and ministered in the north of Israel. The Essenes, Nazarenes, Assideans, Therapeutaes Prophets, and Zedek/Zadok Priests, all lived outside of Judah as well. The unfortunate part about the Pharisees’ cult was that many innocent people were forced to follow along under threat of duress. In the backs of the minds of all Israelites was the prophecies of a coming Messiah, so that when people saw miracles and witnessed healings, they started to pull away from the dominating cult. Since the religious leaders could not do their own miracles, and since they could not deny that the man who was once begging at the gate of the temple was now made whole, the only recourse was to demean Peter and John by calling them “illiterate” idiots.
Acts 4:13 G2334 And viewing G1161 G3588 the G3588 G* open manner of Peter G3954 G2532 and G* John, G2532 and G2638 taking it in G3754 that G444 [3men G62 2illiterate G1510.2.6 1they are] G2532 and G2399 common people, G2296 they marvelled; G1921 and they recognized G5037 G1473 them, G3754 that G4862 [2with G3588 G* 3Jesus G1510.7.6 1they were].
14 G3588 [3the G1161 1But G444 4man G991 2seeing] G4862 with G1473 them G2476 standing, G3588 the one G2323 having been cured, G3762 [2nothing G2192 1they had] G471 to contradict.
62 LSJ Gloss:ἀγράμματος without learning
Dodson:ἀγράμματος uneducated unlettered, illiterate, uneducated, perhaps with the narrower idea: unacquainted with Rabbinic teaching.
TBESG:ἀγράμματος unschooled
G:A
ἀγραυλέω, -ῶ
(< ἀγραυλος, dwelling in the field; < ἀγρός, αὐλή),
to live in the fields: Luk.2:8.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) illiterate, unlearned
ἀγράμματος
agrammatos ag-ram-mat-os From G1 (as negative particle) and G1121; unlettered, that is, illiterate KJV Usage: unlearned.
2399 LSJ Gloss:ἰδιώτης a private person, an individual
Dodson:ἰδιώτης an amateur, layman (unofficial, hence) an amateur, an unprofessional man, a layman; an ungifted person.
TBESG:ἰδιώτης unlearned
G:N-M
ἰδιώτης, -ου, ὁ
(< ἴδιος), [in LXX: Pro.6:8 (no Heb.)* ;]
__1. a private person, as opp. to the State or an official (βασιλεῖς κ. ἰδιῶται, Pr, l.with; and cf. MM, Exp., xv).
__2. one without professional knowledge, unskilled, uneducated, unlearned:
Refs
(R, mg., without gifts); ἀγράμματοι κ. ἰ., Act.4:13; with dative (= cl. with genitive of thing(s)), λόγῳ, 2Co.11:6.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a private person as opposed to a magistrate, ruler, king
2) a common soldier, as opposed to a military officer
3) a writer of prose as opposed to a poet
4) in the NT, an unlearned, illiterate, man as opposed to the learned and educated: one who is unskilled in any art
ἰδιώτης
idiōtēs id-ee-o'-tace From G2398; a private person, that is, (by implication) an ignoramus (compare “idiot”) KJV Usage: ignorant, rude, unlearned.
Name calling is all the religious leaders had left in their arsenal to subdue these non-cult followers doing miracles. What happens as people in the “cult” start to see something better than what the cult has offered? The religious cult leaders become physically oppressive, killing those who show a better way. This did not happen in just one place, Judah, but in every synagogue everywhere. The synagogue leaders became the cult hammers. Why? Somewhere in the cult leadership they thought they should take over the world, not just Israel. This is why synagogue leaders and the synagogue followers in other nations railed against Christians and killed Christians.
What happens when this cult thinks it is still going to take over the world? The religious cult leaders find ways to subvert all nations in the pursuit of their goal. Where did they get this idea of Israel ruling the world? The Bible. Albeit they are never going to rule the world without Jesus Messiah, and they will never be able to dethrone Jesus in his millennial kingdom. They simply apply the promise of the Messiah ruling and reigning from Jerusalem to themselves. Then they distort scripture to align with their ideas, and reject the Messiah that the Elohim sent. Jesus does not need their help in establishing His kingdom, he already determined who will be coming with him on the Day of the Lord, it’s the saints. He also determined that his saints will reign as kings and priests, and that the Zadok/Zedek priests would serve in the temple, but the Levites would be outside the temple, being re-educated. We should keep this in mind when we read about the persecutions of Jesus and the disciples, as well as the national news in our time.
Because of this heavy handed religious cult residing in Judah, all of the new churches being started had to teach and explain that Christianity was not a religious cult like Judaism. Christianity was not interested in forcing people to believe or punishing people who lived differently. Christianity was solely focused on people coming to know Jesus Messiah. We read last week regarding Diotrephes, who wanted to oppress the people in his church, keep them from meeting up with John and threatened people with being thrown out of the church if they did. Diotrephes was behaving like the Pharisees. Christianity is not like that, or should not become like that. Unfortunately because men are in charge, Christianity may in fact become like the synagogues, throwing people out who do not obey the religious leadership. Now if we are talking about people living a sinful life, there was a provision for that in the early churches. While not kicking people out, but putting them in a place to learn, the individual will make the decision for themselves as to whether they want to be saved and put off their sins or not.
Paul comments on the place of the ignorant or idiot. Paul is not saying unlearned people are idiots in everything, they are simply common people, unlearned in Christianity. Peter and John did not go to Pharisee school, but they learned from Jesus and did miracles. The place of the ignorant is also a place that could accommodate the Pharisees as they were idiots in the Messiah Jesus.
1 Corinthians 14:15 G5100 What G3767 then G1510.2.3 is it? G4336 I will pray G3588 with the G4151 spirit, G4336 but I will pray G1161 G2532 also G3588 with the G3563 intellect. G5567 I will strum praise G3588 with the G4151 spirit, G5567 but I will strum praise G1161 G2532 also G3588 with the G3563 intellect.
16 G1893 Since G1437 if G2127 you should bless G3588 with the 1722 in G4151 spirit, G3588 the one G378 filling G3588 the G5117 place G3588 of the G2399 common person, G4459 how G2046 shall he say G3588 the G281 Amen G1909 at G3588 G4674 your G2169 thanksgiving, G1894 since G5100 what G3004 you say G3756 he does not G1492 know?
17 G1473 [2you G3303 3indeed G1063 1For] G2573 well G2168 give thanks, G235 but G3588 the G2087 other G3756 is not G3618 edified.
1 Corinthians 14:16 G1893 CONJ επει G1437 COND εαν G2127 [G5725] V-PAS-2S ευλογης G1722 PREP " εν " G4151 N-DSN πνευματι G3588 T-NSM ο G378 [G5723] V-PAP-NSM αναπληρων G3588 T-ASM τον G5117 N-ASM τοπον G3588 T-GSM του G2399 N-GSM ιδιωτου G4459 ADV-I πως G2046 [G5692] V-FAI-3S ερει G3588 T-ASN το G281 HEB αμην G1909 PREP επι G3588 T-DSF τη G4674 S-2DSF ση G2169 N-DSF ευχαριστια G1894 CONJ επειδη G5101 I-ASN τι G3004 [G5719] V-PAI-2S λεγεις G3756 PRT-N ουκ G1492 [G5758] V-RAI-3S οιδεν
“After that if bless in Spirit the complete the room the ignorant in what manner say the Amen, so be it, over the thine thankfulness when some one speaks not”
First we notice that there is praying and singing, however if you speak in the Spirit, the filled or complete room of the ignorant will not know what to say or when to say Amen because the entire room of the ignorant do not know what your prayer is saying. Why? Because people were speaking in unacquired languages, the tongues of men or angels, and the unlearned need to learn about that. Therefore publicly, Paul suggests don’t just speak in your unacquired language for giving thanks publicly.
There are three things to notice in the early church. They did both praying in the Spirit and praying with their intellect. They sang in the Spirit and sang in their intellect. In some ways it is like having a multilingual service. Today, while some pray, others pray in the Spirit, and while some sing, others sing in the Spirit at the same time. Paul then talks about the place or room or the location of the unlearned common ignorant person. The word for “place or room” is topos, which can also be a “scabbard”. A scabbard is a sheath for a weapon. This gives us an understanding of locality, which would be on the outside of the congregation, meaning on the outer edges the unlearned would gather to hear the service. In Corinth there was a special place for the newcomers. They could gather in a specific location to observe what was going on. Depending on the culture of these new churches there was probably a place for the women as the Jews had a separate place for gentiles and a separate place for women in the temple courts. This was a place for the people to come and learn, which means there was probably someone knowledgeable teaching or answering questions for these folks.
1 Corinthians 14:23 G1437 If G3767 then G4905 [4should come together G3588 1the G1577 3assembly G3650 2entire] G1909 in one place, G3588 G1473 G2532 and G3956 all G1100 [2languages G2980 1speak], G1525 and there should enter G1161 G2399 common people G2228 or G571 unbelievers, G3756 shall they not say G2046 G3754 that G3105 you are maniacal?
24 G1437 And if G1161 G3956 all G4395 prophesy, G1525 and there should enter G1161 G5100 some G571 unbeliever G2228 or G2399 common person, G1651 he is reproved G5259 by G3956 all, G350 he is examined G5259 by G3956 all;
25 G2532 and G3779 thus G3588 the G2927 hidden things G3588 G2588 of his heart G1473 G5318 [2open G1096 1become]; G2532 and G3779 thus G4098 falling G1909 upon G4383 his face G4352 he does obeisance to G3588 G2316 God, G518 reporting G3754 that G3588 G2316 God G3689 really G1722 [2among G1473 3you G1510.2.3 1is].
Most obviously, if the common ignorant people show up and hear words in a language they understand they will be reproved by the prophecies and turn to Yahweh Elohim. But if everyone speaks in their unacquired languages the common ignorant people will think the Christians are crazy. They cannot understand the things of the spirit until they receive Jesus Messiah. These are just practical rules for new congregations.
2 Corinthians 11:2 G2205 For I am zealous G1063 G1473 for you with G2206 zeal G2316 of God. G718 For I suited G1063 G1473 you G1520 to one G435 husband G3933 [2virgin G53 1as a pure] G3936 to present G3588 to the G5547 Christ.
3 G5399 But I fear, G1161 G3381 perhaps G5613 as G3588 the G3789 serpent G* cheated Eve G1818 G1722 in G3588 G3834 his cleverness, G1473 G3779 so G5351 [2should be corrupted G3588 G3540 1your thoughts] G1473 G575 from G3588 the G572 simplicity, G3588 of the one G1519 in G3588 the G5547 Christ.
Eve took the bait of Satanas. The word ἐξαπατάω translated “cheated” means “out” ek, and “deceive or seduce” apatao. It means “out deceive, taken in, enslaved, or bit the bait”. Paul says our thoughts could be corrupted from the purity in Christ just as Eve took the bait. Remember the religious cult leaders always make things complex and hard to follow. It is intentional.
2 Corinthians 11:4 G1487 For if indeed G3303 G1063 G3588 the one G2064 coming G243 [2another G* 3Jesus G2784 1to proclaim] G3739 whom G3756 we did not G2784 proclaim; G2228 or G4151 [3spirit G2087 2another G2983 1you received] G3739 which G3756 you did not G2983 receive from us; G2228 or G2098 [2good news G2087 1another] G3739 which G3756 you did not G1209 receive -- G2573 well G430 you withhold from it .
If someone preaches “another Jesus” or a Jesus full of rules, laws, or another Spirit, other than the Holy Spirit, or another gospel, we are to honestly “uphold” from a compound ἀνά “up” and ἔχω “hold”. Some translators reverse the order of the word ἀνέχω to write “hold up”, but literally it is “uphold”, which means to “confirm”. With honesty up hold the message. Look at the message, check it against what is already known. Confirm or uphold the new things being said. Do they line up with Paul’s message? Today we have Paul’s letters written down and we can do a better job of upholding the gospel because we have a reference. Cult leaders twist the message for their manipulation, therefore we are to honestly look at what someone is preaching, comparing it to Pauls’ letters.
2 Corinthians 11:5 G3049 For I consider G1063 G3367 in nothing G5302 to be lacking G3588 of the G5228 more G3029 exceeding G652 apostles.
6 G1487 And if G1161 G2532 even G2399 I be a common person G3588 in the G3056 communication, G235 but I am G3756 not G3588 in the G1108 knowledge; G235 but I am G1722 in G3956 every way G5319 making manifest G1722 in G3956 all things G1519 to G1473 you.
Paul says that he is not falling short of the great apostles, but even if he is an idiot in the logos he is not in knowledge. Paul was a high ranking Pharisee and he had that traditional education. Paul also spent fourteen years in Essene schooling in the desert and had that knowledge as well. Paul was in a cult who did not know Jesus the living word, the logos. He had knowledge about the coming Messiah but the cult didn’t teach about Jesus Messiah. Paul did not walk with Jesus or follow Jesus when Jesus was on earth. Yet now Paul is making things clear to everyone.
Paul is not demanding or lording over people, he is trying to give them something they don’t have but would be blessed to learn. He is concerned that they will be led astray as Eve took the bait of Satanas.
Genesis 3:15 G2532 And G2189 [2hatred G5087 1I will put] G303.1 between G1473 you G2532 and G303.1 between G3588 the G1135 woman; G2532 and G303.1 between G3588 G4690 your seed G1473 G2532 and G303.1 between G3588 G4690 her seed. G1473 G1473 He G1473 will give heed to your G5083 G2776 head, G2532 and G1473 you G5083 will give heed to G1473 his G4418 heel.
16 G2532 And G3588 to the G1135 woman G2036 he said, G4129 In multiplying G4129 I will multiply G3588 G3077 your distresses, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G4726 your moanings. G1473 G1722 In G3077 distresses G5088 you will bear G5043 children, G2532 and G4314 to G3588 G435 your husband G1473 G3588 G654.1 your submission, G1473 G2532 and G1473 he G1473 will dominate you. G2961
“And the wife says increase increase the pain your and the groaning your in pain bring forth children and toward the husband your the turn back your and he you dominate.”
Because Eve took the bait of Satanas, she would turn back to the adam and he would dominate her. This tells us she turned away from the adam when she believed Satanas’ lies. She would have pain in childbirth and the adam would have pain in work. This is the reality we still live in, childbirth is painful and working to survive is painful. This is the cost of sin. What were the benefits of their sin? Did they become like the Elohim and know good and evil? Eve took the bait and gave the bait to the adam who was with her. The adam lost his authority on the earth but was given authority over Eve.
When the twelve tribes came into Canaan they were established as their own territories, independent, but collectively they wanted a king. They got what they wanted and the twelve tribes lost their sovereignty. Jesus explains to his disciples what they already knew, that kings dominate them. But they, the disciples, were not supposed to behave that way.
Luke 22:23 G2532 And G1473 they G756 began G4802 to debate G4314 with G1438 themselves G3588 G5100 who G686 then G1510.4 it may be G1537 of G1473 them, G3588 the one G3778 [3this G3195 1about G4238 2to do].
24 G1096 And there became G1161 G2532 also G5379 a rivalry G1722 among G1473 them, G3588 the one -- G5100 which G1473 of them G1380 seems G1510.1 to be G3173 greater.
25 G3588 And G1161 G2036 he said G1473 to them, G3588 The G935 kings G3588 of the G1484 nations G2961 dominate G1473 them, G2532 and G3588 the ones G1850 exercising authority over G1473 them G2110 [2benefactors G2564 1are called].
The kings of the nations dominate them. Then the kings have a hierarchal structure. The word benefactor does not communicate well to us. The word εὐεργέτης translates better as a type of title or honor, like princes, governors, do gooders. These people also exercise authority ἐξουσιάζω, or have power and control, over them, the disciples. It is true for every nation today, there are grand leaders and lesser leaders, all controlling the masses. Jesus is trying to compare this worldly structure which Yahweh did not want them to enter into, to what they are not supposed to be like. Jesus says but…
Luke 22:26 G1473 But among you G1161 G3756 not G3779 so; G235 but G3588 the G3173 greater G1722 among G1473 you, G1096 let him be G5613 as G3588 the G3501 younger, G2532 and G3588 the one G2233 leading, G5613 as G3588 the one G1247 serving!
Jesus’ first but is the greater, megas should become like the younger, neos. Servant leadership. This still includes old folks. What we see in churches is the elevated leaders being served and hardly serving more than pushing papers. Jesus means if you are a leader act like you are a young person and serve others. All the church leaders should be cleaning the toilets after a Sunday service just like everyone else.
Luke 22:27 G5100 For which G1063 G3173 is greater, G3588 the one G345 reclining G2228 or G3588 the one G1247 serving? G3780 Is it not G3588 the one G345 reclining? G1473 But I G1161 G1510.2.1 am G1722 in G3319 the midst G1473 of you G5613 as G3588 the one G1247 serving.
Jesus’ next but is again a reversal of the culture. If you are being served dinner you are considered greater than the one serving. But Jesus says HE is serving them. In other words, Jesus serves and so should they. The Church leaders should serve food to the widows and orphans, but not just hand them a bottle of water and a sack lunch, serve them with a sit-down meal being a waiter for a day. This is not the job of the Pastor’s wife, to make the food and serve it to the less fortunate, it is the job of the Pastor. Give the women of the church a day off.
Luke 22:28 G1473 But you G1161 G1510.2.5 are G3588 the ones G1265 abiding G3326 with G1473 me G1722 in G3588 G3986 my tests. G1473
Jesus’s third but is that the disciples are standing by or continuing to remain, διαμένω, in the midst of his adversity. Kings and governors, as well as bishops and pastors do not do this. They may acknowledge someone’s hardships, but they do not live with the struggling person through their trials. Once church leadership removes themselves from the trials of the common person they have elevated themselves above the people in calamity. The disciples were to stand by and continue to remain with those in affliction. This is practical. Help the widows and orphans, visit the ones imprisoned, and sit with the sick. Church leaders should be the ones serving in this way.
Luke 22:29 G2504 And I G1303 ordain G1473 to you, G2531 as G1303 [2ordained G1473 3to me G3588 G3962 1my father] G1473 G932 a kingdom,
30 G2443 that G2068 you should eat G2532 and G4095 should drink G1909 at G3588 G5132 my table G1473 G1722 in G3588 G932 my kingdom, G1473 G2532 and G2523 you shall sit G1909 upon G2362 thrones G2919 judging G3588 the G1427 twelve G5443 tribes G3588 G* of Israel.
Jesus tells his disciples that they are ordained, appointed and set apart, just as the Father ordained Jesus a kingdom. In Jesus’ kingdom the disciples will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes. Will they be elevated servants, megas? Like princes? No they will be regular servants, serving the people, not being waited on and served by lesser people.
With this section in mind, how did our church structure become so inverted? We see how cults use the world structure to enforce control over its followers. With heavy hands, micromanaging people, making new laws and rules to follow, they suffocate the masses who fear their freedom from this tyranny. The thinking of the cult members is that the cult will protect them, and freedom will kill them. It is quite the opposite.
We have to adjust our thinking about following the Mosaic Law. The administration changed from law to grace after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Messiah. There is no longer a temple and the Israelites have been dispersed over the entire earth on several occasions. Paul has to address the law and explain that when we receive Jesus as Messiah and confess him as Yahweh and believe the Elohim rose him up on the third day, we are dead to sin and are alive in Jesus. We are not dominated by death.
Romans 6:8 G1487 And if G1161 G599 we died G4862 with G5547 Christ, G4100 we trust G3754 that G2532 also G4800 we shall live together G1473 with him;
9 G1492 knowing G3754 that G5547 Christ, G1453 having been raised G1537 from G3498 the dead, G3765 no longer G599 dies; G2288 death G1473 [3him G3765 1no longer G2961 2dominates].
10 G3588 For the fact G1063 G599 he died, G3588 G266 [2sin G599 1he died to] G2178 once for all; G3588 but the fact G2198 he lives, G2198 he lives G3588 G2316 to God.
11 G3779 So G2532 also G1473 you G3049 impute G1438 yourselves G3498 [2dead G3303 3indeed G1510.1 1to be] G3588 to the G266 sin, G2198 but being alive G1161 G3588 to G2316 God, G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus G3588 G2962 our Lord. G1473
12 G3361 [3not G3767 1Then G936 2let 5reign G3588 G266 4sin] G1722 in G3588 G2349 your mortal G1473 G4983 body! G1519 for G3588 the G5219 obeying G1473 it G1722 in G3588 G1939 its desires. G1473
13 G3366 Nor G3935.1 present G3588 G3196 your members G1473 G3696 as weapons G93 of iniquity G3588 to G266 sin! G235 But G3936 render G1438 yourselves G3588 to G2316 God! G5613 as G1537 [2from out of G3498 3 the dead G2198 1 one living], G2532 and G3588 G3196 your members G1473 G3696 as weapons G1343 of righteousness G3588 G2316 to God.
14 G266 For sin G1063 G1473 [3you G3756 1shall not G2961 2dominate]; G3756 [3not G1063 1for G1510.2.5 2you are] G5259 under G3551 law, G235 but G5259 under G5484 favor.
Death does not dominate us and sin does not dominate us. This is freedom in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is what the occultists hate. They cannot inspire people in fear of sin or death if people know the truth. These are truths they feel are worth the fight so that people can be controlled with fear and threats of hades.
Romans 6:22 G3568 But now G1161 G1659 having been set free G575 from G3588 the G266 sin, G1402 and having been enslaved G1161 G3588 to G2316 God, G2192 you have G3588 G2590 your fruit G1473 G1519 unto G38 sanctification, G3588 and the G1161 G5056 end -- G2222 life G166 eternal.
23 G3588 For the G1063 G3800 rations G3588 G266 of sin G2288 are death; G3588 but the G1161 G5486 favor G3588 G2316 of God G2222 is life G166 eternal G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus G3588 G2962 our Lord. G1473
Romans 7:1 G2228 Or G50 do you not know, G80 brethren, G1097 (for to the ones knowing G1063 G3551 law G2980 I speak), G3754 that G3588 the G3551 law G2961 dominates G3588 the G444 man G1909 over G3745 as much G5550 time G2198 as he lives?
The book of Romans is a cult breaking letter. No one has to be dominated by the law and inevitably by sin and death. The cult would have no hold on people if they only knew the truth.
Romans 14:8 G1437 [2if G5037 3both G1063 1For] G2198 we should live, G3588 [2to the G2962 3Lord G2198 1we should live]; G1437 and if G5037 G599 we should die, G3588 [2to the G2962 3Lord G599 1we should die]. G1437 If G5037 both G3767 then G2198 we should live, G1437 and if G5037 G599 we should die, G3588 [2of the G2962 3Lord G1510.2.4 1we are].
9 G1519 For, G3778 for this G1063 G5547 Christ G2532 both G599 died, G2532 and G450 rose up, G2532 and G2198 lived, G2443 that G2532 both G3498 the dead G2532 and G2198 living G2961 he should lord over.
Jesus is Lord. Jesus is the Lord over the living and the dead. Satanas is not lord over the living and the dead, Jesus is. Jesus has the keys to death and hades. The cult does not have any dominion over death. The cult could make people drink the kool-aid, but Jesus is Lord over death. Those in Christ, Messiah, will not die but live eternally. The cult cannot control what happens to people in death, they can only control people in life. Therefore do not let the cults dominate, lord, or control people. Paul tells the Corinthians that Paul and his companions do not dominate, or lord over them.
2 Corinthians 1:24 G3756 Not G3754 that G2961 we dominate G1473 [3of yours G3588 1of the G4102 2belief], G235 but G4904 we are fellow-workers G1510.2.4 G3588 G5479 of your joy; G1473 G3588 for in the G1063 G4102 belief G2476 you stand.
Paul considers all Christians fellow-workers. Paul does not want people to be dominated, lorded over, or controlled, in the church. This is how our churches should function and we should be cognizant of this when the Jews want to lord over Christians or the world.
What should happen when someone wants to lord over us is that we should be reacting in a negative way. We see this with Joseph’s brothers. They did not want to be dominated by Joseph. When Joseph explains his dream to his family they reacted by pushing back.
Genesis 37:6 G2532 And G2036 he said G1473 to them, G191 Hear G3588 G1798 this dream G3778 G3739 which G1797 I dreamed!
7 G3633 I imagined G1473 you all G1195 were binding G1403.1 sheaves G1722 in G3319 the middle G3588 of the G3977.1 plain. G2532 And G450 there rose up G3588 G1699 my G1403.1 sheaf, G2532 and G3718.1 it was straight up. G4058.4 [4moving around G1161 1And G3588 G1403.1 3sheaves G1473 2your], G4352 did obeisance to G3588 G1699 my G1403.1 sheaf.
8 G2036 [3said G1161 1And G1473 4to him G3588 G80 2his brothers], G1473 G3361 Do you mean G936 in reigning G936 you will reign G1909 over G1473 us, G2228 or G2961 in dominating G2961 you will dominate G1473 us? G2532 And G4369 they added G2089 still G3404 to detest G1473 him G1752 because of G3588 G1798 his dreams, G1473 G2532 and G1752 because of G3588 G4487 his words. G1473
Ultimately they were all dominated by Joseph because Joseph had the favor of Yahweh to rise up in Egypt and save his family. They despised this dream so much they threw Joseph in a well and sold him as a slave. Years later they expected to find him in Egypt along the outer wall as a prostitute. While we see that this is not the best way to react to a dream, we can see that they refused to be dominated by their kid brother. We should have a strong reaction to someone who wants to dominate us. When a cult comes for us we should reject them, quickly and decisively.
The religious leaders in both Judah and in Christianity look down on the masses as ignorant, unlearned people who they have to dominate. Jesus and Paul both said the opposite is true. Common people in religious organizations are not idiots over all of life, but maybe ignorant in that one denominations dogmas. This is the reason for the room of the ignorant, so the unlearned can become educated, not dominated. It would be great if we added this understanding to our “new Christian” classes at church so that no one is fooled into believing their leaders should have control over them. If we model our churches the way Jesus and Paul describe we will see people grow up in the Lord. The common people, having that type of freedom, might seem scary to church leaders, but it is what Jesus established. Paul broke the bonds of cults with his letters and we can be free of cultish religion.
