Featured Ambiguous Word create confusion.

Here are five words frequently found in our New Testaments, translating Greek words with more than one meaning.

1) Baptism - does this refer to our water baptism in obedience to Christ, or our spiritual baptism into Christ?
2) Sanctification - does this refer to being set apart spiritually into Christ, or being progressively conformed to the image of Christ?
3) Called - does this refer to being invited to put our trust in Christ, or being spiritually transferred into Christ by God?
4) Hell - does this refer to Hades or to Gehenna or to Tartarus?
5) Things - does this refer to all things or some of the things?

We all should know that some Christians believe these words mean one thing in a verse, while other Christians believe something else is meant. And this divide leads to squabbles and factions and other hindrances to the ministry of Christ.

It would seem possible to remove or minimize the confusion in our translations by addressing the specific meaning the translators believe is the intended meaning. For example, rather than saying baptize say either water baptize or spiritually baptize. Say positional sanctification or progressive sanctification. Remove "hell" and use either Hades, Gehenna or Tartarus as indicated by the text.
Address the specific things in view, or if unknown translate using "these thing" to suggest the reader to consider the contextual meaning.

 

Your premise is false! God provides His word so that we can correctly understand it. God is not a god of confusion.

So the actual premise would be what if we are not sure which of the historical meanings was intended. Here we should put what we believe is the most probable meaning in the main text and footnote the alternate meaning held by some.

1. Yes, some people think water baptism is in view when others think our spiritual baptism into Christ is in view. The probable main text, footnoted alternate solution would be better.

2. Ditto for sanctification, called, and things. There is absolutely no ambiguity in God's message concerning Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus.

3. Several verses refer to the baptism of John. Obviously, with no ambiguity, the water baptism of John would better present the idea.

4. The Greek verb translated baptize appears about 9 times and in most cases immersion in water is in view, with one exception where Jesus immerses people in the Holy Spirit.

 

Let us consider 1 Peter 3:21:

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,​

The two sides would be (1) our spiritual baptism into Christ saves us, and (2) our water baptism saves us. The most probable is our spiritual baptism into Christ saves us for we arise in Christ a new creation. I do not think many modern translations would publish that water baptism saves people.

Prior to God immersing us into Christ spiritually, He credits our faith as righteousness, thus we were earnestly seeking a conscience reconciled to God.

 

The premise God used ambiguous words and passages because He wanted us to be "thinking believers" has no basis in scripture. Rather, the argument has been concocted to defend sloppy, unstudied translation choices, which actually hinder the ministry of Christ. See Mark 8:31-33.

Yes, Jesus taught in parables to preclude understanding at that time, but also spoke plainly to pass on His gospel to His disciples, and through them to the whole world.

 

1) Spiritual immersion into the Spirit of Christ is explicitly meant, i.e. baptized into Christ.
2) We agree, water immersion does not have anything to do with spiritual regeneration.
3) Which verse says or suggests Noah and his family were "saved by the water of the flood?" Many think Noah and family were saved by the Ark of God, prefiguring the Ark of Christ.
4) If anyone is "in" Christ, the person is a new creation.

 

1) The wheat in our local churches are indeed part of the "one" body of Christ, but the tares are not. So the "universal church" comprised of all born anew believers, is the body of Christ with Christ as the head.
2) Yes, by study translators can with confidence translate "baptism" and "Hell" with accuracy and clarity.

 

Hi Mikey, why address me and my suggested ulterior motives rather than the topic?

 

1 Peter 3:20 NASB,who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. ​

Once again the ambiguous "saved through or by water" when translated plainly does not say nor suggest water was instrumental in our spiritual salvation.