Birth control and Christian colleges.

Liddell-Scott Lexicon:
pharmakos, a poisoner, sorcerer, magician

Colin Brown, Dictionary of NT Theology, II, 558:
pharmakeus, mixer of potions, magician (Rev. 21:8)
The basic word pharmakon does not occur in the NT, but its meaning of medicine, magic potion, poison gives the underlying idea of the words.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the NT, Bauer/Arndt/Gingrich, p. 854

pharmakon, 1. poison, 2. magic potion, charm, 3. medicine, remedy, drug

pharmakeo, mix poison, make potions, practice magic

pharmakeus, mixer of poisons, magician Rev. 21:8

Larry,

The underlying word means drugs. We get the word pharmacy and pharmaceuticals from pharmakon!

The lexicons are clear. Pharmakon has three meanings: poison, potion (magic), or drug/medicine/remedy.

In Revelation 9:21, The rest of mankind that still were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands. They did not repent of their murders, pharmakon, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

What do you think pharmakon means in this context! These folks in the tribulation period are determined not to repent of their murders, drugs (pill?), sexual immorality, or their thefts (wife swaping, adulteries, fornications, the stealing of sexual activity from persons who don't belong to them?).

Is this a reach? Maybe. Is it blasphemy? Hardly.

The world today is heavily involved in murder through birth control pills and abortion, abortifacient drugs, sexual immorality, and thefts of spouses (lifestylers, swingers, etc.).

If you were John and you wanted to describe this type of condition on the earth, what Greek words would you use to paint this picture?

I think I've shown that pharmakon can mean poison or drugs/remedy.

I think I've shown that there could be a linkage of these words that means something for modern readers of the Scripture. Something that describes our society and world to a T.

 

If a person were involved in sexual immorality and became pregnant, what kind of pharmakon (remedy/drug/medicine) would a person need to use to remedy the situation?

And if that person used the pharmakon, what would be the result of the pregnancy? A death of the baby (murder).

But I'm not supposed to see any linkage between these words: murder, pharmakos, sexual immorality, thefts as used in Rev. 9:21, 21:8, 22:15.

 

In Zechariah 14:12, how many of you see a reference to a potential nuclear explosion?

In Revelation 11:8-10, how many of you see a reference to possible global satelite communications?

In Revelation 13:16-17, how many of you see a reference to possible computer chips able to limit who can buy and sell?

In Revelation 9:16, how many of you see a reference to a possible army from China numbering 200 million?

Then why is it so hard to see a reference in Rev. 9:21 to a possible world condition where mankind won't repent of their use of abortions (murder), abortifacient drugs (pharmakon), sexual immorality, and disregard for marriage (thefts)?

 

Larry has said that Rev. 22:15 is a list of separate sins that have nothing in common with each other.

In Greek, when a series of nouns are used in the same case and number, the following nouns are often used as adjectives. Support for this hermeutic is found in: Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, Bullinger, p. 673.

"Though the Greeks did not name such a figure, it is clear that it is employed in Scripture. For we sometimes find three nouns instead of two, and in these cases there are two nouns exalted to the place of emphatic adjectives, which are thus raised to equal importance with the subject itself."

For example, John 14:6.

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Are we to understand these three nouns as a list of separate qualities that have nothing to do with each other? Or do nouns two and three (the truth and the life) modify the first noun, way?

Greek allows for the rest of the nouns in a series to modify the first noun. So what was Jesus saying?

Namely this, that he is the true, living way!

In Revelation 22:15, we have another series of nouns beginning with dogs! The series of nouns are: dogs, pharmakoi, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, those loving and practicing falsehood. This is why the NIV translates it, "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts (pharmakoi), etc.

What is this passage saying? The dogs are those who practice pharmakoi (drug use/abortifacient drugs?), sexual immorality, murder (abortion), idolatry (self-love, it's my body, self-esteem, etc.), falsehood (I can do anything I want to with my body sexually! Sex is a gift to be used whereever, whenever, with whomever.)

The dogs are the sexually immoral who do whatever they want in regards to sexuality, use abortifacient drugs, Ru-486, abortion, practice their false view of sexuality, and idolize themselves above any standard of marriage or morality. What I'm getting at is that it is not blasphemy to see the following nouns as descriptive modifiers for the first noun in a series of nouns. In this case, dogs!

Yes, I know that some of you will accuse me of reading into the text. But each of these nouns can appropriately be used to describe the dogs.

Revelation 9:21 is another series of nouns all in the same case and number. Nor did they repent of their murders. What kind of murders? Their pharmakon murders brought about by the sexual immorality and disregard for marriage (thefts). Their stealing of sexual acts with whomever, wherever.

Yes, I know that I will be accused of reading into the text. The text says thefts! How can you apply that to "the stealing of sexual acts." It is a modifier for murders. It draws meaning from the other modifiers in the text. Indiscriminate unlawful sexual acts stolen from outside the proper arena of human sexuality resulting in sexual immorality which is fostered by the use of pharmakon to rid oneself of the consequences of this immoral activity. This is the murder that they won't repent of!

Revelation 21:8 is also a series of nouns modifying cowardly.

[ October 29, 2004, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: Paul33 ]

 

Also, both Rev. 21:8 and 22:15 are polysyndetons. A series of nouns connected by "and" to heighten and draw attention to each noun as it modifies "dogs" and "cowardly."

"Instead of hurrying us on, breathlessly, to reach the important conclusion; we are asked to stop at each point, to weigh each matter that is presented to us, and to consider each particular that is thus added and emphasized" (Bullinger, p. 208).

Added and emphasized! The dogs, for example, consist of a certain kind of person involved in certain kinds of activities. Polysyndeton adds and emphasizes additional characteristics that give us a fuller understanding of who and what the dogs are!

This is not a random, purposeless list of sins. This is a grouping of words put together under inspiration of the Holy Spirit to paint a picture for us to see!

I look forward to hearing your response to my six most recent posts, Larry.

 

Your last sentence is the key. I'm not applying these verses to "the simple issue of birth control that is not abortive." I'm applying these verses to abortifacient drugs that cause murder.

Pastor Larry, you and I will simply have to agree to disagree.

I've provided definitions from lexicons which prove that pharmakon means "drugs" without having to be within the context of magic arts or sorcery.

I've provided hermeneutics from Bullinger which shows that a series of nouns may act as modifiers.

You deny both!

So we disagree on exegesis.

The picture I think the texts are painting is one in which people in the last days will use abortifacient drugs (pharmakon) to absolve themselves (murder) of the consequences (pregnancy) of their own immorality.

These three words (murder, pharmakon, sexual immorality) are used three times in Revelation, always together, to represent activity in the last days! But you can't see that!

The day after pill, by the way, is a modern replacement for "herbs" (potions) used throughout the centuries to induce abortion.

You apologize, and then say I am blaspheming again. I think our misunderstanding, partly my fault, is not making it clear that I don't think these verses apply to birth control in general, but only to abortifacient drugs. But now that you have dug in your heels, I doubt that you will be able to admit that these verse "might" have something to do with abortifacient drugs.

Blasphemy is attributing to Satan the work of the Spirit. You accuse me of blatantly misusing Scripture. Well, what do you think you have just done? You blatantly misuse Scripture to call me a blasphemer! And what we are struggling with is how to interpret a text of Scripture.

You ought to be embarrassed.

 

In the LXX, many occurences of pharmakon are rightly translated sorcerer, because it is used in the context of wise men, diviners, enchanters, etc.

But here are three occurences where the context dictates that "a mixer of potions" would be a better translation because the context is sexuality.

Remember, there are three meanings given for pharmakon, 1. poison, 2. magic potion, 3. drugs/remedy/medicine.

Exodus: 22:16-18. Within the context of sexuality, verse 18 warns, "Do not allow a sorceress to live." A woman who seduces a man through the use of potions is not allowed to live. How might a woman seduce a man to have sex with her? She could say, "I have used my potions so that I can't get pregnant. Come on, sleep with me." Or, "Come on, sleep with me, I have potions that can resolve you of any responsibility."

The larger context of this passage deals with not mistreating others or disrespecting God.

Using potions to avoid pregnancy or get rid of a pregnancy is just the kind of meaning pharmakon has in this passage and it requires the death penalty. Here is a woman using potions to mistreat human life.

Nahum 3:1-19 is a poem in regards to Nineveh. In verse 4 the word pharmakon is used in the LXX. "All because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft."

I would submit the following translation for the word pharmakon:

All because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mixer of potions, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her remedies.

It fits the context better and is true to the meanings given to pharmakon. This is a city of blood, full of lies and plunder, never without victims (v. 1). This is a city full of casulties, piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over corpses (v. 3). Why? Because of the lust of a prostitute, alluring, seductive. She has her potions and remedies available by which she enslaves the nations! Same meaning as found in Exodus 22.

When God comes against her, he is going to expose her nakedness, lift her skirt above her face, treat her with contempt. In referring to her, God reveals that her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street (v. 10).

This is a poem using figurative language, but clearly "potions" is a better translation than "witchcraft."

Malachi 3:5 carries the same idea as Exodus 22. In fact, it appears to be a condensed version of Exodus 22. Instead of translating pharmakon as sorcerers in this verse, it would be better understood to mean "mixer of potions."

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against mixers of potions, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

 

Pastor Larry,

I connected all of the words.

In Rev. 21:8, the emphasis is on the "cowardly."

In Rev. 22:15, the emphasis is on "dogs."

In Rev. 9:21, the emphasis is on "murders."

Please go back and read my posts. You will see that I connected all of the nouns in each of the three texts. I did highlight that pharmakon, murders, and sexual immorality are in all three lists!

The word order changes depending on what is being emphasized. But in each list, I connected all of the words.

In Revelation 18:23, there is nothing in the context that would prohibit translating pharmakon as potions. This is Babylon, the great harlot who committed adultery with the kings of the earth (18:3,6,9). I would translate ver 23 as:

"By your potions all the nations were led astray."

Revelation 18:6 even says, "Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup." In other words, give her some of her own medicine (pharmakon)!

It appears to me that when pharmakon is used within the context of sexuality, adultery, immorality, it has the meaning of "potions" or "mixer of potions."

Every appearance of the root form "pharmakon" in the book of Revelation is better rendered "potions" or "mixer of potions."

[ October 30, 2004, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Paul33 ]

 

Larry,

Assuming my interpretation is wrong and that I'm reading into the text instead of seeking to understand the meaning of words, grammar, context, and figures of speech, so that I can relate it to the last days, how does that equate to blasphemy?

When you preach your "interpretation" of Scripture, and a member of your church disagrees with your interpretation, and you say, "No, the Word of God clearly says this," does your church member have the right to say to you, "You are blaspheming God because you are attributing your interpretation to be the correct interpretation, and you are wrong!"

Is this what we have come down to?

 

Rigorous exegetical process.

I've given all kinds of evidence. Where's yours?

You didn't just point out that you disagreed with my interpretation. You said that I raped the text. You said that I blasphemed. You said that I wouldn't change my view after being corrected.

Again. Where is your exegetical proof that pharmakon must always carry with it the idea of sorcery or magic arts or witchcraft?

Where is your exegetical proof that Bullinger is wrong? How is he wrong?

 

I'm not trying to be obnoxious here. But I went back and looked at my previous posts. When I first mentioned the word "pharmakoi" I made it clear that I thought this was a reference to abortifacient drugs, not birth control in general.

Let's at least agree about what we are talking about. I am saying that "pharmakoi" in the context of sexual behavior is best understood to be abortifacient drugs (potions/remedies).