I believe Paul did in fact refer to some as what could be rendered 'dumb' by our usage of the word (Galatians 3:1) for wavering from the truth. There are some decent features here, but some abuse the negative features, and some only use them without making a response, which I also believe to be at the least cursory if not callow behavior.
Brother Internet Theologian,
In Galatians 3:3 Paul uses the word, "foolish to describe the Galations, "Are ye so
foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh". The Greek word for foolish in this text is ἀνόητος, ον and can be translated thoughtlessness. One must have a thought for it to be concluded as dumb, thus a thoughless person cannot be dumb. They are not synonyms by their Biblical meanings, but are in terms of there world meanings of the words, but we must remember scripture must interpret scripture and the text, not the dictionary is often the best way to come to a conclusion of the meaning of words used in scripture. Further we read in 1 Corinthians 1:27 again of the word "foolishness, it says, "But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" Does this mean the word foolish in the text means he has chosen the dumb things to the world to confine the wise? Of course not. The Greek work for foolish in this text is asthenés and is defined as weak. While faith is not certainly faith, to the Greek it was, thus we read of the wise in the preceeding verse, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" Obvioiusly again the word "foolishness" does not mean dumb, otherwise we would have to conclude this verse to say that God uses dumb things as the power of God! Nobody would contend that.
Finally in verse 21-27 Paul summarizes what he means by the "foolishness of God", "
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption"
To the unregenerate, the foolish things of the world that confine the wise is faith as it goes against intellect of the natural mind, bur rather relies on the "mind of Christ:" that God has imparted to HIs children to "freely" understand those things that He has revealed to them. If God can reveal his teachings to someone through a dumbass, "But was rebuked for his iniquity: the
dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet" (2 Peter 2:16) it doesn't take a genius to concede that it has pleased him to confine the wise of this world through what they perceive is the "foolishness of preaching" and "faith". I do not believe Paul ever declared anyone dumb in the entire Bible, but posters are doing left and right. That is an ad hominem attac that serves no purpose and the feature should be disabled from Baptistboard. What kind of a witness does it believe to a seeker?.
Excuse my long drawn out post on this post and I pray I am not in error.
Brother Joe
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