07.08.09
Alievation of Fear
In my writing I invariably point out the gender neutrality of the Greek and Hebrew words used by the original writers of scripture.
In my writing I invariably point out gender specific words which were added by the translators.
I often hear how looking into the Greek and Hebrew makes some “very uncomfortable”. I often hear them express fear – that somehow looking into the original language will lead us all into great error and to do so puts us on dangerous ground.
I hope to dispel this fear and feelings of discomfort by giving some clear scriptural examples which are commonly understood to express gender neutrality even while using the gender specific pronouns of “he” and him” and the gender specific noun “man” or “men” in the context of the scripture.
(I have capitalized and italized the words “he”, “him”, “man” and “men” to accentuate their usage in the following scriptures.)
John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “HE who believes in Him is not judged; HE who does not believe has been judged already, because HE has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and MEN loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that HIS deeds will be exposed. 21 “But HE who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that HIS deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
No one would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
Salvation through belief in Jesus is not only to those of the male gender. No one would interpret this passage of scripture to say women are restricted from salvation –none would do so even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead take a peek at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators and the noun “men” to be gender neutral “anthropos” which means human being.
Matt 10:32-33 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before MEN, I will also confess HIM before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before MEN, I will also deny HIM before My Father who is in heaven.
No one would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
No one would dare suggest Jesus is speaking to only those of the male gender. Jesus is speaking to everyone even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a peek at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators and the noun “men” to be gender neutral “anthrÌ„pos” which means human being.
Matt 10:37-39 “HE who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and HE who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And HE who does not take HIS cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “HE who has found HIS life will lose it, and HE who has lost HIS life for My sake will find it.
Again, no would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
Jesus is speaking to all who follow Him and not only those of the male gender. All who follow Jesus must love Him more than father, mother, son, and daughter. All who wish to follow after Him must take up their cross. All who follow Him must be willing to lose their lives for His sake.
No one would interpret this scripture passage as restricting women from obedience to the words of Jesus even though pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language are used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a look at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the pronouns “he” and “him” to be added be the translators.
John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Yet again, no would suggest this passage of scripture refers to the male gender alone. The gender neutrality of this passage of scripture is commonly understood.
When Jesus was lifted up from the earth – nailed upon the cross – He did not do so to just draw only those of the male gender. Never!! Through the cross Jesus draws all mankind to Himself.
No one would interpret this scripture passage as restricting women from being drawn to Jesus even though a gender specific noun in the English language is used in this text.
If we go ahead and take a look at the original language in this passage of scripture we find the noun “men” to be gender neutral “pas” which means the whole, all, whosoever.
These few scriptures are but a tiny example of the vast amount of commonly understood gender neutral scriptures which contain pronouns and nouns which can be gender specific in the English language.
It is my sincerest hope that through the presentation of these few scriptures much fear and feelings of discomfort have been alleviated – enabling you to peek into the original language in your own study time and with me as I write.
