Saturday, January 07, 2017

Galatians 5:20 ("Spiritism")

Here is Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT (p. 466) on φαρμακία (FARMAKIA):

"FARMAKIA (Rec. -EIA), -AS, hH (FARMAKEUW, to
administer drugs), poet. and late prose form of
FARMAKEIA, [in LXX: Ex 7:11, 22 8:7, 18 (3, 14) . . .
1. generally, the use of medicine, drugs or spells
(Xen.). 2. (a) poisoning (Plut., Polyb.); (b) sorcery,
witchcraft: Ga 5:20 (v. Lft., in 1.) Re 9:21 (WH,
txt., FARMAKWN) 18:23 (cf. LXX, 11. c)."

Timothy George gives these supplemental comments:

"As J.T. Noonan has written, 'Paul's usage here [Galatians 5:20] cannot be restricted to abortion, but the term he chose is comprehensive enough to include the use of abortifacient drugs.' In the early church both infanticide, often effected through the exposure of newborn babies to the harsh elements, and abortion, commonly brought about by the use of drugs, were regarded as murderous acts. Both are flagrant violations of Jesus' command to 'love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians, 394).

See also https://archive.org/stream/manualgreeklexic00abborich#page/466/mode/2up

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