Etymological New Testament: Matthew 5:48

Feeling the Immanence

As recounted by Luke in the 17th chapter of Acts, the philosophers gather at the Areopagus to listen to an intriguing and ardent outsider. The high point of Paul’s presentation comes as he quotes from one of their own poets. He reminds them that this immediate sense of God, the divine Immanence, is the atmosphere “in which we live and move and have our being.” This Immanence is humanity’s raison d’être .

As noted in the book The God Who is in Hell, our 21st century American culture is afflicted with a virulent overdose. We’re infected by, of all things, a theological disease. And it happened very simply. We began to understand a figure of speech in a literal way. With some consistency, the ancient writings employ one such figure of speech, anthropomorphism, when speaking of God. Our culture has taken this figure of speech (God-as-anthropomorphic) and made it a literal entity.

The cure should be just as simple. We will embrace God-as-immediate-presence. We will feel and know the Immanence of spirit. And to help us along the journey, perhaps we need to read the scriptures in a slightly less anthropomorphic fashion.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Matthew 5:48

"You therefore shall be mature, as your upward-vision Abba is mature."

The Etymological New Testament consistently translates the Greek "TELOS" family of words by the root sense of maturity. The basic meaning is that of full grown, perfect, ripe, etc. It is striking to see the various contexts in which this word is used. In this verse, we are to grow into maturity in the same way our "upward-vision Abba" is mature. Rather than a call for religious perfection, Jesus' concern if for grown-ups: people who are mature and ready for living life to the full.

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Matthew 5:48

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