Posted by Ross
on 7/28/2009, 8:46 pm, in reply to "Hades and Resurrection"
211.29.54.6
Hi Kell
The problem is not with the words used in the original languages of Greek and Hebrew to begin the argument here is to “preach to the converted” we are very aware that these words mean what you say. Most have missed the argument by trying to line up English and the biblical words while not doing any etymology on the English origin of “Hell” So rather than line up known words with English assumptions we need to investigate the origin of the English word “hell”. If we begin here we find the answer to the whole question as English is a derived language and if we assume it to be the constant we will always run a muck. Find the etymology of Hell in English you have the clear answer, don’t forget English is late appearing around the end first millennia AD. The Greek and Hebrew predate it by many Millennia.
In short the origin of the word “Hell” in English is not fully known so from an apologetics standpoint the use of it in scripture is on platform that is very weak. To defend the assumed “doctrine of Hell” the word itself must be clear and as it is not no defense beyond a reasonable doubt is possible. The scripture defines the second death i.e. de-creation however the English word “hell” like the English word “church” has become an iconic word. The modern understanding of the word is called a visual iconic, very much like the visual numerical words; many, few and multitude. These give a metal picture of the abstract through association with a presupposed idea and the specific meaning is hard to come by.
The soundest origin for the word Hell is from the Scandinavian Myth of the Goddess Nifheim, the realm of the dead, the daughter of Loki. The word is spelt HEL and pronounced as a noun HEL. The English pronunciation of the word is HEL no emphasis by the second “L” as it stands silent reason: unknown.
The word HEL is also found in Eastern ideas of Muslim and Hindu the underworld in association with the worship of the Indian goddess Kali. This again refers to the underworld and this was made popular in the Indiana Jones film the temple of doom. The “thug” cults of India were like the ninja of Japan but much more superstitious and frightening the word “thug” enter English via this route i.e. Thugee to “thug”
The English word HELL-O was originally used as an exclamation to attract attention and its link to HELL is obvious. Evidence suggest that the word Hell comes from Old English
helle and is used in conjunction forming Hellhound (demon) or a hellehund that later found its way into Middle English as hellehound. In dropping the “e” we get HELL. This is common practice in the development of English. Gospel for example is derived of GODSPEL of Old English here the “d” is simply dropped.
There is little doubt the hell is related to demons and the demonic ionized in modern religion and mythology with flames of fire having nothing what ever to do with the scriptural terms used of the grave and death.
Our apologetics must begin with us and our usage of words and their origins if we assume English is the constant point in linguistics we will surely fail to grasp things. The secret of Christ is denied by most due to the confusion between “mystery” and “secret” The word mystery as we understanding it “something hidden never revealed” is from the Latin and secret “something hidden then revealed or uncovered (Apocalypse)” is of the Greek. The word mystery as we understand it was not a part of the vocabulary range of New Testament Greek
Ross
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