Parent: JesusWordsOnly
Did Jesus Warn of False Prophets Who Would Negate the Law
Introduction
Jesus was concerned about the "signs and wonders" prophets misleading Christians. (Matt. 7:15-23), viz., v. 22; 24:11, 24.) Jesus warns of the false prophets in (Mark 13:22). They
"shall show signs and wonders to seduce , if possible, even the elect."
In Deuteronomy, these signs-and-wonders prophets are false not because their prophecies are untrue. Rather, their signs and wonders are extraordinary. Indeed, their prophecy comes true. (Deut. 13:2), "the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee." Rather, the proof they are false is in the content of their message as subversive of the Torah (the Five Books of Moses). These prophets try to "draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in." (Deut. 13:5) Cf (Deut. 4:2).
When Deuteronomy was written, all there was of Scripture was Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Thus, even a prophet with true prophecy must be rejected if he seduces you to "draw aside" from the commandments in them. The supposed prophet's validity turns on whether, contrary to (Deut. 4:2), he diminishes the Law God has already given. Balaam is an example from the Bible of someone who was once a true prophet who later was found false based solely on these principles. Thus, even though Balaam believed in Christ and truly prophesied of Him with the Holy Spirit (so says Moses), Balaam later became a et seq; (Rev. 2:14). (See page 41 et seq. for further discussion.)
Jesus in (Matt. 7:15-24) is clearly alluding to these same "signs and wonders" prophets. Jesus says they are lost. He will deny He ever knew them even though on Judgment Day they are able to say they did "marvelous works in Your name," and many "prophecies in Your name." (Matt. 7:22). Jesus tells us He will reject them. It is not because they lacked true prophecy or marvelous wonders. Rather, the sole reason to reject them is they are workers of "anomia" (Matt. 7:23).
This Greek word anomia here means "negators of the Law (of Moses)." This is one of its two lexicon definitions. In choosing this definition over lawless, we do so primarily because Jesus' warning was obviously paralleling (Deut. 13:1-5). See discussion in the next section.
If you agree on choosing this dictionary definition, then we can easily anticipate that Paul is not going to fare well. Paul's doctrine that the Law of Moses was abolished by Jesus' coming is well known. See chapter five.
Why Anomia Means Negator of Mosaic Law
Jesus tells us we can identify the false prophets because they are workers of "anomia" (Matt. 7:23). What does this Greek word anomia mean?
In Greek, anomia is a feminine noun, related to the adjective a-nomos. Nomos is the Greek word to identify the Law or Torah, i.e., the Five Books of Moses. (Strong's #3551.) The prefix a is a negative particle in Greek. Putting the parts together, it should mean anomia precisely mean in (Matt. 7:23)? The best lexicon of ancient Greek (which is free online) is Henry George Liddell's and Robert
Scott's A Greek-English Lexicon. It defines anomia as one of two meanings:
- "the negation of the law"
- "lawlessness, lawless conduct."
The common rendering of (Matt. 7:23) opts for the second meaning. (See ALT, KJV, and ASV translations). These texts ignore entirely the first option. These translations do not reveal these workers practiced the "negation of the Law." Yet, this is the meaning Jesus' intended in this context.
Jesus is talking about workers of the negation of the Law because He is paraphrasing (Deut. 13:1-5). Let's see how by comparing the concepts in (Matt. 7:15-23) with Deuteronomy 13:1-5. When put side by side, we find lawlessness is an incongruent break from the paraphrase by Jesus of Deuteronomy. However, "negation of the Law" would be in line if Jesus' intended a paraphrase of Deuteronomy.
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Logos Software describes LSJ (its acronym) as "the world's most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of ancient Greek....'' http://www.logos.com/products/details/1772 (visited 2005). It explains the 1940 edition is the core of the 1996 edition. As to the 1940 edition. Logos explains LSJ is the "central reference work for all scholars of ancient Greek authors and texts discovered up to 1940...." Id.
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The least expensive way to verify this is online. To do so, go to Tuft University's online version of the Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A 1999.01.0155&layout=&loc=Matthew+7.1 Then find (Matt. 7:23), and the last word is anomian. Click anomian and then select the LSJ link for this lexicon. Or you can purchase this lexicon in book and computer form from Logos sign or wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee" (v.2)
Thus, if you read (Matt. 7:23) as workers of the negation of the Law (of Moses), then it parallels (Deut. 13:1-5). Both involve true prophets with true signs and wonders. Yet, they are still false. Why? Because their preaching seduces you from following the Law (of Moses). (Deut. 13:1-5). Their preaching works negation of the Law (of Moses). (Matt. 7:23).
Furthermore, the alternative reading makes the test so broad that Jesus' words are potentially meaningless. In fact, the translation as lawless or iniquity
If the test is whether these people are workers of iniquity or lawlessness, then since all of us sin, there would never be a true prophet you could trust as long as he is human.
Thus, if you accept Paul's truism that "all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God..." (Rom. 3:23), then Paul and all prophets are workers of iniquity merely by being human.
Thus, everyone is a worker of iniquity at some point. If we apply iniquity as the meaning of anomia in (Matt. 7:15-23), as it commonly is translated, it ends up making Jesus give a meaningless warning. That is, the verse becomes pointless because we all work iniquity. There could never be true prophecy we trust if a true human prophet is rendered false merely because he is like us who sins from time-to-time. Iniquity never was the proper translation of anomia. Only workers of negation of the Law (ofMoses) fits Jesus' intended meaning.
Signs and Wonders
"Indeed the signs of the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders, and in powers."
Paul, (2Cor. l2:12) (talking about what proved his validity).
What If Anomia Did Mean Iniquity? Was Paul a Worker of Iniquity?
However, if one insists the traditional translation of anomia as iniquity
big crowd of people. (Gal. 2:11). Paul also called the "brethren" of Galatia "foolish" ones. (Gal. 3:1). Another time Paul listed off a series of accomplishments, confessing repeatedly he was "boasting." (2Cor. 11:16-18).
Yet, Jesus and the Bible prohibit such curses, condemnations of others without private personal confrontation first, labelling brothers as fools, and boasting. (See the Table below for Bible references.)
Therefore, if one insists Jesus' words in (Matt. 7:23) require proof someone was a worker of iniquity, Paul is caught again. The list in the table below is not only long, but also appears in teaching letters to a spiritual community! As (Jas. 3:1) says, teachers will receive a "heavier judgment" for their errors.
| Paul's | Violation of God's | | Letters | Commands? |