Expert: Edward Bode - 6/23/2011

Question
QUESTION: I was having a conversation with one of my JW friends and the topic of praying to the dead came up. I showed him the transfiguration account to demonstrate the validity of it, but he told me Moses and Elijah were visions(illusions) and not really themselves. I looked up the greek word Horama from Matthew 17:9 and it occurs 11 other times(see below). My question is, does anything he is saying make sense, based off the use of the greek word in other passages? How do I respond?


Horama
The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon
Strong's Number: 3705
Original Word
Word Origin
o&rama
from (3708)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Horama
5:371,706
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
hor'-am-ah
Noun Neuter
Definition
that which is seen, spectacle
a sight divinely granted in an ecstasy or in a sleep, a vision
King James Word Usage - Total: 12
vision 11, sight 1


Matthew 17:9

(King James Version)
9And as they came downfrom the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying , Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.


Acts 7:31


31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
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Acts 9:10


10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said , Behold , I am here, Lord.
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Acts 9:12


12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in , and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight .
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Acts 10:3


3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
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Acts 10:17

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean , behold , the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
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Acts 10:19

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold , three men seek thee.
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Acts 11:5


5 I was in the city of Joppa praying : and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend , as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
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Acts 16:9-10


9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him , saying , Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
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Acts 18:9


9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid , but speak , and hold not thy peace :

ANSWER: Horama comes from the basic verb [horao] which means to see; there are many nuances in the varied uses of the verb, which is used to describe the appearances of the resurrected Jesus.  Horama in Mt and Acts, as you know, refers to seeing something strange or wonderful.
I am not sure that one can on the use of the Greek word itself convince someone that what is seen is something there in concrete reality rather in some mental vision.  That many saw the same thing would help to argue for reality. Also, the reaction of Peter to build tents would add to the notion of something really out there.  I would guess that more liberal thinkers would opt for mental whereas more conservative would opt for something out there in reality.  
On the topic of praying for the dead, the clasic OT text is 2 Mac 12:46, which the Protestant reformers rejected [contrary to their theology]and Jews did not accept because of its original Greek.  However, in the NT, see 1 Cor 3:15 and 1 Peter 1:7.
If I have missed the mark, please feel free to write again, Conan.
Impressive that you are using other usages of the Greek to determine the meaning in Mt account of the transfiguration.  [Current scholars prefer the Greek New Testament, edited by Aland, Black, Martini and published by United Bible Societies]; this work uses many ancient documents not available in the 16th century.]
Best wishes.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response. If I can't provide a strong arguement for communion of saints with this passage alone, where do you suggest I begin?  I have some Church Father material, but I would think starting with Jewish material if any exists.

Thanks,
-Conan

Answer
2 Maccabees is a good place to start -- BC and Jewish.  
Also, recall the encounters of Jesus with the Saducees and Pharisees in the gospels; Paul used the issue when appearing before the Jerusalem council -- Acts 23:1ff.
The Mishnah, Berakoth 5:5, refers to a benediction, "the resurrection of the dead."  It is the second of 18 benedictions in the Authorized Prayer Book of the United Hebrew Congreation of the British Empire [editor: S. Singer; London, 1908].
Strack and Billerbeck commented on the NT with references to the Talmud but I do not have their work.
Hope these thoughts are of some help, Conan.