Expert: Sal - 6/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: First off I just wanted to thank you for providing alternative answers to the SDA faith. My husband and I are heavily searching for truth because of our inability to feel God's present on the Sabbath Day. Upon doing our research we had a few questions and being that we are forced to explain the validity to in our decision we have found your articles very insightful. Also can I just say that upon re-accepting God's gift as a gift we now study more and have become closer to him than ever. But we are all made different to God Bless anyone who truly finds God's true spirit.

My question is this, I read one of your articles regarding the "law" entole and nomos (Greek words). How can we truly know the translations? Per the SDA faith they believe that one is ceremonial laws and the other is the 10 commandments. You state that one is New Convenant and the other is Old Covenant. Do we have any true proof of the meanings of these words or are we letting the Spirit guide us in what is truely meant?

Thank you so much for your time and studies.

God Bless.

ANSWER: Dear Sara:

Yes, we can be sure what the words mean in the writings of John. For example, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law [nomos]…” (John 1:45). This does not mean the Ten Commandments, but the Old Covenant writings. “Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law [nomos] of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23). Circumcision is not mentioned in the Ten Commandments, but it is the entrance sign into the Old Covenant. "Does our law [nomos] condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" (John 7:51). This is obviously referring to the whole Old Covenant Law not the Ten Commandments. “In the Law [nomos] Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:5). The Ten Commandments condemned adultery, but offered no penalty. “Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law [nomos], 'I have said you are gods'?” (John 10:34). Again obviously not from the Ten Commandments.  “The crowd spoke up, ‘We have heard from the Law [nomos] that the Christ will remain forever…” (John 12:34). No such statement appears in the Ten Commandments. “But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law [nomos]: 'They hated me without reason’” (John 15:25). The Old Testament says this (Psalm 69:5), but the Ten Commandments do not. These examples I believe show that nomos in the writings of John refers to Old Covenant commands.

Now some examples of John’s use of entole.  "A new command [entole] I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John13:34). This is a “new” commandment not to be confused with a similar Old Covenant command that does not include Jesus’ type of love. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments [entole]” (John 14:15). Jesus’ commandments were given in the New Testament. “Whoever has my commands [entole] and obeys them, he is the one who loves me…” (John 14:21). Jesus gave his commandments for obedience to his New Covenant. 22”and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands [entole] and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command [entole]: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded [entole] us. 24Those who obey his commands [entole] live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:22-24). Obviously New Covenant commands not Old Covenant. We ask in Jesus’ Name, believe in His Son, obey Jesus’ Law of Love, and receive the Holy Spirit. I believe these examples show that entole in the writings of John refers to the New Covenant commands.

If I can be of further help just let me know.

God Bless You in Your Study,
Sal


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

QUESTION: Thank you for the insite above. One more question concerning this. To me it is obvious that as an SDA, they must think that entole refers to 10 commandments that nomos would be the ceremonial laws that were set forth.

Can you please let me know how the "Law" in Matthew 22:40 was originally written?

Also can you recommend any good programs for me to begin my study from the original languages so that these differences are not lost in the translation?

Thank you so much for your time.

God Bless you  

Answer
Hello Sara:

The word "law" in Matthew 22:40 is nomos.

Remember that only in the writings of John is there a clear distinction between nomos and entole. Other writers tend to use the two terms interchangeably.

I can not recommend any Hebrew or Greek programs.

Have a great day,
Sal