The meaning of the Greek word antichristos. Also: The apostle John spoke about multiple antichristoi, plural, not a singular one only.
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There are countless different dogmas regarding "antichrists". Many talk about "the
Antichrist", as a single person who supposedly will come forth in what from our
viewpoint is "the end time". However, the Bible does not contain any such description.
The word "antichrist", Greek antichristos, is found only in the letters of
the apostle John, in four verses – and, he wrote about persons – antichristoi
– who were already on the scene when he wrote that letter. In this essay, those
verses will be analysed, and along with them the two New Testament passages where
the Greek text contains the word pseudochristos which, as will be shown,
referred to the same kind of persons as the word antichristos did. The etymology
(root and meaning) of those words will also be explained.
In other words: This study considers, what does the Bible say about the antichrist or antichrists? It will in detail explain the meaning of the Greek word antichristos. And also: The apostle John spoke about multiple antichristoi, plural, not a singular one only; even this fact will be considered and explained.
It is important to note that the antichristoi whom John mentioned, had already come on the scene when he wrote his letters, in the first century. This leads to the question, will there be "antichrists" even during what we today view as "the end time"? That question is truly important, because there are wide-spread misunderstandings regarding what the word antichristos really meant and referred to.
In the Greek text of the New Testament, the words in question are antichristos (plural antichristoi) in 1 John 2 and 2 John, and its synonym pseudochristos (plural pseudochristoi) in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 which record how Jesus warned his disciples regarding false Messiahs. In order to fully understand that the words pseudochristos and antichristos indeed are synonyms, it is good to know that in ancient Greek the prefix anti had a wider and partially different use than what the English prefix anti has. This will be explained in more detail, later in this essay.
Among other things, it will be shown that Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 make it easier to understand what the apostle John meant by "last time" or "last hour" in 1 John 2:18.
Here are the four New Testament passages where the Greek text contains the word antichristos:
1 John 2:18 Little youths, it is the last hour; and even as ye heard that the antichrist doth come, even now antichrists have become many—whence we know that it is the last hour (YLT)
1 John 2:22 Who is the liar, except he who is denying that Jesus is the Christ? [A] this one is the antichrist who is denying the Father and the Son (YLT)
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that doth not confess Jesus Christ [A] in the flesh having come, [B] of God it is not; and this is that of the antichrist, which ye heard that it doth come, and now in the world it is already. (YLT)
2 John 7 because many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ [A] coming in flesh; [B] this one is he who is leading astray, and the antichrist. (YLT)
Please note that John was not writing about a future person, nor about a singular person. The antichristoi he referred to, existed in his own day, and they were many. It is also important to note that John wrote those letters to certain saints, people of his own day, and not to people of our day. When he said "now it is already in the world", and "many deceivers are entered into the world" [...] "a deceiver and antichrist", he was talking about things and persons of his own day.
[A] The word "Christ" comes from the Greek Christos which was a translation of the Hebrew Mashiyach whence "Messiah". Both Mashiyach and Christos meant "Anointed". In 1 John 4:3, the actual meaning appears to be, "every spirit that does not confess that Jesus is the Messiah who came in bodily form, is not of God".
[B] Most probably, the meaning of the first part of 2 John 7 is, "For many deceivers have come into the world, such who do not confess that Jesus is the Messiah who came in bodily form". That is – John warned about deceivers who denied that Jesus was the Messiah, and claimed that they were the Messiah (the Christos, the Anointed). The same goes for Mark 13:4-6 and Luke 21:8 which record how Jesus warned about deceivers who would come and claim, regarding themselves, "I am the one". That is, Jesus warned about deceivers who denied Jesus (see even 2 John 7) and claimed themselves to be the Messiah. Please note that in Matthew 24:5, Mark 13:6 and Luke 21:8, the words tô onomati mou, "in my name", do not mean that those deceivers claimed that the Messiah had sent them. No, they claimed that they were the Messiah. – See the essay eo09e.htm for more on this.
A note: The in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 occurring word pseudochristos, a synonym of antichristos, will be discussed in more detail later in this essay.
A side-note: Why did John write to those saints that it was "the last hour" (1 John 2:18)? There is more on that matter, later in this treatise.
What does the word antichristos really mean? It is unfortunate that most English bibles have failed to translate the Greek word antichristos. They simply leave it untranslated, in the corrupted form "antichrist".
The last part, christos, meant "anointed". The prefix anti will be discussed in more detail below, but in short: In ancient Greek, anti was often used in a way that was quite different from how it is used in English. For example antipais meant "like a child"; antitheos meant "god-like".
Later in this essay, it will be explained in more detail that words the antichristos and pseudochristos were synonyms. Both Jesus and John warned people about the same antichristoi or pseudochristoi – false Christs, false Messiahs, false Anointed ones – Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 2:18, 2:22 and 4:3 and 2 John 7.
In the New Testament, the word christos, "anointed", mostly refers to Jesus. The corresponding Hebrew word in the Old Testament is mashiyach which likewise means "anointed". The Greek text of John 1:41 and 4:25 has the Hebrew word mashiyach in the transliterated form Messias, for the purpose of explaining a translation, but elsewhere, in more than 500 passages, the New Testament writers instead used the Greek word christos which had the same meaning ("anointed"). A note: In Daniel 9:25-26, the 1769 KJ version uses the transliteration Messiah, even though it elsewhere, in around 37 other OT passages, translated mashiyach properly as "anointed".
Why was Jesus called ho christos, "the Anointed"? Perhaps that referred to the anointing he received as the Ruler, as the one who has the right to reign. (It is possible that the chrisma or the anointing which Jesus received, could additionally refer even to his role as a High Priest.)
So, both the Hebrew mashiyach and the Greek christos meant "anointed". But what about the part anti, in the word antichristos? Again, the use of the prefix anti was in ancient Greek different from what it is in English. In old Greek, anti could, on the one hand, mean "over against", "opposite to", "before" and so on – but on the other hand, it was also used in such meanings as "in place of", "instead", "like" and even "a copy of". Here are some examples of the latter type of use of anti in different word-combinations in old Greek:
And so on; there are many more such examples.
In short: The word antichristoi which is found in the apostle John's letters, simply meant "false Christs", "false Messiahs", "false Anointed ones", just as the word pseudochristoi of Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 did. There is more on this, below.
(Again, the word "Messiah" comes from the old Hebrew mashiyach which meant "anointed", just as did the Greek christos whence "Christ".)
Again, please remember that the antichristoi whom John wrote about were not an "end time" thing, from our point of view. John wrote to people of his own day, regarding wicked persons (deceivers) of his own day.
1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. (NRSV)
Another rendering, in Murdoch's translation of the Peshitta (a Syriac version of the Old and New Testaments):
1 John 2:18 My children, it is the latter time; and as ye have heard that a false Messiah was to arise, so there are now many false Messiahs; and from this we know that it is the latter time. (MUR)
False Messiahs = false Christs = false Anointed ones. (Hebrew mashiyach = Greek christos = English anointed.)
The title ho Christos, "the Anointed", belongs to Jesus, but this was not a matter of titles only; the deceivers of both Matthew 24:24 and 1 John 2:18 were men who pretended that they were the Mashiyach, the Christos. The disciples had been told that Jesus would be taken away from them, and that later he would return. They had asked Jesus what the sign of his coming (his return) would be (Matthew 24:3, Mark 13:4). Jesus explained certain things to them, and at the same time warned them and said that before he came for them (as he had promised, John 14:3 and more) – before that, there would come false Messiahs – men who denied Jesus and pretended that they were the Mashiyach or the Christos (Matthew 24 verses 5 and 23-24, and even Mark 13 verses 6 and 21-22).
And, as 1 John 2:18 shows, those antichristoi/pseudochristoi had already come on the scene, when John wrote that letter. Again, we read:
1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. (NRSV)
As was mentioned earlier, in old Greek the prefix anti had different kinds of uses, not only "opposite to" but also "in place of", "instead", "like" and "a copy of". Point: The translation of anti-christoi as "false Messiahs" is linguistically correct. And again: Pseudochristos is a synonym of antichristos. In other words: Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 2:18, 2:22 and 4:3 and 2 John 7 refer to the same thing.
Many people have been caused to think that the apostle John was talking about the last moments of the existence of this planet, or something like that. But, the thing to understand is that John was not writing to or regarding people or events of our day. He wrote that letter to some saints – people of his own day – regarding things that were about to happen, in regard to their lives, back in those days.
He told those saints that the "signs of the times" which they had heard about, could now be seen. Those saints had been told that shortly before Jesus came for them, [C] there would appear antichristoi – false Messiahs. John noted that an antichristos had come – actually, many antichristoi had come. From that, those saints knew that only a short time remained before Jesus would come for them. That is the reason is why John used the phrase eschatê hôra, "last hour", in that letter.
A note: For many people, it can be hard to understand the fact that Jesus indeed came for those saints. That is because many have been caused to misunderstand the Bible in regard to certain things. Make sure to read the essays eg02c.htm and eg04b.htm, for more on this matter. Look also under the heading "Last, last hour, last day" on the index-page keyw-l1.htm.
[C] Who had told those saints to watch for such a sign? Read on, for an answer to that question.
1 John 2:18 records how the apostle John wrote to some saints, "As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour" (NRSV). What did John mean by "as you have heard"? We know that the New Testament does not in any way record all that Jesus did or said, but are there any passages where we find Jesus warning his disciples about false Anointed ones? Yes, these ones:
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (AKJV)
Matthew 24:24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (HCSB)
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (AKJV)
Mark 13:22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (HCSB)
As was explained earlier, John used the word antichristos, plural antichristoi, while in the Greek text of Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 the word is pseudochristoi (plural). Both words meant "false Anointed ones" (false Christs, false Messiahs) – deceivers who denied Jesus and claimed that they were the Messiah.
Again, a clarification: The Greek word christos meant "anointed". The word "Messiah" is a transliteration of the Hebrew word mashiyach with the same meaning, "anointed". Thus, "Christ" = christos = mashiyach = "Messiah" = "Messias" = "[the] Anointed". Likewise, antichristoi = pseudochristoi = false Messiahs = false Christs = false Anointed ones. The essay eg07b.htm has more on the words "Christ", "Messiah" and "Messias" (Greek christos, Hebrew mashiyach).
As was explained earlier, the words antichristoi and pseudochristoi meant the same thing. The meaning and use of the prefix anti in old Greek was explained above, but here are the mentioned examples once again: Antileôn, "like a lion", antipais, "like a child", antitheos, "god-like", antipetros, "stone-like", antitupos, "a thing resembling another, its counterpart", antallagos, "exchanged for another", antandros and antênôr, "instead of a man" (as a substitute).
So, when we read in 1 John 2:18 how John noted that the saints knew that false Anointed ones (false Messiahs) were to come, we can understand that that referred to something Jesus had warned about, such as what is recorded in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22. (The essay eo09e.htm has some notes on Matthew 24:24 and related warnings.)
A note: Some might say, "But Matthew 24 is not about the events of the first century. It is about events that have not taken place yet." Now, that might be a "commonly accepted truth", but still, that is not true. On the occasion that is recorded in Matthew 24, Jesus was talking to his disciples, and he was telling them what they were to do when the things he had told them about would begin to happen, in Judea. The disciples had asked him, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus told them, "Make sure no one deceives you". (Important: That pronoun "you" referred to those who were listening to Jesus when he spoke those words.)
Jesus went on and told those disciples that people would deliver them up to be afflicted, and would kill them. He told them about "the abomination of the desolation" (armies surrounding Jerusalem, leading to the sacking of the temple and much more), and he told them that if they in those days were in Judea, then they were to flee to the mountains. Also, he told them that many false Messiahs would come (during their life-time). That was in connection with the disciples' question "what will be the sign of your coming". In other words: Jesus warned those disciples that there would come many who denied that Jesus was the Messiah, and pretended that they were the Messiah, the Christos, the Anointed of God.
Jesus said a few other things as well, and then he made a special point regarding the imminence of those thing. Let us read what he said to his disciples:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say to you, This generation [D] will not have passed away until all these things shall have taken place. 35 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away. (DBY)
[D] "This generation" – yes indeed, Jesus spoke about people of those days, the generation of those who were listening to him. Consider even this: Why did John write, "It is the last hour" (1 John 2:18)? Simply because he was not writing to or regarding us, but to and regarding people of his own day and age, and regarding things that were already taking place when he wrote. As John noted in his letter, the pseudochristoi/antichristoi (false Messiahs) that Jesus had warned his disciples about, had already come on the scene when he wrote that letter. From that, John noted, the saints could see that the time when Jesus according to his promise would come for those saints, was imminent. That is why it was for those saints "the last hour", as John expressed it. This is important to understand. It may be that slightly similar things and events will occur in what we view as "the end time", but the facts are that Matthew 24 is specific to the life-time of those whom Jesus was talking to, back in those days. The essays eg04b.htm and eg05b.htm have more on this very important matter. See also the essay eg02c.htm, and look under the heading "Last, last hour, last day" on the index-page keyw-l1.htm.
Point: The particular pseudochristoi, false Anointed ones, false Messiahs, that Jesus warned those disciples about (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22), are past time. They came on the scene in the first century. John's letters show that when John wrote his letters, they had already come.
Yes, it could be that there will occur some similar things and events in what we might view as "the end time", but again, when it comes to Matthew 24, that passage is about what was to happen (and did happen) during the lifetime of those whom Jesus spoke to on that occasion.
Let us first read 1 John 2:22:
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. (AKJV)
Another translation:
1 John 2:22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? He is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (HCSB)
Again, the words mashiyach and christos meant "anointed". The antichristoi, also called pseudochristoi, were deceivers who denied that Jesus was the Messiah (the Anointed) who was to come. Apparently, at least some of those deceivers claimed that they were the Messiah.
The verb in the Greek text of 1 John 2:22 is arneomai. That word had different meanings, such as "to decline", "do decline to give", "to say no", "to disown", "to refuse", "to cast aside", "to renounce", "to deny" (to not acknowledge). The deceivers who came and pretended to be the Anointed (Christos, Mashiyach), were men who denied Jesus the true Messiah, and took his place. They did not acknowledge Jesus or his teachings; instead, they set themselves up as "Anointed ones" and "Teachers" and "Masters".
Let us read 2 John 7-11 also:
2 John 7 because many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ coming in flesh; this one is he who is leading astray, and the antichrist. 8 See to yourselves that ye may not lose the things that we wrought, but a full reward may receive; 9 every one who is transgressing, and is not remaining in the teaching of the Christ, hath not God; he who is remaining in the teaching of the Christ, this one hath both the Father and the Son; 10 if any one doth come unto you, and this teaching doth not bear, receive him not into the house, and say not to him, 'Hail!' 11 for he who is saying to him, 'Hail,' hath fellowship with his evil works. (YLT)
How should one understand that?
To begin with, let us note in verse 7 the words "many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ coming in flesh". That is: There were deceivers who denied that Jesus was the Christos, the Anointed, the Mashiyach. And, they presented themselves as the Christos. Thus, they were pseudochristoi – antichristoi – false Messiahs. (The real meaning of the word combination anti-christos was explained earlier in this essay.)
Let us also note in verse 10 the words "if any one doth come unto you, and this teaching doth not bear, receive him not into the house, and say not to him, 'Hail!' (Some translations have "doctrine" instead of "teaching". Here, it is good to know that the word "doctrine" comes from the Latin noun doctrina which simply meant "teaching".) The point here is that verse 10 of course refers back to verse 9 which talks about "the teaching of the Christ" – in clearer language, "the teaching of the Anointed". In other words: John obviously meant that if someone came and did not keep to Jesus' teachings but instead introduced his own teachings ("doctrines"), such a person was not to be accepted or even greeted.
A side-note: How is it today, in regard to such things? Well, in most churches people are expected to follow a creed or dogmas or doctrines – teachings formulated by men. Indeed, doctrines, as that word is used and understood today, always consist of teachings of men. But, the Bible shows that believers must hold on to Jesus' teachings (those he presented personally, and those he gave through his apostles). The manner of churches and preachers to demand people to follow doctrines (sets of teachings formulated by men), is similar to that of the antichristoi, the deceivers who swept Jesus aside and put themselves in his place, as Anointed ones, Lords, Masters and Teachers, and produced their own teachings.
The essay es08c.htm takes a closer look at the practice of churches and preachers to have "doctrines" (teachings of men which preachers demand people to accept and follow).
Let us note and then always keep firmly in mind what Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 23:8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. (NASB-77)
It is true that John wrote about deceivers that existed in his own day and age. But even today, there are many false "Anointed ones" who set themselves up as "Leaders" and "Teachers" and demand people to follow them, claiming their own teachings to be "the Truth". Often, men of that kind also take to themselves titles which (in the religious context) belong to Jesus alone. Examples of such titles are "Doctor" (which means Teacher), and "Leader". Again, see Matthew 23:8-10 which was quoted above. Some preachers have even let themselves be titled "the Anointed" or "God's Anointed", or "God's apostle". (The facts are that only Jesus was and is God's apostle. The twelve were Jesus' apostles. Also: Jesus has no apostles here on Earth today. The essays ee01c.htm and ea08b.htm have more on this.)
Sometimes things are done more shrewdly, such as when preachers demand to be titled and called "Mister" or "Sir". Those words actually mean "Master" and "Father". ("Sir" comes from Sire which has the meaning "Father". "Mister" and "Master" come both from the Latin magister which meant "Leader", "Teacher". The literal meaning of magister probably had to do with "greatness", from magnus, "great"; compare that with the Hebrew rabbi which meant something like "my great one", from rab, "great".) There are many similar titles and words in use, in the religious world of our day; the essay ea08b.htm has more on that subject. Again, read Matthew 23:8-10 which was quoted above.
A note: Some preachers even twist such solidly clear passages as Matthew 23:8-10 and similar ones, in connection with a dogma about "servant leadership" (which a certain American writer invented in 1970). The essay ee03c.htm has more on that subject. The essay ea10c.htm shows how the apostle Paul instructed the saints to mark, avoid and cast out from their fellowships men who set themselves up as "something".
Another note: Many bible-translations make it seem that the apostle Paul supposedly told others to "follow him as a leader". But, he did not do that. The Greek text of the New Testament shows that instead, he told people to imitate his example in regard to certain specific matters. The essay em03c.htm shows from the Bible what Paul's really example was, and explains why most preachers are very quiet about that example.
1 John 2:20 records how John mentioned the anointing (chrisma) the saints had: The Holy Spirit. But, John's letters tell us that the antichristoi had a different spirit. The apostle wrote to some saints, mentioning the spirit of the antichristos:
1 John 4:1 Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world; 2 in this know ye the Spirit of God; every spirit that doth confess Jesus Christ in the flesh having come, of God it is, 3 and every spirit that doth not confess Jesus Christ in the flesh having come, of God it is not; and this is that of the antichrist, which ye heard that it doth come, and now in the world it is already. 4 Ye—of God ye are, little children, and ye have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. 5 They—of the world they are; because of this from the world they speak, and the world doth hear them; 6 we—of God we are; he who is knowing God doth hear us; he who is not of God, doth not hear us; from this we know the spirit of the truth, and the spirit of the error. (YLT)
So, there was a spirit in the picture, connected to the antichristoi whom John repeatedly warned those saints about. Apparently, those deceivers were of Satan. The question is, did they actually have Satan's spirit in them? If so, then perhaps they were men of the "darnel" ("tares") kind. See 2 Corinthians 11:4, Ephesians 2:2, 1 Timothy 4:1 and Matthew 13:24-30, and the essay ew11c.htm.
That is, will there be an "ultimate" false Messiah, false Christ, false Anointed one, whose coming will occur in what we view as the "end time"?
The facts are that the Bible does not say that. But, on the other hand, when Satan comes back on the scene in power, he could perhaps be seen as such an ultimate false Anointed one. In fact, it could even be that when Satan returns on the scene, many will think that he is Jesus, the true Anointed One. For that as well as other reasons, one perhaps could say that Satan is the "ultimate" antichristos (false Messiah, false Anointed one). (The essay ed04c.htm has more on Satan.)
But, when one studies this matter, one must leave aside all dogmas and other teachings of men. It is only Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3 and 2 John 7 that mention the pseudochristoi/antichristoi. So, it is those passages and their context that one must study, in order to find out more about those false ones (plural).
Also: It is important to note and remember that the pseudochristoi, antichristoi whom Jesus and the apostle John warned about, were many (plural), and that they existed in John's own day. They had already come on the scene, when John wrote his letters. They were not "an end time thing" – not from our viewpoint. For the saints, as John noted, the fact that those false Christs had appeared, was a sign which told them that it was the "last hour". But, that was regarding the saints, not regarding us. (Again, the reason why John used the words eschatê hôra, "last hour", was explained earlier in this treatise; see also the essay eg04b.htm and look under the heading "Last, last hour" on the index-page keyw-l1.htm.)
But yes, there certainly are many similar impostors, false Anointed ones, as well as deceivers of other kinds, even in our day. And, we can expect that there will be more of them, as time passes.
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Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
Jesus warned his disciples about false prophets, teachers of falsehood, deceivers and deception. He said that many would be deceived. → eo09e.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
What happened to the saints, in the first century? Also, some notes on the "early church". → eg04b.htm
Rapture and parousia – are they biblical concepts? → eg05b.htm
What does the English language word and concept "doctrine" literally mean? Likewise, the terms "dogma", "creed" and "tenet", what do they signify? Countless preachers and doctors of theology compile dogmas, creeds, tenets and doctrinal statements of beliefs, and claim them to be "the Truth". But, they do not agree with each other. Their opinions and teachings differ, depending on their denomination and its viewpoints, and there is much confusion. So, the pertinent question is, who has the "true doctrines" or "correct dogmas"? What should one think – do the Scriptures give any guidance regarding this matter? What does the Bible say about "doctrine"? → es08c.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
What does the Bible say about elders? What was their role in the saints' fellowships? Also, was there a "hierarchy" with "ranks"? → ee01c.htm
What the Bible says about titles of men in the religious context. A few comments regarding certain ecclesiastical titles, such as apostle, bishop, deacon, doctor of theology, evangelist, father, minister, pastor, priest, prophet, reverend, and so on. → ea08b.htm
Is "servant leadership" a biblical concept? Did elders in the saints' fellowships act as "servant leaders"? What the Bible says about leadership among Jesus' disciples. → ee03c.htm
What the Bible says about excommunication, marking and avoiding. Additionally, some notes on the words and concepts "heresy" and "heretic". → ea10c.htm
Essays regarding various matters in connection with religious fellowships. → keyw-a4.htm (Look under the heading "Assembly".)
On the example the apostle Paul set, for others to imitate. Paul did not tell people to "follow him as a leader"; what he did was that he told the saints to imitate him, to copy his example. It is important for believers to know what kind of example Paul referred to and meant, and in what connection. → em03c.htm
Monetary things in connection with religious fellowships. → keyw-s5.htm (Look under the heading "Silver and gold".)
What does the Bible say about authority? Who has biblical, spiritual or religious authority on the mundane, human level? Who can speak for God? Knowing the answers to those questions is a vital key to understanding the Bible in a better and deeper way. → es06d.htm
What does the Bible say about lying? Should believers lie? A study regarding lies, liars and self-deception. → eo05c.htm
Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43, the parable of the darnel or "tares", the wicked seed sown by the Enemy. → ew11c.htm
Many people wonder, why does God allow evil, sickness, pain, war and suffering? What is the biblical answer – does the Bible explain that matter, or in some way make it understandable? → ew01b.htm
What does the Bible say about Satan the Devil? Various things regarding mankind's arch-enemy. → ed04c.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
filename.htm
Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
search.htm
An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
– A
– B
– C
– D
– E
– F
– G
– H
– I
– J
– K
– L
– M
– N
– O
– P
– Q
– R
– S
– T
– U
– V
– W
– X
– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
The address to this page is www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/eo02d.htm
Please send or mention the address to this site to others, and link to these pages.
This page was created or modified 2010-02-04.