The Hebrew word for "witch" and "witchcraft" do not share the same connotation as the greek word. That might be significant. Secondly, in the context of scripture which does not forbid the practice of medicine, the use of herbs, or men and women from being nurses, midwives or doctors, it would seem more in keeping with scripture to take the alternative meaning of "pharmakeia" which is:
1. the use or the administering of drugs
2. poisoning
3. sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4. metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
Why only pick the definition which supports your belief? You cannot base a doctrine on a single and incomplete definition of a single word, used only ONE time in the New Testament. Especially since the conclusion you are deriving seems out of line with the rest of scripture.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
The Hebrew word for "witch" and "witchcraft" do not share the same connotation as the greek word. That might be significant. Secondly, in the context of scripture which does not forbid the practice of medicine, the use of herbs, or men and women from being nurses, midwives or doctors, it would seem more in keeping with scripture to take the alternative meaning of "pharmakeia" which is:
1. the use or the administering of drugs
2. poisoning
3. sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4. metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
Why only pick the definition which supports your belief? You cannot base a doctrine on a single and incomplete definition of a single word, used only ONE time in the New Testament. Especially since the conclusion you are deriving seems out of line with the rest of scripture.
It doesn't promote the use of medicines either, Sister.
It doesn't promote the use of medicines either, Sister.
Nor does it forbid it. But it does forbid witchcraft--and as I posted, the Hebrew words for witchcraft/witch have nothing at all to do with "pharmaceuticals."
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Nor does it forbid it. But it does forbid witchcraft--and as I posted, the Hebrew words for witchcraft/witch have nothing at all to do with "pharmaceuticals."
Sister, there's at least one or we wouldn't be here discussing it, would we?
It doesn't promote the use of medicines either, Sister.
It's the misapplication of the one scripture that shows what a pharmacist is and the definition says, "a druggist or poisoner". The other scriptures show that witchcraft deals with divination. Galatian 5:20 does not deal with divination.
The Hebrew word for "witch" and "witchcraft" do not share the same connotation as the greek word. That might be significant. Secondly, in the context of scripture which does not forbid the practice of medicine, the use of herbs, or men and women from being nurses, midwives or doctors, it would seem more in keeping with scripture to take the alternative meaning of "pharmakeia" which is:
1. the use or the administering of drugs
2. poisoning
3. sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4. metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
Why only pick the definition which supports your belief? You cannot base a doctrine on a single and incomplete definition of a single word, used only ONE time in the New Testament. Especially since the conclusion you are deriving seems out of line with the rest of scripture.
Witches in the OT referred to necromancy (talking to dead folks, like todays so called psychics)
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Witches in the OT referred to necromancy (talking to dead folks, like todays so called psychics)
witchcraft -
qesem
keh'-sem
From H7080; a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle: - (reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.
witch -
kâshaph
kaw-shaf'
A primitive root; properly to whisper a spell, that is, to inchant or practise magic: - sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft).
Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Deuteronomy 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Deuteronomy 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Not one of these words refers to medicine, or to the use of plants as a curative.
By the way, Rico, the Bible does say that laughter does good, "like a medicine [cure]". Does that verse call medicine good, along with laughter?
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
witchcraft -
qesem
keh'-sem
From H7080; a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle: - (reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.
witch -
kâshaph
kaw-shaf'
A primitive root; properly to whisper a spell, that is, to inchant or practise magic: - sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft).
Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Deuteronomy 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Deuteronomy 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Not one of these words refers to medicine, or to the use of plants as a curative.
By the way, Rico, the Bible does say that laughter does good, "like a medicine [cure]". Does that verse call medicine good, along with laughter?
Uh...I didn't say they did refer to medicine
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Hybrid Mode
