Is Allah God?....Dragons?

Dedicated Mind · #1 11-12-2008, 01:25 PM

Is Allah a general term which means "God" and can refer to the christian God? Or is Allah the God of muslims and Islam only?

What does the bible refer to when it mentions "dragon"? Is our modern concept of dragon the same one referred to in the bible. "Dragon" appears at least 18 times in the bible. "Dragons", plural, appears 16 times.

Antipas · #2 11-12-2008, 01:38 PM

Allah is a very general term used for an ancient moon god in Arab paganism. Apparently, according to Muslims, Allah revealed to Muhammed (PBUH) that he alone is the only true God who revealed himself to Abraham and through Moses, the prophets, and Jesus. Interestingly enough Yeweh of the OT is indeed a lunar deity, this is why the Jewish calendar is on a lunar cycle.

I've heard different theories on "dragons" ranging from them being "spirits", dinosaurs, alligators, or actual mystical creatures.

Dedicated Mind · #3 11-13-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antipas

Allah is a very general term used for an ancient moon god in Arab paganism. Apparently, according to Muslims, Allah revealed to Muhammed (PBUH) that he alone is the only true God who revealed himself to Abraham and through Moses, the prophets, and Jesus. Interestingly enough Yeweh of the OT is indeed a lunar deity, this is why the Jewish calendar is on a lunar cycle.

I've heard different theories on "dragons" ranging from them being "spirits", dinosaurs, alligators, or actual mystical creatures.

Would a christian bible in Arabic use the term Allah for God?

berkeley · #4 11-13-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

Would a christian bible in Arabic use the term Allah for God?

Yes

Jermyn Davidson · #5 11-13-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkeley

Yes

How do we know this?

When I asked Muslims in Afghanistan about this, I could not get a straight answer, although, I think there were communication issues involved and not deception.

berkeley · #6 11-13-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1399

How do we know this?

When I asked Muslims in Afghanistan about this, I could not get a straight answer, although, I think there were communication issues involved and not deception.

TBN in arabic uses the word "allah"

nahkoe · #7 11-12-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

What does the bible refer to when it mentions "dragon"? Is our modern concept of dragon the same one referred to in the bible. "Dragon" appears at least 18 times in the bible. "Dragons", plural, appears 16 times.

There are three different words used for dragon/dragons.

One means a sea monster, a vast fish, a serpent, a dragon, a crocodile and is from the first definition given in the root that means to extend. There's a note in the root that says "Vast fish, so called from the length of which it extends."

The second word means jackal, wild dog. This is from the same root, the second definition given, which is "contention in running, as being done with outstretched neck, hence jackal, so called from it's swiftness in running.

The third, means habitations. It's from the same root as the other two though, and there's a note in here saying that some take it as jackals.

Sam · #8 11-12-2008, 02:13 PM

Remember that when the KJV was translated, it picked up the current culture.

Things like "dragons" and demon "possession" reflect the culture of the time as does the expression "God save the king" used in the KJV when a person was elevated to the office of king.

Dedicated Mind · #9 11-13-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Remember that when the KJV was translated, it picked up the current culture.

Things like "dragons" and demon "possession" reflect the culture of the time as does the expression "God save the king" used in the KJV when a person was elevated to the office of king.

So what is the correct interpretation or the intended meaning of the word dragon in the bible? Are you saying that modern day demon possession is different from the 1600's or even NT times?

Sam · #10 11-13-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

So what is the correct interpretation or the intended meaning of the word dragon in the bible? Are you saying that modern day demon possession is different from the 1600's or even NT times?

I don't know what the authors meant when they referred to a dragon in their writings which became our Scriptures. In the 1600's when the KJV was being developed, the thinking of the time showed up in the way they interpreted the Greek and Hebrew words into English. If, at that time, they believed in the fire-belching reptiles as dragons, that was the word they used. I think someone else has addressed terms like behomoth and dragon.

As far as demon possession, the word used in the New Testament is daimonizomai which means to be influenced by, vexed by, controlled by a demon (evil spirit). There was a lot of superstition back then about demons/devils coming in when a person yawned or sneezed and gaining possession of him. Have you ever heard someone say, "I wonder what possessed me to do that?" The idea was that an evil spirit or demon or devil could easily access folks and "possess" them. Some of us have even built up a whole teaching on demon depression, obsession, possession and other rhyming words to trace the progression of demonic influence and temptation on through complete "possession." In my opinion, a better translation would have been "demonized" and it could represent a larger scale of demonic activity on a person. If we are children of God, bought by the blood of Jesus, we are His possession and cannot be demon "possessed" but, we can be demonized (influenced by, tempted by, even at times controlled by) demons.