πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good: Part 2 - Refutation of a Popular Atheist Credo

 

Kerry A. Shirts. MM, 32°, CM, RAM, KT

Ritualist/Education Officer

Eagle Rock Lodge # 19

Idaho Falls, Idaho

December 28. 2010

 

By doing a little browsing through the Bible, we can find all sorts of ideas which sometimes take us by complete surprise. A popularized Atheist Credo I have been told by atheists is that we Bible believers are taught not to think, but simply accept what we are told. I simply do not find that concept in the Bible. The exact opposite intellectual paradigm is actually presented to us to consider.

 

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε – Prove All Things, Hold Fast That Which is Good is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. This entire discourse is given by Paul to keep the people in readiness and not get caught off guard. The exhortation to be sober in vss. 6 and 8 is the Greek word νήφω nēphō having the sense of sober watchfulness, while at  2 Timothy 4:5 we read: σὺ δὲ νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, “you, however, show sound judgment in all things.” Actually, the verb is always found with exhortations. Verse 11 reads, in part, the necessity of “edifying” one another. The Greek verb here is οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō) which is used of building houses, with the idea of “building up” or “to make more able.” Paul, when talking to the Ephesians declared they were to be δοκιμάζοντες τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ - “proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” The verb δοκιμάζω (dokimazō) is in the present active meaning there is no assessment of the action’s completion. It means to regard something as genuine or worthy on the basis of testing—to judge to be genuine, to judge as good, to approve. δοκιμάζοντες is the plural because it is spoken to the entire group of the Ephesians. Larkin notes that “the participle could indicate the process of critical examination to determine genuineness, (Philippians 1:10) but more likely points to a response to the result of the investigation” – ‘to draw a conclusion about worth on the basis of testing, prove, approve.’[1]

 

The same verb at 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – δοκιμάζετε – here is the imperative (a command in other words, or a serious request) present, active 2^nd person plural. They are commanded to prove everything, accept nothing told them by anyone in any state, drunken or sober (vss 4-8). Don’t de evil to anyone, (vs. 15) don’t follow the ways of the world, (vss. 11-13) be patient, support the weak, (vss. 16-20) help out the feeble-minded (vs. 14) (ὀλιγόψυχος – oligopsychos - implies, of course, that they are not to be feeble-minded, but strong-minded to succor those in need of help. An alternative translation is ‘encourage those who are losing heart’ 1 Thess 5.14. The expression ‘those who are losing heart’ is semantically negative, but can be expressed in a more specifically negative form in some languages, for example, ‘those who do not have courage’ or ‘those whose hearts are not strong.’)

 

No matter how we look at it, there is just simply nothing here that says don’t think. There is nothing here that says don’t test or don’t prove but simply believe in blind faith. John absolutely declares with pure power and logic the proper mental attitude of believers: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” This is as plain as it gets form 1 John 1:4. He declares quite openly - μὴ παντὶ πνεύματι πιστεύετε – “Do not believe every spirit.” (my emphasis) The negative particle μὴ (mē) is a marker of negative purpose. He continued clearly without equivocation or question - ἀλλὰ δοκιμάζετε τὰ πνεύματα – “but test the spirits…” Here, as in Paul’s commands to the people he was teaching, John gives an imperative command in the active present – δοκιμάζετε (dokimazete). “

 

Δόκιμος, (dokimos) used in Greek literature for “tested (by battle), proved, recognized, authentic” (of persons and things), is rare in the LXX and is used there to designate metals as authentic.”[2] Swanson also notes that “In accordance with the formation of the verb with -αζω one may say that δοκιμάζω refers to the thought and action in which one proves that he is δόκιμος; δοκιμή is the result of this active voice. The active voice corresponds to an existence which consists in its fundamental referent, in knowledge and understanding. It is expressed as critical discernment (examination) and in practical testing of the experience of knowing or of being known in relation to oneself and to others.”[3]

 

The Bible is refreshingly direct at telling people to think, to learn, to do, and use our brains, in a total engagement of heart, mind, soul, body, and brains, to enjoy our earth lives, and have hope for the eternal life to come.

 

Endnotes

1. William J. Larkin, Ephesians A Handbook on the Greek Text, Baylor University Press, 2009: 115-116.
2. James Swanson A Dictionary of Biblical Languages: Greek New Testament, Logos, 2007, Vol. 1, p. 341.
3. Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages, Vol. 1, p. 341.

 

Comments

[Taobao in English]

Wow! I love this!*

[freelance writer]

where can I find Ephesians A Handbook on the Greek Text?

[mens lacoste shoes]

That is why I visit this blog again and again and will come back in future too. Thanks

[Nike free run 2]

you are good friends of mine

[יין ישראלי]

A popular Atheist Credo I was told by atheists is that we believers, the Bible is not taught to think.

[Ralph Lauren Outlet]

Your article is very special, I learned a lot, I will always look at your article, I covered up your site.