Originally posted by bbarr
Right. So you would translate proskyneo as 'bow down' (or something like that) everywhere it appears in the NT? Is there any Greek word that appears in the NT that you would consistently translate as 'worship' (e.g., 'sebo')?
mmm, this is such an excellent question that it needs some thought. I guess that
the context must be examined and evaluated and a decision rendered as to whether
the text requires a strict adherence to doing obeisance, bowing down or whether it
requires to be evaluated as worship. Please consider the following,
The Greek verb latreuo (Lu 1:74; 2:37; 4:8; Ac 7:7) and the noun latreia (Joh 16:2;
Ro 9:4) convey the idea of rendering not merely an ordinary, mundane service but
sacred service.
The Greek word proskyneo corresponds closely to the Hebrew term hishtachawah in
expressing the thought of obeisance and, at times, worship. The term proskyneo is
used in connection with a slave’s doing obeisance to a king (Mt 18:26) as well as the
act Satan stipulated when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory. (Mt 4:8, 9) Had he done obeisance to the Devil, Jesus would thereby have
signified submission to Satan and made himself the Devil’s servant. But Jesus
refused, saying: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must
worship [form of Gr. proskyneo or, in the Deuteronomy account that Jesus was
quoting, Heb. hishtachawah], and it is to him alone you must render sacred service
[form of Gr. latreuo or Heb. avadh].’” (Mt 4:10; De 5:9; 6:13) Similarly, worship,
obeisance, or bowing down to “the wild beast” and its “image” is linked with service,
for the worshipers are identified as supporters of “the wild beast” and its “image” by
having a mark either on the hand (with which one serves) or on the forehead (for
all to see). Since the Devil gives the wild beast its authority, worshiping the wild
beast means, in reality, worshiping or serving the Devil.—Re 13:4, 15-17; 14:9-11.
Other Greek words associated with worship are drawn from eusebeo, threskeuo,
and sebomai. The word eusebeo means “give godly devotion to” or “venerate,
revere.” At Acts 17:23 this term is used with reference to the godly devotion or
veneration that the men of Athens were giving to an “Unknown God.” From
threskeuo comes the noun threskeia, understood to designate a “form of worship,”
whether true or false. (Ac 26:5; Col 2:18) The true worship practiced by Christians
was marked by genuine concern for the poor and complete separateness from the
ungodly world. (Jas 1:26, 27) The word sebomai (Mt 15:9; Mr 7:7; Ac 18:7; 19:27)
and the related term sebazomai (Ro 1:25) mean “revere; venerate; worship.”
Objects of worship or of devotion are designated by the noun sebasma. (Ac 17:23;
2Th 2:4) Two other terms are from the same verb stem, with the prefix Theos, God.
These are theosebes, meaning “God-revering” (Joh 9:31), and theosebeia, denoting
“reverence of God.” (1Ti 2:10) These two terms correspond somewhat to the
German word for “public worship,” namely, Gottesdienst (a combination of “God” and
“service&rdquo😉.
24 Oct '11 20:10
Archangel Michael
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