Jesus refers to the Greek words that are translated as “the Holy Spirit” only twelve times, but in these verses he uses the two keywords in four different ways.
This is so interesting. It is taking a bit of time to wrap my brain around. I have been taught that baptize is a Greek word meaning to Dye, as to permeate a material with a new color, as when material is 'dunked' in a dye vat. Is this a valid translation of baptize?
Not a translation. The word means "dunked" or "dipped." More of a metaphor but not one mentioned in Greek sources. Dunking a cloth dyes it, but we also dunk donuts in coffee. Is there a metaphor there, too? Dirty dishes and clothes are dunked in soapy water but that is less of a metaphor for baptism as confession because everything gets dirty again. Preachers make metaphors out of all kinds of things and stretch the meaning of the Greek (often beyond its breaking point) to do so.
I find it incredible how even though the words and language changes, the ideas always carry through the ages. One example is wind or spirit, nowadays a metaphor for killing someone is "taking their wind" so even though languages and words change, ideascarry through. Same with "stakes" possibly meaning investments in greek, and the idea still carries today in English
This is so interesting. It is taking a bit of time to wrap my brain around. I have been taught that baptize is a Greek word meaning to Dye, as to permeate a material with a new color, as when material is 'dunked' in a dye vat. Is this a valid translation of baptize?
Not a translation. The word means "dunked" or "dipped." More of a metaphor but not one mentioned in Greek sources. Dunking a cloth dyes it, but we also dunk donuts in coffee. Is there a metaphor there, too? Dirty dishes and clothes are dunked in soapy water but that is less of a metaphor for baptism as confession because everything gets dirty again. Preachers make metaphors out of all kinds of things and stretch the meaning of the Greek (often beyond its breaking point) to do so.
Thank you!
I find it incredible how even though the words and language changes, the ideas always carry through the ages. One example is wind or spirit, nowadays a metaphor for killing someone is "taking their wind" so even though languages and words change, ideascarry through. Same with "stakes" possibly meaning investments in greek, and the idea still carries today in English