(Or at least bigger than *I* thought, but that’s not as good a title.)
I’m working on Untwisting Scriptures #5, “Suffering, Death (to Self), and Life.”
In preparation for that, I’m studying all the uses in the New Testament of the Greek words that indicate some form of suffering. Which brought me to the Greek word dioko (Strong number G1377), which is translated “persecute.”
I thought this one would be straightforward and I wouldn’t find much. God forgive me for my assumptions.
Anybody ready for a Bible study? Cause buckle up and here we go.
What “persecution” means in the New Testament
Many New Testament Scriptures make very clear that in its negative sense, the Greek word translated “persecution” (literally “chasing after,” Strong’s number G1377) indicates being “chased after” in order to be actively abused: to be stoned, beaten, and even crucified. (It can also mean “chased after” in order to be passively abused: to be cast out into utter isolation from all interaction with the people the Christians had always known as their people.)
But having examined all uses of this word in the New Testament, I’d like to zero in on just one of them. One fascinating use of this word is in Galatians 4:29, when Paul was in the middle of describing the differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
Hang with me. We’re diving in.
“Persecution” in Galatians 4
The book of Galatians is all about helping the New Covenant people of God stand firm in the New Covenant in spite of the pressures and even persecutions they experienced from the Jews—and more specifically, the Judaizers (Jews who claimed to be Christians but thought one needed to be a Jew, even a proselytized Jew, in order to be a Christian). Paul had very strong—very strong—censure against these false teachers.
In Galatians 4:29, Paul compared this situation to the way Ishmael persecuted Isaac, back in Genesis.
But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh [Ishmael] persecuted [G1377] him who was born according to the Spirit [Isaac], so also it is now.
The fully developed allegory in Chapter 4 is fascinating and worthy of a beautiful chart of comparisons and conclusions, but I’m reining myself in and staying focused on the persecution.
What did that “persecute” refer to, back in Genesis? It’s time to cross reference.
Persecution in Genesis 21
Genesis 21:8-9 says,
And the child [Isaac] grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.”
That’s all it says about that.
That was it? Ishmael was laughing? That was what Paul called “persecution”?
But it must have been something really bad. Because in verse 10, Sarah’s reaction to Ishmael’s “laughing” was to plead with Abraham in verse 10, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son.”
(And God told Abraham to do what Sarah said, and Paul’s argument in Galatians hinges on that decision.)
At the time of weaning in those days, Isaac would have been around 2 or 3. Ishmael would have been around 15 or 16. This sets the stage.
The Hebrew word translated “laughing” there (the word that matches with Paul’s word translated “persecution”) is used a few other places to mean different things. I’m walking through some important stuff here, so keep hanging with me.
Four meanings for that Hebrew word (number 4 will surprise you)
At least it did me.
I found four meanings for the Hebrew word translated “laughing,” what Ishmael did to Isaac. Two of them would fit with this idea of “persecution.”
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Go here to download your free Guide, How to Enjoy the Bible Again (when you’re ready) After Spiritual Abuse (without feeling guilty or getting triggered out of your mind). You’ll receive access to both print and audio versions of the Guide (audio read by me). I’m praying it will be helpful.
I recently heard another presentation (from Katie Souza, on the nature of soul wounds) that included speculation about the nature of Issac’s treatment at the hands of Ishmael; she did mention some degree of sexual abuse or molestation as a possibility, which I’d never heard anyone else acknowledge before.
The way Sarah approached this–“Make them leave!”– fits much better with a situation like that, as opposed to some teasing or ridicule. I feel any decent mother would have responded the same.
On a broader note, I’m really, really thankful you’re addressing this subject of suffering. I know people on both ends of the spectrum, who claim that they should be exempt from all forms of suffering because of their position in Christ, and others who are of the mind they will lose their position in Christ if they do not cooperate with suffering.
In the context of a living, thriving relationship with the Lord, the issue of suffering seems simple, but for those who need clarification, it comes across as rather nuanced, and your presentation will go a long way towards clearing out the distortions that have been formed in this particular area.
Thank you! I can’t speak to suffering from a personal perspective, as many very capable people have, but I do want to speak from the perspective of a student of the Scriptures and those who have been harmed, so I pray what I have to say will be helpful.
Ooo, Lauren, I never have thought about that “spectrum.” I think I have been close to those who teach about losing positions or levels in sanctification/Christ/maturity by not cooperating with suffering. More on this to come in the book, Rebecca?
To tell you the truth, I’ve never heard about “losing positions or levels” in sanctification/Christ/maturity by not cooperating with suffering. I missed that memo somehow.
So, alas, that’s not in the book, but I hope what is will be helpful!
This is fantastic!! What amazing treasures there are in the word when we dig like this, eh? I will NEVER see this story about Sarah the same again. It has always been taught that she was jealous and sent them away. Now I see there is more to the story…
It made so much sense in context, yes.
Even harassment and humiliation of any sort done by one old enough to know better and to an innocent child is abhorrent enough to warrant a decisive “this cannot, will not happen again!” response.
And sexual abuse would definitely require a very strong and severe consequence!!
..I can’t believe I never asked more questions about the way this story has been told from pulpits…
It really did shine some light for me as well.
I am just so grateful for your work, Rebecca. So grateful for your mind that stays the course and cuts through the baloney to get at what the Scriptures are really saying. There is so much simplistic, formulaic teaching in “church” culture that really doesn’t make sense if you actually examine it, including the idea that we get persecuted for *being* believers, as if it’s personal. So that then we can claim self-righteous victimhood. But that is not the way of Jesus.
I believe you’re right, that, generally speaking, we’re not targeted for being believers, but for being in the way of others’ unhealthy (evil) ambitions. We are targets of their envy. And we’re targeted in all sorts of sly, crafty, dismissive, damaging, demeaning, corrupting, and exploitative ways. We are “made sport of”: toyed with, objectified, mocked, used, not taken seriously as valued creatures of God. Satan desires to master us through this mistreatment, but we must cling to the Truth of our salvation in Christ.
Yes, you put that so well, Bonnie. Thank you.
Wow, this is really interesting. I never thought of those words indicating sexual abuse. Although it does happen in family systems where there’s other kinds of abuse/bullying.
In the NT, when it says, “Blessed are you when you face various trials and persecutions…” (James 1, I think), I always thought that verses like that were referring to Christians who were actually suffering for an account of their faith. I never thought to apply that to my own personal trials such as mental health struggles and depression, or grief/personal problems, because, after all, that’s probably my own fault and my own lack of faith, right? Looking back, I wish I had trusted God more during those times.
The teaching of David Takle made a lot of sense to me there regarding that “when”–that it means more like “even when.” You are blessed *in spite of* the various trials and persecutions, because you are a beloved child of God.
No matter what the reason for our various troubles (and sometimes we can do something about them and sometimes we can’t), if we have a relationship with the Father through the Son, we are greatly blessed.
Excellent insight! Far to often, I’ve heard persecution described as simply because you believe in Jesus. Not many people want to expound upon the many ways this persecution presents itself.
I had thought that too–because on a fairly superficial reading of the New Testament, that seems to be the consistent meaning. It’s with a little deeper digging that we uncover something more.
This is a wonderful study Rebecca! It is refreshing and comforting to see it written that sometimes persecution is done simply because of one’s innocence and trust. You also clearly point out the great divide between those who are God’s children, and those who are not! Always love your posts.
Thank you so much, Deb. This study was encouraging to me as well.
Thanks for your ideas. I offer this for your consideration. One of the ways Jews said there were “in,” that is, they had a part in the age to come was to say “Abraham is our father.” Paul is saying, in effect, “That is not enough, who is your mother, is it Hagar or Sarah?” Since the already known answer would be Sarah (and Isaac), he upends the argument by claiming that spiritually it is Hagar (and Ismael) if they act as Judaizers. Jesus also had something to say about those that claim, “Abraham is our father.” and I think Paul is saying similar things here. Thoughts?
Oh goodness, this is part of all the OTHER things I could have talked about in Galatians, when I was trying to keep myself focused on the persecution. Good thoughts!
Thinking out loud here…
The connection between sex outside of marriage and idolatry is strong in scripture. I don’t know the full extent of why that is, but one reason I suspect is the unifying effect of sex disconnects you two from others at the same time. Following God and being bonded in love with Him through the Holy Spirit is likewise unifying between you and God, and simultaneously disconnecting from all other things. Idolatry, conversely, connects you to an idol and disconnects you from God.
There’s also the loss of purity aspect. Those kept from idolatry in scripture are called virgins, which usually refers to sexual purity. If what happened with Isaac and Ishmael was of a sexual abuse nature, which certainly makes the most sense with Sarah’s reaction, then it’s interesting that Paul makes a parallel between the ”persecution” they were facing from the Judaizers with an attempt to steal their “virginity.” Those trying to lead them astray were leading them to a false gospel (Gal 1:6), away from the true Gospel and true God, and that act is what Paul likens to (at the very least, attempted) sexual abuse.
Fascinating thoughts, thank you!
Rebecca:
The fact that Ishmael had done something sexual & evil to Issac was something known to me for a long time.
This blog post takes the scripture to the depths that it needs to be taken! It makes more sense out of what Paul wrote as well as clarifying evil that has been done to many trusting & innocent persons.
Your readers and the comments they have made show they are deep thinkers, too.
Another thing that is sticking in my mind is the GREAT mercy of God after Hagar & Ishmael were cast out. But that is another deep study topic.
Thank you, Rebecca. And all who have posted comments so far.
Thank you so much, Dolla. I knew it was important, but hadn’t thought it through the way I did this week.
My first reaction is to want to reject this idea. Then I thought of what culture was surrounding Abraham – and thus Ishmael as he was growing up. The Bible seems to indicate that the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah was around the time Ishmael was 13 or 14. It’s not too hard to imagine this culture could have impacted Ishmael’s thinking, making this scenario/interpretation plausible, whether it was verbal or physical.
Yes, and whatever it was, it was bad. And good thought about the timeline and Sodom connection. I hadn’t considered that at all.
Makes sense
Blessed despite persecutors, not because of… what a clear word!
Hi. Is it just me or am I seeing only part of this article? It looks like the rest of it is missing?
For the articles that became book chapters, I’m removing about half or three-quarters of the articles from this website and referring readers to the books to read the rest.