My first word study in seminary for Greek exegesis was the word σπλαγχνίζομαι. It occurs twelve times in twelve separate verses. BDAG define it as “have pity, feel sympathy” (BDAG, 938). Of the twelve instances, nine of them are used to describe Jesus’ response to a situation. In the other three instances, it is used to describe the master of the unforgiving servant just before he forgive his debt, the good Samaritan just before he goes to help the wounded man, and the father of the prodigal son as the latter is still at a distance on his return. The closest I could come to an idiomatic English translation would be my heart going out to the person. It is not feeling sorry for them, or looking down on them with pity. The NT usage seems to reflect being struck somewhere deep down in such a way that moves one to take action.1
I spoke to our church’s high school group last night, actually I was more introduced/interviewed in anticipation of doing some teaching beginning later this month. They put me in the “hot seat” and asked me questions about my past. I did not feel sorry or pity for them. Εγω σπλαγχνίζομαι. I was struck somewhere down deep to do something. The something kept me awake later than I would have wished, thinking and praying through what “something” looked like for me. This Greek word, based on its NT usage, describes how I felt last night. It felt both good and bad. Something snapped down deep to do something. I had been feeling called to help out teaching for several months, but spending time with the student on their terms, on their turf, changed everything.
John Hobbins’ post this morning “Why it is important not to love the God of the Bible” raises a great issue regarding the academic study of biblical language. The question is this: (forward-pointing reference for dramatic build up, with offline information inserted to further lengthen the delay) Do we treat Scripture as the living and active word of a holy and personal God, or is it something we only look at objectively at a distance?
Never allow academic study to harden your heart.
- I doubt this definition would hold up in broader Koine usage. [↩]
Excellent reminder, Steve. My own thinking is that academic scholarship most easily goes astray when it gets detached from the nitty gritty of the local church. Reality has a strange way of keeping theology in check.
Steve,
No danger here…I’m not that smart!
I do love God’s word precisely because I’m a noob and when I discover something about God and what He’s saying it just gives me a thrill.
I’m not, and probably will never be close to your level of understanding but nonetheless, I really love to study His word.