Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Mat 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Again, a potentially misleading translation. What is translated as "the end of the world" here just as easily could mean "at the completion of a life." "Sever" really means marking off boundaries, distringuishing one thing from another. And "the wicked" are just those things that are worthless. This could describe our spiritual feelings judging someone's life as worthless or worthwhile at their deaths just as easily as it describes angels at the last judgment.

Alternative: So shall it be at the consumation of a lifetime: the divine voice shall come forth and determine the worthless from among those observant of the rules.

"End" is from sunteleia, which means "completion" or "consumation."

"The world" is from aion, which means "life," "lifetime," "age," or "generation."

"Angels" is from aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoy."

"Sever" is from aphorizo which means "to mark off boundaries," "to determine," and "to separate" in the sense of "distinguish" as well as "to banish."

"Wicked" is poneros which means "oppressed by toils" and "worthless."

"Just" is from dikaios, which means "observant of custom," "observant of duty," and "observing the rules."