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The taste of false teaching
1. The taste of false teaching
What is the "
taste" of "
false teaching", as from a "
false Christ"? Jesus, the "
true Christ", says "
take and eat".
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. [kjv]
For anyone to taste and eat false teaching, that false teaching must, at least, taste good, even if one does not feel well after eating it. The angel tells John, "
take and eat" with an interesting result.
Revelation 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. [kjv]
2. Taste
There are many common sayings about taste.
To be in "good taste" or "bad taste".
To leave a "sour taste" in one's mouth.
"More taste, less filling" (beer advertising slogan)
A "taste of one's own medicine".
An "acquired taste"..
Discuss: Does one need an "
acquired taste" for false teaching?
3. Latin
4. Smack
The English word "
taste" almost replaced the Middle English word
"smecchen" ≈ "taste" from the Old English word
"smacian" ≈ "taste" which is the source of the English word "
smack" as a "
distinct flavor" as in the Kellog's cereal "
Sugar Smacks".
The German word "Schmack" ≈ "taste" (as a noun).
The German word "schmecken" ≈ "taste" (as a verb).
The German (and Amish) phrase "
Das Schmeckt Gut!" means "
That tastes good!".
5. John in Revelation
In Revelation, John appears to have been forwarded in time and appears to have a "taste" of something that sounds as if it could be "false teaching".
6. John and Daniel
Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. [kjv]
… μη αυτα γραψης [gnt]
John is told not to write some things down. That is, he sees things that, for some reason, are not to be preserved in written form.
This same situation happened to Daniel.
7. Revelation 10:4
KJV: And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Greek: και οτε ελαλησαν αι επτα βρονται τας φωνας εαυτων εμελλον ημελλον γραφειν και ηκουσα φωνην εκ του ουρανου λεγουσαν μοι σφραγισον α ελαλησαν αι επτα βρονται και μη ταυτα αυτα γραψης
8. Daniel 12: Knowledge shall increase in the end times
In Daniel 12, Daniel is told to write down prophecy. He is also told to close the book and not write some things down.
Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. [kjv]
… γνωσις [lxx]
There are other interesting end-times prophecies about transportation, information, etc. From this and other prophecies it appears that the end-times started sometime in the early 1800's and could continue for quite a while.
9. Daniel 12:9
KJV: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Hebrew: ויאמר לך דניאל כי סתמים וחתמים הדברים עד עת קץ׃
Greek: και ειπεν δευρο δανιηλ οτι εμπεφραγμενοι και εσφραγισμενοι οι λογοι εως καιρου περας
10. Magi
The sealing of the book leaves open a conjecture that, since Daniel was put in charge of the Magi, was he told to pass down secret information that was not to be written down. This might have included instructions to the (his selected) magi to look for a sign (e.g., a star) hundreds of years later and then make a visit to Jerusalem (as protocol would have dictated) and then to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.
11. Mystery of God
Let us skip a few verses when the "mystery" of God should be finished.
12. Revelation 10:7
KJV: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Greek: αλλα αλλ εν ταις ημεραις της φωνης του εβδομου αγγελου οταν μελλη σαλπιζειν και τελεσθη ετελεσθη το μυστηριον του θεου ως ευηγγελισεν τοις τους εαυτου δουλοις τοις προφηταις δουλους τους προφητας
Latin: sed in diebus vocis septimi angeli cum coeperit tuba canere et consummabitur mysterium Dei sicut evangelizavit per servos suos prophetas
13. Mysteries in Babylon
The Greek word "
mystery" was associated an initiation into a secret society connected with Pythagoras about 500 B.C.
The story of Daniel takes place about 600 B.C., before Pythagoras, but was written in Hebrew (and Aramaic).
The Greek prefix "
μυστηρι-" (mystery) appears
8 times in the
LXX (Septuagint), all in Daniel. Daniel is in captivity in Babylon. Interestingly, Babylon is mentioned in connection with "
mystery" in Revelation.
14. The little book
John is presented with a "
little book" which would probably have been in the form of a "
scroll". This was not a crescent scroll, although a crescent roll may have tasted better.
This scroll idea may be a reference back to an earlier chapter in Revelation. It may have to do with the removal of some restraining force (e.g., the Holy Spirit).
15. Revelation 10:8
KJV: And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Greek: και η φωνη ην ηκουσα εκ του ουρανου παλιν λαλουσα λαλουσαν μετ εμου και λεγουσα λεγουσαν υπαγε λαβε το βιβλαριδιον βιβλιον το ηνεωγμενον εν τη χειρι του αγγελου του εστωτος επι της θαλασσης και επι της γης
Latin: et vox quam audivi de caelo iterum loquentem mecum et dicentem vade accipe librum apertum de manu angeli stantis supra mare et supra terram
Tyndale: And the voyce which I herde from heven spake vnto me agayne and sayde: goo and take the lytle boke which ys open in the honde of the angell which stondeth apon the see and apon the erth.
Luther: Und ich hörete eine Stimme vom Himmel abermal mit mir reden und sagen: Gehe hin, nimm das offene Büchlein von der Hand des Engels, der auf dem Meer und auf der Erde stehet.
16. Diminutive: book
17. Take and eat
At the last supper, Jesus says "
take and eat".
18. Matthew 26:26
KJV: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Greek: εσθιοντων δε αυτων λαβων ο ιησους τον αρτον και ευλογησας εκλασεν και εδιδου δους τοις μαθηταις και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου
Latin: cenantibus autem eis accepit Iesus panem et benedixit ac fregit deditque discipulis suis et ait accipite et comedite hoc est corpus meum
Spanish: Y comiendo ellos, Jesús tomó el pan, y lo bendijo, y lo partió y dio a sus discípulos, y dijo: Tomad, comed; esto es mi cuerpo.
Portuguese: Enquanto comiam, Jesus tomou o pão e, depois de pronunciar a bênção, partiu-o e deu-o aos seus discípulos, dizendo: «Tomai, comei: isto é o meu corpo. »
19. Take and eat
In the next verse in Revelation, the angel says to John "
take and eat".
True teachers, sheep dogs, etc., say "take and eat" as they mimic or imitate Christ.
False teachers, wolf dogs, etc., say "take and eat". as they impersonate Christ.
20. Sheep dogs and wolf dogs
Dogs are known as man's best friend. The dog breed is related to the wolf breed and can, in fact, interbreed. Two dogs may appear similar, but one may be a sheep dog and another a wolf dog.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
… λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
A sheep dog is like a bishop who travels around keeping the faithful in line.
A wolf dog is as ravenous wolf is a leader in the church not sparing the flock.
Jesus warns of this. It might be important and useful to distinguish these types of dogs.
21. Revelation 10:9
KJV: And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Greek: και απηλθον απηλθα προς τον αγγελον λεγων αυτω δος δουναι μοι το βιβλαριδιον και λεγει μοι λαβε και καταφαγε αυτο και πικρανει σου την κοιλιαν αλλ εν τω στοματι σου εσται γλυκυ ως μελι
22. Top down
The angles says, and John writes, the top-down backward-chaining from the goal sequence of "
belly" and then "
mouth". This is a computer science way of thinking about what will happen.
In the next verse, John gives the sequence of events which happen the same way in time whether one thinks of the problem as top-down or bottom-up.
23. Revelation 10:10
KJV: And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Greek: και ελαβον το βιβλαριδιον εκ της χειρος του αγγελου και κατεφαγον αυτο και ην εν τω στοματι μου ως μελι γλυκυ και οτε εφαγον αυτο επικρανθη η κοιλια μου
Latin: et accepi librum de manu angeli et devoravi eum et erat in ore meo tamquam mel dulce et cum devorassem eum amaricatus est venter meus
Wycliffe: And Y took the book of the aungels hond, and deuouride it, and it was in my mouth as swete hony; and whanne Y hadde deuourid it, my wombe was bittere. And he seide to me, It bihoueth thee eftsoone to prophesie to hethene men, and to puplis, and langagis, and to many kingis.
Luther: Und ich nahm das Büchlein von der Hand des Engels und verschlang es; und es war süß in meinem Munde wie Honig; und da ich's gegessen hatte, grimmete mich's im Bauch.
24. Mouth and stomach
For John, what tastes sweet in the mouth is bitter in the stomach.
False teaching can be like that. It is like rat poison, in which poison is mixed with something that tastes good. But the result is death.
Once such poison is eaten, it can be hard to clear it from the system.
25. Bitter and sweet
The combination of "
sweet" and "
bitter" is used in the above verse. It is used in "
bittersweet" chocolate such as Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips.
26. Idioms
Here are some other sayings using both "
bitter" and "
sweet".
"take the bitter with the sweet"
a "bittersweet" memory, experience, etc.
In Greek, "
sweet" and "
bitter" have interesting etymologies.
27. Sweet sweet sweets
The Greek word for "
sweet" is related to the English words "
glucose" and "
hypoglycemic". In the
GNT (Greek New Testament) and
LXX the Greek word for "
sweet" often appears in the same verse with the Greek word for "
bitter".
28. Bitter bitter bits
The Hebrew word for "
bitter" is
"מרא" (ma-ra) ≈ "bitter" as used in the Exodus for the "
bitter" springs of "
Mara" and Noami telling Ruth to call her "
Mara" as God has treated her "
bitterly". The Greek city of Smyrna comes from the related word for "
myrrh" is in "
We Three Kings of Orient Are".
The ancient Greek word
"πικρός" ≈ "pointed, sharp, keen". The meaning is oriented towards the sense to which it is associated such as touch, taste, feeling, sound, sight, etc. The modern Greek word
"πικρός" (pee-KROS) ≈ "bitter" where the meaning has narrowed to the sense of taste.
29. Mouth and belly
In Greek, the "mouth" and the "belly" have interesting etymologies.
30. A peace of the mouth of the sword
Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. [kjv]
… στοματος … ρομφαια διστομος … [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"στόμα" ≈ "mouth" and could mean the "
face", source of a body of water, opening in the earth, the front opening of something, etc. An interesting idiom in the Greek is that of letting the "
mouth of the sword" do the talking.
31. Expanding on the belly and the womb
A "
belly" is the abdominal part of the anatomy. A belly can be "
concave" as in a protrusion or "
convex" as in a valley.
In some languages, the word for "
belly" or "
womb" can be associated with "
pregnant". Expanding on these ideas is "
pregnant" with opportunities.
32. Adam and Eve
In the garden in Genesis, Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit after being deceived by the Serpent.
As soon as they had eaten, they know that something was wrong. It is as if the fruit were sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach. This effect, that as John notes, did not take long to be felt.
33. Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [kjv]
… χριστω … κοιλια … χρηστολογιας … ευλογιας … ακακων [gnt]
Near the end of Romans, Paul says that false teachers, to support their "
belly", will use "
useful words" and "
good logic" to deceive the overly-trusting congregation. Paul makes a pun between "
Christ" and "
useful" (words).
The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "good, useful".
The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one".
In modern Greek these words are pronounced the some.
The modern Greek word "χριστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "Christ, anointed one" .
The modern Greek word "χρηστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "useful" where "useful".
In ancient times, there was a small difference in how they sounded.
34. Taste of false teaching
Does the taste of false teaching taste bad to the false teacher? This is a reflexive relationship such as deceivers who deceive themselves. They start to believe their own lies.
35. Reflexive deception
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [kjv]
πονηροι … γοητες … πλανωντες … πλανωμενοι [gnt]
mali … seductores … peius errantes … errorem … [v]
… ubilai … airzjai … airzjandans… [got]
Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus. In 2 Timothy 3:13, Paul warns Timothy of "
evil" men "
deceiving" and "
being deceived". The word for "
evil" appears to be that of being burdened down with the cares and concerns of this world.
Deception can be reflexive in that one may start to believe one's own lies. This often happens when, in deceiving others, one starts to believe the deception being used.
36. Vladimir Lenin
37. Deceiving heart
38. An appetite for a desire to reach out
The word "
covet" can mean desiring or reaching out for.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [kjv]
The Greek word for "
reaching out" is the basis for the word for "
appetite". An appetite can be for something good or a "
lust" for something not so good.
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [kjv]
39. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 The moving ethics of tinnitus and itching ears
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [kjv]
What does it mean to have
"itching" "ears"?
Can one "
scratch" an "
itch"? Can one "
itch" a "
scratch"? Let us "
scratch" the surface.
Paul warns Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, that people will eventually get "
teachers" that teach them what they want to hear - having
"itching" "ears".
40. Matthew 24: False Christs and all of it
In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, where Jesus tells "
All of it" (a pun on Olivet) about the period up to and including the end times, Jesus says that many will come in His name saying "
I am the Christ".
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [kjv]
πολλοι … πλανησουσιν [gnt]
Many appears to mean "
many" as in "
not just a few". Can you identify some candidates through out history that might fit the description?
Mark is similar to Matthew. Luke has some differences.
41. End of Revelation 10
To complete the verses, here is the last verse of Revelation 10.
42. Revelation 10:11
KJV: And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Greek: και λεγει λεγουσιν μοι δει σε παλιν προφητευσαι επι λαοις και εθνεσιν και γλωσσαις και βασιλευσιν πολλοις
43. Ignatius
The early church father Ignatius has some words of wisdom about the taste of false teaching.
44. False teaching as poison
Talking about false teachers, early church father
Ignatius writes the following to the
Trallians (part 6.2, underlining added).
The Greek for "
unsuspecting" is "
ignorant". One needs to study the truth to not be "
ignorant".
English: ... these people, while pretending to be trustworthy, mix Jesus Christ with themselves - like those who administer a deadly drug with honeyed wine, which the unsuspecting victim accepts without fear and so with final pleasure drinks down death. Holmes, M. (2007). The Apostolic Fathers. 3rd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 208.
What is the
functional difference between the following?
Someone who says "I am Christ. Do this." (false Christ).
Someone who says "I represent Christ. Christ says to do this.".
45. Puffed up with pride
After warning about the poison of false teachers, Ignatius tells the Trallians in the very next line that being puffed up with pride makes one susceptible to such false teachers (part 7.1).
English: Therefore be on your guard against such people. And you will be provided that you are not puffed up with pride ...
Holmes, M. (2007).
The Apostolic Fathers. 3rd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 208.
Such prideful people think (know) that they know the answers without even checking to verify them. They will proclaim "
I am" followed by assertions or oaths of their self-exalted position.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. [kjv]
46. Ignatius to the Ephesians: Antidote
An
"antidote" is what one takes
"in place of" the "
dose" or what is given as poison.
The
"antidote" for sin in general is mentioned by
Ignatius in his letter to the
Ephesians (part 20.2)
English: ... breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ.
Greek: … ἕνα ἄρτον κλῶντες, ὅς ἐστιν φάρμακον ἀθανασιας, ἀντίδοτος τοῦ μὴ ἀποθανεῖν, ἀλλὰ ζῆν ἐν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ διὰ παντός. Ignatius to the Ephesians [20]
Holmes, M. (2007).
The Apostolic Fathers. 3rd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 199.
47. End of page
