Carnival mirror sermons

In Bible times, "glass" was often used as a "mirror".

Have you ever looked into two mirrors that reflect each other?

Does every physical object have a color?

What is the color of glass?
What is the color of a mirror?

Try reflecting on that for a moment. A magnetic mirror is quite attractive.

A "mirror" is a device that reflects an image that is seen.

A "carnival mirror" is a mirror that distorts what is seen. Other names include the "fun-house mirror" or "distorting mirror".
A "carnival mirror sermon" is here defined as a sermon that distorts the meaning in the Bible. A complete "carnival mirror sermon" is a sermon that appears to promote the exact opposite of what, on careful analysis, the Bible actually says.

A related topic might be "smoke and mirrors".

Examples, as encountered, will be added and outlined.

The "carnival mirror sermon" is in contrast to the "game show sermon" whereby the pastor draws a (supposedly) random topic from a hat and then does a sermon on that topic.

Details are left as a future topic.

FYI: A "black hole sermon" is a sermon that sucks the life out of everything within hearing distance of the sermon.

Details are left as a future topic.

Some mirrors distort what is seen.

Some sermons, on reflection, distort what the Bible actually says.

Details are left as a future topic.

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [kjv]

οτι ει τις ακροατης λογου εστιν και ου ποιητης ουτος εοικεν ανδρι κατανοουντι το προσωπον της γενεσεως αυτου εν εσοπτρω [gnt]

… Spiegel … [lu]

… зеркале: [rus]

The German word "Spiegel" ≈ "mirror" which is from the Latin word "speculum" ≈ "looking-glass, mirror" and is the source of the English words such as "spetrum", "speculate", "spectral", "inspect", etc.

The Russian word "зеркале" (zer-ka-le) ≈ "looking-glass, mirror". The Old Church Slavonic word "зерцале" (zer-tza-le) ≈ "looking-glass, mirror".

James 1:23

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KJV: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Greek: οτι ει τις ακροατης λογου εστιν και ου ποιητης ουτος εοικεν ανδρι κατανοουντι το προσωπον της γενεσεως αυτου εν εσοπτρω

Latin: quia si quis auditor est verbi et non factor hic conparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo

Wycliffe: For if ony man is an herere of the word, and not a doere, this schal be licned to a man that biholdith the cheer of his birthe in a mirour;

Luther: Denn so jemand ist ein Hörer des Worts und nicht ein Täter, der ist gleich einem Mann, der sein leiblich Angesicht im Spiegel beschauet;

Slavonic: Зане аще кто есть слышатель слова, а не творец, таковый уподобися мужу смотряющу лице бытия своего в зерцале:

Russian: Ибо, кто слушает слово и не исполняет, тот подобен человеку, рассматривающему природные черты лица своего в зеркале:

*G2072 *2 ἔσοπτρον (es'-op-tron) : from G1519 and a presumed derivative of G3700; a mirror (for looking into):--glass. Compare G2734 κατοπτρίζομαι.

Usage

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εσοπτρου

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then ...

εσοπτρω

James 1:23 ... natural face in a glass:

*G2734 *0 κατοπτρίζομαι (kat-op-trid'-zom-ahee) : middle voice from a compound of G2596 and a derivative of G3700 (compare G2072 ἔσοπτρον); to mirror oneself, i.e. to see reflected (figuratively):--behold as in a glass.

Usage

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κατοπτριζομενοι

2 Corinthians 3:18 ... with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed ...

*G2072 *2 ἔσοπτρον (es'-op-tron) : from G1519 and a presumed derivative of G3700; a mirror (for looking into):--glass. Compare G2734.

*G2734 *0 κατοπτρίζομαι (kat-op-trid'-zom-ahee) : middle voice from a compound of G2596 and a derivative of G3700 (compare G2072); to mirror oneself, i.e. to see reflected (figuratively):--behold as in a glass.

Words: εσοπτρου εσοπτρω κατοπτριζομενοι

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [kjv]

βλεπομεν γαρ αρτι δι εσοπτρου εν αινιγματι τοτε δε προσωπον προς προσωπον αρτι γινωσκω εκ μερους τοτε δε επιγνωσομαι καθως και επεγνωσθην [gnt]

The "glass" appears in Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:12

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KJV: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Greek: βλεπομεν γαρ αρτι δι εσοπτρου εν αινιγματι τοτε δε προσωπον προς προσωπον αρτι γινωσκω εκ μερους τοτε δε επιγνωσομαι καθως και επεγνωσθην

Latin: videmus nunc per speculum in enigmate tunc autem facie ad faciem nunc cognosco ex parte tunc autem cognoscam sicut et cognitus sum

Wycliffe: And we seen now bi a myrour in derknesse, but thanne face to face; now Y knowe of parti, but thanne Y schal knowe, as Y am knowun.

Tyndale: Now we se in a glasse even in a darke speakynge: but then shall we se face to face. Now I knowe vnparfectly: but then shall I knowe even as I am knowen.

Luther: Wir sehen jetzt durch einen Spiegel in einem dunklen Wort, dann aber von Angesicht zu Angesichte. Jetzt erkenne ich's stückweise; dann aber werde ich erkennen, gleichwie ich erkannt bin.

Spanish: Y ahora vemos por espejo, oscuramente; mas entonces veremos cara a cara; ahora conozco en parte; mas entonces conoceré como soy conocido.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [kjv]

… speculum … enigmate … [v]

The ancient Greek word "αινείτε" ≈ "praise" is related to the ancient Greek word "αἴνιγμα" ≈ "riddle, taunt, dark saying" and is the source of the English word "enigma".

The word the KJV (King James Version) often translates as "darkly" has the idea of an "enigma" which is the original Greek word.

More: A dark and enigmatic praise

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. [kjv]

ημεις δε παντες ανακεκαλυμμενω προσωπω την δοξαν κυριου κατοπτριζομενοι την αυτην εικονα μεταμορφουμεθα απο δοξης εις δοξαν καθαπερ απο κυριου πνευματος [gnt]

2 Corinthians 3:18

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KJV: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Greek: ημεις δε παντες ανακεκαλυμμενω προσωπω την δοξαν κυριου κατοπτριζομενοι την αυτην εικονα μεταμορφουμεθα απο δοξης εις δοξαν καθαπερ απο κυριου πνευματος

Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [kjv]

τουτο λεγω ινα μηδεις υμας παραλογιζηται εν πιθανολογια [gnt]

… decipiat … subtilitate sermonum [v]

The Latin word "decipio" ≈ "catch, ensnare" from the Latin word "de" ≈ "of, from" and the Latin word "capio" ≈ "capture" and is the source of the English word "capture". The "enticing words" is interesting in the Latin.

The Latin word "subtilitate" ≈ "subtle".
The Latin word "sermonum" ≈ "sermons" and has to do with words being spoken and is the source of the English word "sermon".

Using the Greek and Latin: See that no one uses false reasoning on you in subtle sermons. Does your pastor preach "subtle sermons"?

Might there be a reason why you seldom hear this chapter being preached?

More: Colossians 2:1-23 Philosophy and false reasoning through subtle sermons

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1 Say

2 Deceive

3 Misinterpret

A "false Christ" is not just someone who says "I am Christ. Do this.". Someone who says "Christ says to do this" is functionally equivalent to someone who says "I am Christ. Do this.". The Greek word translated as "glory" has a meaning of "opinion". Giving "glory" to God means deferring one's own opinion to the opinion of God. Taking glory from God means substituting one's own opinion for God's opinion. One way to do this is to change the Bible to fit one's own opinion.

More: Matthew 24:4-5 False Christs and all of it

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [kjv]

… Spiegel … [lu]

… зеркале: [rus]

The German word "Spiegel" ≈ "mirror" which is from the Latin word "speculum" ≈ "looking-glass, mirror" and is the source of the English words such as "spectrum", "spectacle", "spectral", "inspect", etc.

The Russian word "зеркале" (zer-ka-le) ≈ "looking-glass, mirror". The Old Church Slavonic word "зерцале" (zer-tza-le) ≈ "looking-glass, mirror". Linguistic diagram of Spiegal