Good gifts and bad gifts

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? [kjv]

ει ουν υμεις πονηροι οντες οιδατε δοματα αγαθα διδοναι τοις τεκνοις υμων ποσω μαλλον ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις δωσει αγαθα τοις αιτουσιν αυτον [gnt]

… bona … filiis … [v]

The word "Gift" in German means "poison" while the word "gift" in English is a "present". Both have the idea of "giving" something to someone which is the origin of the words.
The ancient Greek word "δωρεά" ≈ "gift". The ancient Greek word "δῶμα" ≈ "house" and, in context, "gift". The idea of a "gift" can be good, bad and/or deceptive.

Who would give bad gifts to their children?
Who would give bad houses (of sand) to their children?

Matthew 7:11

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KJV: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Greek: ει ουν υμεις πονηροι οντες οιδατε δοματα αγαθα διδοναι τοις τεκνοις υμων ποσω μαλλον ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις δωσει αγαθα τοις αιτουσιν αυτον

Latin: si ergo vos cum sitis mali nostis bona dare filiis vestris quanto magis Pater vester qui in caelis est dabit bona petentibus se

Wessex: Eornestlice nu ge þe yfele synt cunnan god eowre bearnen syllen. mycele ma eowre faeder þe on heofene ys sylleð god þan þe hine biddað.

Wycliffe: Therfor if ye, whanne ye ben yuele men, kunnen yyue good yiftis to youre sones, hou myche more youre fadir that is in heuenes schal yyue good thingis to men that axen hym?

Tyndale: Yf ye then which are evyll cane geve to youre chyldren good gyftes: how moche moore shall youre father which is in heve geve good thynges to them yt axe hym?

Luther: So denn ihr, die ihr doch arg seid, könnt dennoch euren Kindern gute Gaben geben, wieviel mehr wird euer Vater im Himmel Gutes geben denen, die ihn bitten!

Spanish: Y si vosotros, siendo malos, sabéis dar buenas dádivas a vuestros hijos, ¿cuánto más vuestro Padre que está en el cielo dará buenas cosas a los que le pidan?

*G1390 *4 δόμα (dom'-ah) : from the base of G1325; a present:--gift.

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δοματα *3

Matthew 7:11 ... know how to give good gifts unto your children, ...
Luke 11:13 ... know how to give good gifts unto your children: ...
Ephesians 4:8 ... captive, and gave gifts unto men.

δομα

Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit ...

The English word "gift" is from the Old English word "gift" ≈ "giving, consideration, dowry" and is cognate with the German word "Gift" ≈ "poison".
In linguistics, a "false friend" is a word that appears to be like a word in another language and thus have the same meaning, but does not. The English "gift" and the German "Gift" are false friends.

The word "Gift" in German means "poison". The modern German word "Geschenk" ≈ "gift".

The German word "Gift" as a poison is a semantic loan word from the Latin word "dosis" ≈ "dose" which is from the ancient Greek word "δόσις" ≈ "gift, dose of medicine".

The word narrowed from being a life-saving gift of medicine to a poisonous dose of (bad) medicine as a euphemism (i.e., nice way of saying something not so nice).

The Pennsylvania Dutch or Pennsylvania German word "Gift" has a secondary meaning of "poison ivy" or "ivy poisoning".

Three leaves - beware.

The English "gift" and the German "Gift" have a common origin but today have different meanings.

Something similar happened to "guest" and "ghost" which have the same origin. A "guest" could be "good" or "bad" (not so good). Same thing with a "ghost".

That is why the "Holy Spirit" and "Holy Ghost" are the same thing.

More: Hosting strange and hostile guests and ghosts

Deuteronomy 32:24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. [kjv]

τηκομενοι λιμω και βρωσει ορνεων και οπισθοτονος ανιατος οδοντας θηριων αποστελω εις αυτους μετα θυμου συροντων επι γης [lxx]

Deuteronomy 32:24

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KJV: They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

Hebrew: מזי רעב ולחמי רשף וקטב מרירי ושן בהמות אשלח בם עם חמת זחלי עפר׃

Greek: τηκομενοι λιμω και βρωσει ορνεων και οπισθοτονος ανιατος οδοντας θηριων αποστελω εις αυτους μετα θυμου συροντων επι γης

Brenton: They shall be consumed with hunger and the devouring of birds, and there shall be irremediable destruction: I will send forth against them the teeth of wild beasts, with the rage of serpents creeping on the ground.

Luther: Vor Hunger sollen sie verschmachten und verzehret werden vom Fieber und jähem Tode. Ich will der Tiere Zähne unter sie schicken und der Schlangen Gift.

Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. [kjv]

θυμος δρακοντων ο οινος αυτων και θυμος ασπιδων ανιατος [lxx]

Deuteronomy 32:33

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KJV: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Hebrew: חמת תנינם יינם וראש פתנים אכזר׃

Greek: θυμος δρακοντων ο οινος αυτων και θυμος ασπιδων ανιατος

Latin: fel draconum vinum eorum et venenum aspidum insanabile

Wycliffe: The galle of dragouns is the wyn of hem, and the venym of eddris, that may not be heelid.

Luther: ihr Wein ist Drachengift und wütiger Ottern Galle.

Psalms 109:3

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KJV: They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

Hebrew: ודברי שנאה סבבוני וילחמוני חנם׃

Greek: και λογοις μισους εκυκλωσαν με και επολεμησαν με δωρεαν

Luther: Und sie reden giftig wider mich allenthalben und streiten wider mich ohne Ursache.

Proverbs 26:23

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KJV: Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Hebrew: כסף סיגים מצפה על חרש שפתים דלקים ולב רע׃

Greek: αργυριον διδομενον μετα δολου ωσπερ οστρακον ηγητεον χειλη λεια καρδιαν καλυπτει λυπηραν

Luther: Giftiger Mund und böses Herz ist wie ein Scherben mit Silberschaum überzogen.

Hosea 13:14

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KJV: I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Hebrew: מיד שאול אפדם ממות אגאלם אהי דבריך מות אהי קטבך שאול נחם יסתר מעיני׃

Greek: εκ χειρος αδου ρυσομαι αυτους και εκ θανατου λυτρωσομαι αυτους που η δικη σου θανατε που το κεντρον σου αδη παρακλησις κεκρυπται απο οφθαλμων μου

Luther: Aber ich will sie erlösen aus der Hölle und vom Tod erretten. Tod, ich will dir ein Gift sein; Hölle, ich will dir eine Pestilenz sein! Doch ist der Trost vor meinen Augen verborgen.

The word "gift" is related to "give" or "giving" and a common saying is to "gift" something to someone.

There is a saying that one should not "look a gift horse in the mouth" meaning that one should not complain about a free gift (even if one does not like it).
The saying appears to come from looking at the teeth and, thereby, physical condition, of a free horse (the animal) before being "gifted" with the horse.

What do say about a pony that has a sore throat?

The pony is a little hoarse.

Some colleges and universities dispose of their old computers rather than giving them to faculty, staff, students, etc.

Why might this be the case?

When people get a free gift such as a computer with a value of, say, $100, they will then expect computer support for that free computer, which could amount to about $100 per hour (all costs included).

The Trojan horse was another "gift" that is the source of the saying "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts".
The modern Greek word "Δούρειος ίππος" (THU-ree-os EEP-pos) ≈ "Trojan horse" and is in Greek, literally, "gift horse" with no mention of "Trojan".

More: A horse of another color: the name of Phillip

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. [kjv]

χαρις τω θεω επι τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα [gnt]

In English, a "gift" is considered something good and not bad.

The ancient Greek word "δωρεά" ≈ "gift".
The modern Greek word "δωρεά" (tho-reh-A) ≈ "donation, gift".
The ancient Greek word "θεός" ≈ "god, God" as in "theology".

The name "Dorothy" literally means "gift" of "God" from the Latin word "Dorothea" ≈ "Dorothy" from the ancient Greek word "Δωροθέα" ≈ "Dorothy".

The "unspeakable" in the Greek appears to be related to the source of the English word "anecdote" which was a Byzantine publishing of court gossip that was otherwise not proper to publish or speak about.

2 Corinthians 9:15

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KJV: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Greek: χαρις δε τω θεω επι τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα

Latin: gratias Deo super inenarrabili dono eius

Wycliffe: Y do thankyngis to God of the yifte of hym, that may not be teld.

Gothic: awiliud guda in thizos unusspillodons is gibos.

Luther: Gott aber sei Dank für seine unaussprechliche Gabe!

Slavonic: Благодарение же Богови о неисповедимем Его даре.

Russian: Благодарение Богу за неизреченный дар Его!

Spanish: Gracias a Dios por su don inefable.

*G411 *1 ἀνεκδιήγητος (an-ek-dee-ay'-gay-tos) : from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G1555; not expounded in full, i.e. indescribable:--unspeakable.

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ανεκδιηγητω

2 Corinthians 9:15 ... God for his unspeakable gift.

The Middle English word "yifte" ≈ "gift".
The German word "Gabe" ≈ "gift".
The Gothic word "gibos" ≈ "gift".
The Russian word "дар" (dar) ≈ "gift, present".
The Russian word "подарок" ≈ "gift, present"

The Germanic "g" often goes to the English "y" or disappears. The reverse can happen too.

More: Germanic g to English y

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [kjv]

τη γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια πιστεως και τουτο ουκ εξ υμων θεου το δωρον [gnt]

… donum … [v]

The English word "donation" comes, through French, from the Latin word "donatio" ≈ "present" which comes from the Latin word "dono" ≈ "give".

Ephesians 2:8

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KJV: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Greek: τη γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια της πιστεως και τουτο ουκ εξ υμων θεου το δωρον

Greek today: Διοτι κατα χαριν εισθε σεσωσμενοι δια της πιστεως και τουτο δεν ειναι απο σας, Θεου το δωρον

Latin: gratia enim estis salvati per fidem et hoc non ex vobis Dei enim donum est

Wycliffe: For bi grace ye ben sauyd bi feith, and this not of you; for it is the yifte of God,

Gothic: unte anstai siuth ganasidai thairh galaubein, jah thata ni us izwis, ak gudis giba ist;

Luther: Denn aus Gnaden seid ihr selig worden durch den Glauben, und dasselbige nicht aus euch, Gottes Gabe ist es;

Slavonic: Благодатию бо есте спасени чрез веру: и сие не от вас, Божии дар:

Russian: Ибо благодатью вы спасены через веру, и сие не от вас, Божий дар:

Spanish: Porque por gracia sois salvos por medio de la fe, y esto no de vosotros; pues es don de Dios;

Portuguese: Porque é pela graça que estais salvos, por meio da fé. E isto não vem de vós; é dom de Deus;

$Twelve days of Christmas$ A song about "gifts", as in presents, is "The twelve days of Christmas".

More: Song: Twelve days of Christmas

A song about "gifts" is "We three kings".

More: Song: We three kings of orient are

Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [kjv]

εχοντες δε χαρισματα κατα την χαριν την δοθεισαν ημιν διαφορα ειτε προφητειαν κατα την αναλογιαν της πιστεως [gnt]

… donationes … [v]

Paul mentions "spiritual gifts" in Romans 12:6-8.

The Greek for "gifts" is that of "graces" as in the plural of "grace".

Romans 12:6

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KJV: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Greek: εχοντες δε χαρισματα κατα την χαριν την δοθεισαν ημιν διαφορα ειτε προφητειαν κατα την αναλογιαν της πιστεως

Latin: habentes autem donationes secundum gratiam quae data est nobis differentes sive prophetiam secundum rationem fidei

Paul continues in Romans.

Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [kjv]

ειτε διακονιαν εν τη διακονια ειτε ο διδασκων εν τη διδασκαλια [gnt]

ειτε διακονιαν εν τη διακονια ειτε ο διδασκων εν τη διδασκαλια [byz]

12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. [kjv]

ειτε ο παρακαλων εν τη παρακλησει ο μεταδιδους εν απλοτητι ο προισταμενος εν σπουδη ο ελεων εν ιλαροτητι [gnt]

Romans 12:7

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KJV: Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Greek: ειτε διακονιαν εν τη διακονια ειτε ο διδασκων εν τη διδασκαλια

Romans 12:8

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KJV: Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Greek: ειτε ο παρακαλων εν τη παρακλησει ο μεταδιδους εν απλοτητι ο προισταμενος εν σπουδη ο ελεων εν ιλαροτητι

Paul mentions spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.7-10.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [kjv]

εκαστω δε διδοται η φανερωσις του πνευματος προς το συμφερον [gnt]

12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [kjv]

ω μεν γαρ δια του πνευματος διδοται λογος σοφιας αλλω δε λογος γνωσεως κατα το αυτο πνευμα [gnt]

1 Corinthians 12:7

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KJV: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Greek: εκαστω δε διδοται η φανερωσις του πνευματος προς το συμφερον

1 Corinthians 12:8

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KJV: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

Greek: ω μεν γαρ δια του πνευματος διδοται λογος σοφιας αλλω δε λογος γνωσεως κατα το αυτο πνευμα

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [kjv]

ετερω πιστις εν τω αυτω πνευματι αλλω δε χαρισματα ιαματων εν τω ενι πνευματι [gnt]

12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: [kjv]

αλλω δε ενεργηματα δυναμεων αλλω δε προφητεια αλλω δε διακρισεις πνευματων ετερω γενη γλωσσων αλλω δε ερμηνεια γλωσσων [gnt]

1 Corinthians 12:9

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KJV: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Greek: ετερω δε πιστις εν τω αυτω πνευματι αλλω δε χαρισματα ιαματων εν τω αυτω ενι πνευματι

1 Corinthians 12:10

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KJV: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Greek: αλλω δε ενεργηματα δυναμεων αλλω δε προφητεια αλλω δε διακρισεις πνευματων ετερω δε γενη γλωσσων αλλω δε ερμηνεια γλωσσων

The context of spiritual gifts in chapter 12 is that of addressing the overstating of speaking in tongues. The gift of speaking in tongues is usually mentioned last. This discussion is continued in chapter 13, the "love" chapter, and then in chapter 14.

More: A tongue in cheek model for Pentecost

More: A security model for speaking in tongues

Spiritual gifts can be contrasted with the "fruits of the spirit".

Isaiah lists some "spiritual gifts" in Isaiah 11:2-3. (omitted)

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [kjv]

5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [kjv]

The fruits of the spirit in laundry list form appear in Galatians 5.

There are nine (9) fruits in the laundry list of fruit/fruits. Do you have them all checked off? Most pastors preach about these using the modern English definitions and not the original Greek definitions.

More: Abstracting the fruit of the spirit

Let us return to the verse about good gifts and, by implication, bad gifts.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? [kjv]

… bona … filiis … [v]

The idea of a "gift" can be good, bad and/or deceptive. Who would give bad gifts to their children? The word "children" can refer to toddlers, etc., but the term is often used for believers in Christ - of any age but especially new believers.

In the GNT (Greek New Testament), Jesus, Paul, etc., often use the idea of "children" to represent believers of any age.

*G1390 *4 δόμα (dom'-ah) : from the base of G1325; a present:--gift.

Usage

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δοματα *3

Matthew 7:11 ... know how to give good gifts unto your children, ...
Luke 11:13 ... know how to give good gifts unto your children: ...
Ephesians 4:8 ... captive, and gave gifts unto men.

δομα

Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit ...

*G1390 *4 δόμα (dom'-ah) : from the base of G1325; a present:--gift.

Words: δομα δοματα=3

The ancient Greek word "δόμα" ≈ "gift, present, payment" but is listed in Wikipedia as rare. The extensive large two volume Cambridge Greek Lexicon has the ancient Greek word "δόμος" ≈ "house". The same lexicon has the ancient Greek word "δόμα" ≈ "gift" but as only used in the GNT. It is unclear why this word had that meaning only in the GNT and LXX (Septuagint). The LXX appears to follow the Hebrew.

Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. [kjv]

… ומתנן … [he]

και εμεγαλυνεν ο βασιλευς τον δανιηλ και δοματα μεγαλα και πολλα εδωκεν αυτω και κατεστησεν αυτον επι πασης χωρας βαβυλωνος και αρχοντα σατραπων επι παντας τους σοφους βαβυλωνος [lxx]

*H4978 מַתּתְּנָא (mat-ten-aw') : (Aramaic) corresponding to H4979 מַתּתָּנָה:--gift.

*H4979 מַתּתָּנָה (mat-taw-naw') : feminine of H4976; a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe:--gift.

*G1390 *4 δόμα (dom'-ah) : from the base of G1325; a present:--gift.

The Hebrew word "ומתנן" (u-mat-te-nan) ≈ "and gifts". A Greek LXX Lexicon, in Greek, lists the meanings as gift, offer, house, or power

Daniel 2:48

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KJV: Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Hebrew: אדין מלכא לדניאל רבי ומתנן רברבן שגיאן יהב לה והשלטה על כל מדינת בבל ורב סגנין על כל חכימי בבל׃

Greek: και εμεγαλυνεν ο βασιλευς τον δανιηλ και δοματα μεγαλα και πολλα εδωκεν αυτω και κατεστησεν αυτον επι πασης χωρας βαβυλωνος και αρχοντα σατραπων επι παντας τους σοφους βαβυλωνος

Brenton: And the king promoted Daniel, and gave him great and abundant gifts, and set him over the whole province of Babylon, and made him chief satrap over all the wise men of Babylon.

Jesus, in John 13:33, uses the phrase "little children" where the Greek has both "little" and "children".

John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. [kjv]

τεκνια ετι μικρον μεθ υμων ειμι ζητησετε με και καθως ειπον τοις ιουδαιοις οτι οπου εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν και υμιν λεγω αρτι [gnt]

Is Jesus talking to "little children" or to his followers who can be considered "little children"?

More: The truth about a lying baby

John 13:33

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KJV: Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Greek: τεκνια ετι μικρον μεθ υμων ειμι ζητησετε με και καθως ειπον τοις ιουδαιοις οτι οπου υπαγω εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν και υμιν λεγω αρτι

Jesus is speaking.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? [kjv]

… bona … filiis … [v]

Who would give "bad" gifts to their children?

During World War II against the Germans, Joseph Stalin, dictator of the USSR, ordered that any Soviet soldier taken prisoner, for any reason, was a traitor. They were, to fight to the death. This is \known as Order Number 270 issued on August 16, 1941.
At the time of the order, this included Stalin's own son who had been captured the previous month. Stalin refused to make a deal to secure his release. He died in 1943 in (aged 36) in Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Germany captured millions of Soviet prisoners during the war. In the encirclement and capture of Kiev in 1941, the Germans captured over 500,000 prisoners.

The Soviet prisoners were not treated well by the Germans and millions died. Those that did survive to the end of the war were handed over by Eisenhower to the Soviets. Many were immediately shot as traitors (Eisenhower knew this would happen but followed orders anyway). Some were sent to forced labor camps in Siberia.

The ask, seek and knock model fits well for Matthew 7:9-11 (ask and seek) and Luke (11:12) (added knock part) where Jesus talks about giving good and/or bad gifts to children.

Ask: bread or stone (to get started)
Seek: fish or serpent (snake) (for the journey)
Knock: egg or scorpion (with possible surprise)

Since God and (evil) people give good gifts to their children, the following questions comes to mind. Who are the children? Who, then, would not give good gifts to their children?

More: Gifts to children

The hierarchy of Jesus is a flat one - built of rock. Jesus is the rock.

Humans build a sand hierarchy of other humans. As a person works up the human hierarchy, the temptation is to become more and more self-centered and not Jesus centered. In this human hierarchy exist people who would give bad gifts to their children. That is, to those below them in the hierarchy.

More: Some shallow and yet deep ideas about organizational structure

More: Building a house on sand

More: Building a house on sand continued

More: Tower of Babel: Two houses attempted using sand

More: Matthew 7: Houses built on sand and on rock

Do pastors in even small churches give "bad" gifts to their "children" as in their "flock"?

In one church I attended for a while, I visited a Sunday School class. During the discussion, I mentioned a mistranslation issue in the text we were studying, a simple and clear translation issue similar to the one above. The Sunday School teacher was outraged and emphatically exclaimed, "There are no translation errors in my Sunday School class!".

More: A martyred witness to a translation error

A few days later, I received a call from the Pastor. He was known as a "Bible preaching" pastor. After a short discussion, he informed me that even if there were translation errors in the Bible or something was said in Sunday School class about the Bible that was not correct, I was not to mention anything about it in any Sunday School at his church.

He appeared more interested in getting people into the church to support his own belly, to use Paul's words, than that they hear the truth.

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]

οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των 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.

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

The phrase "drink the Kool-Aid" comes from the Jonestown massacre in Guyana in November 1978 when over 900 members of the People's Temple movement, led by Jim Jones, commuted mass suicide by drinking a mixture of poison and Flavor Aid (similar to Kool-Aid).

False teachers use poison in a form that one might drink easily. Ignatius, an early church father, talks about this.

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. 219.

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.".

More: The taste of false teaching

More: Book: Apostolic Fathers

The English word "antidote" comes from the ancient Greek word "ἀντίδοτος" ≈ "given in place of" or as a remedy for. That word comes from the ancient Greek word "ἀντιδίδωμι" ≈ "give in return".

Note that the prefix "anti" in Greek does not mean opposite or against but "in place of".

More: The prefix anti in place of against

The word does not appear in the GNT or LXX but is used by Ignatius, an early church father.

An "antidote" is what one takes "in place of" the "dose" or what is given as poison.

More: The prefix anti in place of against

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.

More: Book: Apostolic Fathers