Mythical stories about history

2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [kjv]

και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "μῦθος" ≈ "speech, story" with the idea that what is said or told is more false than true. There is no consensus as to the origin of this word. In Greek, there were (at least) two types of explanations of previous events: myth and history.

A "myth" was a story that was more false than true.
A "history" was a story that was more true than false.

In the mid 1800's, this distinction went binary as either almost completely true or completely false.

The same words are connected to the Latin "fable", the Greek "parable", the Spanish "hablar" (speak) the French "Parlez" (speak) and the English "history".

A commonly learned beginning Spanish saying is "¿Hablas español?". Do you speak Spanish?

A commonly learned beginning French saying is "Parlez-vous Francais" . Do you speak French?

The ancient Greek word "μῦθος" ≈ "speech, story" with the idea that what is said or told is more false than true. There is no consensus as to the origin of this word.

The modern Greek word "μύθος" (MEE-thos) ≈ "myth, fable" with the modern idea of a "fable" or "story" that is not true.

In Greek philosophy, there was a distinction made having to do with "myths" as "stories" that were more false than true and "history" that was more true than false.

Philosophers and poets
philosophers	poets, story tellers
logos	myth, history
logos as reason	doxa as opinion
reasonable explanation	stories from the muses

The modern Greek word "ιστορία" (ees-to-REE-a) ≈ "story, history" is a "story" that may have some untrue elements, but is basically true. Herodotus wrote stories that were what we call "history" and from that Greek word for "story" comes the English word "history".

Take off the prefix "hi-" sound from "history" and you have "story".

There are those who question what Herodotus wrote as not being completely true.

More: Herodotus

What exactly is history?
History is a set of lies agreed upon. Napoleon Bonaparte (French Emperor and military leader)

Some call this revisionist history.

More: Napoleon Bonaparte

Since the beginning of time, recorded history has been revisionist history. It is often hard to determine what exactly did happen and why.

Thuclydides dismissed the work of Herodotus.
Caesar send reports of what he had done in Gaul back to Rome. Such reports written by Caesar put him in a good light.
American Civil War generals who lived the longest had a chance to slant history since the other generals were dead and could no longer defend themselves.
The Soviet Union changed their history books as desired to fit certain views.

Has the United States changed their history books as desired to fit certain views?

In modern terms, a fable is a short (fictional) story that makes some moral, spiritual, or philosophical point that should be obvious to the reader.

The most famous collection of fables is Aesop's fables.

Note that the "parables" (or "proverbs", one word in Hebrew) of Jesus were not "fables"! Jesus defines nouns in the parables as code words whose meaning must be substituted to get the decoded meaning of the parable.

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus

Aesop lived during the 6th century, B.C., in Greece. Some popular fables include the following.

"sour grapes"
"boy who cried wolf"
"tortoise and the hare"
"wolf in sheep's clothing"

The phrase "to cry wolf" is used to indicate the proclamation of a "false alarm".
This phrase has origins in the Aesop Fable of "the boy who cried wolf" (not translated from Greek until the 15th century) where a shepherd boy keeps crying wolf to get help from the villagers who eventually ignore him - when there is a real wolf.

More: Crying wolf for the search and seizure of the rapture

Churches today may be led by a sheep dog or a wolf dog.

More: Sheep dogs and wolf dogs

An older Latin word "fabulor" ≈ "speak, talk" was used in area today known as Spain before the time of Christ.

A related Latin word "fabula" ≈ "story, myth", from which we get the English word "fable".

Paul mentions the land of Spain twice in Romans 15. The name comes from the words for "land of rabbits".

Romans 15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. [kjv]

15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. [kjv]

Romans 15:24

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KJV: Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

Greek: ως εαν αν πορευωμαι εις την σπανιαν ελευσομαι προς υμας ελπιζω γαρ διαπορευομενος θεασασθαι υμας και υφ υμων προπεμφθηναι εκει εαν υμων πρωτον απο μερους εμπλησθω

Latin: cum in Hispaniam proficisci coepero spero quod praeteriens videam vos et a vobis deducar illuc si vobis primum ex parte fruitus fuero

Wycliffe: Whanne Y bygynne to passe in to Spayne, Y hope that in my goyng Y schal se you, and of you Y schal be led thidur, if Y vse you first in parti.

Tyndale: when I shall take my iorney into spayne I will come to you. I trust to se you in my iorney and to be brought on my waye thither warde by you after that I have somwhat enioyed you.

Luther: wenn ich reisen werde nach Spanien, will ich zu euch kommen. Denn ich hoffe, daß ich da durchreisen und euch sehen werde und von euch dorthin geleitet werden möge, so doch, daß ich zuvor mich ein wenig mit euch ergötze.

Slavonic: яко аще поиду во Испанию, прииду к вам. Уповаю бо мимогрядый видети вас и вами проводитися тамо, аще вас прежде от части насыщуся.

Russian: как только предприму путь в Испанию, приду к вам. Ибо надеюсь, что, проходя, увижусь с вами и что вы проводите меня туда, как скоро наслажусь общением с вами, хотя отчасти.

Spanish: cuando partiere para España, iré a vosotros, porque espero veros en mi jornada, y que seré encaminado por vosotros hacia allá, si en parte primero hubiere disfrutado de vuestra compañía.

Portuguese: quando for de viagem para a Espanha... Ao passar por aí, espero ver-vos e receber a vossa ajuda para ir até lá, depois de primeiro ter gozado, ainda que por um pouco, da vossa companhia.

*G4681 *2 Σπανία (span-ee'-ah) : probably of foreign origin; Spania, a region of Europe:--Spain.

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σπανιαν *2

Romans 15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: ...
Romans 15:28 ... by you into Spain.

The land of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula comes from the "Land of rabbits" or "Iberia" or Ispania".

The Greeks called it "Hesperia" as in a garden visited by Hercules and from which, through Latin, comes the English word "vespers".
The Carthaginians (Hannibal, etc.) called it "Ispania" from the local name for "rabbit".
The Romans adapted the name in Latin as "Hispania".
Latin developed into Spanish where the name is "España" (as the leading "h" sound disappeared).

More: Vespers in the west at evening

More: Easter: the futility of rabbits

Note the change from the Latin word "Hispaniam" ≈ "Spain" to the Spanish word "España" ≈ "Spain".

Romans 15:28

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KJV: When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

Greek: τουτο ουν επιτελεσας και σφραγισαμενος αυτοις τον καρπον τουτον απελευσομαι δι υμων εις την σπανιαν

The Latin word "fabulor" ≈ "speak, talk"become the Spanish word "hablar" ≈ "speak"where the "f" went to a "h" which today is silent. For example:

"fabulor" in Latin went to
"hablar" in Spanish (pronounced "h") went to
"hablar" in Spanish (silent "h").

This is a not uncommon linguistic phenomena. In the same way

"Fernando" went to
"Hernando" (pronounced "H") went to
"Hernando" (silent "H").

This is a not uncommon linguistic phenomena.

Paul mentions "fables" using the Greek word for "myths" in Titus.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. [kjv]

Discussion: How might Jewish "stories" and "commandments" of men each differ from the "truth" of the reality of Jesus and the creation?

Titus 1:14

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KJV: Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Hebrew: ולא ישימו לב אל הגדות היהודים ואל מצות האנשים הסרים מן האמת׃

Greek: μη προσεχοντες ιουδαικοις μυθοις και εντολαις ανθρωπων αποστρεφομενων την αληθειαν

Latin: non intendentes iudaicis fabulis et mandatis hominum aversantium se a veritate

Wycliffe: not yyuynge tent to fablis of Jewis, and to maundementis of men, that turnen awei hem fro treuthe.

Gothic: ni atsaihvandans judaiwiskaize spilli jah anabusne manne afwandjandane sis sunja.

Luther: und nicht achten auf die jüdischen Fabeln und Menschengebote, welche sich von der Wahrheit abwenden.

Slavonic: не внимающе Иудейским баснем, ни заповедем человек отвращающихся от истины.

Spanish: no atendiendo a fábulas judaicas, y a mandamientos de hombres que se apartan de la verdad.

Portuguese: não dando ouvidos a fábulas judaicas e a preceitos de homens que se afastaram da verdade.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. [kjv]

ni atsaihvandans judaiwiskaize spilli jah anabusne manne afwandjandane sis sunja. [got]

The Gothic word "spillo" ≈ "story" is used for the Greek "myths" and is related to the English word "spell" as in to "talk a spell".

Such stories are part of the "good news" or, in Old English, the "good spell" which became shortened to "gospel".

*G3454 *5 μύθος (moo'-thos) : perhaps from the same as G3453 (through the idea of tuition); a tale, i.e. fiction ("myth"):--fable.

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μυθοις *3

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, ...
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, ...
2 Peter 1:16 ... not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power ...

μυθους *2

1 Timothy 4:7 ... profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself ...
2 Timothy 4:4 ... and shall be turned unto fables.

Peter mentions "fables" using the Greek word for "myths" in 2 Peter.

2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [kjv]

Peter goes on to say that "prophecy" is more certain of the truth of Jesus than by his own eyewitness testimony.

More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

2 Peter 1:16

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KJV: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Greek: ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος

Latin: non enim doctas fabulas secuti notam fecimus vobis Domini nostri Iesu Christi virtutem et praesentiam sed speculatores facti illius magnitudinis

Wycliffe: For we not suynge vnwise talis, han maad knowun to you the vertu and the biforknowyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist; but we weren maad biholderis of his greetnesse.

Luther: Denn wir haben nicht den klugen Fabeln gefolget, da wir euch kundgetan haben die Kraft und Zukunft unsers Herrn Jesu Christi, sondern wir haben seine Herrlichkeit selber gesehen,

The English word "tale" comes from the Old English word "talu" ≈ "tale".

2 Peter 1:16 For we not suynge vnwise talis, han maad knowun to you the vertu and the biforknowyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist; but we weren maad biholderis of his greetnesse. [wy]

Wycliffe uses the Middle English word "talis" ≈ "tales" for the Greek "myths".

The English word "tale" is related to the German word "Zahl" ≈ "number, figure", the Latin word "dolus" ≈ "guile, deceit" and the ancient Greek word "δόλος" ≈ "wile, bait" as in trickery.

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [kjv]

qui peccatum non fecit nec inventus est dolus in ore ipsius [v]

This word for "deceit" is often translated as "guile" in the KJV (King James Version).

1 Peter 2:22

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KJV: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Greek: ος αμαρτιαν ουκ εποιησεν ουδε ευρεθη δολος εν τω στοματι αυτου

Latin: qui peccatum non fecit nec inventus est dolus in ore ipsius

Wycliffe: Which dide not synne, nethir gile was foundun in his mouth.

Luther: welcher keine Sünde getan hat, ist auch kein Betrug in seinem Munde erfunden;

Paul uses the Greek word for "myth" three times in writing to Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus.

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. [kjv]

4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. [kjv]

2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [kjv]

και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται [gnt]

… veritate … auditum … fabulas … [v]

1 Timothy 1:4

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KJV: Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Greek: μηδε προσεχειν μυθοις και γενεαλογιαις απεραντοις αιτινες ζητησεις εκζητησεις παρεχουσιν μαλλον η οικονομιαν θεου την εν πιστει

1 Timothy 4:7

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KJV: But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Greek: τους δε βεβηλους και γραωδεις μυθους παραιτου γυμναζε δε σεαυτον προς ευσεβειαν

2 Timothy 4:4

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KJV: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Greek: και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται

The Romans called the Celts the Gauls. The area of Gaul's (Celts) in Asia Minor was called Galatia.

Paul wrote the letter to these Galatians.
Julius Caesar slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Gauls and wrote back glowing letters to Rome about his accomplishments.

Galatia, as in Paul's Letter to the Galatians (or Celts) were populated by Gauls/Celts.

Celts is pronounced with a hard "C" as in "K" as in "Kelts".
Celtics, as in the Boston Celtics basketball team, is pronounced with a soft "C" as in "S" as in "Seltics".

More: October 31: Halloween

The ancient Greek word "παραβολή" ≈ "saying, proverb" means to "throw out beyond" as in a "story" that goes beyond actual reality.

The Romans adopted the Greek word as the Latin word "parabola" ≈ "story" that merged with French (Celtic) to produce "parler" ≈ "to tell stories" as in the English "parlor" as a place to talk and/or tell stories.
The French and Spanish words eventually became words for talking.

The French word "parlez" ≈ "speak".
The Spanish word "palabra" ≈ "word".

The modern Greek word "παραβολή" (pa-ra-vo-LEE) ≈ "parable" as influenced by theologians interpretation of what Jesus said.

John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. [kjv]

λεγουσιν οι μαθηται αυτου ιδε νυν εν παρρησια λαλεις και παροιμιαν ουδεμιαν λεγεις [gnt]

… openlice… by-spell. [wes]

What is the difference between a "parable" and a "proverb"? It appears that the Hebrew/Aramaic has one word for this concept and that word can be translated into Greek as "parable" or "proverb".

"παραβολή" ≈ "saying, proverb"
"παροιμία" ≈ "saying, proverb"

It is possible that whoever did the Greek translation picked the Greek word that they thought best matched the original language, but the differences and implications are yet interesting (and left for another time and place).

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus