I will write more later about my amazing mid-life theology weekend. For now, I want to share the video of the interview I attended this morning via Biblical Literacy class with Mark Lanier.
Amy Orr-Ewing tells how she went from a young girl growing up within a fiercely anti-God, anti-Christian home, to how Jesus extraordinarily revealed himself to her family, to how she compassionately and intelligently addresses societal concerns today in a way that lovingly and logically shows that Christ alone is the only truth that makes any sense in our world.
10 Minute Teaching on the Greek Word for Holy and Meaning in 1 Peter 1:15-16
You may experience this teaching now by videocast, podcast, or by reading the traditional blogpost transcript below. Be sure to check out the author's books and ebooks on Amazon. Many of the ebooks are available for free for those with Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.
Transcript:
What is the Greek word for holy in the New Testament? What does the word holy mean? The word holy seems to be used a whole lot in reference to people, places, and things related to religion and faith. Now, the Greek word for "holy" is hagios.
When I first think of something being holy, I kind of envision a picture or a vision of something glowing and radiating out golden rays of light—pure, undefiled, and sinless. Or, if it's in reference to a human, then those few holy people among us. But what does it mean when, in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 1 (where I was reading this week), we are taught that we, as believers and as followers of Christ, are to be holy? Not just that one day we’re going to be perfected and holy and pure in God’s kingdom, but that we are to be holy now? And not just when times are good, but even when times are really bad. The letter in 1 Peter is written to Christians in exile who are being persecuted, and he’s saying, "Remember, be holy!"