New Testament Words Explained: Time - Wash

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Time.
True.
Four Greek words are thus translated, aleethees, aleethinos, and two others. God is aleethees (John 3:3333He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33); Romans 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)), meaning He is true in the sense of speaking the truth, He “cannot lie.” But God is also aleethinos, meaning that He is the true God in contrast to false Gods (1 Thessalonians 1:99For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9); John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)). The latter word, however, does not always mean “true” in opposition to “false;” but often “substantial and real,” as opposed to what is only shadowy, as in John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9); “That was the true light,” does not mean that John was a false light, neither does the “true bread,” John 6:3232Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32), imply that the manna was false bread, but simply that both were inferior to what Christ was and gave. In thus bringing out the true and real, which is one of the leading features of Christianity, it is interesting to notice that five-sixths of the occurrences of the word aleethinos are in the writings of the apostle John. The other two words are each only once rendered “true.” One means faithful, and the other sincerity springing from relationship.
Unlearned.
Four Greek words are thus translated in the New Testament. Agrammatos (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) only) means simply illiterate; idiotees (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13); 1 Corinthians 14:16,23,2416Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? (1 Corinthians 14:16)
23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: (1 Corinthians 14:23‑24); 2 Corinthians 11:66But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. (2 Corinthians 11:6)) originally meant a private man in contrast with a public one, then by degrees an unpractical one, i.e., one not versed in worldly matters (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)). In 1 Corinthians 14 however, the use of the word appears to be a little different, here meaning a person not unpractical in a general way, but one unversed in spiritual things, or better still, without spiritual gifts, not being a pastor or teacher, &c. Amathees, the third word, occurs only in 2 Peter 3:1616As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16) and means uninstructed, literally “undiscipled,” not made a disciple or a learner. The fourth word, Apaideutos, also only occurs once (2 Timothy 2:2323But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (2 Timothy 2:23)), and means untaught or unschooled, that is not instructed by a pedagogue or tutor.
Wash.
This one word is represented by three in Greek, pluno, nipto, and louo. Pluno refers to the washing of things, not people, and is used in Luke 5:22And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (Luke 5:2), &c. The other two words both refer to the washing of persons: nipto, however, is used when a part of the body is washed, as the hands (Mark 7:33For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. (Mark 7:3)), the feet (John 13:55After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (John 13:5)), the face (Matthew 6:1717But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (Matthew 6:17)), the eyes (John 9:77And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:7)), while louo means rather to bathe than to wash, thus referring to the whole body (Hebrews 10:2222Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22); Acts 9:3737And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. (Acts 9:37); 2 Peter 2:2222But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22), &c.). Where perhaps the distinction between bathing and washing is most important is in John 13:1010Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10): the Revised Version clearly marks it, “He that is bathed (louo) needeth not save to wash (nipto) his feet.” The meaning clearly is that he who has been born again by the word and thus cleansed and renewed needs no repetition of the act, but only the application of the same word to the part that gets defiled by contact with the world—the feet.