Earlier today I criticized pastors and professors for using big words in their theological writing and teaching. I have previously written about big words in pastoral preaching.
One of the responses I anticipated (but have not yet received) is that big words are okay if they are ‘biblical’ big words like “justification” or “sanctification.”
It is often argued (and I argued this way myself in the past) that if a word is used by a Spirit-inspired author like the Apostle Paul, then rather than “dumb down” the message for our audience, we should educate them about the big words with God saw fit to include in Scripture.
In other words, if Paul wrote “justification” then we should use it too. If people don’t understand this word (or other big words of the Bible), then it is the job of the pastor or teacher to educate the people about what it means
I am all for educating people. And I do think that learning the big words of theology can help people better understand God, Scripture, this world, and themselves.
But let’s be clear about something: Paul never wrote about justification, sanctification, or any of other “big words of the Bible.” He didn’t. And neither did any other biblical author.
Before you start quoting verses at me, let me clarify: What Paul wrote about was dikaiōsis and hagiasmos. It is the Bible translators who wrote about justification and sanctification.
And the truth is that dikaiōsis does not have to be translated as justification, nor does hagiasmos have to be translated as sanctification. There are other ways of translating these words (and those in the same word family) which can use modern, every day language that people already understand.
Like what? Rather than justification, dikaiōsis could be translated as acquittal, vindication, declared righteous or right. Rather than sanctification, hagiasmos could be translated as making holy, developing holiness, or becoming more holy. Some of these alternate ways of translating may not be better than “justification” or “sanctification” but they are legitimate and are even found in various translations of the Bible.
So in general, there is no such thing as a big word of the Bible unless we are talking about the Greek or Hebrew that the biblical authors used to write the books, and even then, scholars say that for the most part, the Bible was written in the common language of the day, so even biblical authors were not using big words which their readers would not have understood.
Is it helpful to know the big words of theology? Sure. But just remember, they are not “big words of the Bible” but are instead “big words of the Bible translators.”
God does not have a “Big Word of the Day Desk Calendar” which you must master before He is pleased with you. You can have a great relationship with God and play a great role in His Kingdom whether or not you know what “justification” means.
The only comment I have is that I hear the complaint about the large words a lot…but words like justification/justified are used a lot around me even by unbelievers. “Justifiable use of force”- any concealed handgun class uses this (although, we have to be careful, because people mean “is righteous” rather than “able to be declared righteous” in that context. ). I recently heard a person refer to his man cave as an “inner sanctum”.
They use them and they might understand a surface gloss of the word without understanding even what they are saying. But the same could be said of vindication, or even declare (by statute) in the sense of justification. So even using more common words still requires explanation as to how they are used, and exactly what they mean in reference to theology and bible.
So the choice that I normally make is generally to use the well chosen specific translator’s word and explain that as plainly as possible.
Yes, “justify” and “justifiable” are used from time to time, as you point out. But do the uses of these words mean the same thing as the biblical usage? Maybe.
And have you ever heard someone use “justification”?
Or how about “sanctification”? “Sanctity” is sometimes used.
Propitiation? Never that I can recall.
Again, as you and I discussed in the previous post, I am not really against big words because they are “big.” I just want people to understand what is being said, and not to use big words to sound smart.
If you are going to use a “big” word, then it should be explained plainly, as you do.
Yes I have heard and used the word justification such as there is no justification to what I have just seen or read. Do you think you are being a little picky about this and why would you want to try and discredit the way the Bible is written. I have seen others do this just to allow themselves the liberty to do whatever they want and justify it by saying the words written in the Bible are wrong. I believe like many other that the word of God can only be understood through the Holy Ghost and that it is our heart being open to him that makes this happen. I am not a man of big words nor do I have the education for them. I think that we should be really careful when trying to rewrite the Bible to fit what we believe as to what God says. I believe that for whatever reason you have left the ministry and started your own thing is between you and God. I too do not like religion in its structure over 53,000 Christian churches and most do not get along. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling – Please remember it is a matter of the heart and not the words that we try to rewrite to help people understand. God is the only one that can open the eyes of man.
Maybe big words help some people justify the time and money spent in seminary learning big words. Maybe they also make us feel important (and help justify our paychecks).
It’s funny you used “justify” in the sentence. Was that intentional?
Josh is probably right that this is not as big a word as I made it out to be in the post.
It may not be a big word, but the context is clearly not the way we use it in modern, every day speech. Justified in the modern vernacular, to me, means that I have a reason for doing something. That’s not really at all the biblical sense of justification.
Yes. Most people who read those two sentences would probably understand the meaning of “justify”. But would they understand the term “justification”? Perhaps, but probably best in the context “What was your justification for punching John in the nose?”
Sanctification, propitiation, even holiness – probably not, unless they’re regular church attenders at certain churches.
I think part of it may be historical. I’m not positive, but perhaps at one point the translators used the English words “sanctification” and “justification” because those were commonly used and understood words. Then it just kinda stuck.
right, but we have plenty of words that have dual meaning or facets of meaning based on context. But they’re not completely foreign.
Sanctity is used pretty often. Justification is used also pretty frequently… particularly in the political arena (though the intended meaning is more like rationalization). The roots are not foreign though.
Propitiation is one that I also have never heard… then again, maybe we would use it more under a monarchy :).
sure, but where do we draw the line… do I now have to preach in monosyllables? It’s not like those words are Old or Middle English or another language. They do not require much commitment, or much explanation to understand by an English speaker…. because variations of those words are in common usage. They may require repetition, but frankly, most people wouldn’t understand the substitutes that have been suggested fully either.
Josh,
I wouldn’t think we have to get real regimented about removing big words from our sermons and teaching. We just need to try to speak in common, every-day language, as much as possible.
It needs to be natural and normal, not overly academic. As long as you are doing this, your are probably okay.
I have been preaching for over 51 years (Baptist), and have never had any problem with understanding the Biblical words, Justification, Sanctification etc. It take a little time and study of course, but that is what Paul encourages us to do, to study and be good students of the word. But yes, it is important to speak in the every-day common way we speak so that people can understand how wonderful Justification and Sanctification etc. is and what God means when he put those words in His Word for us. I was raised reading and studying out of the King James Bible….never had a problem, even as a child to understand the Gospel and what I didn’t understand, God taught me as I matured in the faith.
A very good reason for updating English translations of scripture. Words used in translation often change in meaning or fall out of common use. For people to understand God’s Word, we should use words that they understand. And they need not be “biblish” or other big words.
I like that word “biblish.” Ha ha!
Do you have a preferred translation which does this today?
You can always just break down the Greek roots. When they translated the NT into Cherokee, the word for “justification” didn’t really exist, because the concept didn’t exist, but “dikaios” means legal, right, just, etc, so the Cherokee translator used the Greek to make a word into Cherokee that could be understood: Rom 4:25
igiskanuju -> our made innocent or the concept of us being made innocent..easy to understand! Or like the Message says “it sets us right with God”.
Anthony,
I didn’t know that about Cherokee. Very cool. But yes, Bible translators can (and do) use the same approach today for modern readers.
I prefer that method best, honestly. I dislike “Christianese”. Have you read the newest book by Viola? He brings that subject up. That organic fellowship will help people break their Christian lingo.
A breath of fresh air, man. Anyone can understand God’s love and see it all around if more people took the time to translate big theological words into real world applications.
God would never confuse you purposely.
It seems to me that justification has taken on a different meaning in the modern world that is not the Biblical definition. Most of the time when I hear the word “justification” used, it means to make an excuse or exception (like in the common phrase “the ends justify the means.”). This is not at all what the word means in the Bible, but I can see it being confusing for some non-believers. It is something to be aware of when using the term to explain it in its full legal sense.
Matt,
Absolutely right. The way “justify” is used today is not the way it is used in Scripture, and there is even a HUGE debate about how it was used in Scripture….
Nice post, man. Cool message.