Occult.. it's true power source?Does witchcraft mean pharmakeia?2. SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT. "Pharmakeia."
"Pharmakon," was a drug
and
"pharmakeia," the use of drugs.
The noun "pharmakeia" occurs in Gal.5v20. Rev.9v21. 18v23.. "Sorcerer," "pharmakus," occurs in Rev.21v8.; and "pharmakos," in Rev.22v15.. "Mageia," "sorceries," in Acts.8v11. and "mageuo," "sorcery," in Act8v9.. "Magos," is translated as "sorcerer" in Acts.13v6,8.; and the plural "magi," as "wise men" in Mt.2v1,7,16.
Sorcery and witchcraft in Paul's time were very similar to their modern equivalents; images of people were made and destroyed, and curses were put upon people by invoking the powers of darkness.
In Paul's time, magic, divination, astrology and the occult powers mentioned in Deut.18v10-22., were commonly practised. People were full of fear, and used amulets and charms in an effort to protect themselves from witchcraft, sorcery, magical spells and the evil eye.
The value of the books on magic burned in the revival at Corinth was about £50,000, which shows how rife magical practices were in Paul's time. Acts.19v19. These occult practices were one of the main obstacles to the spread of the Gospel in the early Church, and this is why miracles were needed to confirm the truth of the Gospel. Philip and Paul compelled the Gentiles to believe in Jesus, by doing greater miracles than the servants of Satan. Acts.8v4-13. 13v6-12. 18v11-20. Rom.15v18-21.
http://www.thesecretofeternallife.com/marriagee.html
A little background on "Pharmakeia" which is also a feminine noun that can be used collectively, it references the herbalist of the time who were almost always female. It was one of the few businesses available to single women, herbalism was complex so there was an aura of secrecy to it. They also were fond of saying incantations or using symbolic items etc to increase the "mystery" around their practice. It gave them both power and prestige, it would have also increased their incomes and perhaps the more mystical it appeared the greater price people were willing to pay for their "potions". These women challenged the authority structure of both Paul's church and the society of the time in general. The ability to heal, poison, abort fetuses, etc. gave them an incredible amount of power and would have created a diversion from God and Christianity. So, you have that aspect of that term used here.
Later, there are frequent references in church writings (not scripture) referring to abortionist using the term "pharmakeia". Outside of the church Plutarch uses the term pharmakeia in reference to contraception and abortion.
Clement of Alexandria identifies pharmakeia as an abortifacent.
An early church council in the capital of Galatia referenced adulterous woman who who avail themselves to pharmakeia for abortion.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
an adjective signifying "devoted to magical arts," is used as a noun, "a sorcerer," especially one who uses drugs, potions, spells, enchantments, Rev. 21:8, in the best texts (some have pharmakeus), and Rev. 22:15.
Plato writes of Pharmakeia the Naias Nymphe of a poisonous spring near Athens, Orithyia is swept away by Boreas while she was playing with Pharmacia. Later Socrates compares the written texts Phaedrus has brought along to pharmakon, he describes it as both a cure and poison.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread ... 903&page=2
In the New Testament, sorcery is listed as a work of the flesh, which, if practiced, will keep a soul out of heaven (Galatians 5:20). Sorcery is from the Greek word pharmakeia. According to the Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, by Rienecker and Rogers, pharmakeia means "the use of medicine or drugs, the use of drugs for magical purposes, magic, sorcery" (517). In his Greek-English Lexicon, J.H. Thayer says it means "sorcery, magical arts" (649). In his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W.E. Vine says pharmakeia "primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery" (1074-1075). The term pharmakeia is a broad one that encompasses the use of recreational and illegal drugs, as well as magic, witchcraft, voodoo, superstition, astrology, fortune telling, horoscopes, sorcery and the like (many of these terms overlap).
http://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2004/jan/page8.htm
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