Subject: "Sons" of perdition? |
Bible Note: Greetings Love Fountain! I agree with you my friend that God is the ultimate author, each writer wrote as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, He also wrote through individuals. Paul's style differs from John's. Luke writes differently than Mark. Each has their own unique vocabulary. Thus, words or phrases can have slightly different meanings in different books. Generally, when doing a word study, one should start with the book in question, then precede to the rest of the that writer's books, then the Testament as a whole, and finally the Bible in total. Concerning John 17, consider what is said of the 'they'. 1) They were given to Christ by God out of the world - v. 6. 2) They know that everything God had given Christ came from God - v. 7. 3) They accepted the words of Christ - v. 8. 4) They believed that God sent Christ - v. 8. 5) Christ prays for them for they are God's - v. 9. 6) They are still in the world - v. 11. 7) They are protected by the power of God - v. 11. 8) Christ was with them and protected them - v. 12. 9) Christ prayed that they would have the full measure of His joy within them - v. 13. 10) The world hates them because they are not of the world - v. 14. 11) Christ prays that they will be protected from the evil one - v. 15. 12) They are not of the world - v. 16. 13) They are to be sanctified by the word - v. 17. 14) They are sent into the world - v. 18. 15) They will be sanctified - v. 19. If the son of perdition were Satan, then all of these statements would have to apply to him as well, since he is the exception of the 'them'. This is why Satan cannot be the son of perdition in John 17:12. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |