Texts... John 1:29 Behold the Lamb (amnos) of God. Leviticus 16:5 Two kids of the goats

Transcription

1 Sheep and Goats 1 1

2 Texts... John 1:29 Behold the Lamb (amnos) of God Leviticus 16:5 Two kids of the goats 2 2

3 Lamb amnos Amnos occurs 4 times (Jn. 1:29, 36; Ac. 8:32; 1 Pt. 1:19) and always in describing Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. 3 3

4 This comparison to a lamb is to describe Jesus patience in suffering (as a lamb before the shearer), his sinlessness (as a lamb without blemish), and the efficacy of his vicarious death (as the lamb that taketh away the sin of the world). Amnos is not used to describe Jesus as a powerless and defenseless young lamb. 4 4

5 But there is another Greek word translated lamb arnion and only John uses this word to describe Jesus, always to describe Jesus and always in the book Revelation except for one time. Revelation 5:

6 Lamb arnion Arnion is used as a title of Jesus only in Revelation and occurs twenty-eight times. The twenty-ninth use in Revelation is in 13:11 the beast that spake like a dragon, and it is used in a literal way. 6 6

7 The Lamb (arnion) of Revelation: Vicariously shed his blood (5.6) Defeated death (5.5, 6) Is omnipotent and omniscient (5.6) Takes over divine rule and opens the book (5.5, 8) Receives adoration (5.8) Establishes a nation (7.9) Overcomes demonic powers (17.14) 7 7

8 Judges (6.16, 17; 13.8) Is Lord of lords and King of kings and conquers his enemies (17.14) Holds a marriage feast (19.9) Shares God s throne in rule over his people (22.1, 3) Only literal use is 13.11, rest are symbolic representations 8 8

9 Arnion is used only one other time in the Bible John 21:15 and it designates God s people. 9 9

10 John 21:15, 16, 17 feed my lambs and my sheep lambs arnion, can be of any age sheep probaton, a member of a flock, no age implied, and refers to the followers of Christ 10 10

11 John 21: 15, 16, 17 lambs v. 15 is arnion, plural, and connotes followers of Christ, with the implication that they are young, helpless, and in need of being fed, i.e., Peter was to care of God s people who were like lambs sheep v. 16 is probaton, plural, and means followers of Christ, with the implication they need care and guidance. Age is not implied, for it basically means a 4-legged creature that walks forward, a word that usually is applied to sheep. sheep v. 17 is probaton 11 11

12 John 21: 15, 16, 17 Feed 15 is bosko and means to cause animals to eat, i.e., to pasture them, to feed them Feed 16 is poimaino and means to herd and to tend flocks to shepherd, to take care of, to pasture Feed 17 is bosko 12 12

13 Comparing the two: 15 feed is bosko, means to pasture or cause to eat 16 feed is poimaino and means to tend, to herd 15 lambs is arnion and means helpless and dependent; young sheep 16 sheep is probaton and means needing care and guidance 17 feed is bosko 17 sheep is probaton 13 13

14 Lovest... 15, 16 agapao to have a strong, non-sexual affection and love for a person and their good, especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person s behalf 17 phileo to have a great affection or care for or a loyalty towards 14 14

15 agapao phileo bosko arnion (young) (v. 15) agapao phileo bosko probaton (v. 16) phileo phileo bosko probaton (v. 17) 15 15

16 The contrast between arnion and amnos does not lie in the diminutive character of the former as compared with the latter....the contrast lies in the manner in which Christ is presented in the two respects. The use of amnos points directly to the fact, the nature and character of His sacrifice; arnion (only in the Apocalypse) presents Him, on the ground, indeed, of His sacrifice, but in His acquired majesty, dignity, honor, authority and power. (Vine s Complete and Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, section on Lamb, Logos edition) 16 16

17 Leviticus 16:5 Kids is from a Hebrew word that means hegoats (not young goats). A different word means she-goats (Leviticus 4:28)

18 Today kids refer to young goats. In Biblical times, kids referred to goats of any age and, depending on the form, a he-goat or a she-goat. Today lamb means a young sheep. In Biblical times it could mean a member of a flock of goats or of sheep (Exodus 12:5). Ten different Hebrew words are translated lamb and some of them are animal specific. The sin offering was a sheep or a goat both were clean animals and both were offered. (Lev. 4:28, 32) Which was used to represent Jesus? Sin offerings could also be turtledoves, pigeons, or a meal offering

19 In the New Testament, Jesus as a sin offering is always represented by a lamb and never by a goat, a turtledove, a pigeon, or a meal offering. John is very clear on this portrayal

20 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matthew 25:33) 20 20

21 Sheep probaton, no age implied Goats eriphion, a goat of any age, but some believe it is a young goat 21 21