I came across some great ideas on some of the other forums, one of them was to do a Greek Study dealing with Greek words which are doctrinally significant or give us better insight on a issue. This would be great for the Bible Answers subforum as it really goes to the point to getting answers for the question "But what does the Bible mean when it says......?" Here is a example from David Koot..:

"...the Greek word 'hagia' . . . There are approximately 16 occurrences of the word in the Greek New Testament. It is the neuter plural nominative form of 'hagios.' It appears without a definite article, and is used as an adjective. Reviewing the various occurrences in the NT (New Testament), I find the word being applied to a variety of subjects and objects, including God's people, their children, and so forth.

In the book of Hebrews, hagia is used as an adjective to desribe the 'Holy Place' in the sanctuary. Interesting, since it is a plural form. For whatever reason, the plural is used. Perhaps John317 can shed some light on why this is so?

At any rate, hagia is used to describe the Holy Place. The Most Holy Place is described as 'hagia hagiwn.' We can see the difference. Now, in v. 12, Christ is described as going once for all into 'ta hagia,' here used with the article. It is NOT the Most Holy, 'hagia hagiwn' but the Holy Place.

Here is what Louw-Nida has to say about this occurrence:

"7.35 hagia, wn n: the interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple or of the earlier tabernacle or of a corresponding ‘spiritual holy place,’ perhaps regarded as being in heaven - ‘the holy place.’ . . . {Agia ‘a tent was constructed, the outer one...which was called the Holy Place’ He 9.2; . . . ‘he entered once and for all into the Holy Place’ He 9.12. The inner room was more specifically identified by the phrase hagia hagiwn, literally ‘holy of holies’ He 9.3, a Hebrew idiom indicating superlative degree. The inner sanctuary could also be referred to as ‘within the curtain’ . . . He 6.19). See a{gio"a (88.24) and 7.18.
The outer room of the sanctuary may be referred to in some languages as simply ‘the first room of the Holy Temple’ or ‘the first holy room of the Temple.’ The ‘holy of holies’ may be referred to as ‘the most holy place’ or ‘the second holy room of the Temple’ or ‘the interior holy room of the Temple.’ What is important here is the degree of holiness, not so much the actual location within the Temple. It is for this reason that for the ‘holy of holies’ many translators use ‘the most sacred place’ or ‘the very, very sacred room.’ In this type of context the term ‘sacred’ may be rendered as ‘dedicated especially to God’ or ‘consecrated to God.’ "

Louw, Johannes P. and Nida, Eugene A., Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains, (New York: United Bible Societies) 1988, 1989.

After His return to heaven, Christ did indeed enter the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary to begin His mediatorial work. However, He did not enter the Most Holy Place until the Judgment Hour, (Dan. 7; Rev. 14:6,7) Some NT translations take liberties with the text and insert their doctrinal views here, for example the NKJV and NIV, which say that Christ entered the 'Most Holy Place' once for all. However, that is not borne out by the text, or by Louw-Nida....

...The dividing curtain was torn in the earthly temple, thus signifying the end of the typical services. The way to the 'Most Holy Place' in the heavenly sanctuary is open to our High Priest. It does not say that He ENTERED the 'Most Holy Place' , but that the way to the 'Most Holy Place' was opened. It does say that He entered the Holy Place (Heb. 9:12) Once in the Holy Place, then the time would come when He would enter the 'Most Holy Place' . However, that is at the end. The work which goes on in the MHP is a work of judgment, of reviewing the books. That does not occur until just before Jesus returns. Its purpose is to make a final determination regarding whom Jesus will bring home with Him when He returns...."

Does anyone have some word studies dealing with OT or NT Greek words which are enlighthening on Adventist theology or doctrinally significant?
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Of course I agree that Christ entered the holy place at His ascension, but it seems to me that using Louw-Nida is not the best approach to establish this, since Louw-Nida defines hagia as "the interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple or of the earlier tabernacle or of a corresponding ‘spiritual holy place,’ perhaps regarded as being in heaven."

IIRC, Rosangela, you believe that Christ entered the MHP upon His ascension, don't you? (as an inauguration)

...Ah, not actually, Rosangela: it's quite accurate. You left out the precision: " 'the holy place'," is the accurate meaning of "hagia". What you quoted from Louw-Nida expresses the linguistic generality of "hagia", but you can't leave out the idiomatic, Scriptural, doctrinal meaning affirmed as "the holy place".

There's equally the affirmation of "hagia hagiwn" as referring to the inner room of the sanctuary space, as he also refers to the other phrases used to express the sanctuary interior. It's rather clear that the Book of Hebrews easily presents Adventism's sanctuary truth, eh.

It's intriguing having the NKJV equated with the NIV in departing from this accuracy, as noted in Richard's quote.

bump for Rosangela.

Yes, but Richard and the person he is quoting are obviously referring to the first phase of Christ's ministry, not to the inauguration.


He affirmed

"Some NT translations take liberties with the text and insert their doctrinal views here, for example the NKJV and NIV, which say that Christ entered the 'Most Holy Place' once for all. However, that is not borne out by the text, or by Louw-Nida."

Louw-Nida defines hagia as "the interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary." It seems to me the lexicon is saying that "hagia" may refer specifically to either the inner or the outer room, and not that it refers indistinctly to the interior of the sanctuary. Maybe I understood it wrong, but I got the impression that the first is the case, in view of passages like Heb. 9:2 which are cited as examples. Unfortunately the text is not quoted in full, and I don't possess this lexicon which, by the way, the best one for the Greek language.

Yes, well, "hagia" is generally "holy", and, between "hagia" and "hagia hagiwn" in the context of the sanctuary interior, "hagia" is not the "holy of holies", so is "holy place" of the first apartment. The bit you quoted with the emphasis on Louw-Nida is Richard's comment on the lexicon excerpt, isn't it? - The NKJV/NIV rendering is wrong, as Louw-Nida affirms by specifying the correct translation of the words in context, not so...?

If you think Heb 9:2 is complicated, it's much easier than Dan 8:9-11 with its personal pronouns and interpreting them!!

If you are looking for another interesting Greek word to investigate, I'd like to submit one:

aphiemi

On the word "taken" (Greek paralambano) and the "Rapture", books are written. But the word "left" (aphiemi) has lived up to its name.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.