Holy: Understanding it Better Through Understanding the Meaning of Meaning

No, the title may sound like a riddle, but it is really a fact.  There is not one meaning of meaning and it is very important for understanding the meaning of holy.  So what does it mean you ask?  That is a loaded question.  Which kind of meaning are you referring to in your question?  Are you asking for its definition?  Or are you asking for its implication?  Or are you asking for its significance?  Or maybe you want to know all three meanings.  That is what I want to discuss today is all three meanings, because all three are found in the Bible. 

Exodus 19:10- 12 is where you see a great example of this.  In it, it suggests three meanings for holy in the order of definition, of implication, and of significance. 

Moses is first told to go to the people and make them holy today and tomorrow.  We are later today about the people that "the whole of the people in the camp trembled"  (Exodus 19:16).  It could be that to make holy or sanctify the people meant to assemble the whole or all of the people. 

Then we are next told that Moses is to have the people wash their clothes.  Further on, it is said that "they washed their clothes"  (Exodus 19:14).  Then they are told to be ready for the third day and to "not approach a woman" (Exodus 19:15b). 

Finally, we are told that Moses is to set limits to the people so no one would touch God's holy mountain.  To the trained observer there are three different meanings here rather than three synonymous meanings here.  Years ago, Dr. Robert H. Stein trained us to think of all three kinds of meaning and not just definitional meaning. 

I see three meanings for holy here corresponding to the three kinds of meaning mentioned above.  First, I am persuaded that the definition of holy is seen first in the call to assemble "the whole of the people" as a parallel to "make holy the people".  Second, I believe the implication is next brought up with the instructions to have the people wash their clothes and for the men not to have sexual relations with a woman.  These both relate to the implication of holy being purity.  Finally, the last section discusses a boundary or a limit to the holy mountain.  It is set apart from other mountains as unique. 

Let me illustrate from my own personal experience how definition, implication, and significance can occur together in a situation.  I am now for the first time (this once would have been a big deal) going to reveal a strategy that I used as a football coach to turn around a game at half-time where we were trailing 18-0.  What I did not realize then was that I referred to all three kinds of meaning in speaking to my players.   First, I realized on my way to our team huddle at half time that I had to keep things simple.  I had to make sure that they would purely focus on one thing to correct for the second half.  Then I realized I must help them realize that it was possible to have a second half that was entirely different from the first half.  And finally I assumed that I was talking to the whole offensive line and the whole defensive line, when I gave them my specific instructions on what to fix.  They all had to act together as a whole, not as distinct parts.  So, though not in the same order as in Exodus, I referred to purity (of focus - one only), I referred to significance where they needed to believe they could set apart the second half from the first (they could still win the game after losing it the first half).  Finally, I defined the whole as the four members of the defensive line as having to act as a unit or as a whole rather than separate parts.  In this case, the whole of the lineman needed to discipline themselves to all penetrate to the same depth as a defensive line.   So it is not unusual for all three meanings to occur in one space of text or language.  (By the way, the Green Bay Packers still haven't figured out this idea of penetrating to the same depth as Larry McCarren, a former Packer, has). 

I am going to try my best to publish more entries.  They may as a result be shorter like this one.  But I want to end with the meanings of holy.  I think holy does mean by definition the whole or according to the whole.  I think holy does mean by implication that purity is necessary.  There must be focus, (not duplicity) when this assembly of people comes together.  They must think of only the one thing necessary and not be double-minded or made impure by thinking of many things rather than the one thing necessary.  Finally, the significance of God's holiness is that his holy mountain must be set apart as untouchable on the part of the assembly.  If it is whole, then the whole cannot be violated.  It must then be distinct.  So all three of the most popular meanings of holy are found in one place, but my argument is that only one is the definition and that is congregational wholeness (or moral wholeness in other contexts).  So keep in mind all three kinds of meaning and do not assume that every meaning you hear about is a definition.  May God bless your reading.  And may God also bless those who taught me all that I know.  Thank you.

In Christ,

Jon

Holy: Understanding it Better on the Map (the Bible)

So you are exploring the meaning of holy as it is found in the Bible.  That is wonderful.  It is extremely important, as is pointed out by those famous words  in Isaiah: "Holy, holy, holy ...."   Perhaps the best way to think of words is to think of them as tools to map out the territory.  In tandem, the territory equals real life.  Imagine having to go to new locations all the time with no map let alone without your GPS!  Worse yet, let's say your map was dated a bit and MapQuest did not show the street that you were looking for but instead a close equivalent!  I know the experience with MapQuest personally.  It can be frustrating, because it was supposed to make the trip easier rather than more difficult.  If we misunderstand the meaning of holy, then frustration and difficulty will be the outcome.  That is why the meaning of holy is not only important, but also relevant.  What if we are losing our way?   Let's look at the maps that are available for finding your destination. 

Well, there are three maps out there that have been used for the last 500 plus years.  The first map put in the bin historically grew out of the Protestant Reformation.  The definition of holy on that map is that holy means morally whole, but there is also a secondary definition.  The primary (or broad) definition is moral wholeness.  The secondary (narrow) definition is set apart.  The second map to be put in the bin historically was made mostly by Puritans.  The definition of holy on that map is pure.  The third map was made popular at the end of the 1800s and became more popular during the 1900s (20th century).  The definition of holy on that map is set apart.  This map also remains the most popular at the present moment.  That is what you find in most of the books and on most of the internet as you search.  There are other maps available with other definitions, but I have given you only the top three to simplify your decision-making. 

Understanding the Bible correctly is very important, when you consider that the effect of errant maps.  You can get lost, frustrated, or arrive late.  It is important to know the implications or effects isn't it?  This is the "why" behind my blog. I believe the Bible clearly teaches that even the best of us will face affliction.   Life is difficult enough without adding to the territory of life a bad map! 

So please know that these three maps are out there.  I am presently testing each one for accuracy.  The one that I have tested the most experientially since 2004 is the idea that holy means whole.   Before that and from my childhood, I was given the map that said holy means set apart.  So I was unintentionally testing that option the entire time.  I guess that I also tested the idea that holy means pure in my first 3 years of college.  I am also testing these three maps through writing a scholarly paper, where I will be using a linguistic and grammatical synthesis as my method. 

Please pray that God would grant me more resources to finish this task yet this spring (before May).  Then I will announce to everyone the results of that work.  Don't threw out any of the above maps away quite yet.  There are elements of truth in each one.  I'll let you know when you can settle in with the best one or a better replacement than any of the three. Do wisely as the ancient Jewish copyists did.  Place one definition as central in your life and keep the other two in your life's margin.  Thank you for reading this post. 


In Christ,

Jon