I firmly stand on the principle of Scripture alone in the sense of what is in Scripture has a unique quality of truth compared to the writings outside of it. I think this is terrifically relevant to the discussion on the meaning of holy. The danger though is that we limit not just truth to being found only there, but also we limit ourselves to only one biblical principle.
A valuable principle in addition to Scripture alone and the broader principle of truth is the principle of concrete things and the broader principle of good. Recently, in watching a DVD about the Aztecs and one of their monuments, the narrator said that at one time the majority of their evidence for the chief monument buried under Mexico City was documentary evidence, but now that had changed through archaeological evidence in finding the ancient monument itself.
I don't think that the shift from documentary evidence to the actual thing itself as evidence is harmful. In fact, it is a concrete good. When I defend the principle of truth in Scripture, I hope I do not turn a blind eye to the principle of good in the evidence of real things.
This is why finding a picture of holiness in some text next to the word for holiness would go a long way toward solving our problems with its definition. Likewise, better yet would be to find the concrete objects themselves as described in both a text and the picture. This would nail the definition of holy to the wall for good.
On the flipside, in the last few days I was searching commentaries on Romans for the authors' definitions for holy. It was a sad state of affairs. They all took a slightly different angle on the word. Their meanings were not the same, though in some cases they did overlap or agree.
We can find the concrete evidence we need and still uphold the principle of Scripture alone. Abstract documentary evidence is not passe. It is not a thing of the past. It still contributes truth. What is also a present concern is the matter of a targeted quest toward concrete evidence that should be available somewhere. I pray God will help us all find it. He's already helped me find a concrete biblical picture in a verbal description of righteousness and justice. The same can happen again for all of us on the meaning of holy.
In Christ,
Jon
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You said: "It still contributes truth. What is also a present concern is the matter of a targeted quest toward concrete evidence that should be available somewhere. I pray God will help us all find it."
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I think Holy means: concerned above all else about what is best for all living things.
I derive this from references to God as Holy, when they mention why, and make comparisons.
I definitely cannot disagree with your definition. The only weak point is that it may be too general for the meaning of holy and too easy to agree with, because it is both general and abstract. The remaining question is what specifically and concretely is best for all living things. I sincerely like what you are saying, because it does move away from other definitions that have none of your concern. Thank you for your comment.
I like that you picked up on my concern for a "targeted quest toward concrete evidence." That is one of my primary points.
The Articles referred to still need to have references added to them, and those sources of info are the concrete evidence. That combined with logic and reason provides us with understanding, and then we can know the names of things, just as Adam could know the names of every living thing -because Adam could see how their forms determined their function, their purposes, and their names were descriptions of the forms he saw.
If I could find a publisher to pay me to make "How We Exist" into a proper book, it would probably out sell string theory because this theory explains all of our ultimate questions.
Definitely add the concrete evidence as soon as you can. One of my favorite linguists (experts on language) said that concrete objects and pointing them out are the basis for our understanding of language. May God grant you energy and time to carry out the task of adding your references.
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