Laodicean

[YYZ Skinhead]

What is the literal meaning of this word? It is the winning National Spelling Bee word for this year.
http://spellingbee.com/
http://public.spellingbee.com/public/res...summary/16

Had I been only 27 years younger I coulda won because I see this word thrown about on gazillions of Christian sites, usually in reference to a church or churches that the writer doesn't like. The definition given by the word caller was "lukewarm in religion or politics". I know there is something in the Bible about a church at Laodicea. I have never seen "Laodicean" used outside of a religious context, so I was surprised that the definition included politics.

[sheep wrecked]

(05-29-2009 02:51 PM)YYZ Skinhead Wrote:  What is the literal meaning of this word? It is the winning National Spelling Bee word for this year.
http://spellingbee.com/
http://public.spellingbee.com/public/res...summary/16

Had I been only 27 years younger I coulda won because I see this word thrown about on gazillions of Christian sites, usually in reference to a church or churches that the writer doesn't like. The definition given by the word caller was "lukewarm in religion or politics". I know there is something in the Bible about a church at Laodicea. I have never seen "Laodicean" used outside of a religious context, so I was surprised that the definition included politics.

I have been digging around looking for the etymology and meaning. It's been fun! I really enjoy this kind of stuff

It appears that the original name of Laodicea was Diospolis, meaning "city of Zeus." Antiochus II renamed the city in the middle of the third century B.C., naming it after his wife, Laodice. The name Laodicea is etymologically derived from two Greek words, laos meaning "people," and dike meaning "to judge" or "to decide."

Quote:"DICE, the personification of justice, was, according to Hesiod, a daughter of Zeus and Themis, and the sister of Eunomia and Eirene. She was considered as one of the Horae; she watched the deeds of man and approached the throne of Zeus with lamentations whenever a judge violated justice. She was the enemy of all falsehood and the protectress of a wise administration of justice; and Hesychia, that is, tranquillity of mind, was her daughter. She is frequently called the attendant or councilor of Zeus. In the tragedians, Dice appears as a divinity who severely punishes all wrong, watches over the maintenance of justice, and pierces the hearts of the unjust with the sword made for her by Aesa. In this capacity she is closely connected with the Erinnyes, though her business is not only to punish injustice, but also to reward virtue. The idea of Dice as justice personified is most perfectly developed in the dramas of Sophocles and Euripides. She was represented on the chest of Cypselus as a handsome goddess, dragging Adicia (Injustice) with one hand, while in the other she held a staff with which she beat her."

http://ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1008.html

From Webster's Dictionary:

Quote:La·od·i·ce·an
Pronunciation: \lā-ˌä-də-ˈsē-ən, ˌlā-ō-də-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: from the reproach to the church of the Laodiceans in Rev 3:15–16
Date: 1633
: lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics

Laodicean appears to have become defined according to tradition - when Jesus called the church "lukewarm" and continues to retain that definition.

[Strefanash]

Laodikea (there is no letter "C" in greek) the place name is one thing, and the meaning of the name is clear, but laodicean as the perjorative adjective comes from the reference to the church of this town in Revelation, the letters to the 7 churches. As this church was rebuked for being lukewarm so the term laodicean is now aplied, rightly or wrongly, to the lukewarm, the indifferent.

strange thing, many people, fewaring lukewarmness drive themselves to fanaticism. this is totally the wrong response, given that the fruit of the spirit is gentleness. therefore a zeal that is violent is still carnal, and is still sin, thus these people are still lukewarm even though forcing themselves to zeal in fear of it.

moral effort is not a substitute for repentance

[sheep wrecked]

(05-30-2009 07:46 PM)Strefanash Wrote:  Laodikea (there is no letter "C" in greek) the place name is one thing, and the meaning of the name is clear, but laodicean as the perjorative adjective comes from the reference to the church of this town in Revelation, the letters to the 7 churches. As this church was rebuked for being lukewarm so the term laodicean is now aplied, rightly or wrongly, to the lukewarm, the indifferent.

strange thing, many people, fewaring lukewarmness drive themselves to fanaticism. this is totally the wrong response, given that the fruit of the spirit is gentleness. therefore a zeal that is violent is still carnal, and is still sin, thus these people are still lukewarm even though forcing themselves to zeal in fear of it.

moral effort is not a substitute for repentance

Actually, in a way, it's kind of sad that they are remembered as "luke warm". Apparently, according to the other references to the Laodicean Church in the NT, they were were not categorized as such. Obviously something happened to change that, which I think is fair warning that we must always walk humbly before God and never take His Word for granted and become static as well.