[Greek] κατηγορέω (katēgoreō), [Latin] accusare, [French] incriminer: to accuse, to charge, to be an accuser, to object, to prosecute, to speak in the assembly; 24 scriptural references
Jesus’ Church still remains much stronger than those who seek to change, undermine, or destroy it. Even now, Jesus’ Church is actually experiencing an organic counter-movement (behind the scenes) back toward Tradition and piety.
Napolean Bonaparte: “Your Eminence, are you not aware that I have the power to destroy the Catholic Church?”
Cardinal: “Your Majesty, we Catholic clergy have done our best to destroy the Church for the last 1800 years. We have not succeeded, and neither will you.”
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to accuse, to be an accuser, to betray, to make known, to speak against (before judges), and to inform.
Plato’s Euthyphro 2c: “What sort of indictment has been brought against you?”
Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus 514: “Fellow citizens, having learned that Oedipus the king lays dire charges against me, I have come in indignation.”
Plato’s Apology 18a: “Then it is right for me to defend myself against the false accusations brought against me.”
Sophocles’ Ajax 907: “But by whose hand can the ill-fated man have contrived this end? He did it with his own hand; it is obvious.”
Old Testament: The devil is known as the accuser of sinful man before God. It is also interesting to note that the Greek noun diabalos means one who accuses or casts through. The Greek verb diaballo means to slander, to throw across, and to accuse.
Zech. 3:1: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, while the adversary stood at his right side to accuse him.” (The adversary [Hebrew: satan] is seen as a prosecuting attorney in the Lord’s heavenly courtroom. Later tradition understand this as Satan)
Exo.31:18: “When the Lord had finished speaking to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the covenant, the stone tablets inscribed by God’s own finger.” (Interestingly, this may allude to Jesus writing on the ground with His finger.)
Jer.17:13: “All who forsake You shall be put to shame; the rebels’ name shall be written in the earth; they have forsaken the Lord, source of living waters.” (This is a warning against trusting in man instead of trusting in God. Shameful people who reject God will be written in the earth. This also alludes to the shameful scribes and Pharisees who are trying to trap Jesus’ handling of the adulterous women. Perhaps Jesus is writing their names in the earth.)
New Testament: This term means to accuse, to testify against, to bring charges against, to find guilty, and to trap (catch).
Scripture:
Mt.12:10: “The Pharisees questioned Him, ‘Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?’ so that they might accuse Him.” (The Pharisees were testing Jesus to see if He would heal on the sabbath. Jesus proceeded to heal the man with the withered hand. Rabbinic tradition did allow for such situations involving impending death. They were finding any reason or excuse to accuse Him.)
Lk.11:54: “The scribes and Pharisees were plotting to catch Him at something He might say.”
- These scholars of the law presumed an authority to interpret and exercise the power of the knowledge of heaven.
- Jesus accuses these scholars of taking away this key of knowledge.
- They have falsely interpreted this knowledge and have hindered the people from understanding it.
- The scribes and Pharisees act with hostility and plot to catch Him at something He might say.
Jn.5:45: “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.” (Moses foretold of the Messiah and commanded his people to hear him. But the people were disobedient and rebellious. Therefore, Jesus has no need to accuse them [when Moses could].)
Jn. 8:6: “They said this to test Him, so that they could have some charges to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.”
- The scribes and Pharisees intended to trap Jesus to get Him in trouble with disregarding Moses’ law or Roman law in dealing with adulterous women.
- Jewish law required that woman caught in adultery must be stoned to death. However Jewish law required 2 or 3 witnesses must be present to provide evidence.
- Roman law required that only a person can be put to death by a judge. If Jesus had answered that a women be stoned, Jesus would be violating the Roman law.
- Jesus completely saw through their intentions and stated that the one without sin can be the first to throw a stone at her.
- Jesus’ writing on the ground with His finger, alluding to Ex. 31:18, may also refer to writing the shameful scribes’ and Pharisees’ names on the ground.
Acts 25:16: “I [Paul]: answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accuse person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.” (Paul, as a Roman citizen, was entitled with having the right to face his accuser and the right [“honor”] to be beheaded rather than be crucified.)
Rom.2:15: “They show that the demands of the law are written in the hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them.” (The Gentiles were not be to held to the same standard concerning the law. God made it possible for the Gentiles to know the difference between right and wrong in their hearts.)
Sycophant:
- This term literally means “fig revealer.” Folklore suggests that sycophants would shake the trees to reveal the figs (sykos).
- Private litigants were often employed to make up questionable or false prosecutions and accusations.
- Sometimes fig farmers would try to avoid paying taxes when buying or selling figs.
- Fig farmers would often hire informants (fig revealers) to spy on their competitors.
- Unscrupulous sycophants would often extort or falsely accuse competitors for personal or financial gain.
Etymology:
- The Greek verb diaballo means to slander, to accuse, and to throw [-ballo] accross [dia-].
- The Greek noun diabolos means one who accuses.
- The agora was the central public gathering space or assembly.
- The Greek verb agoreuo means to speak in the public assembly.
- The Greek verb katagoreuo means to speak against [kata-] someone in the public assembly.
- The Greek noun kategoros is the accuser (prosecutor).
- The Greek noun kategoria means accuser. In a sense, the one accused is categorized or labeled by that accusation. Crime ==> criminal
Conclusion:
Accuse, accusation, incriminate, criminal, incrimination, sycophant, category, categorical, agora, diabolical
I can categorically say that this is a very interesting term. ☺☺☺ It seems corruption in govt. has become a time “honored” tradition throughout history, with indictments, fabrications (lies), informants, sycophants (yes- men and yes-women), public indignation, and betrayal.
And now you know why informants are sometimes called “shake-down” artists or extortionists.
Update: We are now currently living in a political age where indictments can be made possible by both fabricated evidence and lawfare. (This is an indictment on our current political system).
The secular and political culture now call pro-life advocates as “anti-abortion” advocates. They can’t accuse them as being “pro-life”. It does not fit their media narrative.
Caveat accusator (Let the accuser beware): Accusing Catholics and Christians as hateful (when they get their beliefs and values from God) is completely distorted. You are also essentially accusing God as hateful!
Throughout Pope Francis’ papacy, we have seen a legion of pope-splainers (papal sycophants and “suck-ups”) who state the Vatican narrative. These pope-splainers use verbal gymnastics, papal clean up work [of documents and statements], and “doctrine of the Holy Father” gibberish.
Pope-splainers often resort to sophistry. “It is hateful to criticize the Church!”, “You will burn in hell for doing this!” “You must obey the pope!”. “You are causing people to leave the Church!” Pope-splainers criticize others but dismiss their criticism of the pope.
There have been times when the pope-splainers and Vatican lackeys would report on (“rat-out”) Catholics celebrating the TLM.
The USCCB can be rightly accused of focusing too much on immigration causes rather than the more important issues such as pro-life issues and abortion. 90% immigration, 1% pro-life and abortion.
The USCCB, charitable organizations, and USAID have been found out for spending money on dubious causes. The USCCB has been rightly accused for focusing too much on money.
Many rightfully seek to care first for those people in their immediate sphere of influence God, family, community, state, nation, immigrants . Yet, at the same time, others accuse them for being cruel or indifferent to immigrants.
The synodal Church can be rightfully accused of being a more worldly Church entrenched in the world rather than a divine institution in the work of saving souls. It is as if synodality has become an idol for many people.
What is this organic movement back toward Tradition and piety?
- More younger priests and seminarians are conservatively minded.
- More Protestants are converting to Catholicism. Protestants are also looking for something much deeper in their faith.
- More are desiring receiving the Eucharist on the tongue and kneelers for receiving the Eucharist.
- More younger people are attracted to the TLM. Younger people are seeking something much deeper in their faith.
- More are fed up with the Church being entrenched in the world, acting like a social justice organization rather than like a divine institution.
- It has been reported that nearly 2800 people showed up at a 9:00pm Mass at Penn State University. Wow!
Because of their dubious political record (being on the wrong side of 80%/20% political issues) and political antics, the Democrats and Progressives are rightfully becoming irrelevant.
Bishop Strickland warned has fellow bishops about the dangers and problems of Synodality. The bishops’ failed to respond to him. We now have many silent and cowardly bishops in the Church.
Bishop Strickland accused Pope Francis of undermining the Catholic faith. Bishop Strickland was removed because he was accused of being a vocal critic of the ‘reform” of the Church.
“Those who justify themselves and accuse other foolishly mock God. But God cannot be fooled because He knows everything.” St. Nektarios of Aegina
“The devil will try to upset you by accusing you of being unworthy of the blessings you have received.” St. Teresa of Avila
Next post: mixing one’s faith with the world ==> worldliness