[Greek] ἀρνέομαι (arneomai), [Latin] negare, [Latin] abnegare, [Latin] mendax, [French] nier: to deny, to refuse to agree, to disregard, to refuse to follow, to be false to oneself; 33 scriptural references
The only way to seek God is to be fully committed to Him.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to say no, to deny, to refuse, to reject, to decline, and to renounce.
Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.282: “After the battle you went on embassy to visit Phillip, although you had notoriously declined that employment.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 3.1.2: “Amasis, intimidated by the power of Persia and frightened, could neither give his daughter or refuse her.”
Sophocles’ Philoctetes 527: “Let the man set sail at once, our ship, for her part, will carry him, and will not refuse.”
Aeschines’ On the Embassy 2.69: “Since he also misrepresents the speech that I made, I have no disposition to run away, or to deny a word that was spoken.”
Demosthenes’ Phillipic 3 9.54: “Your clamor for a speech, from the hirelings, some of whom would not even disclaim that title, and you derive amusement from your abusive language.”
Euripides’ Alcestis 1158: “For now we have taken on a better life than before, I will not deny that I am blessed by fortune.”
New Testament: This term means to deny, to refuse to agree, to disregard, to refuse to follow, and to be false to oneself. Whoever denies Christ will also be denied (disowned) by the Father. Peter repeatedly denied Christ. Peter stated that the Israelites denied the Holy and Righteous One. The Israelites denied Moses’ authority. Whoever does not care for family members denies their faith. Jesus cannot deny His own nature in serving and saving others. Paul states that one must reject false teachers. By their acts, rebels, deceivers, and idle talkers deny Him. Moses refused to be known as the Pharaoh’s daughter’s son.
Notable scriptures:
Mt.10:33: Whoever denies Me, I will deny before My heavenly Father
Acts 4:16: The Sanhedrin could not deny that remarkable sign had been done by Peter and John
2Tim.3:5: Some will make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject these people
Tit.1:16: They claim to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him
Tit.2:12: Drawing upon God’s grace to reject godless ways and worldly desires
2Pet.2:1: False teachers will bring destructive heresies and deny the Master
1Jn.2:22: The liar is one who denies that Jesus is the Christ
Jud.1:4: There have been some godless intruders who pervert the grace of our Lord in licentiousness and who deny our Lord
The Letter of Judah: The purpose of this letter was to warn the Christians about false teachers and pagan (gnostic) influences. Jd.1:4 makes reference to godless intruders who pervert the God’s grace into licentiousness and who deny our Lord. These ungodly teachers allude to the Nicolaitans, whose doctrine Christ Himself declared to be hateful to Him. This doctrine mixed Christianity, paganism, and the occult. Nicolaitans promoted a doctrine of tolerance. Nicolaitans hardened themselves against the fear of punishment by extolling the goodness and mercy of God, which they perverted to lasciviousness. Jd. 1:7 makes to indulging in sexual promiscuity and unnatural vice. The Nicolaitans were also in Ephesus and Pergamum, mixing Christianity with paganism.
Rev.2:6: But you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I [Jesus] also hate.
Etymology: The Latin verb denegare means to deny, to reject, and to refuse. The Latin verb abnegare means to refuse and to deny. The Latin noun mendax means liar. Mendacity is the tendency or disposition to lie. The French verb nier means to deny. The related Greek term aparneomai indicates a stronger sense of denying. This pertains to denying oneself to follow Christ.
Conclusion:
Mendacity, negate, negation, abnegate, deny, denial
Aeschines alludes to the very natural human reaction in responding back to misrepresentation, misinformation, and disinformation spoken about oneself.
Mt.10:33: If we deny Jesus before others, Jesus will deny us before the Father. Why would this not apply also to His teachings?
Acts 4:16: The Sanhedrin could not deny that a remarkable sign (healings occurred).
2Tim:3:5: Moral depravity and false teaching will be rampant. Many claim to follow Jesus but deny His teachings. Many will engage in sinful activity. Church teachers will not follow, ignore, or change Church teachings.
1Tit. 1:16: Many faithful and Church leaders’ actions will show that they deny Jesus
2Pet.2:1: Local cardinals, bishops, and priests, in their attempts to accommodate the culture, have introduced destructive heresies
Jud.1:4:e Nicolaitans subverted with the culture with godless values (a doctrine of toleration)
Rev.2:6: It is very significant that Jesus would hate and detest one’s actions (not the person) in following both Christianity and the world’s ways. Jesus requires one to fully set oneself apart from the world in order to follow Him. According to Jesus, it is much worse to follow to two ‘masters’ (both Christianity and paganism) at the same time.
Update: The German Catholic Church (cardinals, bishops, and priests) are clearly doctrinally going of the rails (removing celibacy, women priest, blessing same-sex unions, etc.)
We currently have many church leaders (both Catholic and Christian) are denying, ignoring, or changing church teachings to accommodate the LGBTQ community. (Morality issues and false teaching.)
Several Catholic leaders (cardinals, bishops, priests, and laity) continue to deny or ignore the Church’s teachings (in the Catechism) on homosexuality as disordered behavior.
There is no denying the fact that the Vatican’s synodal process continues to create confusion, controversy, sacrilege, and changing teachings.
There is no denying the fact that Catholic attendance (and membership) has been plummeting in Germany. Are you really surprised why this happening with what the German cardinals, bishops, and priests have been advocating in their synodal ways.
Do you notice that Pope Francis is not forcefully criticizing the German bishops for their heretical synod? Then look at what Pope Francis is trying to accomplish with his synodal ways. It is as if Pope Francis is saying to the German Bishops: “I am really with you. But we have to do this synodal process gradually.”
There is no denying the fact that there is more division, fewer Mass attendance, and fewer Catholic membership under Pope Francis’ leadership. Yet, ironically, he is trying to expand the Church by accommodating the LGBTQ community by changing Church teachings.
The Vatican is beginning to uniformly deny and restrict the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM).
President Biden continues to deny his or Hunter Biden’s involvement in securing money for access.
The Biden administration still denies responsibility for securing the border and national energy security.
The Biden family continues to deny or acknowledge Hunter Biden’s daughter. (No class or character!)
The Biden administration, Democratic Party, and Progressives continues to deny that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s viability as a presidential candidate.
The Supreme Court ruled that race (in affirmative action) cannot be used in denying college admissions.
Next post: making excuses