[Greek] ἀθετέω (atheteō), [Latin] contristare, [Latin] facere irritum, [Latin] spernere, [Latin] reprobare, [Latin] abicere, [French] abandoner, [French] desoler, [French] rejeter, [French] condemner: to do away with, to set aside, to nullify, to reject, to despise, to make void; Mk.6:26, Mk.7:9, Lk.10:16, Jn.12:48, 1Cor.1:19, Gal.2:21, 1Thess.4:8, 1Tim.5:12, Heb.10:28, Jd.1:8
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to declare invalid, to act treacherously, to break with, to reject, to deny, and to disprove.
Polybius’ Histories 12.14.6: “In the present instance, we may fairly reject the stories to the discredit of Philoctetes. For he has put himself beyond the pale and beyond all bounds of propriety.”
Polybius’ Histories 9.36.10: “On what grounds are you so careful of breaking faith with these people, from whom you have never received favor.”
Old Testament: This term means to act unfaithfully, to be apostate, to fall away, to disregard, to break an oath, to transgress, and to act wickedly.
New Testament: This term means to break one’s word, to set aside, to reject (disregard), to nullify, and to scorn. Herod did not want to break his word of granting a request for Herodias’ daughter. Jesus states that the Pharisees and scribes had set aside (rejected) God’s commands for human traditions. Whoever rejects you rejects Jesus and the Father. Whoever rejects Jesus and His words will bring condemnation upon themselves. The power of God will set aside the learning of the wise. The law does not nullify God’s grace and promise. Whoever disregards holiness in sexual conduct, disregards God. False teachers defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings.
Scripture:
Mk.6:26: Herod did not want to break his word to her
Mk.7:9: You set aside God’s commandments to uphold your tradition
Lk.10:16: Whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me
1Cor.1:19: I will set aside the learning of the learned
Gal.3:15: No one can annul (cancel) a covenant once created
1Thess.4:8: Whoever disregards this (holiness in sexual conduct) disregards, who gives His Holy Spirit to you
Jd.1:8: False teachers defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings
Etymology: The Greek verb atheteo means to set aside (a-) what is placed (-theteo). The Latin verb contristare means to sadden, to afflict, and to discourage. The Latin facere irritum means to make void or to nullify. The Latin verb spernere means to scorn or to despise. The Latin verb reprobare means to condemn or to reject. The Latin verb abicere means to throw aside or to abandon.
Conclusion:
Contrite, solace, irritable, reject, spurn, reprobate (rejected by God), condemn, abject, abandon
Update: Our current post-Christian world is filled with many who have set aside God’s commandments for their own ‘traditions’.
We continually see the supposed ‘wisdom’ of the ‘wise experts’ being set aside and mocked by God and common sense.
It seems holiness in sexual conduct has become meaningless or irrelevant in our current society.
In our cancel current culture, contempt for others has become widespread.
Example of reverse racism (another form of intolerance). I will list just a few examples:
Gettysburg college intended to hold an event protesting “white cis men”
Chicago mayor Lightfoot only speaking to black reporters
Broadway production company fires sign language person because he is white
UC Berkeley housing co-op bans white students.
“Sometimes God will cancel your plan [in order] to accomplish His purpose.” Unknown
George Orwell’s prophetic thoughts on cancel culture. He lived from 1903-1950:
“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of history.”
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well. And if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.”
“The ruling class in every age have tried to impose a false view of the world upon their followers.”
It is always a challenge when dealing with cancel culture. Many will eventually come together and discover that this sense of being offended will be rejected and done away with. As we approach the holidays, many of us will need to set aside these differences and come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Those who don’t know any better will eventually associate with this foolishness.
Next post: to come together