[Greek] ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō), [Latin] mutare, [Latin] trader, [Latin] avertere, [French] se changer, [French] tourner: to turn away (back), to avert, to return, to bring back, to pervert, to remove, to prevent, to alienate, betray; Mt.5:42, Mt.26:52, Mt.27:3, Lk.23:14, Acts 3:26, Rom.11:26, 2Tim.1:15, 2Tim.4:4, Heb.12:25
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to turn away, to drive back, to divert, to dissuade, to abandon, to divide, and to rebut.
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 5.5.36: “And you will not turn away from me as you did a little while ago.”
Aeschylus’ Agamemnon 850: “We will endeavor to avert mischief of the disease.”
Aristophanes’ Clouds 776: “How could you overturn that suit, because you had no response?”
Plato’s Sophist 239d: “He will easily take advantage of your poverty of terms to make a counter-offer, twisting our words to the opposite meaning.”
Old Testament: This term means to restore, to turn back, to return, to go home, and to turn away. These examples are found in everyday situations and in God’s relationship with His people.
New Testament: This term means to turn back, to put in, to return, to incite, to turn (away), to deviate, to repudiate, and to divert.
Teaching about retaliation: Mt.5:38-42
- Lev.24:20: anyone who inflicts an injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in turn
- But now offer no resistance to one who is evil
- When someone strikes you (on your right cheek), turn the other one as well
- If anyone goes to law with you on your tunic, hand over your tunic
- Should anyone press you into service, go with him
- Do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow
God raised up His Servant to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways: Acts 3:26
- Blessing is found in a change in heart, in turning away from sin and wickedness
- Sin is the source of all woes
- If people turn away from sin, they will be happy
God’s irrevocable call: Rom.11:25-27
- In God’s design, Israel’s unbelief is being used to grant the light of faith to the Gentiles
- You [Israel]: will not become wise in your own estimation
- A hardening has come upon you [Israel]: until the full number of Gentiles come in
- The Deliverer will turn away godlessness from Jacob
Grave need to preach the Gospel message: 2Tim.4:1-5
- You [Timothy]: you must persistently proclaim when it is convenient or inconvenient
- You [Timothy]: must convince, reprimand, and encourage through all patience and teaching
- The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
- They will follow their own desires and insatiable curiosities
- They will accumulate false teachers
- They will stop listening (turn away) to the truth
- They will be diverted to myths
- You [Timothy]: must put up with hardship; fulfill your ministry
Turning the other cheek:
How did the Roman soldiers view the Jews? The Jews were viewed as second-class citizens by the Romans. Soldiers tended to be right-handed. When a Roman soldier struck an “inferior” person, he would give a back-handed slap on that person’s right cheek.
How does a Roman soldier strike someone who is considered his equal? The soldier would would punch that person’s left cheek with his fist.
What does turning the other cheek accomplish? The Jewish person forces his Roman attacker to treat him as an equal, in striking his left cheek. This action serves to activate the soldier’s conscience in forcing show respect as an equal.
Apostrophe (rhetorical device): This is a rhetorical device where the speaker breaks away from addressing the audience in a play. The speaker speaks to an absent person or inanimate object.
Literal compositions:
- “Hello, darkness, my old friend…” Simon and Garfunkle
- “Twinkle, twinkle, little star…”
- “Oh, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo…” Shakespeare
Conclusion:
Apostrophe, mutation, mutate, trade, tradition, convert, avert
Update: Fiducia Supplicans opens the door to blessings to same-sex couples (in a sinful relationship). This document makes no mention for measures for forgiveness or turning away from this disordered relationship. This document proposes to bless sin!
Fortunately, there has been overwhelming and universal opposition to Fiducia Supplicans (blessing of sin). This indicates there are many who have not hardened their hearts in recognizing the evils of Fiducia Supplicans. The African bishops, still viewing homosexuality as morally undesirable, still recognizing the sinfulness of same-sex unions.
In the Western world (and other parts), many have hardened their hearts in accepting this homosexual lifestyle (and same-sex unions) as unsinful. Hopefully, the Western world will follow the Africa’s example in opposing homosexuality and same-sex unions.
Same-sex couples will falsely perceive that the Church will recognize their relationship as valid. Same-sex couples are already asking the Vatican for such blessings!
The Vatican, in their outreach to the LGBTQ community and same-sex couples fail to mention Jesus’ command to sin no more (Jn.8:11). In their failure to point this sin, these clergy are failing in their duty to bring souls to heaven. Rather, these persons’ souls are being put into a perilous mortal danger.
In our post-Christian secular world, many of us deny, ignore, or are unaware of what is sin and sinful.
Throughout Pope Francis’s papacy, there have many examples of human traditions, novelty, changed Church teachings, and questionable and heretical encyclicals. Sound doctrine is being excluded, dismissed, and changed.
The Modernists are fulfilling their desires to change Jesus’ Church into a worldly synodal Church in the image of man. This is how worldly values and sin enter into the Church!
Pope Francis has gathered like minded Modernist clergy and “pope-splainers” to criticize others for their rigid and ideological beliefs. They even criticize their opponents for causing division and schism. (This is like the pot calling the kettle black).
Clergy and laity (who uphold traditional Catholic teaching in opposing Pope Francis) may often face hardship and persecution (being criticized, replaced, and cancelled).