[Greek] ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō), [Latin] exire, [French] sortir, [French] partir, [Latin] permittere, [Latin] dimittere, [French] dispenser [French] admettre, [Latin] mittere, [French] jeter, [French] catapulter

[Greek] ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō), [Latin] exire, [French] sortir, [French] partir, [Latin] permittere, [Latin] dimittere, [French] dispenser [French] admettre, [Latin] mittere, [French] jeter, [French] catapulter: to allow, to permit, to entrust, to let; 22 scriptures

Background information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means to yield to, to permit, to let, to leave to, to indulge, and to rely upon.

Homer’s Odyssey 2.226: “To Mento, Odysseus had given all his house in charge.”

Aristophanes’ Plutus 1079: “With anyone but you I should not be so easy.”

Plato’s Euthyphro 5e: “That this is established and right and that we ought not to let him who acts impiously go unpunished.”

Plato’s Charmides 171e: “Nor should be we permit others under our governance to do anything but what likely to do right.”

Old Testament: This term means to loosen to relinquish, to permit, to forsake, and to abandon.

New Testament: This term means to permit and to allow.

Noteworthy scripture:

Lk.9:59: “And to another He said, ‘Follow Me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.'”

1. Jesus is seeking to raise the bar in moral conduct necessary to follow Him.
2. Christian discipleship must take precedence over family obligations. (Jesus is intolerant in saying this!)
3. Even family ties must NOT take precedence over the obligation of proclaiming the kingdom of heaven.
4. Jewish and Hellenistic cultures placed an extremely high importance on familial obligations.
5. Jesus: let the spiritually dead (who will not follow Him) bury their dead.

Mt.19:8: “He said to them, ‘Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.'”

1. Jesus stated that this was a concession to human weakness rather than an endorsement of divorce.
2. Hardness of heart indicates a spiritual and moral stubbornness. A hard heart is resistant to God’s will and guidance.
3. Jesus refers back to the creation narrative in Genesis, where God established marriage as a lifelong union.
4. Jesus emphasizes the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage as God intended it before the fall of humanity.

Old Testament: Taking a larger “bird’s eye” view of God’s relationship with man, one can claim that God was viewing the people of the Old Testament like adolescents, LOWERING THE BAR in their moral conduct.

New Testament: Jesus RAISES THE BAR in moral conduct in referring back to God’s intended design for marriage. Jesus says to the people of the New Testament, “You now need to act like grown-ups and act accordingly.” ***

Mk.5:13: “And He let them [demonic spirits and the unclean spirits], and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand swine rushed down a steep bank into the sea where they were drowned.” (The herding of swine indicates that Gentiles resided in the territory of the Gerasenes. Even these demons recognized the authority of Jesus.)

Acts 21:39: “Paul said, ‘I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia; I request you permit me to speak to the people.” I [Paul] request you to permit me to speak to the people.'”

1. Paul often uses his Roman citizenship and Jewish heritage to navigate complex situations.
2. He appeals to the Jewish audience by emphasized his shared understanding of the Law and the Prophets.
3. Paul’s Roman citizenship afforded him certain legal protects and social privileges.
4. This status was crucial in his ministry and legal defenses.)

Acts 28:16: “When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself [in prison] with the soldier who was guarding him.” (Paul was placed under a mild form of custody. He was