[Greek] ἅλυσις (halusis), [Old French] chaine, [Latin] catena, [Latin] quisquam poterat eum ligare, [Latin] vinculum: chains, bonds, manacle, imprisonment, binding; Mk.5:3-4, Lk.8:29, Acts 12:6-7, Acts 21:33, Acts 28:20. Eph.6:20, 2Tim.1:16. Rev.20:1
The Release of St. Peter: painting by Bernardo Strozzi (1635)
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means chain, woman’s ornament, bondage, and chain armor. Herodotus’ The Histories 9.74 states “Sophanes, the best Athenian in the battle, bore an iron anchor attached to the belt of his breast plate with a chain of bronze.” Euripides’ Orestes 982 states “Oh! To reach that rock which hangs suspended midway between the earth and heaven, which swings on chains of gold.” Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus states “When the boy was born Laius was overcome with terror when he remembered the oracle. So he bound the baby’s legs with chains. The fate of this boy, called Oedipus, because of his swollen feet, had already been determined and was to be quite different.
New Testament: This term means chains (binding) and imprisonment. Imprisonment essentially becomes a figurative extension of chains. A Gerasene demoniac, dwelling among the tombs, couldn’t be restrained even with a chain. Jesus removed these demons from the man. Peter was released from his chains in his prison cell. Paul’s attacker was placed in chains. Paul refers to himself as an ambassador in chains. Paul praises Onesiphorus who was helpful to him while he was in prison. The dragon and the fallen angels will locked in the abyss (netherworld) for a thousand years.
Scripture:
“The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.” Mt.5:3
Even the demons recognized the authority of Jesus. Jesus sent these demons into a herd of swine.
“Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ The chains fell from his wrists.” Acts 12:7
Peter escaped through God’s actions.
“May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus because he often gave me new heart and was not ashamed of my chains.” 2Tim.1:16
The chains metaphorically refer to Paul’s imprisonment. While others had abandoned Paul, Onesiphorus was helpful to him, serving as Paul’s messenger. Onesiphorus also served the community of Ephesus.
Concatenation: This is essentially the state of being linked together. The corresponding Latin verb is concatenare, meaning to link together. In programming, this is the operation of joining multiple character strings. As an accountant, I often use the Excel formula: “=concatenate( )” to join cells.
Etymology: Ligation is the act of tying or binding. A ligature is something used in tying and binding. A liaison is a union or binding together. The Greek halusis is derived from the prefix (a-) meaning without and the Greek verb luo (lyo), meaning to loosen. The Greek noun lusis (lysis) means loosening, untying, or dissolving. Essentially, chains prevents one from being freed. An analysis is essentially a loosening or an untying of something. An analysis can dissolve or unravel a plot in a story. An analysis can also provide a dissolving or solution to a problem. The Latin vinculum (restraint like a chain) is related to the Latin verb vincere, meaning to conquer.
Conclusion:
Chains, ligation, ligature, analysis, invincible
Throughout history, chain mail has been used as military protection. It was interesting to discover the meaning of the name Oedipus (swollen foot). This young infant was abandoned with chains (shackles) on his feet. We know associate this physical condition with edema (the first part of Oedipus’ name).
In the New Testament, imprisonment is essentially an extension of chains and bondage. The territory of the Gerasenes is located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. It was interesting to discover that the demons both recognized and feared the authority of Jesus. The Jews in Jerusalem sought to incriminate Paul in Rome. However, the Jews in Rome were more open to learning about these Christians from Paul. Paul makes reference to this hope of Israel. Throughout Asia, Paul was abandoned by others. Onesiphorus stood by and supported Paul while he was in prison.
Recent violent protests and riots: There continues to be efforts to de-fund the police and to restrain, bind, and shackle their efforts in doing their jobs. These actions have further emboldened criminal activity. We are now seeing a disturbing trend of governors’ and mayors’ silence (acquiescence) or refusal to seek federal help in responding to this violence. This political unrest and destruction have been occurring for weeks. Because of their local lack of response, the federal authorities are now responding to these situations. It seems that these local leaders are more upset with this federal intervention than with this violence. They claim that this federal response is inflaming this situation. Instead of dealing with this violence, these local leaders are more concerned with initiating lawsuits against the federal authorities.
Why are these local authorities not able to tamp down this violence? Are they unable to? Or are they unwilling to? (Perhaps asking for federal help would give Trump a political advantage). Or is it because of wokeness? Even as Chicago is already facing a high incidence of murder and violence, the mayor says she doesn’t want the federal troops to “terrorize” her city. It seems like these local authorities are willingly self-restraining themselves in not responding to this violence.
“God’s love is bigger than our failures and stronger than any chains that bind us.” Jennifer Rothschild