Re. Rev. 8:11-APSINQOS; wormwood

Paul F. Evans (evans@mail.gld.com)
Tue, 14 Jan 1997 22:23:55 -0500

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_01BC0269.A1235440
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

List,

In some reasearch in Lamentations, I came across this figurative expression
which is use in Rev. 8:11 without explanation. It is APSINQOS, translated
wormwood. My question is about the Greek side of this word.

Is this a the word used to translated the 8 or so Hebrew instances of
"wormwood" (LAANAH) in the LXX? The only connection I can establish is
OT, with the notion of talking wildly. J. A. Seiss in his "Apocalypse,"
speaks of this as being an intoxicating herb that is capable of producing
convulsions and paralysis. Leon Morris says that it is not poisonous.
They are obviously speaking of different things! This doesn't tell me if,
assuming there is a connection is with wild talking, whether it is induced
by intoxication or poisoning or both are characteristic. For John it is
obviously poisonous or is there a reality that stands behind it? In the OT
it is used entirely firguratively, sometimes with heavy hints that it
refers to some real plant or herb. Is the word used in extra-biblical
Greek literature in a way that pinpoints, or clarifies its meaning?
Scholars seem to assume that it is a herb, some that it was medicinal,
others that the hebr was poisonous and others that it was not. All seem to
agree that the figure dpends upon a supposed severe bitterness of taste. I
am trying to determine if wormwood is entirely figurative and is
idiomatically understood, or if it has foundation in some thing real.

I have no means of access to these soruces, and I know that some of you can
do this is a few key strokes.

Paul F. Evans
Pastor
Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
MT. Olive NC

"Endeavouring to make use of NT Greek in a real life ministry!"

PS. Pardon the untidiness of this post, it's is part of the
last-thing-before-I-go-bed-stuff-after-cramming-my-mind-full-all-day-long-wh
ile-taking-care-of-pastoral-duties routine!

------=_NextPart_000_01BC0269.A1235440
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

List,

In some reasearch in = Lamentations, I came across this figurative expression which is use =  in Rev. 8:11 without explanation. It is APSINQOS, translated = wormwood.  My question is about the Greek side of this word. =  

Is this a the word used to translated the 8 or so Hebrew = instances of "wormwood"  (LAANAH) in the LXX?  The = only connection I can establish is OT, with the notion of talking = wildly.  J. A. Seiss in his "Apocalypse," speaks of this = as being an intoxicating herb that is capable of producing convulsions = and paralysis.  Leon Morris says that it is not poisonous. =  They are obviously speaking of different things!  This = doesn't tell me if, assuming there is a connection is with wild talking, = whether it is induced by intoxication or poisoning or both are = characteristic.  For John it is obviously poisonous or is there a = reality that stands behind it?  In the OT it is used entirely = firguratively, sometimes with heavy hints that it refers to some real = plant or herb.  Is the word used in extra-biblical Greek literature = in a way that pinpoints, or clarifies its meaning?  Scholars seem = to assume that it is a herb, some that it was medicinal, others that the = hebr was poisonous and others that it was not.  All seem to agree = that the figure dpends upon a supposed severe bitterness of taste. =  I am trying to determine if wormwood is entirely figurative and is = idiomatically understood, or if it has foundation in some thing real. =

I have no means of access to these soruces, and I know that some = of you can do this is a few key strokes.

Paul F. = Evans
Pastor
Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church
MT. = Olive NC

"Endeavouring to make use of  NT Greek in a = real life ministry!"

PS.  Pardon the untidiness of this = post, it's is part of the = last-thing-before-I-go-bed-stuff-after-cramming-my-mind-full-all-day-long= -while-taking-care-of-pastoral-duties routine!

------=_NextPart_000_01BC0269.A1235440--