True-believer Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. The Bible itself calls us, "A Peculiar People"... The word "Peculiar" in the dictionary means, "Strange, odd, bizarre, funny, strange, weird, ordinary, normal. So before God we are "A Weird People"... Quote Luke 4:19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Kountzer Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 There's an old saying I heard once in church that says 'when you point a finger at someone, the other 4 fingers are pointed back at you'. Quite often when I criicize someone, maybe call them weird, I think back upon some of my own erratic behavior (I won't go into detail). Now, was that self confession, or an apology? call it what you will. To the question at hand: some of them are. (I couldn't resist). DB Quote I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. Frederick Douglass
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted April 8, 2009 Administrators Posted April 8, 2009 This is an example of a word used in the KJV that has changed in meaning quite dramatically over the centuries. What we need is a dictionary from the 1600's. We still have a clue as what this word means in the context of the Queen's English. There are places of worship in the UK that are known as "Royal Peculiars". Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey are two noteworthy examples. These special places of worship belong directly to and are reserved for exclusive use at the pleasure of the British Monarch rather than to a mere diocese. They come directly under the jurisdiction of the Monarch rather than any intermediary such as the Bishop. Rather than odd or weird, we are the special people belonging only to the King of the universe, reserved for His exclusive use at His good pleasure. We are considered God's "Royal Peculiars". The original Greek is consistent with this concept, indicating "belonging to" "owned" "purchased" "special possession" as the meaning of the original language. Tom Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Moderators Gerr Posted April 8, 2009 Moderators Posted April 8, 2009 I was going to suggest looking at the original Greek. I see Tom already pointed out the change in the meaning of the English word. Here are some translations to consider: NCV: "a people for God's own possession," NLT: "God's very own possession," NRSV: "God's own people," NIV: "a people belonging to God," YLT: "a people acquired," NKJ: "His own special people," Quote
aldona Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 This is an example of a word used in the KJV that has changed in meaning quite dramatically over the centuries. What we need is a dictionary from the 1600's. We still have a clue as what this word means in the context of the Queen's English. There are places of worship in the UK that are known as "Royal Peculiars". Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey are two noteworthy examples. These special places of worship belong directly to and are reserved for exclusive use at the pleasure of the British Monarch rather than to a mere diocese. They come directly under the jurisdiction of the Monarch rather than any intermediary such as the Bishop. Rather than odd or weird, we are the special people belonging only to the King of the universe, reserved for His exclusive use at His good pleasure. We are considered God's "Royal Peculiars". The original Greek is consistent with this concept, indicating "belonging to" "owned" "purchased" "special possession" as the meaning of the original language. Tom Thank you, Tom - you beat me to it and saved me a lot of typing. I have some dusty old pre-1900 medical textbooks which have chapters with such titles as "Diseases Peculiar to Women." The meanings of words certainly change over the centuries. aldona Quote www.asrc.org.au (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Melbourne)Helping over 2000 refugees & asylum seekers each monthIMSLP/Petrucci Music LibraryThe Public Domain Music Score Library - Free Sheet Music DownloadsLooking for classical sheet music? Try IMSLP first!
Liz Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 I have some dusty old pre-1900 medical textbooks which have chapters with such titles as "Diseases Peculiar to Women." The meanings of words certainly change over the centuries. I would love to read that one, just for fun....I bet it's a real hoot. Quote For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Mat. 16:26Please, support the JDRF and help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Please, support the March of Dimes.
Outta Here Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 It would seem we needn't go back as far as the 1600s. I have a copy of Webster's "New Handy" Dictionary dated 1918 in which the entry for "weird" appears as: weird, unearthly; uncanny. Futher definitions from the same publication include: peculiar, particular; individual; appropriate; singular. particular, separate; special; fastidious; a fact or item. fastidious, overnice; exacting. unearthly, supernatural. supernatural, beyond the known laws of nature; miraculous. 'miraculous' is undefined, but, miracle, a marvel; supernatual event, or one that shows deviation from the known laws of nature. marvel, wonder. uncanny, mysterious; weird; unearthly. 'mysterious' is also undefined, however, mystery, profound secret; medieval religious drama. profound, deep; intense. secret, concealed; inscrutable; private; something hidden. inscrutable, incomprehensible. incomprehensible, not intelligible. intelligible, capable of being understood. It seems to me "a peculiar people" are those who are not of this earth, but who are those beloning to the kingdom of God. If that's what it means to be weird, then sobeit. Quote
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted April 8, 2009 Members Posted April 8, 2009 Those word definitions don't seem *dated* to me... maybe it's just me... Quote Pam      Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Dottie Posted April 9, 2009 Posted April 9, 2009 Kountzer - - My great-grandma used to say, "Everybody's a little queer [sic] but me and thee, and sometimes I think thee is." Quote
True-believer Posted April 9, 2009 Author Posted April 9, 2009 It would seem we needn't go back as far as the 1600s. I have a copy of Webster's "New Handy" Dictionary dated 1918 in which the entry for "weird" appears as: weird, unearthly; uncanny. Futher definitions from the same publication include: peculiar, particular; individual; appropriate; singular. particular, separate; special; fastidious; a fact or item. fastidious, overnice; exacting. unearthly, supernatural. supernatural, beyond the known laws of nature; miraculous. 'miraculous' is undefined, but, miracle, a marvel; supernatual event, or one that shows deviation from the known laws of nature. marvel, wonder. uncanny, mysterious; weird; unearthly. 'mysterious' is also undefined, however, mystery, profound secret; medieval religious drama. profound, deep; intense. secret, concealed; inscrutable; private; something hidden. inscrutable, incomprehensible. incomprehensible, not intelligible. intelligible, capable of being understood. It seems to me "a peculiar people" are those who are not of this earth, but who are those beloning to the kingdom of God. If that's what it means to be weird, then sobeit. Thanks Aubrey... Its amazing isn't it....... Quote Luke 4:19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Members phkrause Posted April 9, 2009 Members Posted April 9, 2009 Well Pam I do know that people are always saying that I'm weird, so if they say christians are weird than I fit right in. pk Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
True-believer Posted April 11, 2009 Author Posted April 11, 2009 Hey Pkause... we're not only weird, we're "Peculiar" --God's chosen people. Thats something to be excited about. Quote Luke 4:19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
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