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The Bible and Witchcraft

EnhancedSpirit

High Priestess
I have made mention that the translations of the bible have been subject to the interpretation, or opinion of the translator. There are many things I have found to have a different meaning when I take the text back to it's original source. I will discuss others in other posts, but for now I would like to discuss what I found about witchcraft.
Galations 5 said:
Galations 5 said:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is a list of sins. In this verse, ‘witchcraft’ is translated from
Pharmakeia: 1)the use or the administering of drugs 2)poisoning
Note: pharmakeia is the root word for pharmacutical.
Also this verse says that drunkenness is a sin, but Jesus turned the water to wine, so drinking alcohol is not the sin here, this side note is in regards to the discussion of 1 Samuel 15:23.
Pharmakeia is also used in Revelations, translated to English as ‘sorceries’Revelations 18:23. . . for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
[b said:
1 Samuel 15:23[/b]]For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
In this verse ‘witchcraft’ is translated from

Qecem: divination;1) of the nations, Balaam 2) of false prophets 3) in a good sense (king's lips as oracles)
I made note above because most of the things that are practiced in Wicca are also known as gifts from God. At what point does a gift from God become a sin?

Qecem is also used in the following verse, translated into English as ‘divination’:
[b said:
Deuteronomy 18:10[/b]]There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

This verse has often used out of context. If you examine the entire chapter, you will see, that a specific group of people are being addressed here.

Deuteronomy 18:1 said:
The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2
Deuteronomy 18:1 said:
Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance.

This whole chapter is in fact dedicated to a set of rules set up for a specific group of people. So God does have different rules for different people. And if you search further;Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

The Lord tells the Levites that they will be complete. They will not need to use the gifts of others, for they will be in direct communion with God himself. God says some will have the gift of prophecy and healing and such, so how do we know which is a gift and which is ’abomination’.

It’s really quite simple. Give credit where credit is due. If you have a god given gift, don’t take the credit yourself. And don’t give credit to any other than the one true source, otherwise, your likely to make a mess of things. I found this interesting:

Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

In this verse, the word suffer is translated from:

Nathan: to employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce.

This is very important, because this verse has been translated to give the impression that witches should not be allowed to live. But in fact it is saying that we should not pay or employ a person for their gifts from God. It should be as a gift, given freely, with love and in God’s name.
 
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