I Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means: A series on the words we thought we knew

CONTENTS

Introduction

MOVEMENT ONE — First Light
Five words to begin with: the news we mistook for advice, the gift we tried to repay, the love we shrank to a feeling, the word we used to end prayers, and the walk that was never ours to manage alone.

Euangelion — The News That Was Never Advice
Charis — The Gift That Was Never a Debt
Hesed — The Love That Was Never a Feeling
Amen — The Word That Was Never a Conclusion
Stoicheo — The Steps That Were Never Yours Alone
Notes & Sources

MOVEMENT TWO — The Turned Heart
Six words on what it means for a heart to turn toward God — to be born from above, to hear, to turn, to be remade, to bear fruit, and to let go.

Anothen — The Word That Was Never Just ‘Again’
Shema — The Word That Asks for Everything
Metanoia — The Word That Was Never About Feeling Sorry
Metamorphoo — The Word That Was Never Self-Improvement
Karpos — The Fruit That Was Never a Checklist
Aphiemi — The Word That Was Never Reconciliation
Dabaq — The Cleaving That Was Never Ours Alone
Shamar — The Keeper a Neighbour Was Always Meant to Be
Notes & Sources

MOVEMENT THREE — The Rescue
Words for what we were trapped in, and the God who came to carry us out.

Hamartia — The Word That Was Never a Missed Shot
Avon — The Word That Was Never Vague
Pesha — The Word That Was Never Small
Barabbas — The Name That Was Never a Footnote
Hosanna — The Word That Was Never a Cheer
Sozo — The Word That Means More Than Saved
Shalom — The Word That Was Never Empty
Macarios — The Word That Was Never Solemn
Apollumi — The Word That Was Never the End
Koimaomai — The Word That Was Never Goodbye
Sheol — The Word That Was Never Hell
Notes & Sources

Conclusion
Concordance