[B-Greek] Ephesians 1:13-14 and SPHRAGIZO
Jonathan Robie
jwrobie at mindspring.com
Tue Mar 13 14:13:14 EST 2007
Carl Unger wrote:
> **Ephesians 1:13-14 says that believers are sealed/SPHRAGIZO with the Holy
> Spirit.
>
> I want to keep the discussion on the Greek, but I am intending to find a
> theological meaning.
> I am trying to find out if this verse is in harmony with the doctrine of
> eternal security.
> I'm confused with the meaning of SPHRAGIZO, what kind of "seal" is this.
>
> >From the Greek meaning can the seal be seen as an unconditional one that is
> unbreakable.
> It's just confusing me.
>
The Greek question is, of course, what kind of sealing SFRAGIZO refers
to. According to BDAG, sealing can be done (1) to provide with a seal as
a security measure, as in the sealing of the stone at the tomb to ensure
that it was not moved, (2) to close something up tight, seal it up, e.g.
in order to keep it secret, (3) to mark it as a means of identification,
(4) to certify that something is so, to attest, certify, or acknowledge,
or (5) to seal something for delivery. In Ephesians 1:13-14, BDAG
suggests that meaning (3) is intended - believers are sealed with the
Holy Spirit as a mark of identification. The same word is used with a
similar meaning in Revelations 7:3, the marking with a seal on the forehead.
I don't think this answers the question you would like the text to
answer, but I don't think the text does either.Using the seal imagery,
you would like to know whether a seal can be removed. I don't think this
text tries to answer that question.
Jonathan
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