• Fable
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • FABLE

      [Gr., myʹthos].

      A false story, fiction, myth, an invention, falsehood. Myʹthos is found at 1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16.

      Myʹthos is to be contrasted with a leʹthei·a, “truth,” signifying the manifested, veritable essence of a matter. At Galatians 2:5 “the truth of the good news” contrasts the true teaching of the gospel with perversions of it. The apostles warned Christians against the danger of being turned away from the truth to false stories, as these had no basis in fact but were the imaginations of men. Judaism was filled with such false stories, the traditions of the elders making up the so-called “oral law” that came to be incorporated into the Talmud. Judaism, the leading opponent of Christianity in the first century, had been greatly influenced by pagan philosophies and teachings. One of its false stories contained the pagan doctrine of transmigration of souls. The story was that the soul of Adam passed successively into the bodies of Noah and David and would also pass into the Messiah. This doctrine they took from Egyptian mythology. Abraham was the person to whom, they said, it was first revealed; and they claimed he taught that the souls of men passed into women, beasts, birds and even reptiles, rocks and plants The spirit of a man was punished by passing into a woman; and if the conduct of the man had been very atrocious, it took the form of some reptile or of an inanimate object. If a woman acted righteously, she would, in another state, become a man. Balaam’s ass, the ravens that fed Elijah, the fish that swallowed Jonah—all were supposed to have possessed reasoning, transmigrated souls.

      Another of Judaism’s false stories was that the two tablets of stone given to Moses weighed upward of two tons (1.8 metric tons), but, with the commandments engraved thereon, they became ‘light as a feather.’ When the rays of light reflecting from the golden calf came in contact with the tablets, the letters flew away and Moses was no longer able to support the great weight of the tablets and threw them down so that they broke.

      Another story was that when the Messiah would appear there would be a great feast in which every Jew that had ever been born would be restored to life. The feast would consist of fowl, fish and ox flesh. Concerning the fish, the story of Rabbi Simon was that he was once sailing in the Great Sea when he and the mariners saw a fish of such tremendous size that, after seeing one eye of the fish, and traveling with a fair wind, they sailed five days longer in a direct line before they reached the other eye of the same fish. According to the tradition, the feast at Messiah’s coming was to be of a fish of such size, called Leviathan, along with a similarly large ox and bird.

      The Apocryphal writings abound in false, imaginary stories, such as Daniel’s killing a great dragon with a mixture of pitch, fat and hair (Addition to Daniel 14:22-26, Dy), and Tobias’ getting curative and demon-exorcising powers out of the heart, gall and liver of a monstrous fish.—Tobias 6:2-9, 19, Dy.

      Other purveyors of dangerous false stories were several Gnostic sects, some of which tried to combine Christianity with Judaism and heathenism. Others rejected Judaism, but all these sects were based on pagan beliefs, including Greek philosophy. A Gnostic belief was that there was a god, the Demiurge, who occupied an intermediate position between the supreme God and the material world. To most Gnostics, because they considered all matter a source of evil and opposed to God, this Demiurge was only a limited and imperfect being. He created the planetary heavens and had the whole course of the world under his control, though he was the unconscious instrument of higher powers. According to Irenaeus, in the days of the aged apostle John there was a certain Cerinthus, a Jew who held himself forth as a teacher. Cerinthus taught that the world was not made by the supreme God but by the Demiurge, separate from the supreme God, below him and ignorant of him. He claimed Jesus was not born of a virgin but was the actual son of Joseph and Mary, though he excelled all men in virtue and knowledge and wisdom. At his baptism the Christ came down upon him from God (who is over all) in the shape of a dove. At the end the Christ left Jesus; otherwise Jesus could not have died. Cerinthus also taught that redemption could not be effected by the suffering of Jesus. He considered the Mosaic law binding on Christians.

      CHRISTIANS TO REJECT FABLES

      At 1 Timothy 1:4, Paul instructs Christians not to pay attention to false stories. These can get Christians involved in research of no real benefit and can turn their minds away from the truth. Some of these false stories are the kind told by old women whose lives have been spent in worldly practices. They violate God’s holy, righteous standards. (1 Tim. 4:6, 7; Titus 1:14) The apostle Peter, at 2 Peter 1:16, contrasts such false stories (which are not only fictitious but also artfully and cunningly devised so as possibly to turn a Christian aside) with the true, factual account of the transfiguration, of which he was an eyewitness. (Mark 9:2) Paul, at 2 Timothy 4:3, 4, foretold that at a future time people would willingly turn aside to false stories in preference to the truth.

  • Face
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • FACE

      [Heb, pa·nehʹ, plural, pa·nimʹ; Gr., proʹso·pon].

      The Hebrew and Greek words for “face” are used in varied senses, even as is true of the English word.

      The literal “face,” the front part of the head, is often meant. (Gen. 50:1; Matt. 6:16, 17; Jas. 1:23) Similarly, the front or forepart of anything may be meant. (Ex. 26:9; 2 Sam. 10:9; Ezek. 2:9, 10, where the Hebrew term for “face” is translated “forefront,” or “front”) Or the reference may be to the surface (Isa. 14:21; Job 38:30; Acts 17:26) or outward appearance of a thing.—Luke 12:56; Jas. 1:11.

      The expressions of one’s countenance are an important index of one’s frame of mind and feelings. Therefore “face” is often used to describe the attitude of God and man under various circumstances, or to denote one’s position as viewed by God or others. Some frequent usages are here presented:

      ‘Seeking the face’ meant to seek audience before another, as before God or before an earthly ruler, imploring such one’s favorable attention or help. (Ps. 24:6; 27:8, 9; 105:4; Prov. 29:26; Hos. 5:15) The Hebrews spoke of ‘lifting up another’s face,’ thereby meaning to ‘show consideration for’ such one.—1 Sam. 25:35.

      To ‘soften another’s face’ indicates an allaying of his anger or a gaining of his favor and goodwill.—Ex. 32:11; Ps. 119:58.

      ‘Making one’s face to shine’ toward another expresses favor (Num. 6:25; compare Psalm 80:7), and ‘setting a person before one’s face’ denotes favorable attention.—Ps. 41:12; compare Psalm 140:13.

      ‘Face to face’ may denote intimate association or communication. Thus, Moses was privileged to have such a close relationship with God and be used so powerfully by God that he is referred to as a prophet “whom Jehovah knew face to face.” (Deut. 34:10-12) While it is said that Moses beheld “the appearance of Jehovah,” and that Jehovah spoke to him “mouth to mouth,” yet Moses never saw Jehovah’s face literally. Rather, as the context shows, it was God’s speaking through angelic spokesmen to Moses in open, verbal communication (rather than by visions or dreams) that gave the basis for such expression. (Num. 12:6-8; Ex. 33:20; Gal. 3:19; compare Genesis 32:24-30; Hosea 12:3, 4.) Moses recalled to Israel that God spoke “face to face” with them, since they heard the loud voice at Sinai, though none of them actually saw Jehovah.—Deut. 5:4; 4:11-15; Heb. 12:19.

      By contrast, Jesus, in his prehuman existence, had personally been with the Father and he pointed out that angels, spirit sons of God, also behold the “face” of God, serving in his heavenly courts. (John 1:18; 8:57, 58; Matt. 18:10; compare Luke 1:19.) So, too, those called to be joint heirs with Christ in the heavens, in due time, see Jehovah God.—1 John 3:1-3.

      Comparing the understanding of God’s purpose that the early Christian congregation had with the fuller understanding to be had in the latter days, the time of the congregation’s maturity, the apostle Paul said: “For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face to face.”—1 Cor. 13:12; compare 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:6.

      To say or do anything ‘to one’s face’ indicates directness, an open confrontation (Deut. 7:10; Job 21:31), and, in an unfavorable sense, may imply audacity and disrespect. (Job 1:11; Isa. 65:3) A related expression is ‘the rebuke of the face.’—Ps. 80:16.

      To ‘set or direct one’s face’ has the sense of looking toward some goal, purpose or desire (Gen. 31:21; 1 Ki. 2:15; 2 Ki. 12:17), and carries the thought of strong intention and determination. (2 Chron. 20:3; Dan. 11:16-19; Luke 9:51-53) Daniel ‘set his face to Jehovah’ in that he earnestly sought him, looking to him for help. (Dan. 9:3; compare 2 Corinthians 1:11.) Strong determination is often reflected in the countenance by the firm set of the lips and jaw, and the steadiness of the gaze. Isaiah ‘set his face like a flint’ in his determination not to let enemy attempts turn him from his assigned ministry. (Isa. 50:7) Rebellious Judeans “made their faces harder than a crag” in their obstinacy and refusal to accept correction. (Jer. 5:3) On the other hand, Jehovah’s ‘setting his face against’ the violators of his righteous law meant their rejection and condemnation, resulting in calamity or death.—Lev. 17:10; 20:3-6; Jer. 21:10; compare 1 Peter 3:12.

      To ‘conceal the face’ has a variety of meanings, depending on the circumstance. Jehovah God’s concealing his face often signifies a withdrawal of his favor or sustaining power. This may be as a consequence of the disobedience of the individual or body of persons involved, such as the nation of Israel. (Job 34:29; Ps. 30:5-8; Isa. 54:8; 59:2) In some cases it may denote that Jehovah refrains from revealing himself by action or reply, awaiting his own due time. (Ps. 13:1-3) David’s request, “Conceal your face from my sins,” petitioned God to pardon or set aside such transgressions.—Ps. 51:9; compare 10:11.

      The concealing or covering of the face by a human or an angel may express humility or reverential fear and respect. (Ex. 3:6; 1 Ki. 19:13; Isa. 6:2) It may also be a sign of mourning. (2 Sam. 19:4) By contrast, Eliphaz falsely intimated that Job’s prosperity had made him arrogant, so that, in effect, he was ‘covering his face with his fattiness.’ (Job 15:27) As in Haman’s case, for another to cover one’s face could represent shamefulness and possibly doom.—Esther 7:8; compare Psalm 44:15; Jeremiah 51:51.

      ‘Turning the face away’ may display insulting indifference or contempt. (2 Chron. 29:6; Jer. 2:27; 32:33) God manifests his disdain for those who reject his counsel by showing them “the back, and not the face,” in their day of disaster.—Jer. 18:17.

      To ‘spit in the face’ of another was a particularly significant act of reproach or humiliation.—Num. 12:14; Deut. 25:9; Isa. 50:6; Matt. 26:67.

      ONE’S PERSON, OR PRESENCE

      Since the face is the most distinctive part of a person, identifying him more than any other feature of the body as well as being most expressive of his personality, the word “face” at times was used metonymously for one’s own person or self. See, for example, 2 Samuel 7:9; 17:11 and Acts 3:19, where the expressions “before you” (in the phrase “from before you”), “your own person,” and “person” come from the original Hebrew or Greek words for “your face” or “face.” In other cases the “face” may refer to the person’s presence, as at Acts 3:13.

      The “showbread” of the tabernacle is literally called “the bread of faces” in Hebrew (Ex. 25:30), that is, it was the bread of Jehovah’s presence. This expression emphasized his closeness to the people as represented in the sanctuary.

      OTHER USAGES AND TERMS

      The Greek term for “face” at times denotes the appearance a person presents, as by reason of wealth or poverty, high rank or lowly position, and similar things.—Matt. 22:16; 2 Cor. 5:12; Gal. 2:6.

      ʼAph (Heb.), literally, “nose,” “nostrils” (dual), where translated “face,” usually has reference to the literal physical face, and appears often where an individual is bowing, inasmuch as the ancient custom was to bow with the nose touching the ground.—Gen. 19:1; 1 Sam. 20:41; 1 Ki. 1:23.

      ʼAʹyin (Heb.), “eye,” is used in the sense of “aspect” or what is viewed by the eye, such as the earth’s “face” or surface (Ex. 10:5, 15; Num. 22:5, 11), or in speaking of Jehovah as appearing to his people, figuratively, “face to face.”—Num. 14:14.

  • Fair Havens
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • FAIR HAVENS

      A harbor near the city of Lasea identified with the bay on the S coast of Crete that still bears the same name in modern Greek, Kalous Limionas. (Acts 27:7, 8) This bay is located about five miles (8 kilometers) E of Cape Matala, the southernmost point of Crete.

      In 58 C.E. the apostle Paul, as a prisoner, was sailing from Myra (on the southern coast of Asia Minor) via Cnidus en route to Rome. The more direct way from Cnidus to Rome would have been to the N of Crete. But evidently adverse winds, probably from the NW, forced the mariners to take a southerly course from Cnidus to Crete and then sail under the shelter of the island’s S coast, finally reaching Fair Havens with difficulty.—Acts 27:5-8.

      When consideration was given to leaving Fair Havens “considerable time had passed,” perhaps in waiting there for the wind to abate or due to the slow and difficult journey. It was already past the atonement day fast (late September or early October) and hence navigation was hazardous.—Acts 27:9.

      Paul, who had often been in dangers at sea and had personally experienced at least three previous shipwrecks (2 Cor. 11:25, 26), wisely recommended that the boat winter at Fair Havens. (Whether his advice was inspired on this occasion is not revealed in the account.) However, the army officer, evidently