Episode 15 - What do you see?

So, did you complete your assignment from the last episode? Did you look for words, phrases, or ideas that you thought we’re being repeated? I gave you a hint to get you started and suggested that you look for forms of the word or idea meaning “to see.” I saw four occurrences of forms of that English verb in those few verses. In addition, there was the word “Behold!” a command meaning “Look at!”. That at least is associated thematically. Let’s look at this a little more closely. 

We often interpret words and expressions within their context to understand the intended meaning by the author and perhaps even a change or expansion of meaning when the author has used the same word or idea so that the meaning shifts from a literal meaning to a figurative one. 

For example, the literal definition of the verb “to see” means to “perceive with one’s eyes.” I could say, “At a young age I saw people bring their Bibles to church.” That is an example of the most literal sense of “saw;” the past tense form of to see.  We understand that meaning by the context in which it’s used. But, we also use the same word to mean something beyond that strict literal definition of the word. If I were to say, “Over my life, I have come to see how valuable reading my Bible can be in my walk of faith,” we immediately understand that my use of the verb “see” is not about the sense of “perceiving something with my eyes,” but rather,  it’s an expression to indicate “understanding and/or valuing” my reading and studying the Bible. 

Some languages, like Greek which is the primary language of our  New Testament Scriptures, have multiple words that can mean the same thing or have nuances that allow them to expand or shift meaning. Bible translators may translate the meanings of these different words to the same English word. So, the repetition that we see may not only be there for emphasis but cause us to ask ourselves, “Does the context indicate that the meaning has changed or expanded in some manner?” 

This is what is happening in this brief testimony of John the Baptist. When the Baptizer “saw” Jesus coming toward him in verse 29, the context makes it clear that the meaning of “saw” is the most simple, literal meaning; that he “perceived with his eyes” that Jesus was coming toward him. But, in verse 32 where the author quotes the Baptizer saying, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove . . .” the context informs us that John the Baptist has perceived something more than just a man walking toward him. He says to others around him, “I saw the Spirit descend . . .” So, it’s clear that he is using his eyes. But, the question evoked by the context is, “Can humans normally see a spirit?” I believe it’s safe to say that the answer is “no.” In the original language, the author actually uses a different word that means “to see” and this second occurrence of “saw” in this short account is the Greek word transliterated “theaomai.” It allows for expanded use of seeing to mean “to perceive something above and beyond what is merely seen with the eye.” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature Third Edition Ed. Danker) Interestingly, this is the same word used in John 1:14 in which the author himself said, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory . . .” The author has communicated through a thematic repetition that John the Baptist moves from perceiving something simply with his eyes to seeing something beyond what is perceptible with the eyes. 

Verses 33-34 contain our third and fourth occurrences of “see” and “seen” respectively and they are yet a third different word in the Greek translation from the first two. It’s not essential that we discuss this in-depth at this time. It is valuable to understand that John is establishing a theme of “seeing.” By now, you should begin to realize that he won’t always mean the literal sense of perceiving with the eyes. 

The important thing for us is to slow down and ask ourselves, “Is this repetition here to get my attention and to help me perceive something beyond what I can just see with my eyes?” Perhaps, this can be a prayer for you this week. “Father - Help me see what you want me to see; even the things that cannot be seen with my eyes.”