Transgression

Summary

This video explores the biblical concept of 'transgression,' or 'pesha,' which refers to violating trust in relationships. It delves into the meaning of terms like 'sin,' 'iniquity,' and 'transgression' and how these ideas are often misunderstood or dismissed today. Through examples from the Bible, such as the betrayal between nations or individuals, the video explains how transgression is a key theme in the biblical narrative. The story culminates in the New Testament, where Jesus embodies faithfulness, offering a new way for humanity to live with integrity and trustworthiness.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Bible discusses the human condition using terms like 'sin', 'iniquity', and 'transgression', which may sound archaic but offer profound insights into human nature.
• 🌐 'Iniquity' signifies behavior that is not straight or fair, indicating a deviation from moral uprightness.
• 💔 'Sin' is used to describe moral failure, highlighting the gap between human actions and divine standards.
• 🚫 'Transgression', from Hebrew 'pesha' and Greek 'paraptoma', refers to the violation of trust, whether in personal relationships or societal agreements.
• 🤝 'Pesha' in Hebrew specifically denotes the act of breaking trust within a relationship, emphasizing the relational aspect of moral wrongdoing.
• 🏛️ The concept of 'pesha' is exemplified in the Bible through historical events such as the breaking of treaties and the betrayal within close relationships.
• 📖 Prophets in the Bible, like Micah and Amos, used the term 'pesha' to confront the Israelites for their moral and social transgressions against God and each other.
• 🌍 Amos extended the idea of 'pesha' to include violations of universal human trust, such as idolatry, exploitation of the poor, and acts of violence for territorial gain.
• 🤔 The Apostle Paul in the New Testament develops the idea of 'paraptoma', associating humanity's broken trust with God and with each other, leading to a cycle of betrayal and death.
• 🕊️ Paul presents Jesus as the embodiment of God's response to humanity's transgression, offering a path of redemption and a new way to be human characterized by faithfulness and integrity.
• 🌟 The story of the Bible is one of God's faithfulness in the face of humanity's 'pesha' and 'paraptoma', with Jesus as the model for a new creation that values trustworthiness and righteousness.

Q & A

What does the Bible say about the human condition?

The Bible offers a profound diagnosis of human nature, using terms like 'sin', 'iniquity', and 'transgression' to describe moral failures and behaviors that violate trust.

What is the biblical meaning of 'transgression'?

In the Bible, 'transgression' refers to the violation of trust, often translated from the Hebrew 'pesha' or the Greek 'paraptoma', and can encompass a wide range of behaviors that break relationships.

How is 'pesha' used in the context of nations in the Bible?

'Pesha' is used to describe the breaking of a treaty or agreement between nations, as seen in the book of 2 Kings where Moab is said to have 'peshed' with Israel, meaning they rebelled against them.

What does the term 'pesha' imply in the context of theft?

In the case of theft, if the thief is a neighbor, it is considered 'pesha' because it involves a betrayal of trust from someone who should be trustworthy.

How is 'transgression' related to the story of Jacob and Laban?

In the story, Laban accuses Jacob of stealing idols, and Jacob responds by asking how he has 'peshed' or violated Laban's trust, highlighting the theme of trust violation.

What role do prophets play in addressing 'pesha'?

Prophets in the Bible, such as Micah and Amos, confront the people about their 'pesha', or moral failures and betrayals, including idolatry, mistreatment of the poor, and other acts of injustice.

How does the Apostle Paul use the concept of 'paraptoma'?

Paul uses 'paraptoma' to describe humanity's violation of trust with God and with each other, leading to a cycle of broken relationships and death, but also God's gracious response through Jesus the Messiah.

What is the significance of the term 'paraptoma of Adam' in Paul's teachings?

'Paraptoma of Adam' refers to humanity's initial violation of trust with God, which Paul sees as the root of the complex web of broken relationships and suffering in the world.

How does the Bible's narrative address humanity's broken trust?

The Bible tells a story where God responds to humanity's 'pesha' and 'paraptoma' by being trustworthy on our behalf, ultimately through the life and teachings of Jesus, who embodies faithfulness, trustworthiness, and integrity.

What is the goal of the biblical message regarding transgression and trust?

The goal is to show that God, through Jesus, takes responsibility for our betrayals and opens up a new way to be human, characterized by faithfulness and integrity, guiding the world towards a new creation.

How can viewers learn more about the Bible's teachings on these topics?

Viewers can explore more by watching the 'bad word' series and other videos on The Bible Project's YouTube channel or visiting their website, thebibleproject.com.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Biblical Insights on Human Nature and Trust Betrayal

This paragraph delves into the biblical perspective on human nature, focusing on terms like 'sin', 'iniquity', and 'transgression'. It explains that 'transgression', translated from Hebrew 'pesha' and Greek 'paraptoma', refers to the violation of trust in relationships. The paragraph explores how this concept is illustrated through various biblical narratives, including national treaties, neighborly theft, and the story of Jacob and Laban. It highlights the prophets' use of 'pesha' to denote Israel's broken covenant with God and other nations' acts of injustice. The Apostle Paul's view on humanity as 'trust breakers' and the redemptive role of Jesus Christ in restoring trust and offering a new path for humanity is also discussed.

05:00

🎥 Invitation to Explore More Biblical Word Stories

The second paragraph serves as a call to action, inviting viewers to engage further with the content by visiting the YouTube channel and website of The Bible Project. It introduces the project as a crowdfunded, non-profit animation studio dedicated to creating videos that explore biblical themes. The paragraph encourages viewers to become part of the project by supporting the creation of future videos, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the endeavor.

Keywords

💡Sin

Sin is defined as a moral failure or a transgression against divine law or ethical norms. In the video's context, it is one of the biblical terms used to describe the flawed nature of humanity. The script uses 'sin' to illustrate the broader concept of human imperfection, which is a central theme in understanding the Bible's perspective on human nature.

💡Iniquity

Iniquity refers to behavior that is unjust or wicked, often implying a deviation from moral rectitude. The video script discusses 'iniquity' as a term that may sound archaic but carries a profound meaning within the biblical narrative, signifying actions that are inherently crooked or unfair.

💡Transgression

Transgression is the act of violating a law, principle, or trust. The video focuses extensively on this term, exploring its various translations and interpretations in both the Old and New Testaments. It is central to the video's theme, as it encapsulates the idea of breaking trust, which is a recurring motif in the biblical accounts of humanity's relationship with God and each other.

💡Pesha

Pesha, derived from Old Testament Hebrew, specifically denotes the act of breaking trust or violating a relationship. The script uses 'pesha' to explain the concept of betrayal within relationships, such as the breaking of treaties or covenants, and illustrates this with examples from the biblical book of 2 Kings and the story of Jacob and Laban.

💡Paraptoma

Paraptoma is a Greek term from the New Testament, which is often translated as 'transgression' or 'trespass'. The video describes it as a way to describe humanity's broken trust with God, using the story of Adam to illustrate the original transgression that led to a web of broken relationships and moral decay.

💡Trust

Trust is a fundamental concept in the video, representing the expectation of honesty, reliability, and faithfulness in relationships. The script explores how the violation of trust, or 'pesha', is a recurring theme in the Bible, demonstrating how trust is integral to the human condition and the divine-human relationship.

💡Prophets

Prophets in the biblical context are individuals chosen by God to convey His messages and confront the people about their moral failings. The video mentions prophets like Micah and Amos, who accused the Israelites of 'pesha', or breaking trust, and highlights their role in calling for repentance and adherence to God's laws.

💡Idolatry

Idolatry is the worship of idols or false gods, which is considered a transgression in the monotheistic faith of the Bible. The script cites idolatry as one of the specific acts of 'pesha' that the Prophet Amos accused the Israelites of committing, emphasizing the violation of the covenant to worship only the one true God.

💡Human Condition

The human condition refers to the inherent characteristics, experiences, and circumstances of being human, including both the positive and negative aspects. The video discusses the Bible's profound diagnosis of the human condition through terms like 'sin' and 'transgression', suggesting that understanding these concepts is key to grasping the Bible's message about human nature.

💡Faithfulness

Faithfulness is the quality of being loyal, constant, and trustworthy. In the video, faithfulness is presented as the antidote to 'pesha' and 'paraptoma', illustrating how God's response to humanity's broken trust was to demonstrate ultimate faithfulness through Jesus Christ, offering a new way to be human.

💡New Creation

The concept of a 'new creation' in the video represents a transformation or renewal of the world and humanity, as guided by Jesus Christ. It is tied to the idea of overcoming the legacy of 'pesha' and 'paraptoma', suggesting a future where humanity can embody faithfulness, trustworthiness, and integrity.

Highlights

The Bible's vocabulary on human nature includes terms like 'sin', 'iniquity', and 'transgression', which may sound odd to modern ears.

The term 'iniquity' refers to behavior that is crooked or morally wrong.

'Sin' is used to describe moral failure.

The word 'transgression', often translated from 'pesha' or 'paraptoma', refers to the violation of trust.

'Pesha' in Hebrew signifies betrayal of a relationship, applicable to various contexts including national treaties.

The concept of 'pesha' is demonstrated in the biblical account of Moab's rebellion against Israel, illustrating broken trust.

In Old Testament law, theft by a neighbor is considered 'pesha' due to the violated trust.

The story of Jacob and Laban highlights the irony of trust violation within a family relationship.

The Bible frequently discusses 'pesha' as it tells the story of the broken relationship between God and the Israelites.

Prophets like Micah and Amos confronted the Israelites for their 'pesha', or moral transgressions.

Amos accused other nations of 'pesha', such as Tyre for profiting from slavery and the Ammonites for murder to expand borders.

The Apostle Paul in the New Testament develops the concept of 'paraptoma', describing humanity as 'trust breakers'.

Paul associates 'paraptoma' with humanity's violation of trust with God, leading to a cycle of betrayal and broken relationships.

Despite humanity's 'paraptoma', God's response was to be trustworthy through Jesus the Messiah, offering a new way for humanity.

The Apostles claim that in Jesus, God took responsibility for humanity's betrayal to pave the way for a faithful and trustworthy future.

The story of the Bible is one of God's faithfulness in response to humanity's transgressions, aiming to create a new kind of human.

The video is part of a 'bad word' series on The Bible Project's YouTube channel, exploring the profound meaning behind biblical vocabulary.

The Bible Project is a crowdfunded non-profit animation studio dedicated to making biblical stories accessible and understandable.

Transcripts

Most people assume the Bible has a lot to say about how messed up humans are.

And, that is true.

It is also true that the Bible's vocabulary about this topic sounds odd to modern people, using words like "sin", "iniquity" or "transgression".

So, the Bible's perspective on the human condition is often ignored or treated as ancient and backwards.

This is really unfortunate because, through these words,

the biblical authors are offering us a deeply profound diagnosis of human nature.

Iniquity refers to behavior that is crooked.

Sin refers to moral failure.

Transgression is a fascinating word that you for sure have not used in conversation recently.

So let's focus on it for a few minutes.

In Old Testament Hebrew, the noun is "pesha" and the verb is "pasha".

In the New Testament, the Greek word is "paraptoma".

They are usually translated as "transgression", sometimes as "rebellion" and in older translations as "trespass".

These words refer to ways that people violate the trust of others.

Pesha describes the betrayal of a relationship.

Since there are many kinds of relationships, a lot of different behaviors can be called "pesha".

Like, if two nations are in a relationship, we would call that a "treaty".

"Pesha" would describe the breaking of that agreement.

Like in the biblical book of 2 Kings we read, "After the death of King Ahab, Moab peshad with Israel."

This is usually translated, "Moab rebelled against Israel."

But in biblical Hebrew, you don't pesha against someone, you pesha with them.

That is, you break trust with that person.

The same idea appears in an Old Testament law about theft.

If an Israelite is away on a trip and somebody sneaks into their house and steal something, that is robbery.

But, if the thief was your neighbor, it is pesha, because they are someone you should be able to trust.

Or, there is a story about Jacob running away from Laban, his uncle.

Laban accuses Jacob of stealing some Idol statues.

He searches all of Jacob's belongings and finds nothing.

So Jacob shouts, "What is my pasha?"

"How have I violated your trust?"

But the sad irony is that the statues were stolen by Jacob's wife who is Laban's own daughter.

Talk about breaking trust.

So, pesha involves one person or group violating a relationship of trust with another.

This is a really common word in the Bible

because it's one long story about a broken relationship between God and the Israelites.

At Mount Sinai, they agreed to worship only their God and to care for the poor among them.

But they did not.

So God raised up prophets to confront them.

Like Micah, who said, "I'm full of power,

with the Spirit of the Lord and with justice and courage so I can declare to Jacob his pasha."

Or the Prophet Amos.

He accused the Israelites of pesha.

Specifically, for idolatry and selling the poor for a pair of sandals.

He also accused other nations, like Tyre who profited from capturing whole towns and then selling them into slavery.

Or the Ammonites for murdering the innocent to enlarge their borders.

For Amos, these are all acts of pasha.

They violate the universal trust that exists between all humans who are made in the image of God

He watched these leaders ignore or justify the mistreatment of humans in the name of national security or a strong economy.

But, for Amos, it was a betrayal of humanity.

It makes perfect sense why these prophets associate pesha with words like "treachery" or "falsehood".

In the Greek New Testament, the Apostle Paul develops this portrait of humans as "trust breakers" using the word "paraptoma".

He recalls the story in Genesis about "Adam", that means "humanity" in Hebrew.

In that story, humanity breaks trust with God and seizes authority to discern good and evil on their own terms.

Paul calls this the "paraptoma of Adam", humanity's violation of trust with God and with each other.

It leads to a complicated web of betrayed and broken relationships leading towards violence and death.

But, for Paul, that is not the last word.

He says, "If death came to all by the paraptoma of a human,

how much more will God's gracious gift overflow to many by means of a human, Jesus the Messiah"

Instead of letting humanity destroy itself in treachery,

God raised up a human who would allow our pesha to do its worst to him.

Here, Paul is drawing on the Prophet Isaiah's portrait of the suffering servant,

the one who would commit no violence or have any treachery on his lips.

Yet, he would be counted among those who pasha, bearing their failures and interceding on their behalf.

This is the surprising story of the Bible,

that God's response to humanity's pesha and paraptoma was to be trustworthy on our behalf.

The Apostles claim that in Jesus, God took responsibility for our betrayal

so that he could open up a new future and a new way to be human:

the way of faithfulness, trustworthiness and integrity.

That is the kind of human that Jesus was and is.

And, it is the kind of humans he wants to create as he faithfully guides our world into the new creation.

That is the fascinating story behind our biblical words for transgression.

Hey, everyone! You just watched a word story video on the word transgression.

It is part of our "bad word" series.

You can watch that series and everything else we have got

on our youtube channel here or in our website thebibleproject.com

We are a crowdfunded non profit animation studio.

You can be a part of what we are doing, help us make the next video,

all the videos in the future. Check things out at thebibleproject.com