Not that so fast, for I owned the 2 Volume Dictionaries as a rare collection which is “The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles” which I cited most of the time. The edition is completely reset with Etymologies by GWS Friedrichsen. This major undertaking represents more than eight years work of GWSF. Moreover, the dictionary was compiled and edited from materials amounting to over five million quotations derived from English works of literature and records of all kinds and resulted in 15,000 large quarto pages. Moreover, the 2 Volume Dictionary as stated in its Preface “…covers the history of the general English vocabulary from the days of King Alfred..." King Alfred(849-901AD) is a king of England who translated the Ten Commandments, the Psalms and part of the Gospels in English. Downplaying this is to misunderstood the laborious works of some members of the Oxford Philologist/scholars. Of course NayborBear, it is not my intention to void the word of God for it is I believe it is in the Word of God.
While I admire that you have some very rare books written and compiled by some very honorable people.
I wonder if within those pages they "etymologized (sp?)" the word "apostasy", or the "falling/drifting away", from the "faith?" Or the word "euphemism?" Or, the "watering down" of a word's definition, or certain phrase/s, especially, as to how it pertains to the "sacred texts." Which might "offend the senses", of those "dull of hearing."
All of which these people you mentioned, is nothing new, actually. Even from as far back (and even further back, with Enoch) as God's humble servant Elijah. Who cried unto God exclaiming, that "they have killed all your Priests!" "And, now?" "They're coming after me!"
So, it really is no huge "secret", that "Those called by MY NAME", (and not necessarily Christ's name. But also, He who sent Christ) have chosen to place
TARGETS on their collective back sides.
One would have to ask oneself: "Who would
do such a thing, willingly?" Especially, after reading the N.T., where
not even one of Jesus's original twelve Disciples
asked to be a Disciple.
They were CHOSEN! Meaning? They had
NO say regarding the matter! Paul's "come to Jesus" moment wasn't even of his volunteering!
This is unlike those of the O.T., who were "born into" the Levitical Priesthood. And, after the passing of time? Even some of those strayed, from "the Ways of God!" (Ezra/Nehemiah. And especially before that)
Time, may well be on Mick Jagger's side. But time, is
not so friendly to and for those of "the true faith!"
Anyway, what I'm getting at, is that in mankind's "struggle" to
keep on keeping on? Is by a "willfully
blurring of the target!"
And, what the writers' and compilers of these books you have are actually doing? Is bearing witness to this.
Matthew 13
28 He said unto them,
An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Numbers 18
12
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat,
the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee.
John 3
6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The
war is very real between flesh and Spirit! Considering, the Spirit is that
immovable object? And flesh being that
irresistable force going forwards?
Consider this:
Revelation 13
18
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man (sons of iniquity); and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Jude
4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and
denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2
7 And the
Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.