RickyReformed
Puritan Board Freshman
Mat 5:22 [quote:6d23adb846]But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. [/quote:6d23adb846]
What is the correct application of this verse? Are we to refrain from calling *any* individual a "fool"? Or are we to refrain from calling only our "brother" in the faith a "fool"?
I'm asking because in an e-mail debate between 'agnostic determinist' Derek Sansone (also apostate and a former Reformed Christian) and Reformed apologist Vincent Cheung, Mr. Cheung calls Mr. Sansone a 'moron' since in Psa 14:1 says:
[quote:6d23adb846]The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. [/quote:6d23adb846]
- and in the new testament, the root word for 'fool' is 'moros' from which we get our English word 'moron'.
Î1/4ωÏοÌÏ‚
moÌ"ros
mo-ros'
dull or stupid (as if shut up), that is, heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd: - fool (-ish, X -ishness).
However, regarding Mat 5:22, John Gill, in his commentary, states:
[quote:6d23adb846]By "brother" is meant, not in a religious sense, one that is of the same faith, or in the same church state; nor, in a strict natural sense, one that is so in the bonds of consanguinity; but in a large sense, any man, of whatsoever country or nation: for we are to be angry with no man; that is, as is rightly added, without a cause...[/quote:6d23adb846]
And on Psa 14:1, Gill says:
[quote:6d23adb846]This is to be understood not of a single individual person, as Nabal, which is the word here used; ... but of a body, a set of men, who justly bear this character; and ... but such who are fools in their morals, without understanding in spiritual things.[/quote:6d23adb846]
Is John Gill correct that we cannot call atheists individually fools but only as a class?
My current position on this text is to err on the side of caution, and refrain from calling anyone a pejorative, in light of Mat 12.36-37:
[quote:6d23adb846]36. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37. for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.[/quote:6d23adb846]
Any input is appreciated.
What is the correct application of this verse? Are we to refrain from calling *any* individual a "fool"? Or are we to refrain from calling only our "brother" in the faith a "fool"?
I'm asking because in an e-mail debate between 'agnostic determinist' Derek Sansone (also apostate and a former Reformed Christian) and Reformed apologist Vincent Cheung, Mr. Cheung calls Mr. Sansone a 'moron' since in Psa 14:1 says:
[quote:6d23adb846]The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. [/quote:6d23adb846]
- and in the new testament, the root word for 'fool' is 'moros' from which we get our English word 'moron'.
Î1/4ωÏοÌÏ‚
moÌ"ros
mo-ros'
dull or stupid (as if shut up), that is, heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd: - fool (-ish, X -ishness).
However, regarding Mat 5:22, John Gill, in his commentary, states:
[quote:6d23adb846]By "brother" is meant, not in a religious sense, one that is of the same faith, or in the same church state; nor, in a strict natural sense, one that is so in the bonds of consanguinity; but in a large sense, any man, of whatsoever country or nation: for we are to be angry with no man; that is, as is rightly added, without a cause...[/quote:6d23adb846]
And on Psa 14:1, Gill says:
[quote:6d23adb846]This is to be understood not of a single individual person, as Nabal, which is the word here used; ... but of a body, a set of men, who justly bear this character; and ... but such who are fools in their morals, without understanding in spiritual things.[/quote:6d23adb846]
Is John Gill correct that we cannot call atheists individually fools but only as a class?
My current position on this text is to err on the side of caution, and refrain from calling anyone a pejorative, in light of Mat 12.36-37:
[quote:6d23adb846]36. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37. for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.[/quote:6d23adb846]
Any input is appreciated.