Betrayed

When we think about betrayal and the episodes of it in the Bible we inevitable and almost by reflex think about Judas. Much debate has surround this act of betrayal which is probably the most known and definately the most significant act of betrayal in the history of the human race. Some of the schools of thought out there are;

- Judas and Jesus worked together to conjure the perfect fullfillment of prophecy concerning Jesus' death
- Judas' actions were not that of betrayal, but simple a handing over of Jesus to be interrogated by the legal systems as to his claim
- Judas cannot be held responsible for his actions since Christ knew and did not stop him
- Judas cannot be held responsible since God ordained his role in Christ's death and he had no choice and the list goes on.

This is not the betrayal that I want to bring to our minds as we read this. The betrayal that I am hoping to look at is one that should ellicit a certain sense of gratitude. I must confess that I do not fully understand this act and most if not all translation of the Bible that I have seen do not contend with this, not even the paraphrased versions dare to take it on.

The etimological root of the word used for betray - paradidomi is found in some many instances throughout the Bible. Its not always translated as betray or a derivative of betray. According to the lexicon here are the a range of meanings

to give over into (one's) power or use
a. to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage
b. to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put
to death
c. to deliver up treacherously
1. by betrayal to cause one to be taken
2. to deliver one to be taught, moulded

I want us to think about 2 scriptures and think about the range of meanings above and if they could fit in place of the words used.

Romans 8
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Bold added - gave him up = paradidomi)

Ephesians 5
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Bold added - gave himself up = paradidomi)

The texts above if paradidomi was translated as betray would read that Christ betrayed himself for us as a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Father and the Father betrayed Christ for us and we can use that as a mark of God's willingness to keep us and feed us. I will go into more details on both of these passages as I have been working them out. I think there are some truths to be had from these two passages and in deed others if we took an uncoventional look at them and dared to inject the word betray(ed) in them.

We will look at these in some more detail next time, God's willing.