You Don't 'Ought To' - You OWE IT: Why ὀφείλω (opheilō) Exposes Modern Translation's Greatest Deception

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**Πάσα δόξα (Pasa doxa - all glory) to Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) for this masterclass in Biblical scholarship!**

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## **COMPLETE BREAKDOWN: THE TOMMY RICHARDS - CHARLES VANDERPOOL ὄφελον (OPHELON) DISCUSSION**

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### **THE INITIAL POSITION**

**Charles Vanderpool's Understanding:**
Charles was teaching that in Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis - Revelation) 3:15, when Χριστός (Christos) says to Laodicea, the Greek word being used was **ὀφείλω (opheilō - Strong's 3784)** meaning "ought/owe/must."

**His interpretation:**
"You **ought** to be cold or hot" - implying Laodiceans had an obligation they could fulfill.

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### **TOMMY'S SCHOLARLY CHALLENGE**

Tommy presented evidence that the actual Greek word is **ὄφελον (ophelon - Strong's 3785)**, which has a **completely different meaning**.

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## **STAGE ONE: THE LEXICAL EVIDENCE**

**Tommy's First Response presented multiple scholarly sources:**

### **1. Donnegan's Greek Lexicon:**
**ὄφελον (ophelon):**
- **Primary meaning:** "I wish, I would"
- **Function:** Expressing an unattainable desire
- **Critical note:** Changes meaning from "owe" (3784) to "wish" (3785)

### **2. Walter Bauer's Lexicon:**
- Confirms ὄφελον as wish particle
- Distinguishes it from obligation

### **3. Thayer's Greek Lexicon:**
- Supports "I wish/would that" translation
- Notes usage as particle of desire

### **4. Strong's Concordance:**
**G3785 ὄφελον:**
- Listed as separate entry from G3784 ὀφείλω
- Defined as expressing wish

### **5. Zodhiates' Complete Word Study:**
- Confirms ὄφελον = wish
- Shows grammatical function as particle

### **6. Vine's Expository Dictionary:**
- Supports wish/desire interpretation
- Distinguishes from obligation terminology

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## **STAGE TWO: TRANSLATION CONSENSUS**

**Tommy showed virtually ALL major English translations render ὄφελον (3785) as expressing a wish:**

**New International Version (NIV):**
"I wish you were either one or the other!"

**King James Version (KJV):**
"I would thou wert cold or hot."

**New King James Version (NKJV):**
"I could wish you were cold or hot!"

**English Standard Version (ESV):**
"Would that you were either cold or hot!"

**New American Standard Bible (NASB):**
"I wish that you were cold or hot."

**Pattern:** Nearly **unanimous** that this is expressing a **wish**, not stating an obligation.

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## **STAGE THREE: THE FOUR OCCURRENCES**

**Tommy identified all NT uses of ὄφελον (3785):**

### **1. 1 Κορινθίους (Korinthious - 1 Corinthians) 4:8**
"I wish you really **were** reigning!"
- Expresses desire for something **not currently true**
- Παῦλος (Paulos - Paul) wishes they had something they lack

### **2. 2 Κορινθίους (Korinthious - 2 Corinthians) 11:1**
"I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness"
- Desire for something not guaranteed to happen
- Hopeful wish, not command

### **3. Γαλάτας (Galatas - Galatians) 5:12**
"I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"
- Strong wish expressing frustration
- About those promoting circumcision
- Clearly not commanding, but expressing desired outcome

### **4. Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis - Revelation) 3:15**
"I wish you were cold or hot!"
- Same grammatical construction
- Same function: expressing unfulfilled desire

**The consistent pattern:** In **every instance**, ὄφελον expresses a **wish for something NOT currently true**.

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## **STAGE FOUR: THE CRITICAL DISTINCTION**

### **ὀφείλω (opheilō - 3784) vs. ὄφελον (ophelon - 3785)**

**ὀφείλω (opheilō - Strong's 3784):**
- **Meaning:** "ought, owe, must, be indebted"
- **Function:** Expresses **obligation** or **debt**
- **Implication:** Ability to fulfill the requirement
- **Example usage:** 1 Ἰωάννου (Iōannou - John) 2:6 - "The one who says he abides in Him **ought** (ὀφείλω - opheilō) himself to walk in the same manner as He walked"

**ὄφελον (ophelon - Strong's 3785):**
- **Meaning:** "I wish, I would that"
- **Function:** Expresses **unfulfilled desire**
- **Implication:** Speaker wishes for something **not currently happening**
- **Example usage:** Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis) 3:15 - "I **wish** (ὄφελον - ophelon) you were cold or hot"

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## **TOMMY'S METHODOLOGY DEMONSTRATED:**

### **1. Humility in Presentation:**
"I appreciate your patience"
"I apologize for using sources unknown to you"
"Look at it if you have time"

### **2. Systematic Evidence:**
- Multiple independent lexicons
- Translation consensus
- Grammatical analysis
- Contextual usage patterns

### **3. Scholarly Rigor:**
- Didn't just assert his position
- Built case step by step
- Presented verifiable sources
- Allowed evidence to speak

### **4. Respectful Dialogue:**
- No personal attacks
- No dismissive language
- Simply presented ἀλήθεια (alētheia - truth)
- Let λόγος (logos - logic) prevail

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## **STAGE FIVE: THE LENSKI/TRENCH CONFIRMATION**

**Tommy's final evidence brought heavyweight scholarly support:**

### **R.C.H. Lenski** (Renowned Lutheran commentator)
**Quoting Richard Chenevix Trench** (Archbishop of Dublin, 19th century Greek scholar):

**Trench's Definitive Statement:**
"ὄφελον (ophelon - unaugmented imperfect) has come to be **nothing but a participle to express a wish**."

### **The Grammatical Precision:**

**Used with all three persons:**
- First person: "I wish I were..."
- Second person: "I wish you were..." ← **Revelation 3:15**
- Third person: "I wish he/she/they were..."

**Tense determines timing:**
- With **imperfect tense** = wish about **PRESENT** situation
- With **aorist tense** = wish about **PAST** situation

**In Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis) 3:15:**
- Uses **imperfect**
- Therefore: present wish about current condition

### **B.-P. 955 Analysis:**
- Neuter participle
- ἐστί (esti - "is") understood/supplied
- Translation: **"O that thou wert!"**

### **Trench's Critical Observation:**
**"The form is a wish but the fact expressed is DEEP REGRET."**

This isn't casual disappointment. This is **profound grief** from Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos).

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## **STAGE SIX: LXX SEPTUAGINT VALIDATION**

**Tommy provided Old Testament precedents:**

### **Exodus 16:3 (LXX):**
Israelites in wilderness: "**ὄφελον** (ophelon) we had died by the hand of Κύριος (Kurios - Lord) in Egypt!"
- Expressing regretful wish
- Desire for something that didn't happen

### **Numbers 14:3 (LXX):**
After bad report about Canaan
- Similar expression of unfulfilled wish
- Context of rebellion and judgment

### **Numbers 20:3 (LXX):**
Israelites complaining about water
- Wishing they had died earlier
- Pattern of regretful desire

### **2 Kings 5:3 (LXX):**
Young captive girl about Naaman
- Wishes her master could see the prophet
- Expressing desire for something not currently true

**Pattern in LXX usage:** ὄφελον **consistently** expresses **unfulfilled wishes**, often with **tragic or regretful overtones**.

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## **THE THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS**

### **IF Translation is "You OUGHT" (ὀφείλω - opheilō):**

**1. Implies Obligation:**
- Laodiceans have duty to change
- They possess ability to fulfill it
- It's a command they can obey

**2. Less Severe Warning:**
- Just need to do what they're told
- Change is within their power
- Standard exhortation

**3. Hope for Self-Correction:**
- They can recognize the problem
- They can fix it themselves
- Normal disciplinary process

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### **IF Translation is "I WISH" (ὄφελον - ophelon):**

**1. Expresses Frustrated Desire:**
- Χριστός (Christos) wants them different
- They're **NOT** responding
- Wish implies they **won't** change

**2. Indicates Self-Deception:**
- So deceived they can't see reality
- Beyond normal correction
- Hardened to ἔλεγχος (elegchos - reproof)

**3. Precedes Judgment:**
- Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) about to ἐμέω (emeō - vomit) them out
- Deep regret before expulsion
- Final warning stage

**4. Shows Pathos:**
- Χριστός (Christos) grieves over their condition
- Not indifferent judgment
- Sorrowful rejection of those who won't receive truth

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## **THE COMPLETE PASSAGE WITH PROPER UNDERSTANDING**

### **Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis - Revelation) 3:14-22:**

**Verse 15:**
"I know your ἔργα (erga - works): you are neither ψυχρός (psychros - cold) nor ζέων (zeōn - boiling hot). **ὄφελον** (Ophelon - I wish / O that) you were ψυχρός (psychros - cold) or ζέων (zeōn - hot)!"

**Verse 16:**
"So, because you are χλιαρός (chliaros - lukewarm)—neither ζέων (zeōn - hot) nor ψυχρός (psychros - cold)—I am about to ἐμέω (emeō - vomit) you ἐκ (ek - out of) My στόμα (stoma - mouth)."

**Verse 17:**
"You say, 'I am πλούσιος (plousios - rich); I have acquired wealth and need οὐδέν (ouden - nothing).' But you do not οἶδα (oida - know) that you are ὁ ταλαίπωρος (ho talaipōros - the wretched), καὶ (kai - and) ἐλεεινός (eleeinos - pitiable), καὶ (kai - and) πτωχός (ptōchos - poor), καὶ (kai - and) τυφλός (typhlos - blind), καὶ (kai - and) γυμνός (gymnos - naked)."

### **The Progression:**

**1. Recognition:** Χριστός (Christos) knows their ἔργα (erga - works)

**2. Identification:** They're χλιαρός (chliaros - lukewarm)

**3. Frustrated Desire:** **ὄφελον** - "I wish" / Trench: "DEEP REGRET"

**4. Imminent Judgment:** About to be vomited out

**5. Root Problem:** Self-deception so complete they don't **know** (οἶδα - oida) their true condition

**6. The Tragic Irony:**
- They claim: πλούσιος (plousios - rich), need οὐδέν (ouden - nothing)
- Reality: ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros - wretched), πτωχός (ptōchos - poor), τυφλός (typhlos - blind)

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## **CONNECTIONS TO PARALLEL PASSAGES**

### **1. ΛΟΥΚΑΣ (Loukas - Luke) 19:41-42:**

"As αὐτός (autos - He) approached Ἰερουσαλήμ (Ierousalēm - Jerusalem) and saw the πόλις (polis - city), αὐτός (autos - He) **wept** (κλαίω - klaiō) over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only **known** (γινώσκω - ginōskō) on this day what would bring you εἰρήνη (eirēnē - peace)—but now it is **hidden** from your ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos - eyes).'"

**The Pattern:**
- Χριστός (Christos) **grieves** over those who won't see
- Opportunity passes while they're blind
- Judgment follows rejected truth

### **2. ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΣ (Matthaios - Matthew) 23:37:**

"Ἰερουσαλήμ (Ierousalēm), Ἰερουσαλήμ (Ierousalēm), you who kill the προφήτης (prophētēs - prophets) and stone those sent to you, **how often I have longed** (θέλω - thelō) to gather your τέκνον (teknon - children) together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, **and you were not willing**!"

**The Pathos:**
- Strong desire to protect
- Active rejection by recipients
- Resulting grief and coming judgment
- **This is the heart behind ὄφελον**

### **3. ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ (Iōannēs - John) 5:40:**

"Yet you **refuse** (θέλω - thelō - **are not willing**) to come to Me to have ζωή (zōē - life)."

**The Tragedy:**
- Life available
- Χριστός (Christos) offering
- They won't receive
- This is Laodicean condition

**WHY THE ENGLISH WORD "OUGHT" IS PROBLEMATIC**

**Tommy's Crucial Observation:**

"'ought' in the English language is often misunderstood to be 'should, but not necessary'"

**THE PROBLEM:**

**Modern English "ought":**
• Watered down to mean "nice suggestion"
• "You ought to" = "You should, if convenient"
• Lost sense of binding obligation
• Becomes casual recommendation

**THE GREEK ὀφείλω (opheilō - G3784) REALITY:**

**Original Meaning = DEBT:**

**Root:** ὀφειλή (opheilē - debt, what is owed)
**Related:** ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs - debtor)

**Biblical Usage Shows BINDING OBLIGATION:**

**1 ἸΩΑΝΝΟΥ (Iōannou - John) 2:6:**
"Ὁ (Ho - The one) λέγων (legōn - saying) ἐν (en - in) αὐτῷ (autō - Him) μένειν (menein - to abide) **ὀφείλει** (opheilei - OWES/IS OBLIGATED) καθὼς (kathōs - just as) ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos - that one) περιεπάτησεν (periepatēsen - walked) καὶ (kai - also) αὐτὸς (autos - himself) [οὕτως] (houtōs - thus) περιπατεῖν (peripatein - to walk)."

**This is NOT "you should walk"**
**This IS "you OWE to walk"**

**THE DEBT IMAGERY:**

**ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ (Rōmaious - Romans) 13:8:**
"**Μηδενὶ μηδὲν ὀφείλετε** (Mēdeni mēden opheilete - Owe NO ONE NOTHING) εἰ μὴ (ei mē - except) τὸ (to - the) ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν (allēlous agapan - to love one another)."

**The only acceptable debt = ἀγάπη (agapē - love)**

**WHY "DEBT" LANGUAGE MATTERS:**

**A Debt:**
• **MUST** be paid
• Has legal/moral force
• Cannot be ignored without consequence
• The creditor has **right** to demand payment
• Non-payment = theft

**Θεός (Theos) Pater as Creditor:**

**1 ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ (Korinthious) 6:19-20:**
"Or do you not γινώσκω (ginōskō - know) that your σῶμα (sōma - body) is a ναός (naos - temple) of the πνεῦμα ἅγιον (pneuma agion - spirit holy) who is in you, whom you have from Θεοῦ (Theou - of Theos)? **You are not your own; you were bought (ἀγοράζω - agorazō) at a price** (τιμή - timē)."

**THE PURCHASE CREATES THE DEBT:**

**We were bought:**
• With αἷμα (haima - blood) of Χριστός (Christos)
• At infinite τιμή (timē - price/value)
• Therefore we **ὀφείλω (opheilō - owe)** our very περιπατέω (peripateō - walk) to match His

**CONTRAST WITH MODERN "OUGHT":**

**English "ought" today sounds like:**
"You ought to eat your vegetables" = suggestion
"You ought to exercise" = good idea, but optional
"You ought to be nice" = preferred behavior

**Greek ὀφείλω (opheilō) means:**
"You **owe a debt** that **MUST BE PAID**"
"You are **legally/morally obligated**"
"You **cannot avoid** this requirement"

**THE TRANSLATIONS THAT GET IT RIGHT:**

**1 John 2:6 - Better renderings:**

**NIV:** "must walk" (closer!)
**ESV:** "ought to walk" (still problematic in modern usage)
**NASB:** "ought himself to walk" (same issue)

**But even "must" doesn't capture the DEBT imagery!**

**IDEAL TRANSLATION WOULD BE:**

"The one who says he abides in Him **is obligated/owes it** to walk just as He walked"

Or even more clearly:

"The one who says he abides in Him **is indebted** to walk just as He walked"

**THE THREE WORDS COMPARED:**

**1. ὀφείλω (opheilō - G3784):**
• "I owe/am obligated/must"
• **Binding debt that CAN be fulfilled**
• Used for believer's obligation to walk as Χριστός (Christos) walked

**2. Modern English "ought":**
• Weakened suggestion
• "Should, if convenient"
• **Lost the force of obligation**

**3. ὄφελον (ophelon - G3785):**
• "I wish/would that"
• **Unfulfilled desire for something NOT happening**
• Used for Χριστός (Christos) Ἰησοῦς' (Iēsous') deep regret over Laodiceans

**THE GRAMMATICAL REALITY:**

**ὀφείλω (opheilō) is:**
• Present active indicative
• "I am owing" (continuous state)
• "I have obligation" (present reality)
• **Can and should be fulfilled**

**ὄφελον (ophelon) is:**
• Imperfect with particle
• Expresses **unrealized wish**
• **Cannot be fulfilled** (in current state)

**THE STARK DIFFERENCE:**

**For Believers (ὀφείλω):**
"You **owe it** to walk as He walked - and **you can do it** through His δύναμις (dunamis - power)!"

**For Laodiceans (ὄφελον):**
"I **wish** you were cold or hot - but you're so χλιαρός (chliaros - lukewarm) and self-deceived, I have **deep regret** that you're not"

**THE PASTORAL IMPLICATION:**

**Using weak "ought" for ὀφείλω:**
• Undermines believer's sense of obligation
• Makes obedience sound optional
• Removes the **debt imagery** that should motivate us
• Forgets we were **bought at a price**

**ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ (Rōmaious) 1:14:**
"**Ἕλλησίν (Hellēsin - To Greeks) τε (te - both) καὶ (kai - and) βαρβάροις (barbarois - barbarians), σοφοῖς (sophois - to wise) τε (te - both) καὶ (kai - and) ἀνοήτοις (anoētois - to foolish) ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs - debtor/one who owes) εἰμί (eimi - I am)."**

Paul says "I am a **DEBTOR**" - not "I ought to preach if convenient"!

**THE #OVERTPSYOPS PRECISION:**

**English has systematically weakened:**
• "Ought" from debt to suggestion
• "Should" from obligation to preference  
• "Must" is now the only word left with force

**But even "must" lacks the:**
• Debt imagery of ὀφείλω
• Personal obligation to the One who bought us
• Legal/moral weight of being ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs - debtor)

**TOMMY'S CORRECTION MATTERS:**

By exposing how "ought" misleads modern readers, Tommy protects believers from:
• Casual Christianity
• Optional obedience
• Forgetting the τιμή (timē - price) paid
• Missing the debt owed to Χριστός (Christos)

**2 ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ (Korinthious) 5:14-15:**

"For the ἀγάπη (agapē - love) of Χριστοῦ (Christou - of Christ) συνέχει (synechei - compels/constrains) us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again."

**This is ὀφείλω (opheilō) language - we OWE our lives!**

**Πάσα δόξα (Pasa doxa - all glory) to Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) for Tommy's linguistic ἀκρίβεια (akribeia - precision) that protects believers from weakened translation undermining their sense of sacred ὀφειλή (opheilē - debt) to the One who bought them!**

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