Talk:Vain thoughts

Topic suggestion from Steve

Why do you think God has such a problem with “wasted” (vain) thoughts? What specifically is he referring to over and over again? . . .

I’m especially referring to phrases like that found in 1Co 3:20 [ed. see also Ps 119:113]. But it’s not just vain thoughts. Vain acts and vain words offend God. Men are vanity, he says. Search for the words vain and vanity if you want to see a collection. These are translated from several different Hebrew and Greek roots. Sometimes they are translated as evil, sometimes as wasted, sometimes as a (powerless) breath or wind. I think the point is that God hates our wasteful actions, thoughts, and words. Is he just referring to explicit sin and idolatry, or to idleness in thought, word, and deed? God hates only the people creating wickedness, or those who do not actively create something good?^[1]

— Joey 20:23, 29 January 2015 (UTC)

Greek words

kenos (adj.) empty

Mk 12:3; Lk 1:53; 20:10–11; Ac 4:25; 1Co 15:10, 14, 58; 2Co 6:1; Gal 2:2; Eph 5:6; Php 2:16; Col 2:8; 1Th 2:1; 3:5; Jas 2:20

kenoō (v.) to render void, to empty

Ro 4:14; 1Co 1:17; 9:15; 2Co 9:3; Php 2:7

kenophōnia (n.) empty talk

1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 2:16

kenōs (adv.) in vain, for no purpose

Jas 4:5

kenodoxia (n.) conceit, vanity, “empty glory”

Php 2:3

kenodoxos (adj.) boastful, conceited

Gal 5:26

mataios (adj.) useless, fruitless

Ac 14:15; 1Co 3:20; 15:17; Tit 3:9; Jas 1:26; 1Pe 1:18

matēn (adv.) in vain, to no end

Mt 15:19; Mk 7:7

• 1Ti 1:6 – mataiologia (n.)
• Tit 1:10 – mataiologos (n.)
• Ro 1:21 – mataioō (v.)

• Mt 6:7 – battalogeō (v.)

• 1Co 15:2 – eikē (adv.)

All relevant NT passages?

kenos + mataios + eikē

Mt 15:9; Mk 7:7; 12:3; Lk 1:53; 20:10–11; Ac 4:25; 14:15; Ro 1:21; 4:14; 8:20; 13:4; 1Co 1:17; 3:20; 9:15; 15:2, 10, 14, 17, 58; 2Co 6:1; 9:3; Gal 2:2; 3:4; 4:11; 5:26; Eph 4:17; 5:6; Php 2:3, 7, 16; Col 2:8, 18; 1Th 2:1; 3:5; 1Ti 1:6; 6:20; 2Ti 2:16; Tit 1:10; 3:9; Jas 1:26; 2:20; 4:5; 1Pe 1:18; 2Pe 2:18

Worthless pursuits

Hebrew rêq (adj.)

Pr 12:11; 28:19

1. From our Google Hangouts conversation on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. #