James Sanders
Paul in his epistle to the Galatians enumerated a concise
list of the works of the flesh. Contained in that list is
the Greek word, pharmakeia. The King James scholar translated
pharmakeia as "witchcraft" but a more probable rendering
is that of "sorcery" and is so given by the American
Standard Version. Sorcery is far closer to the meaning of
the term.
Pharmakeia (sorcery) is a form of the Greek root from which
we get our English words pharmacy, pharmacist, and pharmaceutical.
Pharmakeia (sorcery) fundamentally has to do with drugs or
medicine. Originally the word was used only in the sense of
medicine. Plato talked about the different kinds of medicinal
treatment: cautery, incision, the use of drugs (pharmakeia),
and even starvation. (Plato, Protagorus 354a). In the beginning,
pharmakeia was a medical term; it had to do with the proper
use of drugs.
Later pharmakeia took on an entirely different meaning. The
learned William Barclay says that pharmakeia began "to
denote the misuse of drugs, that is, the use of drugs to poison
and not to cure. So we read about the law regarding poisoning
(Plato, Laws 933 B), and Demosthenes accuses a bad man of
poisoning and all kinds of villainy (Demosthenes 40.57). This
is the beginning of the bad use of the word" (Flesh And
Spirit, p. 36)
In the New Testament, pharmakeia carried with it the idea
of sorcery, occultism, and black magic. It is in this sense
that Paul used the term in Galatians 5.20. The International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia clearly points out that "since
the ideas we attach to 'witch' and 'witchcraft' were unknown
in Bible times, the words (witch and witchcraft) have no right
place in our' Eng. Bible..." (p. 3097). When Paul spoke
of pharmakeia (witchcraft KJV) he certainly did not have in
mind witches on broomsticks, black cats, and silly superstitions.
The Apostle was speaking of sorcery -- the evil abuse of drugs.
The Greek scholar, W.E. Vine summarized the different uses
of pharmakeia in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament
Words. Said Vine of pharmakeia: "primarily signified
the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then
sorcery." It is at this point the dark and grim fact
of pharmakeia emerges. Pharmakeia literally is the abuse of
drugs coupled with the occult. Pharmakeia is a chain connecting
drug addiction with sorcery!
THE APPLICATION
The increase in drug abuse hag soared during the past few
years. Hardly a day goes by that somewhere we do not hear
or read of the influence of drug addiction. "Trips,"
"pot parties," "rock festivals with their accompanying
use of drugs," make the headlines of our newspapers.
Television frequently portrays stories that are in someway
connected with drugs. Magazines run articles about addiction
and the problem of drug abuse. Talk is even heard of legalizing
marijuana. Pharmakeia (the misuse of drugs) has boiled to
the surface and with it have come the bitter fruits of addiction,
insanity, suicide, crime, and immorality of all sorts. It
is little wonder that Paul said those who practice the works
of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21).
Pharmakeia (drug abuse) is a sin and like all sin, pharmakeia
will enslave and ultimately ruin.
Coupled along with the rise in drug abuse is the secondary
meaning of pharmakeia that of sorcery. The interest in the
mysterious, the black arts, "witchcraft," and the
occult is perhaps at an all time high. Even a Satanic Church
complete with High Priest and members has been established.
For many the open worship of Satan is a living reality. TIME
magazine recently told of a young student in California who
received a degree in black magic or the occult. Pharmakeia
undeniably is at work. The results are all too obvious. Pharmakeia
is the misuse of drugs. Pharmakeia is sorcery. Pharmakeia
is a work of the flesh that will doom the soul to a devil's
hell!
TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 6, pp. 11-12
December 10, 1970
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