It is the "mixing of things together to get a desired result" from which we get the word for pharmacy and pharmaceuticals.
Sometimes the Greek word is translated as "sorcery" as in Galatians 5:20 as a work of the flesh. It is in the same lists as "outbursts of anger", immoral sexual living, malice...etc.
Galatians 5:20 (NASB)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
The family of words from which we get our English word pharmacy is derived from the Greek word pharmakeuō which means “to mix potions or poison.”
The term also refers to the practice of magic. Thus pharmakeia refers to the practice of the arts associated with magic, which in the time of the New Testament involved the use of potions or drugs. In Galatians 5:20 this practice is identified as a work of the flesh.
Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary, The - The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary – Sigma-Omega.
Witchcraft has 2 aspects to it:
1) drugs taken to "make magic" to deceive people and change their perception of things.
2) is the spiritual manipulation of things - ( the mixing part of the pharmaceuticals - as these compounds are made by adding this molecule to another one which produces a "desired effect" in the body )
The very same way that spiritual manipulators and those that try to "lord it over your faith" will use different things like belittling people, insulting them in order to get their "desired effect".
This is the "mixing part" to get a "desired effect" as in the mixing of different molecules produce different drugs of the spiritual manipulation aspect of it is a work of the flesh just like the commonly "practice of sorcery" tries to do.
Basically it is a form of manipulation which can use drugs as a means to do this or it can use spiritual manipulation as well.
There was a thread on spiritual abuse being done by some in the body of Christ which was excellent. I believe it was one of Ariel's threads. It was a good one that talks about this type of behavior that can occur amongst us.
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/147300-stop-beating-kids-spiritual-abuse-christians.html
So, once again addressing these myths I see about Gal. 5:20 and the word "witchcraft" being the word
φαρμακεία or pharmakia. In fact, this is the truth! This word appears twice in the Bible (also in Rev. 18:23) and means sorcery, magic, or witchcraft in some translations.
The part that is wrong, is this is NOT the word for medicine in the Greek! There are actually a few words 5 words listed in Bauer (BDAG) which have similar roots. These words are not used extensively in the Bible, more they are used in Classical Greek and early Christian literature, including Philo, and Homer, and even in the Septuagint.
So the words are as follows;
Pharmakeia -
ψαρμακεία ἡ This is the word in Gal. 5:20 and it is translated magic, sorcery or witchcraft. It is a feminine noun. As usual the thing being done is in the feminine text
Pharmakeus -
φαρμακεύς ὁ This is the person - the maker of options, the magician
Pharmakeuo -
φαρμακεύω This is the related verb - I make potions, I practice magic
Pharmakon -
φάρμακον τό This is the word which refers to medicines. It actually has 3 definitions.
1. a harmful drug, poison. It can also refer to the "imagery" of a poison, such as a "poisoned heart" Not used in the Bible
2. A drug used as a controlling medium, magic potion, charm, Rev. 9:21 "
Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."
3. a healing remedy, medicine, remedy, drug. Used in various Classical Greek texts, and early Christian literature, not in the Bible. This is the one that is the foundation of Greek medicine and these traditions are handed down, although the middle ages, like some people today, revived the notion of ALL medicines being witchcraft, with the result that women healers were frequently branded as witches engaging in magic. But, it does NOT mean witchcraft!
There are many drugs we use today that came from the herbs that God provided for us. I can think of Foxglove, from which digitalis, a heart medicine comes from, and willow bark, which was boiled down as an analgesic which we call "aspirin," today. Not really an evil poison or magic!!
pharmakos -
φαρμακος ὁ The person who:
1. one skilled in arcane uses of herbs or drugs.
2. one who does extraordinary things though occult means, socerere, magician.
If anyone thinks I am splitting hairs, I am not! These words are different, even with the same root words. Pharmakon, is the word for medicine, not pharmakeia. That is a word for magic.
I hate to keep harping on this, but this is the result of having no real training in Greek. Although, anyone who just learned the Alphabet could get a copy of Bauer, even on-line and see that words can have very different meanings, and even the same word in Greek, can have very different meanings. You don't need to go to seminary and I know of several people in this forum who are studying Greek on their own, and doing a very good job. But not this folk Greek, based on myths and lies!
Sorry to burst your bubble, Grace777. But I do get tired of people setting themselves up as experts in Greek, based on something they read on the internet, that is false.
Medicine does NOT equal witchcraft. Anyone who has to take medicines need to know that. And your career aside, and I am sure you have some hairy tales to tell about medicine or pharmaceuticals, to suggest that medicine is witchcraft is truly folk theology, and has no place in any intelligent discussion of the Bible in the BDF.