Greetings all!
Here is some information that some may know, but many do not know:
"Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
"The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."
The words translated "magic arts" above, are translated from the word "pharmakeia/pharmakos" which is where we get our English word Pharmaceutical from. Drugs were/are used in relation to incantations and casting spells. Today people are still using drugs for incantations and casting spells, but people are also using drugs for recreational purposes, which still falls under the banner of sorcery, magic arts. Therefore, many people who use Marijuana, methamphetamine's, cocaine, Heroin, etc, are guilty of practicing magic arts, without even realizing it. I believe that this is what is being referred to in the scriptures above, as well as those who are actually practicing magic arts with the rest of its characteristics. Below is the definition forpharmakeia and pharmakos:
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Cognate: 5333 phármakos – properly, a sorcerer; used of people using drugs and "religious incantations" to drug people into living by their illusions – like having magical (supernatural) powers to manipulate God into giving them more temporal possessions.
5331 pharmakeía (from pharmakeuō, "administer drugs") – properly, drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts, etc.
Word Origin
from pharmakeuó (to administer drugs)
Definition
the use of medicine, drugs or spells
NASB Translation
sorceries (1), sorcery (2).
