Things New and Old: The word 先生 literally meant first-born

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, October 11, 2021

The word 先生 literally meant first-born

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10217572259393811
October 11, 2020 ·

#先 - first
#生 - born
#先生 - firstborn

~~ by Brother Joe Chin

先生？(xian sheng)

Ever wonder why Chinese women call their husbands 先生 (read as xian sheng)? This is worth pondering.

Wife addresses her husband as 先生。
When addressing a gentleman in Chinese, the salutation 先生 is used.
When visiting a traditional medicine doctor, he would be addressed as 先生 or Sin Seh (pronounced in Hokkien dialect), especially in Penang. This is true for teachers as well.

Japanese and Korean used the same honorific title to address their teacher or master as SenSei (先生）。

The word 先生 literally meant first-born or born in advance. Traditional Chinese words have meanings derived from the bible, ie. Blessedness 福 (A God by your family)

Righteousness 義（A lamb over me - a sacrificial lamb over me)

Boat 船 (A vessel with 8 people on board - referring to Noah)

It crossed my mind when Pastor spoke of firstborn, just like Adam was 'formed' before Eve.

"For Adam was first formed, then Eve." 1 Timothy 2:13

Henceforth, women since the ancient days would esteem their husbands as 先生 (first-born).

It also makes sense a person who is born first, would have attained higher knowledge and mastery, that the firstborn should be called a teacher.

Perhaps Adam taught Eve the names of the animals and plants. However he did not stop his wife from entertaining the devil, well that's another topic for another day.

I hope the word 先生 is more meaningful to you.