Key Terms
Etymological Fallacy — The mistake of assuming a word's meaning comes from its root rather than from how it is actually used in context
Semantic Range — The full range of meanings a word can have — context determines which meaning applies
Illegitimate Totality Transfer — The mistake of loading every possible meaning of a word into a single use of that word
Key Concepts
- A word's meaning comes from how it is used in context, not from its root or history
- Words have a range of possible meanings — context picks the right one
- More concordance work does not always mean better interpretation
Scripture Focus
Ephesians 5:18
1 John 4:8
Hebrews 4:12
Learning Objectives
- Identify the etymological fallacy and explain why a word's root does not determine its meaning in any specific passage
- Explain how context (not a concordance search) determines which meaning of a word applies in a given verse
- Conduct a responsible word study that starts with context and uses lexicons as tools — not as authorities that override context
Resources
Download the companion handout for this lesson to review key terms and concepts offline.
Download Lesson Handout (PDF)