Transgression (3892) (paranomia from pará = beyond or contrary to + nómos = law) is literally one who goes beyond the law. It describes a breach of law or an act contrary to law. Paranomia is not just a general term for wrongdoing but refers to the violation of a specific law, regulation, established custom or ordinance. Balaam acted contrary to and disobeyed the law with the implication of his having a clear intent to disobey. TDNT says paranomia denotes... either a condition or an act conflicting with a (legal) norm. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans) Friberg says paranomia is an act of lawbreaking that stems from habitual disregard for the law -- wrongdoing, evildoing, (deliberate) transgression (Friberg, T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Baker Academic) This is the only NT use of paranomia but there are 3 in the (Pr 10:26 and the two below)... Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes (Hebrew = mezimmah = device, plot; Lxx = paranomia). Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities (Hebrew = avon = perversity, depravity; ; Lxx = paranomia) will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. Wuest says that the possessive pronoun own speaks of what is one’s own private, unique possession (Ibid) FOR A DUMB DONKEY SPEAKING WITH A VOICE OF A MAN: hupozugion aphonon en anthropou phone phthegxamenon (AMPNSN): Dumb (880) (aphonos from "a" =without + phone = voice) means literally voiceless or not having the power of speech and spoken of beasts. As Balaam went to curse the children of Israel for money (if he could) "he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey--a beast without speech." Donkey (5268) (hupozugion from hupó = under + zugós = a yoke) is literally an animal under a yoke and so a beast of burden such as a donkey. Speaking (5350) (phtheggomai) means to sound a tone and so to speak or utter a word, putting sounds together to communicate something to someone else. How ironic a dumb beast speaking to a (spiritually) insane brute beast. According to Rienecker phtheggomai is "especially used of a portentous prophetic utterance." The aorist tense of phtheggomai marks this as a past completed event. Peter thus confirms the historicity of the remarkable miracle without hesitation or reservation. Peter's acceptance of the literal event is in contrast to many commentators today who feel this was not literally a donkey speaking but reflected Balaam's disturbed conscience. Why would it be any more difficult for God to speak through this animal then it was for him to suddenly cause new languages to be spoken by men at Pentecost? Or to suddenly stop men from talking in a given language and cause them to begin to speak in another as at the tower of Babel? Actually, according to the account in Nu 22:22-35, the rebuke is twofold: first from the donkey, then from the Angel of the LORD (most probably the pre-incarnate Christ - see Angel of the LORD). Ironically the dumb animal had more "spiritual" perception than the prophet! ><> ><> ><> GOD, DONKEYS AND US: Pastor Gumercindo rides a donkey as he travels from village to village in Brazil and preaches the gospel. According to author Don Hare, the traveling evangelist fell asleep in the saddle on his return home after a tiring day. A couple of hours later he was rudely awakened by the roughness of the ride. His donkey had left the trail and was walking through a rocky field. At first the pastor was angry, but he calmed down when he saw that they were almost back to his village. When he arrived at his church, he learned that friends had gathered to pray for his safety. A rancher who hated the gospel had sent some men to attack him at a bend in the trail. They thanked God for causing the donkey to take a shortcut home. Centuries ago, God used another donkey. This one miraculously spoke and saved the life of Balaam, a disobedient, money-hungry prophet (Numbers 22:21-35). God got his attention, and Balaam took the Lord's message to Moab. God cares for us and He will carry out His good plans for us, even if He has to use animals and rebellious people to do so. How has God spoken to you or cared for you through unusual circumstances? What reasons do you have to praise Him for His protection and leading? —Herbert Vander Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) My times are in my Father's hand; How could I wish or ask for more? For He who has my pathway planned Will guide me till my journey's o'er. --Fraser Because God is with us, we need not fear what is ahead of us. RESTRAINED THE MADNESS OF THE PROPHET: ekolusen (3SAAI) ten tou prophetou paraphronian: (Ecclesiastes 7:25; 9:3; Hosea 9:7; Lk 16:11; Acts 26:11 Acts 26:24,25) to check the prophet's wicked infatuation! (Phillips) checked the prophet’s madness (Amplified) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_215-16.htm#transgression