Examples of conspiracies in the Bible by Jack Kettler
Has the reader ever heard the pejorative “That’s a conspiracy theory”?
This Scriptural study will consider the above example of a pejorative. Additionally, the use of a pejorative will be looked at in regards to its origin and if the one using it is dodging a question or committing the equivalent of the abusive ad hominem fallacy.
Another focus of the study will be to consider Scripture and what it has to say about conspiracies. Unfortunately, the above pejorative has become so common in society that the phrase has almost become a mantra.
Are there conspiracies? Have politicians ever conspired to start wars? Have politicians conspired to have illegal monetary advantages? Have criminals ever conspired to commit all manner of crimes? In a sinful, fallen world, the depravity of man presupposes there will be conspiracies for evil. Nevertheless, prisons around the world are filled with conspirators.
For starters, what is a pejorative?
Pejorative – Wikipedia
“A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone ...”
What does the Bible say?
Virtually all of the texts cited in this study will involve conspiracies that are primarily political. Were conspiracies confined to Biblical times only? If argued that this is so would be preposterous.
In this survey of Scriptures, the reader will see a number of texts where the word conspiracy or the equivalent is used.
Synonyms for conspiracy:
cabal, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate
Words related to conspiracy:
collusion, cover-up, frame-up, setup, plot, plotteth, scheme, devising, planning, to do mischief, treason, unlawful alliance
Texts that use the word conspiracy:
“And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy (הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ (haq·qe·šer) was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.” (2 Samuel 15:12) (All Scripture citations are in the KJV unless otherwise noted) (Underlining are mine)
Strong’s Lexicon:
“So the conspiracy
הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ (haq·qe·šer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 7195: 1) conspiracy, treason, (unlawful) alliance”
The above entry from the Strong’s Lexicon is typical of the Hebrew in the following passages.
“Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.” (2 Chronicles 25:27)
“And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.” (2 Kings 12:20)
“Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.” (2 Kings 14:19)
“And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.” (2 Kings 15:15)
“And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.” (2 Kings 15:30)
“And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore, the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.” (2 Kings 17:4)
“And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 11:9)
“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.” (Ezekiel 22:25)
“And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” (Acts 23:13)
From Strong’s Lexicon:
“plot.
συνωμοσίαν (synōmosian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's Greek 4945: A conspiracy, plot. From a compound of sun and omnuo; a swearing together, i.e., a plot.”
Texts that use the equivalent of conspiracy:
“Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting חֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים (ḥō·šə·ḇîm) to harm me.” (Nehemiah 6:2 NASB)
From Strong’s Lexicon:
“were planning
חֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים (ḥō·šə·ḇîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 2803: 1 to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to think, account 1a2) to plan, devise, mean 1a3) to charge, impute, reckon 1a4) to esteem, value, regard 1a5) to invent 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed 1b2) to be computed, be reckoned 1b3) to be imputed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of 1c2) to think to do, devise, plan 1c3) to count, reckon 1d) (Hithpael) to be considered”
“The wicked plotteth זֹמֵ֣ם (zō·mêm) against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.” (Psalm 37:12)
From Strong’s Lexicon:
“scheme
זֹמֵ֣ם (zō·mêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2161: 1 to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to consider, fix thought upon 1a2) to purpose, devise 1a3) to plot (of evil intent)”
The two Hebrew words in the above two passages are rendered by the translators as
“Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers.” (Psalms 64:2)
The following passages are important also Psalms 2, 83 and 140.
Comments and questions:
In light of the Scriptures seen above, it is irrefutable that the concept of a conspiracy can be dismissed. Moreover, to deny conspiracies is to deny the Biblical record itself.
What to do when someone wants to advance or expose by way of presenting information about a possible plot to advance illegal activity?
This writer realizes that no one is required to research and respond to every nefarious scheme. However, simply using a pejorative in response to serious research is unsatisfactory. Not everyone is obliged to respond to everything put forward by a theory. Moreover, it is admitted that some individuals that have a new theory every day.
Who is obligated to consider and test theories?
However, media reporters are required to do research instead of dismissing things out of hand. For many uncovering illegal schemes is a professional duty. It is also a duty of citizenship.
For those in the media, in particular, it is incumbent to at least look at the merits of theory or argument. Many laws are designed to inhibit illegal activity.
On the other hand, no one is obliged to deal with outright absurdities like “The moon is made out of green cheese.” An assertion like this is not a conspiracy as a more likely possible mental problem.
Has the reader ever heard of the term cover-up? A cover-up is a conspiracy.
Depending on the reader’s age, they may remember the “Watergate” cover-up. What if the reporters for the Washington Post started receiving leaks about the cover-up, and what if they responded by saying, “That a conspiracy theory?”
What is good for the goose is good for the gander, meaning that one person or situation should be treated the same way that another person or situation is treated:
So, if the documentaries Rigged 2020 and 2000 Mules which tell the story uncovered by the non-partisan True the Vote.org, are going to be dismissed by simply saying “that is a conspiracy theory,” then saying that an old guy named Joe with dementia who did not campaign got 81 million votes is a “conspiracy theory” also.
One of the most outlandish “Conspiracy Theories” to be promoted in recent times is by the Uni-party political establishment, namely, that Joe Biden, who is in dramatic mental decline and spent most of his time in his basement during the campaign. On limited occasions when he made a few appearances, the crowds were extremely small. As the Biden conspiracy theory goes, this feeble candidate with no visible support got 81 million votes. This is the real conspiracy theory.
Criteria that demands evidence be evaluated:
· A majority of the American people want answers
· A credible whistleblower comes forward
· Investigators bring evidence forth
Joe Biden said his team created:
“The most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics.” – Joe Biden
October 25, 2020, as reported in the “Free Beacon.”
Do those who dismiss millions of Americans’ concerns about a stolen election simply by saying it is a “Conspiracy theory” know who Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips are? Furthermore, can they also identify the non-profit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) and its relevance to the discussion? If not, why not? Are those dismissing the concerns of millions of Americans who cannot answer the above two questions simply parroting something they heard?
Was the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, for diluting and invalidating their votes “conspiracy theorists”? Is Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General who brought the lawsuit, a “conspiracy theorist”? What about the AGs from the twenty states that signed on with the Texas lawsuit?
A sizeable majority of Americans do not believe in the 2020 election results. Therefore, dismissing the concerns of millions of Americans is offensive and a “conspiracy” itself.
The origins of the term conspiracy theory:
“The Term “Conspiracy Theory” — an Invention of the CIA
from the Rev. Douglas Wilson, member of the Core Group of Project Unspeakable
Having read JFK and the Unspeakable several years ago, I’ve been thinking about assassinations for quite a while and I’ve seen how “conspiracy theory” is used to shut off debate, to signal that we’re entering “the unspeakable” zone. So, I began to wonder if the use of the term Conspiracy Theory might be a conspiracy itself.
So, I went exploring, and surprise surprise, there is a 1967 CIA memo that puts forward a great many of the commonly heard rebuttals to the Warren Commission Report. The CIA owned over 250 media outlets in the 1960s, spent close to a billion dollars (in today’s dollars) spreading information, and had people doing its bidding in every major city in the world, so it is not surprising that they were able to disseminate this idea.
And the issue is contemporary, too, not just historical. Cass Sunstein is a powerful Obama Administration insider whose new book, Conspiracy Theories and Other Dangerous Ideas, is a sophisticated apology for the established order.
The last of this series of articles is the CIA 1967 memo itself.
CIA Document 1035-960: Foundation of a Weaponized Term”
See the CIA document at the following site:
https://projectunspeakable.com/conspiracy-theory-invention-of-cia/
The CIA document referenced came about as a result of the outcry of millions of Americans not trusting the “Warren Commission’s” findings on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
The CIA using its media influence, coined the phrase “That’s a conspiracy” to dismiss the questions of concerned citizens. How convenient. Unfortunately, just hearing this charge throws individuals into a panic, thinking that they will be seen as someone wearing a tin foil hat. Again, how convenient.
In closing:
The goal of this study is to remind Christians that the Biblical record makes it clear there are conspiracies. Moreover, Christians should not become intellectually lazy by using pejoratives to refute credible information fallaciously. The AGs from twenty-one states are not conspiracy theorists.
How the fed gov itself fuels the fears of government cover-ups:
Why did the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially seal Pfizer testing data on their vaccine for the covid virus for 75 years? An outcry from the public changed this. Social medial sites initially dismissed this as a “conspiracy theory” and locked individuals out of their accounts for asking questions.
Is this censorship of free speech on the internet the result of the initial CIA scheme to slander individuals asking politically incorrect questions? It has become common knowledge that in many cases, the government at all levels, when charged with wrongdoing, is to lie.
“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13 ESV)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Mr. Kettler has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of books defending the Reformed Faith. Books can be ordered online at www. JackKettler .com