Eutrapelia (Gr) – lively humor (Eng) – the Greek word eutrapelia can mean “ready wit,” “lively humor,” wittiness,” and “mocking derision.” Eutrapelia ("course joking") is one of the things Paul mentions in Ephesians 5:4 that are improper for the believer. The word eutrapelia is used only one time in the NT. Eutrapelia literally means “turning easily” and comes from the Greek word trepomai which means “turn”. As we look at the use of the word eutrapelia outside of Ephesians 5:4 it can be determined that there was the low form of eutrapelia that led toward vulgarity and a culturally refined form that was witty, disarming and considered useful in social settings, counseling and in the medical field. Paul likely was speaking against the use of the low uncultured form of eutrapelia. |
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Josephus describes Herod’s expansion of the Temple Mount, but he says nothing about the renovation or expansion of the Eastern Wall. Josephus gives details concerning work on the southern, western and northern expansion, but the Eastern Wall and the Eastern Gate (Golden Gate) seem to have been left as they were when Herod remodeled the Temple and the
Temple Courts.
The existing Eastern Gate (Golden Gate) was built the Byzantine’s sometime between 640-705 AD and was incorporated into Suleiman’s walls in the 1500’s. Under the present Eastern Gate is the stone work that includes the arch of what is likely the Eastern Gate used in Herod’s time and before Herod’s time. In fact, this ancient gate that is now underground could possibly date back to Solomon’s day. (Details)
An example of a more recent gate (1500’s) having been built over an ancient gate (New Testament times) can be seen in the north wall where the current Damascus Gate from 1537 AD sets above the ancient gate from 41 AD in the days of the Herod Agrippa II. |
