Zeal & Zealot

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David McWethy
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Zeal & Zealot

Postby David McWethy » Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:44 pm

IMHO it doesn't require a great leap of faith to conclude the existence of a nexus between "zeal"--most often taken as synonymous with "enthusiasm"--and the followers of Simon Zelotes, the 11th (and arguably most obscure) Disciple of Christ (although the "enthusiasm" of the Zealots was rabid; over the top, and intolerant of even the slightest diminution in degree).

But other than the degree to which "zeal" and "Zealot" sound alike (in the same sense as "lightening" and "lightning bug"), is there any other reason to conclude that the first was directly and consequently derived from the second, since the two really don't mean the same thing?
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things...."

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Slava
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Re: Zeal & Zealot

Postby Slava » Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:12 pm

I'm not sure about the nexus of relationship, other than that Simon was called "the zealous" because of his zealotry. The root is in Greek, whence our word zeal.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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