Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words is a classic work. Many have recognized it as very valuable in the past, but modern Greek scholars have some problems with it now-a-days. The problem comes in when one presumes that the formation of a word controls its meaning forever. That is just not so. As languages are fluid, people begin using words with a different meaning from what the root parts of the word are. So the actual meaning of a word in real time use today maybe different from what the word’s roots meant when it was first introduced into the language.

The English word “prevent” meant originally to go before. That is the meaning in the KJV (being closer to the time when the word was first introduced into the language). Today the word means to stop something from happening.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Brown The Devil's Mission of Amusement 7 page article from 1889. Hollywood in the church and her ministries. Brown was a student of C.H Spurgeon.
Excerpts:
Different days demand their own special testimony. The watchman who would be faithful to his Lord and to the city of his God needs to carefully note the signs of the times and to emphasize his witness accordingly. Concerning the testimony needed now, there can be little if any doubt. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, that is so gross, so brazen in its impudence, that the most shortsighted of spiritual men can hardly fail to notice it....  Amusement for the people is the leading article advertised by each... until the hideous fact has been proved up to the hilt, that "amusement" is ousting "the preaching of the Gospel" as the great attraction... The Concert is fast becoming as much a recognized part of church life as the Prayer Meeting; and it is already, in most places, far better attended.

"Providing recreation for the people" will soon be looked upon as a necessary part of Christian work, and as binding upon the Church of God, as though it were a Divine command, unless some strong voices are raised which will make themselves heard.
Read the 7-page article: Brown, The Devil's Mission of Amusement.

So as you can see, the correct understanding of this word “prevent” is to go before something else. But in our modern day meaning, the word means something else. So take care when dealing with the origins of words in the Bible. — David Cox

More from this Category

• King James Dictionary
• Wuest Dictionary
• Word Studies in Old Testament, New Testament
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words

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Category:	TW Dictionary Modules
Date:	December 26, 2022