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Featured A little greek can be a big distraction

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Revmitchell, Sep 18, 2014.

  1. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    You don't have to reference Greek or Hebrew to study the Bible. It certainly helps, and more pastors should devote the time to learning and retaining the original languages. But you can observe, interpret, and apply using a decent English translation (such as the ESV or NET). And in some cases, knowing just a bit of Greek can actually distract you from careful study of a passage....


    ....Sure, the Greek (or Hebrew) text of Scripture occasionally reveals wordplay that doesn't translate well. Sometimes the structure of a passage or argument is clearer in the original language than in translation. And Greek and Hebrew are simply beautiful and fun. Again, I would encourage pastors not to settle for using online tools and instead devote themselves to truly understanding these biblical languages.

    But the main point of a passage does not usually depend on intimate knowledge of the original languages.


    http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-little-greek-can-be-a-big-distraction
     
  2. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    There is also the problem that the meaning of a word has changed in English, charity for example is used in the KJ, but charity in KJ time carries quite a different meaning than now.

    The same is true with the word believe. Before 1600 the the word believe was defined very closely to what we would now call beloved.
     
  3. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Sometimes there are select folks who don't know the original biblical languages yet make pronouncements on they say are the proper renderings. I'm thinking of one poster here who has "word studies" in which he claims to use special words that are "the God-intended full message." That gets old after a while.

    I liked the following paragraph by Peter Krol:

    "The problem with this approach is that it assumes that each Greek word has a focused, specialized meaning. It approaches lexicons as technical manuals, almost as if there's a code to be broken, and the right tools offer the key. But no language works that way. Not English or German, Greek or Hebrew."
     
  4. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    William Tyndale used "love" as I remember, in 1 Cor. 13.
    I don't recall that. what is your source for that data? Belief, faith, trust and obey ran along the same ground then and now.
     
  5. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    A little knowledge (Strong's dictionary :tongue3:) is a dangerous thing. :saint:
     
  6. percho

    percho Well-Known Member
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    I knew there was a reason I am a terror. :)
     
  7. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Or perhaps, "A little geek is a dangerous thing"?? :smilewinkgrin:
     
  8. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    There is an excellent chapter on the word believe in Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power - And How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg.
     
  9. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Marcus Borg is a unregenerate heretic, and I'm not surprised to see you praising him. He's another of the "progressive" Christianity that you seemed to work to distance yourself from, when it was found they ain't Christians, at all. Now it seems you don't really care, and only read people who DENY scripture. Saved people do not deny Christ was God. They accept his deity without question. No explanation is needed for the TRULY reborn person.

    As far as the O/P, study guides, concordances, all seem helpful in the start of your Christian life, but I see most of us stop using them, and start relying on scripture solely.
     
    #9 Bro. Curtis, Sep 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2014
  10. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Marcus Borg was a member of the Jesus Seminar. He is a heretic.
     
  11. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Hmmm... he is much like someone on this board.
     
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    \

    No surprise there. :rolleyes:
     
  13. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Crabtownboy should not be allowed to derail this thread. It's a good subject for discussion.

    Only a true Christian could understand why we need a virgin birth, and a resurrection to fulfill God's promise of salvation for his own. Let's not waste any time otherwise.


    Let's get back to this Greek thing.
     
    #13 Bro. Curtis, Sep 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2014
  14. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    The point of this thread seems to be, don't study, let us tell you what scripture says. If you do word studies, but are not fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic you might miss the mark. Well Duh. If you do not do word studies, you might miss the mark.

    Hidden in the link was the claim John used agapeo and phileo interchangeably, which is questionable at best, and ludicrous at worst.

    Again, word study methods are taught at many Christian schools and churches, and are widely accepted. Now a cult might disavow word study because their twisted view of scripture might be exposed.
     
  15. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    It is interesting what a friend of mine from Greece once told me about those who make such great claims.

    This subject reminds me of the time when I was teaching and another professor and myself were talking about a conversation he had with a student. A student came to his office because he did not see a textbook listed for the class. The student asked if there was going to be a textbook and when he was told that there would not be one the student was bothered. The student persisted in asking the professor questions about why he chose not to have a textbook. The point behind the questioning was laziness. The professor finally answered the student by saying, "Young man see that book over there?" Once the student saw the book the professor asked him to remove the book from the shelf. The student did and the professor said, "While that professor was writing that book I was doing it." The student never said another word.
     
  16. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Are you a professor?
     
  17. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    I was but not now.
     
  18. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    He is a heretic though!
     
  19. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    That reminds me of the story my Pastor told that while at DTS studying original languages, the professor told the class that it took 5 years of knowing grek before they could make any real and true pronouncements on the Bible, and after 10 years, they would see why most of them were wrong!
     
  20. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Think far more important to use for study a good translation, and use good study techniques in order to understand the truths of god, and to then actually apply them...

    Pastor and teachers should learn and use the Greek/Hebrew, but laity can really get a lot still from the english version with proper study ways, and a careful use of some Greek/hebrew study tools...
     
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