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Capital "D" for Devil

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by dan e., Sep 28, 2007.

  1. dan e.

    dan e. New Member

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    Here is a situation that I had last week....I'd be interested in your thoughts, and if anyone else would respond the same way I did.

    I had a guy question me about the HCSB, particularly on Matthew 4 when Jesus is tempted by Satan. He pointed out that the HCSB capitalizes "D" when referring to the "Devil". He wanted to know why, since the KJV (go figure) does not capitalize it. There are also a handful of other translations that do not.

    Now, my response was this: Basically, this is an English grammar issue, not a matter of recognition for or against the Devil. The translators were wanting to make the reader aware that in this story it is THE Devil...as in Satan, tempting Jesus. Therefore, they capitalized the first letter since it is a proper noun. Just as you or I would capitalize the first letters of our names. He wasn't satisfied, and questioned the quality of the translation based on a letter! In his own words, he said that it gives the devil more credit than what he's worth. I explained that it has nothing to do with how bad he is, or how good he isn't!

    What do you guys think? Do you think I am correct in why the translators of the HCSB (described as a dynamic equivolent translation) capitalized the "d"?
     
    #1 dan e., Sep 28, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 28, 2007
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I have no problem with capitalizing it...in fact I think it's the correct grammar. Laura Bush is referred to as First Lady, not first lady. Titles, even if not names, are capitalized.
     
  3. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    It's simply a custom to capitalize the word "devil".
    The earlist Greek documents (called Unicals) capitalized every letter.
    Later manuscripts didn't capitalize the word.

    Every English Bible capitalizes the word, "God" but some don't capitalize the pronouns, "he" or "him".

    Rob
     
  4. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I remember a live discussion in a SS class about this verse in the KJV...
    And it was over who "he" is in the verse...

    You see, the KJV does not capitalize this word although it refers to God..
    And proper English is to capitalize any pronoun when referencing a deity.

    Philippians 1:6 KJV
    (6)
    Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
     
  5. Jkdbuck76

    Jkdbuck76 Well-Known Member
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    Webdog,

    I'm guessing that the person the OP is arguing with will respond with something like "That's right! And by that logic, Laura Bush is also the little D devil cuz' she capitalizes her name!" :)

    OP, you will not win with this person using logic, reasoning and facts.
     
  6. Jkdbuck76

    Jkdbuck76 Well-Known Member
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    Sillytim,

    You must understand that the KJV translators were inspired. See, they were merely correcting all them there mistakes in the original greek. God gave his word to the English speaking people only and his commandment to us was "Go ye into the world, making English speaking peoples of them all....." Also, today's so-called scholarship and "proper English grammar" is a tool of the little D devil himself. Only 17th century English is the real language of God. Why do I know that?

    Well, the Bible tells me so. When Jesus said "Get thee behing me, Satan" he used 17th century English. DUH! He (and i use capital 'h' because it is the beginning of a sentence) didn't say "Get behind me" or "Know your role, poser" or "Sitdown and zippit". Thus, only 17th century English can be used IF you want the little D devil to flee.

    :tonofbricks:


    p.s. please understand that the above post is labelled with much much sarcasm.
     
  7. dan e.

    dan e. New Member

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    That's funny....I can only imagine how this guy's response would have been. :laugh:
     
  8. Jkdbuck76

    Jkdbuck76 Well-Known Member
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    Yes. I'm sure his response would be interesting. You're in Nashville, eh? Next time you're at the 100 Jokes Mall and you see an old gray-bearded man stumble out of Rafferty's....well, tell him that his son Brian said "hello."
     
  9. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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  10. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    but that link can't be right it doesn't even spell devil right... it uses spells it deuil!!!

    see i can use sarcasm too..

    tiny
     
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