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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | 2 Cor 4:4 | 2 Cor 4:4 | xmikx | 136977 | ||
Kalos, This taken directly from my post: Well, I don't read, speak or understand Greek. But, I know that I do not have to know any Greek to understand the word of God. Tim's point has been based on his "understanding" of the Greek language and the reference of 'ho theos' and how many times it has been used and how many times it has meant Jehovah God and how many times it has not meant Jehovah God. Well, I am saying this very clearly, I do not read, speak, or understand (if you were speaking Greek to me, I would not be able to understand you or even recognize you speaking Greek) and I know that I do not have to know any Greek to be able to realize the meaning of a passage of Scripture in the word of God. I have not read anywhere nor ever heard from anyone that I or anyone else for that matter had to know Greek to understand what God's word means. Mike |
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2 | 2 Cor 4:4 | 2 Cor 4:4 | Hank | 137087 | ||
Greetings, Mike. Well, we have something in common, that's for sure: I don't understand Greek either. But somebody had to understand it well enough to be able to translate the New Testament Greek manuscripts into English. Otherwise, it would all be Greek to me :-) . I get along fairly well in Latin, German, and French, and that knowledge has helped me to appreciate to some degree the extreme difficulties the translator faces when he tries to convey into a receptor language all the shades of meaning and the subtle nuances contained in the original. It's virtually impossible. Even with the best of translations there is left something to be desired. I believe this is what Kalos had in mind when he alluded to levels of understanding, and he's right. Yes, any good translation will be sufficient enough to give us a satisfactory idea of the meaning of the original, but there is no translation that can capture all the shades of meaning and all the subtle nuances of the original with absolute precision in every respect. The finest artist alive can paint a copy of the Mona Lisa, but it will still be a copy and will lack a certain finesse that the original possesses. The makers of the Amplified Bible, being keenly aware of the limitations of straight word-for-word translation, have attempted to ameliorate these limitations as much as possible by the bracketed additions of synonymous words, alternate or variant readings, explanatory notes, etc. These aids do help. But there is nothing that can surpass being able to read with understanding the Bible or any other literary work in the languages in which these works were written. Lacking that ability, Mike, you and I and a host of other Christians can be grateful for at least two things: the diligent scholars who have given us good translations in our native tongue -- the technical aspect. And the Holy Spirit, Who illumines our hearts and minds to receive God's truth -- the spiritual aspect. --Hank | ||||||
3 | 2 Cor 4:4 | 2 Cor 4:4 | Ray | 137596 | ||
Hi Hank, I was thinking earlier that when you wrote "And the Holy Spirit, Who illuminines our hearts and minds to receive God's truth -- the spiritual aspect" that you were putting in a vote for the capitalized "Who". The phrase could just as well be interpreted/translated "the Holy Spirit, the One who" illumines. Do you agree? From the heart, Ray |
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4 | 2 Cor 4:4 | 2 Cor 4:4 | Hank | 137639 | ||
Hi, Ray - Do I agree? Of course, brother, whatever. You're Mr. Capitalization, not I :-) ..... When I studied English in school -- it was shortly after the King James Bible had made its maiden voyage to North America -- capitalization of English pronouns, whether they referred to deity or dogs, wasn't an issue. Unless the pronoun began a sentence, it simply was never elevated to upper case. But back then, you see, the KJV was the lone star in our ecclesiastical sky. It never capitalized pronouns and neither did we. And thus from this orientation I've never been fully weaned, not at any rate to the point of making any great to-do over capitalization of pronouns. I'm not particularly fond of the practice. In biblical texts it can become strained and not infrequently can involve interpretation. And I've never been able to determine how writing "He" instead of "he" is any more respectful to deity than addressing God as "thee" instead of "you." But I say nothing new, having sounded off before on this subject in these forum pages. Ray, old friend, please don't take my words as a derision of your penchant for capitalization. What I've written is but one small voice presenting a view that differs from, but is not necessarily any better than, yours. As anyone who reads my occasional pieces on the forum will recognize, I generally do capitalize pronouns pertaining to deity unless I'm quoting from the KJV or other versions which don't follow the practice adopted by some modern versions, notably the NASB and NKJV. But I still view the practice of capitalizng pronouns a totally unnecessary contrivance with a potential to do more interpretative harm than good. In my view one of the best of the new crop of Bible translations is the English Standard Version (ESV), and the translating team chose, and I think wisely, not to capitalize pronouns. --Hank | ||||||