Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | love...as himself (if no self-love?) | Eph 5:33 | Morant61 | 65596 | ||
Greetings Sebkin! Allow me to present a different perspective on why woman was created. Here is some material which I had previously posted on this question: *************************************** "Helpmeet" is the KJV translation of 'ezeer'. This word is used 21 times in the OT, all but a couple are in reference to the strength of God. Therefore, Walter Kaiser, Jr. has purposed the following translation of Gen. 2:18 - "I will make a power corresponding to man." This even makes sense of the context, where Adam is naming the animals and is unable (Gen. 2:20) to find a "power" corresponding to him. The word never referred to an inferior, but always to someone of equal or greater power who is able to help. ***************************************** The creation of Eve was not that of an inferior to be under Adam, but an equal who could walk alongside of Adam. This does not mean that there is not a Biblical teaching concerning the submission of the wife to her husband. However, if one reads Ephesians carefully, one finds that the marital relationship is to be mutually submisive, with each party being ultimately submissive to God. But, Scripture does not support the view that woman is inferior to man. In fact, read the acount of the fall closely and one discovers that while Eve was deceived by Satan, Adam blindly followed Eve's example. This is not exactly strong evidence of our gender's superiority! :-) Biblically, all our relationships should evidence a self-sacrificing love that seeks the best for others rather than ourselves. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | love...as himself (if no self-love?) | Eph 5:33 | Sebkin | 65601 | ||
Dear Brother Moran: This is an interesting article. But who is Walter Kaiser, Jr? I must submit that no other interpretation of the Bible interprets helpmete as "power". And most Bible versions are interpreted by the best scholars the age has to offer who are experts in language and theology. Those experts usually do not try to sensationalize but tend to put the words in a proper context that meshes with the whole of scripture. The article that you presented does not stand up to the test of scripture which always puts women in the submissive role. And nature itself places woman below the man. Not to mention the many Bible verses that tell the woman to be obedient and reverent of their husband. After studying the entire Bible for more than 20 years, I must dismiss this argument as one man's attempt to support the ideology of the 20th century. There have always been such men who try to sensationalize and make themselves appear an authority based on miniscule jots and tittles. But on the whole their work is always diminished by the next generation who does the same thing but to a different degree to support new ideologies. The article made me think. Thanks for the opportunity of providing this resource for review. Sebkin |
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3 | love...as himself (if no self-love?) | Eph 5:33 | Morant61 | 65629 | ||
Help Meet................................ Greetings Sebkin! Allow me to answer your question first and then make some observations. 1) Who is Walter Kaiser Jr.? Dr. Kaiser is dean and vice president of education at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has taught theology and Old Testament for more than 20 years. 2) Observations: While Dr. Kaiser is eminently qualified to speak to the meaning of a Hebrew word, obviously Scripture must be the final arbitrator. So, let's examine what Scripture has to say about the meaning of 'help meet'. The translation 'help meet' in Gen. 2:18 is based upon two Hebrew words: a) Ezer (Strong's 5828), and b) The phrase 'corresponding to'. The suggestion in your post seems to have been that this word indicates a subordinate relationship between a superior and an inferior. However, this very word is used 21 times in the Old Testament and it is frequently used of God in relation to man. For instance, Ps. 70:5 says, "But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying." Are we to suppose then that God is inferior to man? Nay! The word is consistently used in the Old Testament to indicate a power or source of help greater than one's self. If it were not for the second phrase in Gen. 2:18, one could make the case that woman was superior to man! :-) Yet, the second phrase qualifies this power called Eve. She is to be 'corresponding to' Adam. Consider the context and one will see the meaning quite clearly. Why was Adam made to name the animals? Why was the creation of Eve mentioned immediately after the naming passage? Simply this: God wanted Adam to see that in all of creation there was no one or nothing else like him. What was God's verdict about this situation? God said, "It is not good". Eve was made to correct this situation. A good idiomatic translation of the phrase in Gen. 2:18 would be this: Eve was created that there might be 'someone like' Adam. So, Gen. 2:18 does not teach the inferiority of woman and the superiority of man. Rather, it teaches the kind of relationship which man and woman was meant to have. A relationship in which both find a partner who completes them. Unfortunately, sin ruined this relationship. Now, as a consequence of sin, both would seek to rule the other. Does this mean that wives are not supposed to submit to their husbands? Of course it doesn?t! But, it does mean that Biblical submission is not based upon some supposed inferiority, but rather upon the voluntary decision to become one flesh with another human being. The goal of Christian relationships is simple: each one submitting to one another and to God. Each one seeking the best for others. Wives seeking the best for their husbands while they love, submit to, and revere him. Husbands seeking the best for their wives while they love, protect, and provide for their wives. All the while, both of them loving God and submitting to Him. It is just as un-biblical for a husband to say, "Submit to me because I'm better than you" as it is for a wife to say, "I don't have to submit to anyone because I'm just as good as you"! Thus, I think the Biblical evidence very much supports Dr. Kaiser's comments. If you wish to refute them, please demonstrate where in the Old Testament this word refers to an inferior being! I hope this answers your questions my new friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | love...as himself (if no self-love?) | Eph 5:33 | Sebkin | 65661 | ||
Thank you Tim for this information. It warrants a word study of my own. I'm certainly willing to look into it further. There are many secrets locked up in the original languages. Sebkin |
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