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NASB | 2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. |
Bible Question:
Greetings John! I just came across your discussion with Steve a few minutes ago. May I interject at this point (funny question since I will already done so by the time you read this)? :-) I agree with you (see my response to Steve and Lionstrong higher up on this thread) that the Old Testament is inspired and relevant. However, I would question your second point in your post to Steve. You wrote: "Context is determinative of word meaning. But I submit that you do not use the "rules" of language in everyday conversation in the way you are trying to apply it to your Bible. For example, when you talk about "praying" you do not attempt to distinguish between its meaning today and prayer 3 millennia ago." Let me give you an example. Suppose I overheard you telling Steve that you would give him a million dollars! (By the way, if you have that kind of money, I could use some!) Would it be appropriate for me to believe that your statement also applied to me? As I pointed out to Steve and Lionstrong, I think they both have valid points which can be carried too far. Steve is correct that context is vital. This promise was addressed to Solomon about Israel in a specific time and circumstance. Thus, we cannot take it as a direct promise for anyone else under any circumstances. The danger though is to take this position to the extreme that the Old Testament means nothing to us today. However, I think you and Lionstrong are correct in that there is a principle here. Nations that seek God will be blessed. But, the danger here is that we take every promise in the Old Testament as being directly applicable to us today. There is a distinction between the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament points forward to the cross. The New Testament points back to the cross. The Law has been fulfilled and we are no longer bound by it. But, there is a host of witnesses in the Old Testament who have much to say to us. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
Bible Answer: Tim: First, I am so thankful that we can come here and exercise our faith. This is the sort of activity that spurs our thinking and deepens our study of the Scriptures. It also demonstrates our love for what the Lord has to say. Secondly, we can agree to disagree and, as believers, still enjoy a great deal of warmth and affection for one another. The "fundamentals of the faith" are not in question with 1Ch 7:14. So there is no risk of altering our core relationship in Christ. However, there is a misuse of context in interpreting the Bible. For example, in Mark 7:6 the Lord stipulates that Isaiah was prophesying against the tradition of the Elders being practiced in circa 28 A.D. But the immediate context of that prophecy is Is. 29:13 where it fits perfectly with Isaiah's ministry circa 740 B.C. The only reasonable conclusion we can come to in the Lord's interpretive method is that Isaiah was prophesying to both 8th century B.C. believers and 1st century A.D. believers as well. 1Ch 7:14 is not a promise of "payment," Tim, to a specific individual; it is to any people called by His name. So your anology is incorrect. Gentiles were considered to be a people called by His name if they exercised the faith like that of Naaman the Syrian, Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian and the Phoenician widow of Zarephath. Therefore we are incorrect to conclude that 1Ch 7:14 pertains solely to Old Testament saints whether Jew or Gentile. John |