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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! [John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4] |
Subject: Searching for the truth |
Bible Note: Greeting, Tim! You are correct. The exact verbs are different. However, the import is the same. At least the lexicographers and Bible translators thought so. The same English words appear in the definitions of the root Greek words for both verbs. Coupled with the common root, they form the equivalent of our English word "translated." Now, I'm no expert on Greek but I am familiar with English. In English, we often use different inflections of a word to say the same thing, or use different words that mean exactly the same thing (ensure, insure; flammable, inflammable). We refer to Strong's as an authority for what Greek words and roots the English words were translated from, but to define the Greek to us they still have to use English! We also recognize the expertise of Bible translators in our use of English translations. Often we use the former to check the accuracy of the latter. However, this time they agree. Do we now disqualify both? The direct comparison, then, is valid. Both verbs carry the same import: to transpose, to transfer, to change, or to remove. Then we still haven't dealt with John 3:13. If Enoch, Elijah, David, and no one else has gone to heaven, where are they now? The answer to these questions will lead us to other, more important, questions. After all, these things do not determine our salvation, do they? But there is an aspect that is important to our service to God - particularly as pertains to reaching the unsaved - and that's where I am heading with this. As for anything not explicitly stated being speculation, if we ascribe to this stipulation, we have to throw out many major doctrines - including the idea that "translated" in the passages we are discussing means "taken to heaven." Neither the Strong's definitions nor the English renderings of these verses explicitly say that. It is clear that we get our meaning from context -- but not just the immediate context of the verses or even just the chapters. The context is the whole Bible (2 Tim. 3:16). The COMPLETE study on this involves many other scriptures and leaves nothing to speculation. I am confident that the Spirit of God will lead us to truth. As "iron sharpens iron," both blades must lose some of their iron, and both become sharper. Your brother in Christ, RL |