>Ken my name sake, as Pentecostal Christians we place first in our
>theology and in our Christian Life practice emphasis on the Holy Spirit.
>However, I cannot agree with you totally in your attempt to make the
>Spirit do what He Himself has not place as his work. The use of a spirit
>filled mind to interpret bad translations.
Who said anything about bad translations.
>If the translation can be
>overruled by bad wording and disregard for the context then I suppose
>that if I "read" a Bible translation in Russian (which I don't know) I
>can get the true meaning of the text. Anyone I think who has studied the
>Greek Text of the New Testament would agree that sometimes you just can't
>get it from a translation. After all the text that says, "Study to shew
>thyself approved unto God" was written by a man who knew Greek, but not
>English. The Holy Spirit encourages study, right doctrine and all the rest.
You misunderstand me.
> A matter of fact, many Christians are thrown off by the KJV. I
>teach a New Members class at my church and almost every person thinks
>that the word "Ye" is singular. So people don't even know English!
> Of course a person can know the truth of the Gospel without Greek
>or English, but it is doubtful that he or she will be able to study doctrine
>or a study of the words of the English text without some reference to
>"the Greek".
Isn't the purpose of the Gospel to know God through Jesus Christ. The
issue is not to study doctrine. The issue is knowing God. Jesus said in
John 7:17--"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself". The issue is
obeying and loving God.
> (Of course, it is commonly understood that even
>the word translated "study" does not literally mean that.)
>
Tons of translations exist. Anyone can learn Greek, Hebrew and/or
Aramaic. No excuse exists for anyone not to get at the meaning of
any text. BUT, only the Holy Spirit can make the proper use of any
text and cause a person to understand a certain text as the Holy
Spirit intended it.
1 Cor 2:14--"The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned".
The whole Bible--Genesis to Revelation--contains "the things of the
Spirit of God". They can only be "spiritually discerned".
An atheist can read and translate the Bible from the original languages
and do a good job of it, if she is talented. She can put the
correct words on paper and create an acceptable translation. What good
is that to her if the Spirit of God does not translate the words
to her in her heart.
Ken Hall | Voice: 404 894 5559 | Internet address:
Ga Tech | Beeper:404 651 0362 | ken.hall@business.gatech.edu
Financial Data Technology | FAX: 404 894 5520 | I put this here for balance