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Re: Man born blind
On Sat, 15 Oct 1994, Donn Leatherman wrote:
> I am unaware of any belief in reincarnation or transmigration of
> souls among first-century Jews. In fact, the supposition of such a
> belief seems to weaken the force of this passage. The strength of the
> dilemma posed in the question asked by the disciples lies in the fact
> that both alternatives proposed defy customary notions of divine
> justice.
>
> "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
> Implies two possibilities:
>
> a. That God would punish a child (an unborn child, at that) for the
> sins of his parents, or
>
> b. That God would punish a person for sins before that person had
> committed them.
I have a great deal of difficulty with interpretation #2. It seems more
likely that some theory of pre-existence is implied, but I am open to
contrary evidence.
David
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