From: Jim West (jwest@Highland.Net)
Date: Thu Dec 31 1998 - 04:41:53 EST
At 08:38 AM 12/31/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>However, I also think that the question raises a very valuable point. One
>or two specific, concrete, well thought-out examples which Jason could
>present to his class would go a very long way towards making Jim's point.
>
>
>---
>Nichael Cramer
My point was simply that our knowledge of the NT is greatly enhanced at
every point by knowledge of Greek- just as our knowledge of Hebrew opens the
Old Testament to new vistas and horizons. It seems, then, that really one
need merely open to any verse to illustrate the importance of the languages
for interpretation, exegesis, and understanding.
If I were pressed to offer a passage of great significance I would offer
Matthew 28:19-20. The significance of the present participle here is often
overlooked- and indeed it is generally translated as an imperative--- "Go
therefore and make disciples...." when in fact the greek text has "as you
go, then, make disciples..." thereby describing a pattern of life rather
than a temporary task.
But I would still maintain that every verse is enlivened by a knowledge of
Greek. I had a chap tell me last week that he knows as much about the Bible
by reading the King James as I will ever know reading the original
languages. I suggested to him that our knowledge is greatly enhanced when
we read Greek. In fact, I suggested to him, if we use all the tools at our
disposal then we, with the use of each one, open the window a little more on
the world of the Bible. He protested that we did not gain anything at all
by using such tools and again reiterated his previous suggestion that he
knew everything because the King James made it clear to him. How can one
overcome such invincible ignorance? How can one open the eyes of one so
amazingly inattentive to the facts?
In any event, I digress.
Happy New Year to you all.
Jim
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
Quartz Hill School of Theology
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