From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Mon May 07 2001 - 09:59:25 EDT
If those interested in this thread wish to continue it on-list, may I ask
that you keep the discussion focused on what the Greek text itself may
legitimately be understood to say in terms of syntax and lexicology, and
leave the broader (theological) issues of contextual interpretation to
resolve themselves accordingly. Otherwise, please take the discussion
off-list and continue it privately. Thanks.
At 8:15 AM -0700 5/7/01, dixonps@juno.com wrote:
>On Mon, 7 May 2001 08:23:35 -0400 "Robert D. (Bob) Wilson"
><robtdwilson@yahoo.com> writes:
>>
>> Think logically with me for a moment: if a farmer burns off an
>> unfruitful field, does that assume that he is then required to
>> turn the title deed of that property over to his enemy? Does
>> he forever turn his back on that burnt field? Of course not!
>> What was the purpose of his actions? He burns off the waste
>> so that he may take that exact same field, replant it, and bring
>> to maturity a better crop -- on the exact same field. In the
>> context of the whole book of Hebrews, there are five major
>> "negative" or "judgment" passages. This is the only one that
>> has ever been used to imply loss of salvation or never having
>> salvation. Why not rather look at this passage in the light of
>> "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth."
>
>Bob,
>
>We must be careful not to push a metaphor or simile further than the
>author does himself. The author extends the figure to blessing or
>cursing and burning. There is no suggestion that the purpose of the
>cursing and burning is for restoration.
>
>Besides, such an interpretation runs smack into what appears to be an
>insurmountable obstacle: it is impossible to renew such individuals to
>repentance (ADUNATON ... PALIN ANAKAINIZEIN EIS METANOIAN).
>
>Paul Dixon
--
Carl W. Conrad
Co-Chair, B-Greek List
Department of Classics, Washington University
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwconrad@ioa.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
---
B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek
You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com]
To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu
To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:36:56 EDT