John, I know you are aware of this, but for the sake of those who may not be, the difference between our Bible's translation and these here is strictly a matter of interpretation.
Hey -- thank you for the compliment. And this particular post appeals to me on a number of levels.
First, it is a discussion about faith -- absolutely my favorite subject (including politics).
Secondly, I have for years, allowed myself academic license regarding the use of nuance. I trust and respect a number of exegete's (if I might use that word in that way), to wit: AT Robertson (I actually have one of his books dated in 1930's -- found it in used book store for $20.00) "A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the light of Historical Research, Kittles, Arnt and the other German guy, Liddle and Scott's lexicon of common greek. Big names in academia. I own few commentaries but a good number of exegetical works. These absolutely awesome individual works offer definition and grammatical assistance that dwarfs my knowledge and abilities. I often have to read these works with a dictionary at my side - and I am not ashamed to say that. (Blass , Debrunner and Funk -- Greek Grammar of the New Testament takes me hours to discern -- tough reading for a layman -- but I want to know so I labor along). HERE THEY ARE and here I am. I fully accept their scholarship. However, with much of their work, they refer to nuance. Lexicographers function on nuance. And in that, I allow myself some freedom. I often say, "what if this notion of the word is actually meant rather than that one." It produces some exciting and insightful conclusions. And right here in Gotham City, a fellow groupie actually proposes the same freedom. So you truly have my attention on this, Bill Taylor.
3. And then there is the heart of your post. It is a shame that I have to go work. We never know when God will give us another shot of maturity or a deeper sense of understanding and then, all of a sudden BAM -- there it is. I have read the entire post. Absolutely great.
And here is the difference between the knowledge of the world and that which comes from God -- at the conclusion of your post, I thanked my God - truly thankful, with tears, actualkly. A filling monent.
You made my day..
John
