Over the years, lots of stuff has been left out of the Bible. These edits - all done by fallible men -are part of what make me want to dig further on everything.
I was talking with a friend on Facebook the other day. He had a post about the book of Esther not mentioning God. Esther, ironically, is also the first book in the Bible that calls the chosen people "Jews" instead of "Hebrews" or "Israelites."
I asked said friend why Esther had more verses in it until 1885. His response?
"Because those chapters were not in the original Hebrew only in the Greek Septuagint."
Funny.
Really funny.
The Hebrew texts are rewrites of the Greek texts in some parts. Otherwise, they would not rename Xerxes to "Ahasuerus." The English name Ahasuerus is derived from a Latinized form of the
Hebrew Akhashverosh, which is a Hebrew rendering of the
Babylonian Achshiyarshu.
Further, the Hebrew was not considered more technically accurate in all aspects - the book of Daniel, for example, survives in its current form as a translation from the Greek, not the Hebrew. Someone at some time (Jerome, 390) decided that one was "more authentic" than the other. So, keeping with one translation over another is uncertain, at best.
This gets into a classic debate of Septuigint (abbreviated LXX) vs. Masoretic Text (MT) vs. Latin Vulgate (LV). I'm certainly not going to settle that argument here. Instead, the simple fact that it is debated among scholars is enough for me to know that one version is not necessarily more accurate than another. I'll take all the text, and review for myself, thank you!
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Calvinism or Christianity 8
If you are a Calvinist, you may or
may not be a Christian.
Do you believe in the penal satisfaction view of the atonement?
• If you answered yes or if you answered no, you might be a Christian.
• If you answered yes or if you answered no, you might be a Christian.
• The penal satisfaction view of the atonement asserts that Jesus’ death entailed a payment for sin. It assumes that the justice of God requires that sin be punished and that the just wrath of God was diverted away from deserving sinners and poured out instead upon Jesus as their substitute.
• This view is held by most Calvinists and by a majority of Christians.
• Arminius himself affirmed the penal satisfaction view of the atonement.
• This view is held by most Calvinists and by a majority of Christians.
• Arminius himself affirmed the penal satisfaction view of the atonement.
Doctrine does not affect one's
salvation - belief in Christ does. However, there exists a distinct possibility
that if your doctrine is false, as is the case with Calvinism, then you may
never have asked Jesus' forgiveness and as a result, you may not have received
salvation.
Material borrowed from
this site. All edits are mine.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Another Reason
Another reason gun bans don't work.
Another reason we need guns in schools / colleges.
Another reason we are over-policed.
Another reason the police we have are under-trained in marksmanship.
Another reason the police are not there to help you.
Another reason I'll never live in NY.
Police shoots a suspect 7 times and the suspect's hostage once.
Sad. All the way around.
.
Another reason we need guns in schools / colleges.
Another reason we are over-policed.
Another reason the police we have are under-trained in marksmanship.
Another reason the police are not there to help you.
Another reason I'll never live in NY.
Police shoots a suspect 7 times and the suspect's hostage once.
Sad. All the way around.
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Saturday, May 18, 2013
Why I am a Libertarian
It came out this week that the IRS has been targeting conservative groups for audit.
Democrats correctly point to the same type of activity originating under President Bush during the waning years of his administration. Then, it was the directed targeting of Democrat and liberal groups.
This is why I am Libertarian.
Abolish the IRS and this problem goes away totally.
Same for marriage - gay or straight. Do you really want someone in government defining what is their opinion of a legal marriage? If you answer "yes," it means that in a few short years, someone else will be in power, and they WILL NOT share your opinion. Then you will be SOL.
Same in the food and drug arena. You really want the FDA telling you what to eat? It is their recommendations that have led directly to the highest obesity rate in recorded history of mankind. By the same token, the FDA is incompetent when it comes to dictating what drugs are safe and what drugs to criminalize.
These are just a few examples... I could go on and on and on...
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Friday, May 17, 2013
Cannot be translated
The other day, I came across this list of ten words that cannot be translated into an English word. Pretty interresting:
Link here.
My favorites?
Ilunga (from the Bantu).
Uitwaaien (from the Dutch)
As a youth; my friends, my brother, and I had our own words for:
Kyoikumama (from the Japanese) - we called it "the Joes."
Espirit d'Escalier (from the French) - we called it durnedolreply (durned ol reply).
Bakku-shan (also from the Japanese) - we called it LGGNC (said it like "log-ink")... it was an acronym which stood for: "Looks Good Going, Not Coming." I think I prefer bakku-shan now.
What about you? Any unique words you use?
.
Link here.
My favorites?
Ilunga (from the Bantu).
Uitwaaien (from the Dutch)
As a youth; my friends, my brother, and I had our own words for:
Kyoikumama (from the Japanese) - we called it "the Joes."
Espirit d'Escalier (from the French) - we called it durnedolreply (durned ol reply).
Bakku-shan (also from the Japanese) - we called it LGGNC (said it like "log-ink")... it was an acronym which stood for: "Looks Good Going, Not Coming." I think I prefer bakku-shan now.
What about you? Any unique words you use?
.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sexual Sin
What is sexual sin?
Fornication?
Adultery?
Homosexuality?
Lets examine:
In the Bible, Old and New Testaments, there are several words that are used in the Hebrew and in the Greek referring to sexual sin. Interestingly enough, all
Adultery is specifically the breaking of the marriage vows. If you made an oath to foresake all others, then you have sexual relations with a person who is not your spouse, that is adultery, and it is a sin.
Na'aph from the Hebrew - "adultery"
Moicheuo from the Greek - "adultery"
Be mindful - the sex is not the sin; the breaking of the vow is the sin of adultery.
Homosexuality is not a sin... unless used in a rape or other show of ownership.
There were two main concepts where the OT calls homosexuality a part of a sin:
A man lying with a man is deemed an abomination for a Jew (not for the gentile). Specifically, this prohibition was similar to the one about not eating fish without scales. It was for Jews only. It is in Leviticus as are other such instructions for Jews. Leviticus is not a list of the law for all mankind, but is a list of the commands God had for Jew so that they might be distinguished from the other peoples in their area at the time.
A second type of abomination was a heterosexual man using homosexual sex in his physical assault on another man. This is what the residents of Sodom and Gommorah wanted to do to Lot and his family.
A third type of homosexuality - this from the New Testament - that was specifically referred to as sin was something we might best translate as pederasty - the exploitation of a minor for homosexual rape. This was widespread in ancient Roman territories, something inherited from the Greek ways.
Yada from the Hebrew - "to know"
Shakab (with another man) from the Hebrew - "to have sexual relations with"
Malakos from the Greek - "keeper of a boy to be exploited sexually by a man"
Again, it is not the sex that is the wrong part, it is the assault (or rape)... the person's evil intents!
Fornication - the word, as used in the Bible, most often refers to "sexual sin" (see above!).
Sex before marriage is not fornication.
Porneia from the Greek - "sexual sin"
Zanah from the Hebrew - "prostitute/whore" (not mentioned as a sin, but used as a derogatory term)
Taznuwth from the Hebrew - "prostitute" (not mentioned as a sin, but used as a derogatory term)
When the Bible is not best translated to mean the words "sexual sin," the term fornication actually means promiscuous and idolatrous sex with temple prostitutes. This was a form of "worship" practiced by the Greeks in Biblical times. This was what the New Testament refers to when it is not saying "sexual sin."
Basically speaking, fornication - actual sexual sin - is the act of
1) worshiping another god (a sin - irrespective of sexual contact) - idolatry with sex involved.
2) dominating another person violently (a sin, irrespective of sexual contact) - rape.
Again - it is not the sex that is the wrong part - it is the evil intents of the person!
On the other hand, there is sexual immorality. Generally speaking, the Noahide Code considers sexual immorality to be:
- adultery (specific breaking of marriage vows),
- incest,
- homosexual sex when used to dominate or show ownership of another person,
- sex used in "worship" of other gods (fornication type 1, or idolatry with sex involved),
- forcible heterosexual sex used to dominate another person (fornication type 2, or rape),
- rape,
- bestiality,
- sex with a person unable to consent (youth / mentally handicapped, etc.)
.
Fornication?
Adultery?
Homosexuality?
Lets examine:
In the Bible, Old and New Testaments, there are several words that are used in the Hebrew and in the Greek referring to sexual sin. Interestingly enough, all
Adultery is specifically the breaking of the marriage vows. If you made an oath to foresake all others, then you have sexual relations with a person who is not your spouse, that is adultery, and it is a sin.
Na'aph from the Hebrew - "adultery"
Moicheuo from the Greek - "adultery"
Be mindful - the sex is not the sin; the breaking of the vow is the sin of adultery.
Homosexuality is not a sin... unless used in a rape or other show of ownership.
There were two main concepts where the OT calls homosexuality a part of a sin:
A man lying with a man is deemed an abomination for a Jew (not for the gentile). Specifically, this prohibition was similar to the one about not eating fish without scales. It was for Jews only. It is in Leviticus as are other such instructions for Jews. Leviticus is not a list of the law for all mankind, but is a list of the commands God had for Jew so that they might be distinguished from the other peoples in their area at the time.
A second type of abomination was a heterosexual man using homosexual sex in his physical assault on another man. This is what the residents of Sodom and Gommorah wanted to do to Lot and his family.
A third type of homosexuality - this from the New Testament - that was specifically referred to as sin was something we might best translate as pederasty - the exploitation of a minor for homosexual rape. This was widespread in ancient Roman territories, something inherited from the Greek ways.
Yada from the Hebrew - "to know"
Shakab (with another man) from the Hebrew - "to have sexual relations with"
Malakos from the Greek - "keeper of a boy to be exploited sexually by a man"
Again, it is not the sex that is the wrong part, it is the assault (or rape)... the person's evil intents!
Fornication - the word, as used in the Bible, most often refers to "sexual sin" (see above!).
Sex before marriage is not fornication.
Porneia from the Greek - "sexual sin"
Zanah from the Hebrew - "prostitute/whore" (not mentioned as a sin, but used as a derogatory term)
Taznuwth from the Hebrew - "prostitute" (not mentioned as a sin, but used as a derogatory term)
When the Bible is not best translated to mean the words "sexual sin," the term fornication actually means promiscuous and idolatrous sex with temple prostitutes. This was a form of "worship" practiced by the Greeks in Biblical times. This was what the New Testament refers to when it is not saying "sexual sin."
Basically speaking, fornication - actual sexual sin - is the act of
1) worshiping another god (a sin - irrespective of sexual contact) - idolatry with sex involved.
2) dominating another person violently (a sin, irrespective of sexual contact) - rape.
Again - it is not the sex that is the wrong part - it is the evil intents of the person!
On the other hand, there is sexual immorality. Generally speaking, the Noahide Code considers sexual immorality to be:
- adultery (specific breaking of marriage vows),
- incest,
- homosexual sex when used to dominate or show ownership of another person,
- sex used in "worship" of other gods (fornication type 1, or idolatry with sex involved),
- forcible heterosexual sex used to dominate another person (fornication type 2, or rape),
- rape,
- bestiality,
- sex with a person unable to consent (youth / mentally handicapped, etc.)
.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Calvinist Corner - May 2013
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