Crazy Liz said:
...and at least one of us thinks our Bibles should make the meaning of words obscure so you have to study Greek and Hebrew to understand it:
My Greek prof. put it this way. The difference between reading Greek and reading English is quite like the difference between watching a black and white TV (English) and a color TV (Greek). But is Greek necessary? No. English is more than sufficient (depending on which version of English you use.. I certainly would not recommend the New World Translation).
The point is that the meaning of the words is sufficient to the context of the verse. To randomly change words is not as simple as "clarifying", to change words is to change meaning. If a student wants to get the exact meaning of certain words there are tools available. If you don't want to use the tools then the word itself is sufficient to the context. You do not need to study Greek and Hebrew to understand the Bible. Is every man a scholar? No. Is every man a teacher? No.
Let's look at the Bible (if you don't mind) to solidify the understanding..
Ephesians 4:11-12 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12)For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
Now there are some who miss the obvious in these verses. God has appointed some people to specific functions... such as evangelists, pastors and teachers. But what exactly is the purpose of this appointment? If you look at verse 12 you see it. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."
So what is the purpose of pastors and teachers etc.? To perfect the saints (all Christians) to do the work of the ministry. Now in this thread we see the practical use of the teaching.
We have two people who are talking about something that is pretty "scholarly" stuff (changing a word in the Bible.. whether it's right to change it or not). Then we get some folks who come in and talk about what they think the verse means or the word means. It's depth and breadth. Then we even get a few people who come in and say .. Oh it's from such and such a word... (and they were incorrect.. because it does not always come from one word, but rather there are three different words used to translate the idea).
The point is not that I think our Bibles should be made obscure. The point is that God has called some of us to be pastors and teachers, that we through our study and prayer and the education of the Holy Spirit can help to perfect the saints (give them understanding). Now if you don't like that idea, then your argument is with Jesus Christ, not me.
So it is not necessary for all to be students of Greek and Hebrew, Systematic Theology, Hermeneutics etc. Because God has provided those people to us. You know a friend of mine once met two men in Seminary who were teaching on lexical forms of Greek verbs. These two men in a conversation with my friend talked about how "We are called of God to write this lexicon". My friend thought that was a bit funny. It had never dawned on him that God could call people to write lexicons... when of course He would.
Besides, I think there really is something to 2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
