R.B. Thieme Jr.
Date: June 13, 2007 10:03AM
[i:1b100cb8cf]to quote textual critic Bruce Metzger…[/i:1b100cb8cf]
Bruce Metzger is a liberal apostate Bible critic, and anything he says is meaningless to me. He denies the authority and accuracy of many books of the Bible, including Genesis, Jonah, Job, the Gospel of John, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, James, and 1 & 2 Peter. If you would like documentation of this, I would be happy to provide it.
By the way, how do you know that Mr. Metzger is even “in fellowship” when he’s making statements like this or doing his Greek “exegesis”? Because if he’s not continually “rebounding,” he does not have the ministry of the Spirit, and he can’t possibly be serving God, remember?
[i:1b100cb8cf]to quote textual critic Bruce Metzger:
Since not all nuances can be transferred from one language to another, one must choose which to render and which not. The theory that a translation can convey all the qualities of the original is wishful thinking or a deluded fancy. Translation involves, as one of the translators of the New Swedish Bible Project put it, the art of making the right sacrifice. In short, except on a purely practical level [b:1b100cb8cf]translation is never entirely satisfactory[/b:1b100cb8cf].[/i:1b100cb8cf] [01/28]
Again, show me one verse of Scripture that says God’s Word can only be found in the original language. What about the translations found in the Bible itself? The Gospels written in Greek [i:1b100cb8cf]translate [/i:1b100cb8cf]all the words spoken by Christ, His disciples, and those around them in Aramaic. Every Greek NT quote of a Hebrew OT scripture is a [i:1b100cb8cf]translation[/i:1b100cb8cf]. Moses [i:1b100cb8cf]translated [/i:1b100cb8cf]his dialogue with Pharaoh (in Egyptian) into Hebrew when he recorded it. There are passages even in the “original Hebrew” and “original Greek” that are not written in their “original” language. Yet Mr. Metzger, the apostate Bible critic, would have us believe that “translation is never entirely satisfactory.” In that case, there are passages in the “original language” itself that can never be “entirely satisfactory.” After all, the Greek of the Gospels couldn’t possibly convey every “nuance” of the words spoken in Aramaic, could it? The Greek quotes of OT passages couldn’t possibly convey every “nuance” of the Hebrew words, could they? Moses couldn’t possibly have conveyed every “nuance” of his confrontations with Pharaoh, could he?
It is not necessary to explore every possible “nuance” of each word in a sentence to understand what is being said. The apostles were simple men who wrote in plain, straightforward language because they had a message of eternal importance for the human race, which they would never have hidden in mysterious “nuances.” The context determines the usage of the word; that is why we can learn the meanings of many words just by seeing the way they are used in a sentence. Metzger has now placed all common Christians at a level where they cannot truly understand God’s Word. And he has elevated himself to a level where they have to depend on him and the educated elite to tell them what it means.
[i:1b100cb8cf]Even Martin Luther states:
"In the measure that we love the Gospel, so let us place strong
emphasis on the languages. For it is not without reason that God
wrote the Scriptures in the two languages Hebrew and Greek.
That language which God did not despise but rather chose above all
others for the final revelation of His Word is the language
which we also should honor above all others. *It is a sin and shame
that we do not learn this language of our Book*, especially since
God has now provided us people and books, and gives us all kinds of
things which both help us with this task and at the same time
stimulates us to do this." (Luther, 1524)[/i:1b100cb8cf]
At the time in which he said this, Luther could hardly have meant that every teacher in every church should know the original languages. He did not tell all the people they should be learning Greek; he translated the Bible into German so they could read it [i:1b100cb8cf]in their own language[/i:1b100cb8cf]. Luther lived at the time of Roman Catholic domination, under the power of a “church” that said the Bible could only exist in Latin and the common people did not have the right to read it. His controversies and debates were with Romanist theologians like Johann Eck. And his purpose for trying to revive the study of the original languages was so that the Bible could be translated into [i:1b100cb8cf]the language of the common people[/i:1b100cb8cf], not so that the common people would learn koine Greek themselves. In Luther’s day, it was only a tiny, highly-educated minority that had access to Greek and Hebrew. Don’t you think Luther knew this?
[i:1b100cb8cf]I could [b:1b100cb8cf]fill this page [/b:1b100cb8cf]with examples of how, unless you had a lexicon, [b:1b100cb8cf]you would have [u:1b100cb8cf]no idea[/u:1b100cb8cf] what was being stated[/b:1b100cb8cf].[/i:1b100cb8cf]
So 99% of God’s people throughout history had [i:1b100cb8cf]no idea [/i:1b100cb8cf]what was being stated in numerous passages of Scripture? Because God failed to make Greek and Hebrew available to them? What does this say about the sovereignty of God?
Go ahead and “fill the page” with your examples, ephesians. And I will show you how every passage can be understood perfectly well in plain English.
[i:1b100cb8cf]Is anyone without understanding what the Koine (specifically pleroma) means in Ephesians 1:23 going to [b:1b100cb8cf]understand in the [u:1b100cb8cf]slightest bit[/u:1b100cb8cf] [/b:1b100cb8cf]what that passage is really telling us? I could go on and on.[/i:1b100cb8cf]
So all the untold thousands of saints throughout Church history who never knew koine Greek didn’t have the “slightest bit” of understanding of this passage? Are you serious?
[u:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]Ephesians 1[/b:1b100cb8cf][/u:1b100cb8cf]
[b:1b100cb8cf]18 [/b:1b100cb8cf]The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what [b:1b100cb8cf]the riches of the glory of his [u:1b100cb8cf]inheritance[/u:1b100cb8cf] in the saints[/b:1b100cb8cf],
[b:1b100cb8cf]19 [/b:1b100cb8cf]And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
[b:1b100cb8cf]20 [/b:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]Which he wrought [u:1b100cb8cf]in Christ[/u:1b100cb8cf][/b:1b100cb8cf], when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[b:1b100cb8cf]21 [/b:1b100cb8cf]Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
[b:1b100cb8cf]22 [/b:1b100cb8cf]And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[b:1b100cb8cf]23 [/b:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]Which is [u:1b100cb8cf]his body[/u:1b100cb8cf], the [u:1b100cb8cf]fulness of him[/u:1b100cb8cf] that filleth all in all[/b:1b100cb8cf].
This is one of many passages describing God’s great eternal purpose in Jesus Christ…the divine solution for the sins of the human race; the Gospel of salvation proclaimed to Jew and Gentile; every believer complete in Christ; Christ as the Head of the Body; and of course our Lord’s complete victory over sin, death, and Satan and the fallen angels—all of which will be ultimately fulfilled “in the dispensation of the fulness of times”:
[u:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]Ephesians 1[/b:1b100cb8cf][/u:1b100cb8cf]
[b:1b100cb8cf]7 [/b:1b100cb8cf]In whom we have redemption through his blood, [b:1b100cb8cf]the [u:1b100cb8cf]forgiveness[/u:1b100cb8cf] of sins[/b:1b100cb8cf], according to the riches of his grace;
[b:1b100cb8cf]8 [/b:1b100cb8cf]Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
[b:1b100cb8cf]9 [/b:1b100cb8cf]Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[b:1b100cb8cf]10 [/b:1b100cb8cf]That [b:1b100cb8cf]in the dispensation of the fulness of times [/b:1b100cb8cf]he might gather together in one [b:1b100cb8cf]all things in Christ[/b:1b100cb8cf], both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[b:1b100cb8cf]11 [/b:1b100cb8cf]In whom also we [b:1b100cb8cf][u:1b100cb8cf]have obtained[/u:1b100cb8cf] an [u:1b100cb8cf]inheritance[/u:1b100cb8cf][/b:1b100cb8cf], being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Here we have God’s eternal purpose in Christ, as well as the complete forgiveness of our sins [i:1b100cb8cf]already accomplished[/i:1b100cb8cf], and our [i:1b100cb8cf]guaranteed inheritance[/i:1b100cb8cf], in one of your favorite chapters to quote, Ephesians 1.
Paul gives another great dissertation in Colossians on Jesus Christ as the Head of the Body and the ultimate fulness and completion of God’s eternal purpose:
[u:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]Colossians 1[/b:1b100cb8cf][/u:1b100cb8cf]
[b:1b100cb8cf]15 [/b:1b100cb8cf]Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
[b:1b100cb8cf]16 [/b:1b100cb8cf]For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
[b:1b100cb8cf]17 [/b:1b100cb8cf]And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
[b:1b100cb8cf]18 [/b:1b100cb8cf]And [b:1b100cb8cf]he is the [u:1b100cb8cf]head of the body[/u:1b100cb8cf], the church[/b:1b100cb8cf]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[b:1b100cb8cf]19 [/b:1b100cb8cf][b:1b100cb8cf]For it pleased the Father that [u:1b100cb8cf]in him should all fulness dwell[/u:1b100cb8cf][/b:1b100cb8cf];
[b:1b100cb8cf]20 [/b:1b100cb8cf]And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Jesus Christ is the fulness of God’s eternal purpose. The Church is His “body” and His “fulness,” and as His people, we are “complete in Him.”
[b:1b100cb8cf]Col 2:9-10 [/b:1b100cb8cf]For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And [b:1b100cb8cf]ye are [u:1b100cb8cf]complete in him[/u:1b100cb8cf][/b:1b100cb8cf], which is the head of all principality and power:
In verses 13-15, Paul again describes our Lord’s great victory over the kingdom of darkness, also reminding us again of the complete forgiveness of our sins.
[b:1b100cb8cf]Col 2:13-15[/b:1b100cb8cf] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, [b:1b100cb8cf]having [u:1b100cb8cf]forgiven[/u:1b100cb8cf] you [u:1b100cb8cf]all[/u:1b100cb8cf] trespasses[/b:1b100cb8cf]; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And [b:1b100cb8cf]having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it[/b:1b100cb8cf].
Our Lord’s victory over sin would certainly not be complete if He had left our forgiveness incomplete. (I am still wondering how a perfect, holy, just God can partially forgive?)
The Biblical descriptions of God’s eternal purpose fulfilled in Christ, including our Lord’s glorious victory, the Church as His fulness, and Christ as the fulness of every believer, are proclaimed clearly in plain English. The NT, especially in Paul’s epistles, abounds with passages declaring the great divine purpose fulfilled in the Person of Christ, and it is far more profitable to keep searching and reading the Scriptures than to slice and dice Greek words and waste our time rewording things with a man’s needless technicality. All of these great Biblical principles can be learned and understood by diligently reading and comparing these passages, rather than wasting our time chasing “nuances.”
[i:1b100cb8cf]I could go on and on.[/i:1b100cb8cf]
Please do. I would love to see you “fill the page” with your examples.