Translation

Just watched the segment on "Morning Joe" regarding the divinity of doubt. This is also an interesting discussion in light of newer translations of the Bible this week changing the translation of Issiah's reference to the "virgin" being born. What this lawyer didn't mention (and maybe he did not know) is that the NT writers for the most part, did not have access to the Hebrew scriptures in Hebrew. The most prominent scriptures available (and most scholars from a wide swath of convictions demonstrate this) were the Greek Scriptures, otherwise noted as the Septuagint (LXX). In this version, the word employed is, "parthenos." I looked it up in Bauer & Gingrich (a standard Greek-English Lexicon), and the English equivalent is, "virgin" (p. 632) It is used in wider Greek literature as well with this meaning. Philo and Josephus use it in this way. It is also used for men. So, when the writers of the LXX addressed this text, they went with the sexual connoted use of the term. This version predates Christianity by about 400 yrs or so. So, if this lawyer had really done his homework (or perhaps he did it in the book and didn't have time to express it on the set), he would've addressed the use of the LXX in the writings of the NT.

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Rejoined!

Well, I am trying to pick this up again. I hope as I discover more and more out there of interest, at least to my small mind, I can post it here. I hope this can be a resource for those traversing the highways and byways of our digital age. I hope to make less commentary and let the "parties" speak for themselves. One of the greatest challenges in the macro and micro environments of today remains our capacity to correctly (or accurately) represent those with whom we disagree most passionately. My hope here, as part of the graceformational journey of life, will focus on providing a place of information. After all, part of transformation requires information. So....stay tuned as I return to my "post." -- John