Biblical Interpretation And Common Sense

[Dave]

There is the question of proper Biblical Interpretation:

I am sure that most people are aware that the New Testament was written in the Greek language, except for maybe Matthew, for which many scholars agree that it was originally written in Aramaic and very soon after was translated into Greek.

Every time one language is translated into another, something is either gained or lost. That is why, for proper Bible interpretation, it is best to go back to the original language in which it was written in order to grasp the full meaning.

For example:

"(31) Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." Luke 22:31-32

In English, the word "you" can be either singular or plural. However in the Greek there is a different word for the plural "you", and it is "humas", the singular "you" is "sou". The meaning of these verses then becomes clear as in verse 31 Jesus spoke to all of the Apostles, whereas in verse 32, He addressed Peter alone.

English translations become problematic when we consider another example, the words "brethren" or "brothers". Non-Catholics will consistently take the word "brothers" as meaning a blood brother or a sibling. They do this all the time to try and "prove" that Jesus Christ had siblings, "other children of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the examples they use is Galatians 1:19, "But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James the brother of the Lord." By going to the Greek text, the word used for brother is "adelphos", and its meaning from a Greek dictionary is:

Adelphos (ad-el-fos)

1. A brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.

2. Having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman.

3. Any fellow or man.

4. A fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection.

5. An associate in employment or office.

6. Brethren or brothers:

6a. brothers by blood

6b. all men

6c. Apostles

6d. Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

As you can see, this dictionary shows 6 classes of meanings for the Greek word adelphos, and one of those classes has multiple meanings.

How do we determine which meaning is the true meaning?

We must put the verse in context, as with all verses in Scripture, to get the true meaning.

In this case, the most obvious meaning of the word in Galatians 1:19 is 6c. How do we know that? One way is that the verse infers that James is an Apostle, and the true parents of both Apostles named James, are shown in Holy Scripture. Some of the other options could be chosen also, but certainly not 1 or 6a because of the context. Detractors of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ignoring the context, will consistently choose the first meaning only, and will ignore the rest. In some verses, the meaning is blood brothers, but in other verses it means something else. You can readily see that by putting the verse in context it works in two ways. It gives you the true meaning, while at the same time eliminating the spurious meanings.

The meaning always depends upon the context in which the words are used.

By ignoring the context they fall into the trap of 2Timothy 3:7,

"Ever learning yet never attaining knowledge of the truth".

Now if you gave all of the present 33,800+ ecclesial communities the same Bible and asked each for their interpretation of it, you would get 33,800+ different interpretations, all based solely upon private opinions. That is because, for them, it is "every man for himself in Bible interpretation".

However, individual interpretation of Holy Scripture is forbidden by Scripture itself.

Read Acts 8:26-40, 2Peter 1:20-21,3:16.

Aren't these verses ignored by those who are guilty of private interpretation of Holy Scripture?

Everyone is entitled to his or her own personal opinion. However, a person's personal opinion has no bearing whatsoever on doctrinal truth.

"They came and said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion. You do not regard a person's status but teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?'" The sentence in blue is what the Church which Jesus Christ founded does.

Has anyone noticed the similarities of individual interpretation of the Bible, and a lack of one central authority, to the events of September 11, 2001? Islam is very similar to the Protestant mindset, as they also have no single authority and their interpretation of the Koran is based upon opinions from various disconnected sects.

"A body with two heads is a monster", said St. Thomas Aquinas (13th century).

All it takes to find the truth is a little common sense, but then, where is common sense today?

[NewReformation]

Like my grandaddy always said: "Common ain't common no more."

[Truth]

There is the question of proper Biblical Interpretation:

I am sure that most people are aware that the New Testament was written in the Greek language, except for maybe Matthew, for which many scholars agree that it was originally written in Aramaic and very soon after was translated into Greek.

Every time one language is translated into another, something is either gained or lost. That is why, for proper Bible interpretation, it is best to go back to the original language in which it was written in order to grasp the full meaning.

For example:

"(31) Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." Luke 22:31-32

In English, the word "you" can be either singular or plural. However in the Greek there is a different word for the plural "you", and it is "humas", the singular "you" is "sou". The meaning of these verses then becomes clear as in verse 31 Jesus spoke to all of the Apostles, whereas in verse 32, He addressed Peter alone.

English translations become problematic when we consider another example, the words "brethren" or "brothers". Non-Catholics will consistently take the word "brothers" as meaning a blood brother or a sibling. They do this all the time to try and "prove" that Jesus Christ had siblings, "other children of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the examples they use is Galatians 1:19, "But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James the brother of the Lord." By going to the Greek text, the word used for brother is "adelphos", and its meaning from a Greek dictionary is:

Adelphos (ad-el-fos)

1. A brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.

2. Having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman.

3. Any fellow or man.

4. A fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection.

5. An associate in employment or office.

6. Brethren or brothers:

6a. brothers by blood

6b. all men

6c. Apostles

6d. Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

As you can see, this dictionary shows 6 classes of meanings for the Greek word adelphos, and one of those classes has multiple meanings.

How do we determine which meaning is the true meaning?

We must put the verse in context, as with all verses in Scripture, to get the true meaning.

In this case, the most obvious meaning of the word in Galatians 1:19 is 6c. How do we know that? One way is that the verse infers that James is an Apostle, and the true parents of both Apostles named James, are shown in Holy Scripture. Some of the other options could be chosen also, but certainly not 1 or 6a because of the context. Detractors of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ignoring the context, will consistently choose the first meaning only, and will ignore the rest. In some verses, the meaning is blood brothers, but in other verses it means something else. You can readily see that by putting the verse in context it works in two ways. It gives you the true meaning, while at the same time eliminating the spurious meanings.

The meaning always depends upon the context in which the words are used.

By ignoring the context they fall into the trap of 2Timothy 3:7,

"Ever learning yet never attaining knowledge of the truth".

Now if you gave all of the present 33,800+ ecclesial communities the same Bible and asked each for their interpretation of it, you would get 33,800+ different interpretations, all based solely upon private opinions. That is because, for them, it is "every man for himself in Bible interpretation".

However, individual interpretation of Holy Scripture is forbidden by Scripture itself.

Read Acts 8:26-40, 2Peter 1:20-21,3:16.

Aren't these verses ignored by those who are guilty of private interpretation of Holy Scripture?

Everyone is entitled to his or her own personal opinion. However, a person's personal opinion has no bearing whatsoever on doctrinal truth.

"They came and said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion. You do not regard a person's status but teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?'" The sentence in blue is what the Church which Jesus Christ founded does.

Has anyone noticed the similarities of individual interpretation of the Bible, and a lack of one central authority, to the events of September 11, 2001? Islam is very similar to the Protestant mindset, as they also have no single authority and their interpretation of the Koran is based upon opinions from various disconnected sects.

"A body with two heads is a monster", said St. Thomas Aquinas (13th century).

All it takes to find the truth is a little common sense, but then, where is common sense today?

Let me have you look up the word Firstborn and tell us what that mean in Greek. I just happen to see it in Luke 2:4 and its in context.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Because if I read this correctly it mean that other came after him. Unless in Greek it mean ONLY or ONE AND ONLY. But that could make the meaning of this verse change.

John 3:16."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.

---------------------------------------------------------

Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV

Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved

[Dave]

Let me have you look up the word Firstborn and tell us what that mean in Greek. I just happen to see it in Luke 2:4 and its in context.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Because if I read this correctly it mean that other came after him. Unless in Greek it mean ONLY or ONE AND ONLY. But that could make the meaning of this verse change.

John 3:16."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.

---------------------------------------------------------

Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV

Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved

Firstborn doesn't preclude the idea that there were no other children present. The law of the Lord said that the child who opens the womb, that is, the firstborn, must be dedicated to the Lord. By your logic, parents would've had to wait and see if they were going to have any more children before dedicating their child to the Lord!