To me this is a challenge not to leave John’s task unfinished. He came to bear witness to the Light, that people would be saved through that Light. Our task remains the same. What is so wonderful about the Gospel’s message in this first chapter is how positively Jesus is portrayed. There is no fear factor involved. No mention of the judgment that lurks just beyond death. The promise is simply that for those who receive the Light, they will be given the right to be children of God. While it is true that judgment does await those who refuse the Light, the greater truth is that adoption awaits those who receive the Light. We have a wonderful message to proclaim. We have a wonderful Light to bear witness to. We have a father who is willing to adopt anyone who comes to him. We have a savior who is here! He is here! Jesus is in the world, so we must be there too bearing witness to his great love.

P52. Dates from early 2nd century, not the Markan fragment

I am probably late to notice this news, although it was announced just about 30 miles from where I live. Dr. Dan Wallace of DTS has announced the finding of a Markan fragment likely dated from the first century. This of course would make it the  only NT manuscript we have found from the first century. Unfortunately as of yet few detail have been released and the work will not be published until next year. Check out the news.

Christian Post

WND

The beginning of John often receives attention for its great statement of Jesus’ divinity, but there is so much more. There is the great proclamation often translated “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made”. When you really ponder on this verse you realize what a profound statement it is. Absolutely everything was made through Jesus our Messiah! When I read the Greek it came across even stronger than the English translations I have read. It quite literally reads “All things were made through him, and apart from him NOT ONE THING was made that was made.” I was excited to see the NET Bible translated in this way.

What an amazing truth! That is how primary our Messiah is. Not one, single thing was made apart from Him. Without Him there is nothing, but through Him is everything! There were no secret truths hidden in the Greek, which were previously unseen in English, but taking the time to examine each word, clause, and sentence really allows the full power of God’s word to reach into my soul. Take some time and look up to the sky and all around, and know that it is all through Him! What a privilege to study God’s word in this way.

I actually think it’s a good idea to have some books, because books don’t crash, and they are much easier to  lend out than a Kindle. Still, I am sure many of us need to repent of having too many books for the sake of showing off how much we know. Maybe eventually I will swallow my pride and transition to ebooks, but for now I’ll still enjoy paper flipping, underlining, and heavy bags.

He almost got away with one

The word translated, or should I say the words are, τοῦ πονηροῦ. πονηροῦ can be taken in a number of ways, including evil in general as well more specifically ‘the evil one’, aka the devil. It seemed to me the article (τοῦ ) would indicate a specific reference, in this case the devil. There are 78 uses of  πονηροs in the NT, 26 of which are in Matthew, and of those 9 have an article. There are only two cases in Matthew where πονηροs + the article is not clearly referring to a specific evil (the devil, evil person, evil thing), one of which is this case, Mt. 6.13. The other is 5.37, which the ESV translates ”let your word be ‘Yes’ for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘No.’ Anything more than that comes from the evil one.” Notice they go with ‘the evil one’ here.

The opposite is also generally true in Matthew, that when πονηροs lacks an article it is more generally referring to evil, though sometimes that is in general evil people or in general evil acts. A good examples of this is 12.25, “A good person brings good out of a good treasure, and an evil person (articular) brings evil (anartrous) out of an evil treasure (articular). That is, a particular evil person, brings general evil out of a particular evil treasure. I chose this verse because it contains both anartrous and articular uses of πονηροs , however this is one of least clear examples of the specificity given to πονηροs  + an article. I did not have the time at the moment to look much at the rest of the NT, but in general this same trend seemed to continue.

so while more research is required to make a definitive statement on this, it appears the burden on proof is on the ESV to explain their translation. Answers welcome.

I was surprised to find that this was the only book of its kind that turned up in my limited searching, and it is over 10 years old! Really all I was looking for was some motivation to read Hebrew and Greek that I could buy. Well, this book fits that bill I suppose.

It gives daily scripture reading from the Old and New Testaments (In Greek and Hebrew of course), along with some translation helps and a prayer. The translation texts vary in length, mostly about a paragraph, and are grouped in subjects for the week and match the daily prayers. I have found the prayers to be quit eloquent and heart felt thus far. I actually pray them as I use this tool as a part of my morning time with God. They are not corny or shallow as I would have expected. The helps that the book provide are slim. The more rare words defined, and odd forms are parsed, but that is the extent of help you will get.

While this book certainly will provide all the $12 of motivation I paid for, I am still surprised there are not more books of its kind. If I were to make a book along these lines I would change a few things. I would increase the defined and parsed words. But more so, I would make a book that continued the Hebrew and Greek learning, not just sustained it. Sure, this book will increase my ability to translate both Hebrew and Greek, but I’m not learning anything new along the lines of grammar and syntax. Some snippets of grammar, and syntax would definitely give this book a boost. I hope that more sources like this will be published in the future.

I definitely recommend this book to any Hebrew and Greek students looking to continue their language education. Don’t expect anything amazing from this book, but it does work very well in devotional settings, and if nothing else does what I am often not motivated to do; it pick passages to translate each day.

Dr. Black makes clear in the introduction that this work is for pastors and lay people who are struggling with issues of textual criticism. It isn’t so very detailed, it isn’t long, it isn’t hard to read, but it is a book that every believer should read. Yes, I said every believer. While there are a few small parts that may fly over the head of some, Black’s clear discussion on the transmission of the text and the difficulties that has caused is something that all believers should be aware of. If we are going to put so much stock into this book no doubt we should know something about how it’s been put together.

Black begins his discussion by showing the need for textual criticism, this is not a difficult case to make and he wastes no more pages than necessary here. He goes on to review the types of material the text was written on. I found this section both informative and interesting. Black employs many visual aids throughout the book, and here he has a particularly helpful one, which shows the periods not only of the material used, but of the writing utensil used as well. Maybe most important to this chapter is Black’s discussion of the different types of manuscripts, this section was of particular help to me as I sort through the issues of external evidence.

Chapter 2, ‘from corruption to restoration’, is probably the most beneficial chapter for those unfamiliar with how we have the NTs we have today. He begins by reviewing the beginning of the printed Greek NT, and then compares that to the modern Greek NT and the developments that lead to their differences. He then reviews the methods of finding the original reading (internal and external),  as well as looking at modern approaches to textual criticisms (For those curious I would put Black in the ‘Reasoned Conservative’ camp). Here I found his brief description of the Western, Alexandrian, and Byzantine text types to be particularly helpful.

The final chapter is simply a few examples from the NT that Black works through step by step, in order to put all the book has taught into practice. This  is not only informative as to the passages it deals with, but also very usual in figuring out how to partake in the process of textual criticism.

Black also has 3 appendices in which lists and defines the types of textual errors, classifies text symbols into their respective text types,  and gives a few worksheets designed to aid in the textual criticism process.

This book could easily be read in a day, or worked through leisurely in 3 days  as I did(it’s only 71 pages including the appendices). Though not so neutral in class, Black humbly introduces the subject of textual criticism without giving any substance for bickering or divisions. This is a fair, short, and simple introduction that lays a confidence building foundation for the study of textual criticism. For many this book provides all that you would ever need to know on the subject, while leaving others hungry and eager for a more detailed and in depth study. This read has certainly jump started my exploration into the subject, and I look forward to it.

“You have heard it said, ‘You must love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you will become children of your father in heaven…”

Does love rejoice in the death of any man? I think not. No matter what our view is of war or capital punishment, believers should not be taking part the celebration of a man’s death, even if they find closure in it. When we do we are only identifying ourselves with the world, and once again showing that our American citizenship supersedes our heavenly citizenship. Don’t forget Christian, man’s revenge can never replace the justice of God, so save room.

Though I’m not shure he is the best example of living this, Luther gives us a most excellent challenge this week. For those who read my last post, you may be able to see I have been pondering on the cost of the Kingdom as of late. I think this season, wherein we celebrate bunnies and pastel colors, is a good time for us all to turn our minds to these things, because it is this season that reminds us of our saviour’s ultimate example of paying the cost. So we remember that when we take up our cross we have to carry it the hill and be hung on it. It is only when we die with Christ that we will live out the Kingdom.

So this week forgo the lilies, and plant yourself among your enemies.