This thread is a continuation of a discussion that came up when another thread went off topic. It's, essentially a response to Stan's question:
For some context, you can check out the original thread to see the full discussion so far. Although, be warned, you're going to see Sean Bean in a dress. So, click at your own risk! http://www.christianforumsite.com/t...re-people-than-just-adam-and-eve.35355/page-3
My experience is that personally working to understand the context that the Bible was written in adds profound depth and meaning to what I read in the Bible. When I read the Bible, I try to take into account linguistic and historical context, as well as genre.
Stan's position (and Stan, I am summarising here, please feel free to jump in if I'm being reductionist) was that the translators of the Bible have already accounted for context in the translation process, so further study into context is unnecessary, as the translation already provides everything we need to fully convey everything from the original text.
I have benefited from the insights of my brothers and sisters in Christ countless times, and I've grown greatly from learning how other Christians approach interpretation. So, I thought I might turn the above discussion over to the cfs community via an exercise that I'm hoping will be edifying for all of us here.
So, on the the exercise.
John 1:1 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (NASB)
What I would ask is that people simply share their insights and reflections on this verse. What does it mean? And (the real question) do you have a certain approach to reading the Bible that helped you arrive at that particular insight/reflection? Did you just read the verse and that's it? Did you get context from the entire passage or other parts of the Bible? Or did you look for context elsewhere as well (i.e., prayer, word study, etc)?
I chose this verse in particular to respond to Stan's question because for anyone who already has a tendency to read scripture in its linguistic or historical context, the urge to do a word study or comment on certain aspects of Greek thought will be irresistible
I do anticipate that we will discover some particular things, but I also want to clarify that I'm really not trying to set up a trap to prove anyone wrong. I came to these forums to be corrected. If I believe something wrong, I want to remedy that. I hope we will have an edifying discussion and learn from the many insights the Spirit has given to each of us.
... has any Greek word study you've done, yielded results that made that scripture say something it didn't already say?
For some context, you can check out the original thread to see the full discussion so far. Although, be warned, you're going to see Sean Bean in a dress. So, click at your own risk! http://www.christianforumsite.com/t...re-people-than-just-adam-and-eve.35355/page-3
My experience is that personally working to understand the context that the Bible was written in adds profound depth and meaning to what I read in the Bible. When I read the Bible, I try to take into account linguistic and historical context, as well as genre.
Stan's position (and Stan, I am summarising here, please feel free to jump in if I'm being reductionist) was that the translators of the Bible have already accounted for context in the translation process, so further study into context is unnecessary, as the translation already provides everything we need to fully convey everything from the original text.
I have benefited from the insights of my brothers and sisters in Christ countless times, and I've grown greatly from learning how other Christians approach interpretation. So, I thought I might turn the above discussion over to the cfs community via an exercise that I'm hoping will be edifying for all of us here.
So, on the the exercise.
John 1:1 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (NASB)
What I would ask is that people simply share their insights and reflections on this verse. What does it mean? And (the real question) do you have a certain approach to reading the Bible that helped you arrive at that particular insight/reflection? Did you just read the verse and that's it? Did you get context from the entire passage or other parts of the Bible? Or did you look for context elsewhere as well (i.e., prayer, word study, etc)?
I chose this verse in particular to respond to Stan's question because for anyone who already has a tendency to read scripture in its linguistic or historical context, the urge to do a word study or comment on certain aspects of Greek thought will be irresistible
I do anticipate that we will discover some particular things, but I also want to clarify that I'm really not trying to set up a trap to prove anyone wrong. I came to these forums to be corrected. If I believe something wrong, I want to remedy that. I hope we will have an edifying discussion and learn from the many insights the Spirit has given to each of us.