mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (09/22/84)
So what good is the Bible to a Christian today? Quite a lot, if it is studied carefully. Two things are absolutely necessary: a translation with good textual and critical notes, and someone to discuss it with. A good commentary is very helpful; one that disffers somewhat from your own viewpoint is more useful than one you agree with totally. Multiple translations also help. A Bible without textual notes is useless for study. Much of the hebrew text of the old testament is highly corrupted and nearly incomprehensible. A study bible will indicate these passages. You should also know who translated it. The NIV tends to take a more fundamentalistic line than the RSV, which hews to the more traditional and more liberal views; this is hardly suprising when the translators for each are compared, but one should be forewarned. The Bible should not be treated as a fishing hole for strange twists of theology; niether should it be used uncritically as a touchstone of doctrinal purity. St. Paul should be read with special caution, for two reasons. First, the works attributed to him do not express a unified theological viewpoint, and cannot be forced into a Pualine theology without misrepresenting him. Second, he is quite prone to confusing the moral customs and shortcomings of his time with God-given law for all time. Paul simply is not the final arbiter of Christian behavior, and plenty of what he says is flatly wrong for our times. Paul, remember, wrote these letters for actual situations in his time; you have to consider the context. The gospels are MUCH more difficult, since Jesus is a much subtler teacher. Don't get too caught up with the escatology (fancy theological term for the theology of the end of the world). Read the synoptics in parallel. Don't waste time trying to rationalize the miracles. Only one comment on the old testament: remember that it was written for the jews. NOT christians. I remember once a Jahovahs Witness trying to extract some sort of divine law on swearing an oath from the Torah, when all he had to do was look in the gospels were Jesus says flatly, don't swear oaths. Period. If you want christian law, look in the new testament. Finally, don't get stampeded by those people who seem to be able to quote the entire bible from memory. First of all, they can't; it's too big. Second, what they are feeding you is sort of a catechism, the verses which support their view. Theology shouldn't be shot from the hip. It's supposed to be your whole life, after all; it's worth sitting down calmly and really thinking about it. If all those verses are really convincing, they'll be that way next week, too. And use your concience. If someone's God is hateful and spiteful, reject it; an evil god is not worthy of worship, no matter who He is. Charley Wingate umcp-cs!mangoe
yiri@ucf-cs.UUCP (Yirmiyahu BenDavid) (09/23/84)
Do you translate from the Greek and Hebrew yourself Mr. Wingate? If so, you manage to give the impression you do not. I have translated the so- called "New Testament" for myself and have found quite the opposite of what you (and other Christians) claim is there. If you do not translate for yourself, how do you presume to recommend among translations? And why have you not addressed the questions I posed in my earlier articles?