My analogy would be that one doesn’t need to know anything beyond the user interface to use or even depend on a computer. But if one really wants to get under the hood, then learning some of the ancient/dead programming languages could be useful

To quote Omniglot at http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hebrew.htm

Origin:
The earliest Hebrew script was derived from a Phoenician script. The modern Hebrew script was developed from a script known as Proto-Hebrew/Early Aramaic.

Used to write:
Hebrew, a Semitic language and the official language of Israel. Hebrew was the language of the early Jews, but fell out of use as an everyday spoken language and was replaced by Aramaic about 2,500 years ago. Hebrew continued to be used as a liturgical language since then and was revived as a spoken language in the early 20th century. Today about 5 million people in Israel speak Modern Israeli Hebrew. A further 2-3 million people speak the language in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, Panama, the UK and USA.

Another good resource is http://www.ancient-hebrew.org.

For most people, self included, a modern day translation — KJV for me — coupled with a good commentary or two is good enough for everyday discipleship. Naturally, one would have to be able to trust their sources, as noted by your example of scholars guessing at Aramaic meanings. That said, the NT Bereans are a good example of why everyone should avoid dogma about their preferred sources, and be prepared to grow in their knowledge and understanding.

If La Shawn was saying something bad about Karol W., then that’s another issue.

And to bring up the “grandmother” analogy – if my grandmother died, and we discussed some of her beliefs and actions at the funeral _at the back of the church where most guests didn’t sit_, then that’s the way it goes. La Shawn didn’t drive over to St. Peter’s Basilica and start shouting from a megaphone that the pope secretly ate cheeseburgers on Friday. (North American joke there.) She made her comments in her own private blog, where if you don’t like what she says, there’s this handy “X” icon in the top right of the window that you can use to avoid unpleasant-to-you topics.

Enough with the victim attitude. It’s very distracting, and doesn’t reflect well upon anyone who uses it as a defense.

And with regards to Greek to Latin to English, I daresay that this is more inaccurate than Greek to English, because you don’t get any intermediate errors, such as “penance” for “repentance.”

You consider Hebrew a dead language?

Mdeberry,

Your original post says that “God doesn’t care how smart we are.” Now, you call the posters “childish?” Do you mean petulant? I don’t find them childish. One of the reasons I like to read this blog is because I enjoy the comments.

As for the various languages, I’d say the ancients are useful for personal edification and in ministry, but NOT necessary in the sense of divining the “truth”. I passed up learning any of those “dead” languages, nevertheless, I frequently come up with a renewed appreciation or perspective when I read the Bible in German. More often than not, the relevation is found just in the nuance.

But as noted by others before, the various translations have been worked and reworked to the point that there ain’t no secret code waiting to be revealed.

John 3:16 is true whether read/recited in Greek, English, Hymong, Swahili or even, dare I say it, Ebonics?

As for the Pope, all I can say is if he’s gone to be with our Lord and Savior, why is anyone mourning? This is a time for celebration, not weeping. We ought to be weeping for lost souls, not for those who went on to glory!

OTOH, the world hasn’t stopped because JP2 died, so let the discussions continue, afterall thousands are dying daily only to wake up in hell.

As for his replacement, I think it would be cool if the next was Chinese, that’ll really upset the Peking cart, barring that, perhaps one from the Middle East.

mdeberry:

Paul exhorts us in I Cor 14:20 “in understanding be men.” That was the title of the first book on theology that I checked out of my church library. Elsewhere Paul scolds believers who have not grown in their faith. The theologically naive are prime targets for cults. We all know that we are to accept Christ with the simplicity of a child. We are not to stay children, however.

That disturbs me.

She has comment…

P.S. A small portion of Daniel is in Aramaic and Jesus spoke Aramaic although the NT is written in Greek. Bible commentaries whose author knows Aramaic can be annoying because they keep guessing about the Aramaic word Jesus used and what he “really” said. Sort of a Conservative version of the Jesus Seminar. An intermediate Greek course I took used a text by a Roman Catholic scholar. Our professor used it because it was a very good text and because he could point out how a different interpretation of the use of a preposition by the writer could yield a different theological position.

Or you could take the position of an acquaintance of one of my cousins on the King James Version: “If it was good enough for the Apostle Paul, it’s good enough for me.”

You have nothing whatsoever to apologize for. Sometimes the truth hurts, but what hurts more is not knowing the truth especially when the stakes are so high. Keep up the good work!

Au contraire, I did read the post. And I was responding to it. My, ahem, apologies for not doing a better job of linking the two.

But I’m really sorry that you don’t believe you’ve done anything to apologize for.

I think you missed my point. I did not claim that learning Latin is useful to studying the scriptures (although it is terribly useful in studying the works of the early Christian leaders and believers…and as an added bonus for you Prods, Latin will allow you to read Milton in the original!)

No, I believe that LaShawn et al may find Greek a very, very difficult language to learn–especially if you have a day job!

To go from English to Greek is quite difficult.

To go from English to Latin to Greek is a much smoother road.

I realize that most would not have the time to learn Latin and Greek, but turn off the tv and you’ll be amazed at how much time you save.