if
the universe had a beginning and, as they say. in their own words, nothing
existed before the beginning
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Either absolute
nothing created something --something as complex as the universe, or there
really is a super-super Being, existing outside of creation, that is the
creating power-- or God exists
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AT THIS POINT, we
are stating beliefs. But we must do that in either case--that is believing the
Bible or not believing the Bible, believing nothing created everything or not
believing it.
There might also be
some who object to the idea that belief, faith, or trust is not in the realm of
reality--that is real reality. To this I would say, we do that all the time. In actual real life,
it would be impossible to live in today's world, in fact, without exercising
trust--in fact exercising more like a blind trust.
Obviously we trust in the proper functioning of our cars, when
we drive a car, or, even more, flying in an airplane. How many have
investigated and actually gathered factual information about the airplane that
you are, in actual fact, risking your life by trusting in its properly
functioning.
The Bible says, "faith is the substance of things hoped
for. The evidence of things not seeing." Hebrews 11:1
There is no
article in front of the word, "faith". Which would mean, generally
speaking, we act on the basis of expectant facts. And, in reality-- real life,
that must be a common occurance.
IN THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURES--notably John's writings and the Synoptic
Gospels.
JOHN 1:1-3, 14-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made
through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been
made. John 1:1-3 (ASV)
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among
us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father),
full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ASV)
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JOHN'S
WRITINGS--THE OTHER APOSTLES
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Language
in which the New Testaments is written.
A
library has grown up on the subject, and various views have been
influentially contended for.
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What
is relevant at this point are the following facts:
(a)
There is no evidence that our canonical Gospel was ever seen and the Hebrew
(Aramaic) tongue. The Gospel which Jerome said he had seen in and translated
into Greek and Latin, was not Matthew's, but an apocryphal Nazarene Gospel.
(b)
Matthew's Gospel was known to the early Church only in Greek. (Matthew's
Gospel as the most Hebrew-isms and identified as to the Jew. Certainly it would've
been written in Hebrew if any of them were.)
(c)
It is certain that the Greek Gospel was an original, and not a translation
from a Hebrew text.
(d)
all the early writers quote this Gospel, refer only to Matthew in Greek.
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This
subject is of more than merely academic interest, for it helps us to
understand certain references in the record, such as the translation of
Hebrew words, which would have been unnecessary in a Gospel written in
Hebrew;
One
of John the apostle's habits was to explain Hebrew words: (Rabbi--which is to
say, being interpreted, Master. John 1:38; "the Messiah--which is, being
interpreted, Christ" John 1:41; "Cephas which is by interpretation,
Peter"--John 1:42; "Messiah, who is called Christ" John 4:25;
"which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda" John 5:2....
There was also the explanation of customs,
which Palestinian Jews would not need.
A
Hebrew collection of Logia, and
our Greek Gospel, serve to show that at the time of Christ to languages were
spoken by Jews. Aramaic was the language of the common people, and Greek was
a literary language, show that those who spoke Aramaic could read Greek.
Both
Christ and Paul spoke these languages. In converse with Pilate our Lord would
speak Greek, but on the cross he spoke Aramaic. Paul, addressing Romans,
spoke in Greek, but on receiving permission to address the Jews he spoke in
Hebrew. It was quite natural therefore for Matthew to write an ole Tom which
would best be understood by Jews everywhere
(Scroggie)
The
Septuagint Translation was used often by the Apostlesd--particularly Paul.
It
must be remembered that the translators were Jews, full of traditional
thoughts of their own as to the meaning of Scriptures; and thus nothing short
of a miracle could have prevented them from infusing into their version the
thoughts which were current in their own minds. They could only translate
passages as they themselves understood them.
It
would be however, too much to say that they translated with dishonest intention; for it cannot be doubted that
they wished to express their Scriptures Julie and Greek....
One
difficulty which they had overcome was that of introducing theological ideas,
which till then had only their proper terms in Hebrew, into a language of
Gentiles, which till then they had terms for no religious notions except
those of heathens. Hence the necessity of using many words and phrases in new
and appropriated senses. Introduction
of Septuagint
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