Knowledge

[jamie]

Greek and Hebrew is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the Lord

Relationship is where the deeper spiritual understanding comes from, not the letter. I can know a person by spending time with them, my knowledge is limited if I only read about them.

[apothanein kerdos]

Greek and Hebrew is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the Lord

Relationship is where the deeper spiritual understanding comes from, not the letter. I can know a person by spending time with them, my knowledge is limited if I only read about them.

*sigh*

The only awy to gain a deeper relationship with God is to gain a deeper knowledge of Him. Listen, that's simply scripture, not me speaking.

How about this....how do you gain a deeper language with a person who's primary language isn't english? Y ou learn their language.

[Guest man]

Man, think of it this way. In english we could say:

"I love my dog"

"I love my brother"

"I love my wife"

In english, we have only one word for each phrase, however in Greek there are more specific words for "love" to describe the exact type of emotion being expressed. If a person said they loved you in Greek....wouldn't you want to know if they meant that they loved you like a brother, or loved you romantically?

I really don't think it matters. I'm not trying be difficult, it's just what I believe.

Christ said we were love our neighbor as ourself. Here's what I get from that..."We are to treat people the way we want to be treated". Is that wrong?

James wrote "You believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe and tremble"

Here's what I get from that verse...."Just because we believe doesn't mean we're getting into heaven". Is that wrong?

Knowledge and understanding is gained from our relationship with God. We are given knowledge and understanding according to our level of faith.

If Greek or Hebrew were to bring us closer to God, the bible wouldn't be in English or any other language.

[apothanein kerdos]

Man, think of it this way. In english we could say:

"I love my dog"

"I love my brother"

"I love my wife"

In english, we have only one word for each phrase, however in Greek there are more specific words for "love" to describe the exact type of emotion being expressed. If a person said they loved you in Greek....wouldn't you want to know if they meant that they loved you like a brother, or loved you romantically?

I really don't think it matters. I'm not trying be difficult, it's just what I believe.

Christ said we were love our neighbor as ourself. Here's what I get from that..."We are to treat people the way we want to be treated". Is that wrong?

James wrote "You believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe and tremble"

Here's what I get from that verse...."Just because we believe doesn't mean we're getting into heaven". Is that wrong?

Knowledge and understanding is gained from our relationship with God. We are given knowledge and understanding according to our level of faith.

If Greek or Hebrew were to bring us closer to God, the bible wouldn't be in English or any other language.

You're trying to oversimplify a complicated issue. What about the Trinity, which a concept that needs to be drawn out of the Greek? There are certain passages where you almost have to know Greek to get a deeper understanding.

The reason the Bible was translated into English is because way back in the day people didn't have the money to be able to learn Greek. In modern times, we can do it for free (if a Church pays for it).

As for faith, our level of faith is dependant on our knowledge of God. The more we know of Him the more we can trust Him.

[Guest man]

Man, think of it this way. In english we could say:

"I love my dog"

"I love my brother"

"I love my wife"

In english, we have only one word for each phrase, however in Greek there are more specific words for "love" to describe the exact type of emotion being expressed. If a person said they loved you in Greek....wouldn't you want to know if they meant that they loved you like a brother, or loved you romantically?

I really don't think it matters. I'm not trying be difficult, it's just what I believe.

Christ said we were love our neighbor as ourself. Here's what I get from that..."We are to treat people the way we want to be treated". Is that wrong?

James wrote "You believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe and tremble"

Here's what I get from that verse...."Just because we believe doesn't mean we're getting into heaven". Is that wrong?

Knowledge and understanding is gained from our relationship with God. We are given knowledge and understanding according to our level of faith.

If Greek or Hebrew were to bring us closer to God, the bible wouldn't be in English or any other language.

You're trying to oversimplify a complicated issue. What about the Trinity, which a concept that needs to be drawn out of the Greek? There are certain passages where you almost have to know Greek to get a deeper understanding.

The reason the Bible was translated into English is because way back in the day people didn't have the money to be able to learn Greek. In modern times, we can do it for free (if a Church pays for it).

As for faith, our level of faith is dependant on our knowledge of God. The more we know of Him the more we can trust Him.

It's complicated because you're making it complicated.

You yourself said "almost have to know Greek", not that we have too...almost have too.

Faith isn't earned. If I learned everything there is to know about God does that mean I have more faith than anyone else?

[Kabowd]

Man, think of it this way. In english we could say:

"I love my dog"

"I love my brother"

"I love my wife"

In english, we have only one word for each phrase, however in Greek there are more specific words for "love" to describe the exact type of emotion being expressed. If a person said they loved you in Greek....wouldn't you want to know if they meant that they loved you like a brother, or loved you romantically?

I really don't think it matters. I'm not trying be difficult, it's just what I believe.

Christ said we were love our neighbor as ourself. Here's what I get from that..."We are to treat people the way we want to be treated". Is that wrong?

James wrote "You believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe and tremble"

Here's what I get from that verse...."Just because we believe doesn't mean we're getting into heaven". Is that wrong?

Knowledge and understanding is gained from our relationship with God. We are given knowledge and understanding according to our level of faith.

If Greek or Hebrew were to bring us closer to God, the bible wouldn't be in English or any other language.

I don't mean this offensively, but contrary to the popular slogan...ignorance is not bliss. We live in an age where education is more accessible and achievable than probably any generation before us. In recent decades, many of our relatives may not have had an opportunity for college or further education, but in our time...it's becoming a reality for more and more students (of all walks of life). Now, as the world around us is becoming more educated, if we don't take necessary steps to be able to communicate with them and converse with them on deeper levels, we lose our relevance. That's not to say we must all have a college degree to be effective, but this topic is practically promoting the idea of spiritual and intellectual laziness...which I am adamantly opposed to. The Scriptures teach us that we are ambassadors for Christ. You wouldn't visit another country without educating yourself about the culture, their language and their customs. Likewise, in America (some parts more than others), we are rapidly becoming more and more educated. If you live in the boondocks or backwoods somewhere, you might get by with knowing very little...but as a general rule, educating yourself, studying, and growing in knowledge is only going to help you better communicate the gospel of Christ.

You will not find any verse in Scripture that promotes laziness, and I think this would include intellectual and spiritual laziness. This doesn't mean we all must become biblical scholars, but it does mean we should put just as much effort into developing Christian minds as we do our hearts. Don't get into the habit of making excuses for what you don't know or don't understand. Study it, dig deeper, find out what you believe, why you believe it...see if you can defend it. This strengthens faith, it does not take away from it.

I think we need to be careful with topics like this, so that we don't inadvertantly discourage believers or give them false confidence. It's not okay to assume that studying Scripture is not necessary. The bible teaches us several times that we should study, and be READY to give a DEFENSE for what we believe. Only a person who has put effort into their faith and walk with the Lord will be able to fulfill this command. And by the way...this is a command, not a suggestion.

[apothanein kerdos]

If you act on that knowledge then you have mor faith. The problem is, you can't act on what you don't know.

As for "almost," the reason I leave the clause is that you can rely on others who do know Greek, or you can rely on a concordance. The problem with this is that you are at the mercy of that person's interpretation.

[Guest man]

Man, think of it this way. In english we could say:

"I love my dog"

"I love my brother"

"I love my wife"

In english, we have only one word for each phrase, however in Greek there are more specific words for "love" to describe the exact type of emotion being expressed. If a person said they loved you in Greek....wouldn't you want to know if they meant that they loved you like a brother, or loved you romantically?

I really don't think it matters. I'm not trying be difficult, it's just what I believe.

Christ said we were love our neighbor as ourself. Here's what I get from that..."We are to treat people the way we want to be treated". Is that wrong?

James wrote "You believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe and tremble"

Here's what I get from that verse...."Just because we believe doesn't mean we're getting into heaven". Is that wrong?

Knowledge and understanding is gained from our relationship with God. We are given knowledge and understanding according to our level of faith.

If Greek or Hebrew were to bring us closer to God, the bible wouldn't be in English or any other language.

I don't mean this offensively, but contrary to the popular slogan...ignorance is not bliss. We live in an age where education is more accessible and achievable than probably any generation before us. In recent decades, many of our relatives may not have had an opportunity for college or further education, but in our time...it's becoming a reality for more and more students (of all walks of life). Now, as the world around us is becoming more educated, if we don't take necessary steps to be able to communicate with them and converse with them on deeper levels, we lose our relevance. That's not to say we must all have a college degree to be effective, but this topic is practically promoting the idea of spiritual and intellectual laziness...which I am adamantly opposed to. The Scriptures teach us that we are ambassadors for Christ. You wouldn't visit another country without educating yourself about the culture, their language and their customs. Likewise, in America (some parts more than others), we are rapidly becoming more and more educated. If you live in the boondocks or backwoods somewhere, you might get by with knowing very little...but as a general rule, educating yourself, studying, and growing in knowledge is only going to help you better communicate the gospel of Christ.

You will not find any verse in Scripture that promotes laziness, and I think this would include intellectual and spiritual laziness. This doesn't mean we all must become biblical scholars, but it does mean we should put just as much effort into developing Christian minds as we do our hearts. Don't get into the habit of making excuses for what you don't know or don't understand. Study it, dig deeper, find out what you believe, why you believe it...see if you can defend it. This strengthens faith, it does not take away from it.

I think we need to be careful with topics like this, so that we don't inadvertantly discourage believers or give them false confidence. It's not okay to assume that studying Scripture is not necessary. The bible teaches us several times that we should study, and be READY to give a DEFENSE for what we believe. Only a person who has put effort into their faith and walk with the Lord will be able to fulfill this command. And by the way...this is a command, not a suggestion.

I never stated that we didn't have to study the Word.

What I said was that we don't have to know Greek or Hebrew in order to come to a deeper understanding of God.

If you believe that the only way we can have a deeper understanding of God is through studying the original text, then you really don't know the power of God.

[jamie]

Man, remember the first post that I posted in this topic?? Read it again. They are trying to get you in that yoke buddie....Run!!

[apothanein kerdos]

Man, remember the first post that I posted in this topic?? Read it again. They are trying to get you in that yoke buddie....Run!!

Man, remember what I posted in this topic? Read it again. She is trying to trap you into an anti-intellectual faith that has no basis for belief and unsubstantiated claims...she is trying to trap you into a faith that has produced thousands of false beliefs because of faulty translations and "no need" for Greek...Run!!