....Now, why could these translation problems, if corrected, end a thousand years of church schisms (or even all church schisms)? Two reasons are easily identifiable: (1) If God’s Word actually tells us that the Good News is that Christ leads Christians to righteousness (and eternal life), then Christians must follow Christ by obeying Christ and His commandments rather than relying on juridical justification. ....
The second reason is that, according to the Scriptures, keeping and doing the commandments of God are a first, even necessary step, to understanding the Scriptures: therefore, it is possible that so long as Christians have not been keeping and doing God’s commandments, they have not been understanding the Scriptures.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:a good understanding have all they that do his commandments…. (Psalm 111:10)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:15-17)
A third reason is that Protestant translations and interpretations of the Bible have stood as important points of disagreement (alongside other points) with the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. The outlook for unity among churches is much better if what the Bible teaches about “justification by faith” can be understood more agreeably to all people calling themselves Christians. ...
Thus, church schisms, differences of views that have gone unresolved by reference to the Scriptures, may be based on insufficient understanding of the Scriptures, due to insufficient obedience to the Scriptures, possibly in the form of a spiral of first one, then the other. For a description of a spiral between disobedience and incomprehension, one can turn to Romans 1:
Thus, church schisms, differences of views that have gone unresolved by reference to the Scriptures, may be based on insufficient understanding of the Scriptures, due to insufficient obedience to the Scriptures, possibly in the form of a spiral of first one, then the other. For a description of a spiral between disobedience and incomprehension, one can turn to Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them…. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful…. (Romans 1:18-19, 28-31)
No comments:
Post a Comment