Questions for godrulz
Questions for godrulz
godrulz said:
The New World Translation and Emphatic Diaglott are biased, cultic translations (JW and Christadelphian).
Gen. 18 could be figurative or accommodation (expression of speech) or a reference to the preincarnate Christ ('angel of the Lord') who could and would go down to see what is going on. Open Theism also believes that God does not know or see the future as actual before it happens. God knows the past and present perfectly, but would become aware of unfolding evil as it happens.
"Diaglot" actually just means "two languages side by side" or something. It contains a gloss of the Greek text in English. I got it free from:
http://www.onlinebible.net/bibles2.html
I have not found any obvious signs of bias.
Perhaps the "Emphatic" is biased, but I know nothing whatsoever about it.
The NWT is bad mouthed but again, with the little I have read of it, it has much to recommend it. But I am not a "fan" of it so that is not my battle. I do not agree with many of the passages I read, but that is to be expected. It appears that the translators were, like many translators, falling into the same ditches as the KJV, which I think they were overly influenced by.
At any rate, all translations are a poor substitute for reading the Greek texts.
As to Gen 18, you offer that this might be figurative. What does that mean exactly? That this is not to be taken as actually having occured? Do you insist that Eve was made from a rib of Adams? Did Eve talk to a snake? Jonah? Resurrection? Which are figurative? Who gets to decide?
WHY NOT just accept that this is the biblical record?
You also offered "an accommodation" or "an expression of speech" as a possible "solution" to your "problem" that the scriptures portray the god NOT TO YOUR LIKING.
Perhaps the god really did come down. Jesus went UP to get to the god, yes? What does "which art in heaven" mean? Hint: "heaven" just means "sky."
Lu 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
You also offer:
"or a reference to the preincarnate Christ ('angel of the Lord') who could and would go down to see what is going on."
Was Jesus a reincarnation? I say no. He was made by the god from the seed of David. He was a man, born of a virgin named Miriam. He did not "pre-exist."
Many messengers did descend from the sky to the land. Some defected. They wanted what we have - like in the Hunt For Red October. They came down to get laid and to experience all of the stuff we take for granted.
godrulz, you referred to "historic, biblical christianity." Is historic christianity really biblical? I say "decidedly not!"