Good Intentions?

 

 

Good Intentions?

Have you noticed when reading the Bible concerning Christ’s death and resurrection that translators’ attempts to make statements clearer sometimes obfuscate the actual meaning instead? A good example is found in Luke 23:43. It reads, Jesus answered him, ”I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise.”  Remember that Hebrew and Greek were written without punctuation marks. The translators added a comma to make Christ’s statement read, “I tell you the truth,  today you will be with me in paradise.”  They actually changed the meaning of Christ’s statement. The simple act of adding a comma in the wrong place has caused serious confusion among Christians. Translators were possibly trying to embed their immortal soul concept into Christ’s own words.

Christ was to be in the tomb for three days and three nights and He certainly would not have told the man on the other cross that He would see him that day in paradise. Jesus, of course, knew that He would be in the tomb for three days and three nights.  There is no way that a criminal would be granted eternal life before the One who died to make the concept of being granted eternal life even possible!  We know that the man on the cross was a sinner and we also know that the soul that sinneth will die. (Ezekiel 18:4)  Therefore he would have to die and be resurrected when Christ comes back. Paradise refers to the wonderful blessing of eternal life with our Lord here on earth as Revelation 2:7 tells us. “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”(NIV)  All of us who overcome will be given eternal life when our Blessed Lord comes back for us.

On our way to our next obfuscation, or perhaps we should call it a distraction, we must first explain Colossians 2:14. In Colossians 2:14 we read, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. This scripture has caused much unrest among some Christians that keep God’s Sabbaths and Holy Days. People who do not keep the Sabbath and Holy Days try to use this scripture  to corroborate that these days, instituted by God are, “ handwriting of ordinances that were against us” and were taken out of the way, by Christ’s Death.

Let’s check the Greek. The handwriting of ordinances , cheirografon tois dogmasin, in Greek, a legal term, often called, certificates of debt, or handwriting of requirements were taken out of the way, nailed to the cross of our Savior. In other words, the penalty for our sins, as lawbreakers was paid. Does that mean the law was taken away. Noooooo, just the penalty which was death. Now let's proceed to the obfuscation that distracts from the implied meaning.

Colossians 2:16, reads, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come but the body  is  of Christ.”

 

 

 

The translators added ( is) in italics, distracting from the meaning of the passage.  From verse 16, you can see that Paul was referring to the Church of Colossae and saying that the body of Christ should judge them. The actual words are translated, body of Christ (soma Christos, from Greek), not, the body is of Christ. If you check  1 Corinthians 12:27, you will find the same phrase, soma Christos, translated correctly without the “is”.  “Now ye are the body of Christ, (soma Christos) and members in particular.”

The Colossian Church was founded in the midst of a strongly pagan society. Gnostics and Ascetics ran rampant. They believed in as much self-denial, neglect of body, misery and discomfort as you could stand and still remain alive.  They thought that these efforts would result in perfection, which they were seeking.

Paul was exhorting the Colossian Church to continue to remain strong and faithful in the faith delivered to them, even though they lived in this totally pagan environment.  Gnostics and Ascetics were criticizing and looking down on the brethren in the Colossian Church because of their new freedom as a result of becoming Christians. Christ gave them unheard of freedom. They could joyfully eat, drink, fellowship, keep the Holy Days and even the New Moon celebration( which was not actually commanded that they keep) and be  happy!  The pagans couldn’t stand this freedom so they critized the Colossian Church members.

How does adding  an  “is” distract from the meaning of these passages? The translators possibly thought that by adding an “is”, they could help to obfuscate  the fact that Paul was telling the Colossian Church  to hold on to God’s truth, not to do away with a vital part. Paul was telling them to get away and stay away from the tenets of Gnosticism and Asceticism, examples  of which would be the  touch not, handle not, taste not directives. He also instructed them to not allow paganism from which, many of them came, to dictate and judge their freedom in Christ.

Adding an “is” attempts to imply a false concept, that being that  we are in Christ so we don’t have to do what He has ordained that we do as far as keeping the Holy Days. It is very important to read all of Colossians, second chapter to get the message that Paul was trying to impart. The whole chapter is designed to help them get away from Gnosticism and Asceticism and not to fall back into these pagan philosophies from which many of them escaped. The Colossian Church was subject to believing that they too, could become perfect by their own efforts and not rely on Christ.  Please hurry  back Lord Jesus!

 

 

Comments are closed.