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However, it is the main test.
How else do you read Jesus Christ at Matthew 7:20? He said “by their fruits ye shall know them” (ASV) = “you will know people by the deeds they do” (NBV).
A paraphrase that reads into the Scripture does an injustice to the Scriptures.
"Fruit" is "fruit" and that is all. In no way can fruit be translated as "deeds" as the NBV does. In fact that would be a mistranslation, leading people away from the true meaning of the verse.
karpoV karpos kar-pos'
probably from the base of 726; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively:--fruit.
The word is fruit--that is all--fruit.
You shall know them (the false teachers) by their fruit. What fruit is Jesus speaking of? He is speaking of their doctrine, not their works. Works don't even enter into the equation here. He is speaking of doctrine.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (also false teachers).
Matthew 7:15-17 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
--A corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. The evil fruit is evil doctrine that condemns people to hell. For example:
The denial of the trinity, the denial of the deity of Christ, the denial of the atonement of Christ, the denial of the virgin birth of Christ, etc.
The Saduccees denied the Resurrection.
The Phairsees denied that Christ was the Messiah or deity.
This is corrupt fruit. It has nothing to do with works. We know a false teacher by their doctrine. There are many false teachers doing good works. We know them by their doctrine, not their deeds. False teachers sometimes make it on BB. We know them by their fruit (false doctrine). How could we ever know them by their works? An impossibility!
Hi DHK: you are certainly inventive, but the NBV is not a paraphrase -- it is a translation.
Further, you are the first person I have ever seen allege that
a) the "fruits" here are not works or deeds, and
b) the "fruits" here refers to so-called "doctrines."
This is very inventive.
Considering that this was said before Internet discussion boards, it seems strange that you seem to think the age-old understanding of Matthew 7:18-23 is invalid because it is more difficult to apply to an Internet discussion board. Personally, I do not think the Internet has changed things quite that much: what Jesus said means the same thing now as it has for about 2000 years.
First of all, you are `paraphrasing' more than the NBV translation was. You are not saying that "fruit" here meant that people have fruit growing out of their bodies. However, the translators, being experts in biblical Greek, did know that "deeds" was a valid rendering.
I noticed you skipped some verses, one of which was where Jesus expanded His subject to `trees' in general.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many |miracles|?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (ASV|NASB|ASV)
You see, in Matthew 7:20, Jesus was no longer talking about just "false prophets" but people in general.
Are you going to allege that "Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance" (ASV) at Matthew 3:8 is not `actions' or `deeds' or `works' but rather `doctrines'?
Are you going to claim the same of Gal 5:22-3 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law" (ASV)? That "fruit" is not `actions' or `deeds' or `works' but rather `doctrines'?
Are you going to claim the same of Colossians 1:10 "to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (ASV)? That "fruit" is not `actions' or `deeds' or `works' but rather `doctrines'?
You find me multiple biblical scholars who know Greek well enough to translate who will corroborate your idea as possible, and I will take your innovation more seriously.
However, you are not entirely `out to sea.' A person who pretends to be a Christian but denies that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God come in the flesh, that He rose from the dead, that He died for our sins, etc. is a liar. The `fruits' of the person are the person's lies.
