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Pastor Larry,
You said: [Often in this debate, too much dichotomy is made between "words" and "message." The reality is that the point of using words is to communicate a message. The words have no meaning in and of themselves. They only have meaning in teh context and if they are understood. For most, the words "vayomer adonai" means nothing because you don't understand the words. Thus translation is necessary. But translation of necessity changes the words and shows us that the words (of themselves) are not as important as the message.]
When you said “the words have no meaning in and of themselves” and “they only have meaning in the context”, you sorely missed a couple of salient points. Words are the vehicles for conveying meaning. Some vehicles carry more content than others, but this statement is sound none the less. For example, you would not use Honda Civics as your primary vehicles in an interstate transportation company. You would also not use a Yugo to transport royalty. The choice of words is extraordinarily important, as I am sure you know, to the proper transmission of meaning. A lot is said about the archaic words in the KJB, but it must be pointed out that the KJB was translated using a form of English that makes the stories of Shakespeare masterpieces. Without this form of writing his stories are unexceptional to say the least. The value of the powerful conveyance of God’s words should not be underestimated. The timing associated with the creation of the KJB in a period when timeless literary masterpieces were being created is miraculous to say the least.
You said: [Often in this debate, too much dichotomy is made between "words" and "message." The reality is that the point of using words is to communicate a message. The words have no meaning in and of themselves. They only have meaning in teh context and if they are understood. For most, the words "vayomer adonai" means nothing because you don't understand the words. Thus translation is necessary. But translation of necessity changes the words and shows us that the words (of themselves) are not as important as the message.]
When you said “the words have no meaning in and of themselves” and “they only have meaning in the context”, you sorely missed a couple of salient points. Words are the vehicles for conveying meaning. Some vehicles carry more content than others, but this statement is sound none the less. For example, you would not use Honda Civics as your primary vehicles in an interstate transportation company. You would also not use a Yugo to transport royalty. The choice of words is extraordinarily important, as I am sure you know, to the proper transmission of meaning. A lot is said about the archaic words in the KJB, but it must be pointed out that the KJB was translated using a form of English that makes the stories of Shakespeare masterpieces. Without this form of writing his stories are unexceptional to say the least. The value of the powerful conveyance of God’s words should not be underestimated. The timing associated with the creation of the KJB in a period when timeless literary masterpieces were being created is miraculous to say the least.