Featured Total Inability in the Gospel of John

All other things being equal, do you consider someone learned in Greek better qualified to preach, teach, or pastor?

 

You are asking if the ability to better understand the original intent of the Author makes one a better conveyor of it. I ask you, how on Earth does it not?

 

Of course, this presupposes that the only way to understand the original intent of the “Author” [I assume the capitalization indicates you mean the Holy Spirit rather than the human authors. I apologize if that is not the case.] is to learn Greek. I, personally, do not hold to that position. I do not believe the original intent is hidden or at all difficult to comprehend.

 

I do not disagree. I believe anything we can do to better equip ourselves to rightly divide the word of truth makes us more effective in our preaching and teaching. This would include gaining a working knowledge of biblical languages; but, as has been stated above, certainly not the end.

 

You didn't ask the question framed that way, and I didn't answer it that way. No one said that knowledge of Greek was the "only way" to understand the texts.


Here's what you asked: "All other things being equal, do you consider someone learned in Greek better qualified to preach, teach, or pastor?"

The answer remains: That goes without saying!

 

That’s fair enough. In your opinion, what are some acceptable ways, independent of learning Greek, for one to “better understand the original intent of the Author”?

 

I'm afraid that this will not go over well here, but you asked. . .

Even more vital to understanding the Bible than a good working knowledge of the original languages, understanding the covenantal framework of how God works with mankind is far, far more important, IF one already has access to good English translations (assuming we are talking about the US) and a few solid commentaries to help with historical context and some other details that scholars are good at pointing out.

Covenant Theology provides the big-picture necessary to understand the smaller parts. Without it, the Bible lacks cohesion. With it, it flows and the Redemptive Narrative becomes clear.

If CT is too much for a Dispensationalist to bear, then I would say Biblical Theology is the most important tool in understanding the content of the Bible. Biblical Theology gives a big-picture grid that Systematic Theology then can rest upon.

The Bible is about Jesus. He said as much, so if our system, or lack of one, does not help us see it that way, all of the Greek and Hebrew study in the world won't be of any value in understanding what the Holy Author had intended by His words.

 

First and foremost: know the Author

....... the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:27

 

That text was directed to the Apostles, otherwise we have Jesus and the Spirit appointing and equipping teachers for no apparent reason.

 

"We (all-inclusive) have no idea who is elect and who isn't. I would have no way of knowing whether or not God had chosen you or not."

1 John 3

10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Maybe not obvious to some folks.


"It isn't that we're "taught" we deserve hell; the Bible is quite clear that we do--All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; we are condemned already; etc."

Being in hell is actively sinning against God, Your saying you deserve to do God wrong.

We can SCRIBBLE IN bible that "all mankind matter fact goes to hell" that still would not equate to the divine judgment that you "DESERVE" to go to hell.

You are jumping the gun on a judgement call only God can make, It doesn't matter how many times you let the air out of God's tires.


παρρησιασάμενοί δὲ ὁ Παῦλος καὶ ὁ Βαρναβᾶς εἶπον, Ὑμῖν ἦν ἀναγκαῖον πρῶτον λαληθῆναι τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀπωθεῖσθε αὐτὸν καὶ οὐκ ἀξίους κρίνετε ἑαυτοὺς τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς ἰδού, στρεφόμεθα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη



Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε·

1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged


Somebody should have given Jesus the memo about already existing conditions.


You have no right to judge any deserving hell.


Acts 10

28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

 

What authors do you consider to be adept at conveying a proper understanding of this covenantal framework?

 

Thank you for your input. I can already see that I would have majors areas of disagreement just by reading the FAQs. But, I find it interesting and helpful to understand what others believe even when we disagree so that I might disagree intelligently.

 

I would agree. The main thing I would stress, which I was lacking for decades and I think that Evangelical church lacks, is a big-picture view of the Bible. We tend to read the Bible like reference book or an owner's manual, but it is a novel!

It is, in a sense, the greatest love story ever told, but when read and studied topically, the drama is missed completely, and we bore ourselves and others (if we preach or teach) that way.

 

Reformed beat me to it.

One could have some understanding of covenant theology yet remain a dispensationalist. See my reply to him (Reformed) for my further opinion.