Translation Improvement by Minimizing "thing"

[Van]

Luke 2:15 NASB
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing G4487 that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

The Greek word translated as "thing" is "Rhema" and has several meanings, one of which is the "thing spoken of."
So the idea is not any old "thing" but whatever event was verbally described.

Therefore, if the translations more closely adheres to the historical-grammatical meaning of this context, it would read, "...and see this declared event that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

The problem with translating a contextually indicated object or event as "thing" is that anything can be read into the text.

For example, most believers take for granted that "All things are possible with God." But what scripture actually says is "all of the contextually indicated things" are possible with God." And what is literally said is All (ellipsis) are possible with God. The word "things" again has been supplied by the translators. Matthew 19:26 and Mark 10:27 should be contextually translated as All salvations are possible with God.

Another verse in the same vein is Luke 18:27. The NASB adds to the text "the things that are impossible with people" when the actual text reads "the impossible with people" are possible with God.

Sadly, the Greek word for "all" (pas) is translated about 170 times as "all things." A simple fix is when we come across the phrase, is to consider it as if it read "all these things."

 

[Van]

Matthew 11:27 NASB
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

Here is an example of "all (pas) being translated out of context. Jesus is discussing how the things which God had hidden had now been handed over to Him to reveal, but many in some cities had rejected the revelation authenticated by miracles. Thus the correct, contextual translation should be all these things.

 

[Ben1445]

Psalms 8:6
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
thou hast put all things under his feet:

Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer,
and he that formed thee from the womb,
I am the LORD that maketh all things;
that stretcheth forth the heavens alone;
that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

John 16:15
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

1 Corinthians 15:28
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Luke 10:22
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Ephesians 1:22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Matthew 11:27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

John 13:3
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Hebrews 2:8
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.


I know I’m going to be scolded for not saying anything so I’ll just say that I think these places help each other in the understanding of all things. Sometimes Scripture says it better than anybody else ever could.
That is my opinion. I reserve the right to disagree with the OP and allow for him to disagree with me.