"good" or "better": CAN WE NARROW THE FOCUS?

B. Ward Powers bwpowers at optusnet.com.au
Thu Jun 27 04:34:09 EDT 2002


At 04:45 PM 020625 -0700, Alan B. Thomas wrote:
>Carl, on this...
>
> > If there is to be further discussion of
> > the verse, could we keep
> > it focused, please, on the Greek text?
>
>
>A reference to 1 Cor. 7:1ff (and backward?)
>
>I might be partially guilty of this, to which I would
>like to apologize if I have offended anyone. I do
>struggle however with how we might gain any meaningful
>or satisfying understanding of various enigmatic texts
>like this by a mechanical examination of the syntax
>and grammar only. Really, I think one must go beyond
>the mere structure of this verse to arrive at an
>understanding of it.


I want to support Alan here. Can we focus on what Paul (or one of the other 
authors) is saying in a given passage, but not then discuss what he means 
by what he says? I urge that b-greek extends that far, or what is the point 
in trying to get to grips with Greek? And similarly an examination of the 
context within which something is said is relevant to b-greek; context is 
crucial to meaning, and not less so because our focus is on the original Greek.


>But I do see a rub here. I am not advocating
>getting into theological debates but
>how much background material need be covered for
>some passages remains a bit unclear to me. Based on
>other lists that I have been on, this list has a
>remarkable reputation for steering theologically
>heated discussions off line. And I do think that
>should continue. These discussions have seemed
>friendly and respectful,


This thread has drawn the involvement of about ten or a dozen list members, 
and there has not been a single word other than friendly and respectful. 
And that is true of almost all discussions on this list. On the very rare 
occasions when it is otherwise, the list moderators act at once. This is a 
good list on which to have a meaningful discussion.


>and although some have
>ventured into deeper speculation, I have found some of
>this speculation helpful in my understanding of this
>text.


A very fair comment. Many would agree.


>This passage did not emerge out of a vacuum. And I
>wonder if others struggle with how much background,
>sometimes guesses, need be introduced into the
>discussion of some texts.
>
>=====
>Sincerely,
>Alan B. Thomas


Yes, this is often needed.

So I want to support Alan.

Respectfully,

Ward

                                http://www.netspace.net.au/~bwpowers
Rev Dr B. Ward Powers        Phone (International): 61-2-8714-7255
259A Trafalgar Street          Phone (Australia): (02) 8714-7255
PETERSHAM  NSW  2049      email: bwpowers at optusnet.com.au
AUSTRALIA.                         Director, Tyndale College




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