Rank:Posterior Maximus I
Score: 17390
Registered:
29/08/2007
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(Date Posted:04/07/2008 20:36:22)
Good morning, all.
I'll begin this new post with an observation. Sadly, it seems to me that the following theological word concepts have very little currency in the RCI: grace, mercy, reconciliation and restoration. RCI pastors may, occasionally, use these words (albeit invested with an unwarranted and idiosyncratic level of lexical 'baggage') but the practice of their "church" gives evidence that they really don't understand the meaning that lies behind these words. They see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. And many, many people suffer as a result.
Those of us who have been around for long enough will recall that the issue of the man who was discovered in sexual sin with his father's wife (1 Cor 5:5), was wielded during the debate into the policy of permanent expulsion that raged in 1994/1995. Of course the outcome of this debate was schism, and then division within the ranks of the RCI, division which subsequently led to the formation of the RF. The "shepherds" who supported the permanent explusion idea read the KJV text one way; those who didn't support the idea read it another way. And whilst I'm not so naive as to suggest that it was this particular verse that brought the entire "house of cards" down, so to speak, I will suggest that it served as something of a litmus on the issue. This particular verse provides a good example of how misunderstanding of the meaning of a biblical passage can lead to untold pain and misery when applied incorrectly.
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5, KJV)
Oλως aκοuεται eν uμiν πορνεiα, καi τοιαuτη πορνεiα hτις οuδe eν τοiς eθνεσιν, wστε γυναiκa τινα τοu πατρoς eχειν. καi uμεiς πεφυσιωμeνοι eστe καi οuχi μaλλον eπενθhσατε, iνα aρθh eκ μhσου uμwν o τo eργον τοuτο πρaξας; eγo μeν γaρ, aπwν τw σwματι παρwν δe τw πνεuματι, hδη κeκρικα wς παρwν τoν οuτως τοuτο κατεργασaμενον eν τo oνoματι τοu κυρiου [hμoν] Iησοu συναχθeντων uμwν καi τοu eμοu πνεuματος σuν τe δυνaμει τοu κυρiου hμoν Iησοu, παραδοuναι τoν τοιοuτον τw Σατανa εiς oλεθρον τhς σαρκoς, iνα τo πνεuμα σωθh eν τh hμeρa τοu κυρiου. (the same passage in the Greek text)
Unbeknownst to the men who argued the permanent expulsion position, the grammar of the Greek text actually provides the correct answer to the way it should be interpreted. Who would have thought such a thing possible?! The answer, in fact, lies in a proper understanding of the very important way that a preposition (eis), and a conjunction (hina) is applied to affect meaning in verse 5. The first clause, "to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh", is prefaced in the Greek with the preposition eis, which can denote either result or purpose. The second clause, "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus", is prefaced with the conjunction hina which commonly denotes purpose. Paul's change of language, therefore, is deliberate: to point out that his purpose in discipline is entirely rehabilitative, even if one of the results of his action is temporary exclusion and ostracism of the persistently rebellious sinner. So in this, as in every other NT instance of Church discipline, the purpose of the discipline was exclusively remedial or rehabilitative and never punitive.
Grace, mercy, reconciliation and restoration. What wonderful words these are.
Blessings,
Ian
P.S. Try as I might, I simply couldn't work out just what was necessary to ensure all of the Greek font displayed correctly. Oh, well.
(Message edited by Didaktikon On
04/07/2008 20:58:02)
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Vivos voco, mortuos plango
website: www.pleaseconsider.info email: didaktikon@gmail.com
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