QUESTION: What about "nuggets" found only in the Greek?
ANSWER: Why settle for "nuggets" when you can own the whole mine?
EXPLANATION: Most "nuggets" that preachers find in the Greek exist
only in the fantasy of their minds.
First, anyone who believes that the BibIe is the perfect word of God,
cannot believe that it can be improved on...even by them. Most men who
discover "nuggets" are filled with a prideful humility through which
they believe that God is going to show them something in the Greek
that no one else has found. Then they can "humbly" impress their
preacher friends with their monumental "grasp" of the original
language.
They do not, regardless of what they say in the pulpit, really believe
that the Bible is perfect as it stands, in English OR Greek. Therefore
they never read their Bible with a desire for the Holy Spirit to help
them understand it. They instead "pray" that He will show them some
better way to translate some Greek word.
Since the Holy Spirit never does this, they usually resort to "The
Greek Game." This game can be played by anyone, even if they have had
no training in the Greek language. Simply put, all that the pseudo-
scholar needs to do is to own a Young's Concordance. In the very back
of a Young's Concordance is a list of the Greek and Hebrew words used
in the Bible. Under each word given is a list of the different ways
that that particular word was translated in the King James Bible. All
the eager critic needs to do is to interchange the English words used.
For example, take the Greek word "haplotes." It was translated five
different ways in the Authorized Version.
1. bountifulness II Corinthians 9:11
2. liberal II Corinthians 9:13
3. liberality II Corinthians 8:2
4. simplicity Romans l2:8, II Corinthians l:12
5. singleness Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22
Now, in order for our zealous scholar to humbly display his massive
intellect, he must find a verse where "haplotes" is translated, let's
say, "singleness" or way #5 such as Ephesians 6:5.
"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto
Christ;"
Then in his preaching, when lighting upon his prearranged "victim" he
makes some statement that is critical of the King James translators
for having poorly chosen this translation. Then he chooses one of the
other words into which it was translated, say, way #3 or #4, and takes
10-15 minutes to expound on the virtues of his choice while ever
pointing out sadly the poor choice of the Authorized Version
translators. Of course, later when he reads a verse such as Romans
12:8, "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him
do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth
mercy, with cheerfulness", where his pet Greek word is translated
"simplicity" or way #4, he will reverse the process and expound on the
virtue of choice #5Äall the time lamenting, again, the poor choice of
God's translators.
His audience, unaware of the ease with which this is accomplished,
stares on in awe of his intelligence and tremendous grasp of the Greek
language. They feel so fortunate to have a man of such caliber (.22
Blank!) to point out to them the errors in their Bible. And of course
they are totally convinced by this charade that they, lowly peons that
they are, can never truly understand the Bible as well as their
exalted teacher, because they lack the "tools" he possesses from the
Greek.
This scenario is NOT an overstatement. I have experienced it
firsthand.
Once while listening to a self-impressed Bible scholar preach I
marveled at the ease with which he duped his audience. He was reading
Romans chapter 8. Upon reading a particular verse, he stopped at a
particular word and stated, "Now the King James translators
mistranslated the Greek word used here." Then he spent 10-12 minutes
expounding on the merits of his choice of translation. The audience
was duly impressed with this man's grasp of the "original language."
(I once heard a 14-year-old boy do the same thing in a "preaching
contest". You see, ANYONE can do it!)
The very next day I was listening to another preacher on the radio.
Coincidentally this zealot was also preaching from Romans chapter 8.
He also read the same verse and ALSO stopped at the very same word
that the expert from the previous evening had accosted. He then
stated, "Sadly, the King James translators did not properly translate
the Greek word used here."
I then braced myself for a rehash of the previous evening's
exposition. But it was not to be. For this particular scholar pointed
out that the word in question should have been translated an entirely
different way (choice #l vs. choice #4).
He then, as the previous evening's butcher, expounded on the virtues
of HIS choice over that of the King James translators, or last
evening's expert. I was amazed! Two completely different men, two
entirely different opinions. In fact, their only point of agreement
was that the Bible could not possibly be correct as it was. I quickly
consigned their esteemed (and humble) opinions to the garbage heap of
education and accepted the choice that GOD had made for His Book in
1611.
A second method of finding "nuggets" is for someone with a limited
understanding of Greek to do the same as the above, only they take
their choice of words from the Greek Lexicon instead of the
Concordance.
The result is always the same: the congregation is overwhelmed by the
"depth" of his study. They are also convinced that they can never
match his comprehension of the Bible without matching (Ha!) his
comprehension of "the Greek."
A tremendous example of the fallacy of this method of Bible (?) study
is recorded in Dr. David Otis Fuller's book entitled Which Bible? We
quote it in its entirety.
"An interesting story is found in Walton's biography of Bishop
Sanderson illustrating the truth of the old proverb, "a little
learning is a dangerous thing. " Dr. Kilbye, an excellent Hebrew
scholar and Professor of this language in the university, also expert
in Greek and chosen as one of the translators, went on a visit with
Sanderson, and at church on Sunday they heard a young preacher waste a
great amount of the time allotted for his sermon in criticizing
several words in the then recent translation. He carefully showed how
one particular word should have been translated in a different way.
Later that evening the preacher and the learned strangers were invited
together to a meal, and Dr. Kilbye took the opportunity to tell the
preacher that he could have used his time more profitably. The Doctor
then explained that the translators had very carefully considered the
"three reasons" given by the preacher, but they had found another
thirteen more weighty reasons for giving the rendering complained of
by the young critic."
A third type of "nugget" is one which actually does not exist except
in totally false statements made by a Bible critic.
The greatest example of this is found in the analogy of the two Greek
words ''agape" and "phileo". Both of which are translated "love" in
John 21:15-17.
15 ''So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest
thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that l love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest
thou me? And he said unto him, Lord,thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
We have all heard this passage expounded by a pseudoscholar (sometimes
in complete sincerity due to acceptance of bad teaching). The
presentation is made that "agape" in Greek speaks of a deep, intimate,
selfless love. "Phileo" on the other hand is little more than a casual
"friendly" type of love. Our scholar then laments, almost tearfully,
the constraints of the English language. He points out that the Lord
actually says, "Peter...lovest ("agape") thou me (with a deep,
intimate, selfless love) more than these?"
Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (phileo ) thee
(with a casual, friendly type of love).
Our Bible critic points out that the Lord, not receiving the answer
that He desires, asks again.
"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest ("agape") thou me?"
Peter, it is then pointed out, is unwilling to commit himself to such
a deep relationship so he responds again.
"Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love ("phileo") thee."
At this point our Bible corrector points out that a saddened Saviour
gives in to Peter's lack of commitment and changes His own choice of
Greek words to "phileo."
"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest ("phileo") thou me?"
This sudden change supposedly shocks Peter into seeing his own
spiritual infidelity to the Lord. Thus, saddened he answers.
"... thou knowest that I love ("phileo") thee."
Our false teacher then points out to his audience that there is no way
to attain such depth of meaning from this passage using only the
feeble English. Once more the trusty "Greek" has enlightened us as
English can never do!
This presentation is tremendously effective and has only ONE flaw.
The definitions given for "agape" and "phileo" are TOTALLY UNTRUE!
I am about to make a statement concerning "agape" and "phileo" which
is not based on prejudice or opinion. It is based on careful honest
study of the way in which "agape" and "phileo" were used in the Bible
(' 'Ourfinal authority in all matters of faith and practice) by Jesus
Christ Himself and the New Testament writers.
The statement is this: There was absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in New
Testament times between "agape" and "phileo" and that BOTH are used
interchangeably by Jesus Christ and the writers of the New Testament.
REGARDLESS of what Greek grammars, Greek teachers and Greek preachers
may say!
If you have been steeped in the false teaching of "agape" and "phileo"
by your college professor or pastor, you will immediately (and with
much prejudice) reject my supposition. ("How could such godly men be
wrong?'' Right?)
Yet, I will not attempt to prove it is true. The proof will come from
Jesus Christ, Paul, Peter and John, and any other New Testament writer
that I could have chosen for the comparison. But wait! They are not my
final witnesses. The final and most weighty argument will be waged by
YOU!
For years I have been giving a test in Bible Conferences in which I
speak concerning this false teaching of "agape" and "phileo". A copy
of this test is reproduced below. IF you have the courage and IF you
can be honest with God and yourself, feel free to take it. Here's how
it goes.
In part #I, I have reproduced quotes from the New Testament which were
made by Jesus Christ using "agape'' and "phileo". Without looking at
a Greek New Testament or Concordance or any other help, use the false
rules for "agape" and "philco" given by critics of the English Bible.
Read the quote. Decide whether Jesus is referring to "agape" love
(deep, intimate, selfless love) or "phileo'' love (casual, friendly
love). Then put an "A" for agape or "P" for phileo in the blank before
the quote.
Part #II is identical to part #I except that the quotes are taken from
various New Testament writers. Do the same as in part one, putting an
"A" for agape and a "P" for phileo, using only the critics' definition
of these words. No guessing, no hunches. Use only their own rule.
After you have completed the test, turn to the answer sheet found in
Appendix #l in the back of this book.
JOHN 21:1~17 - AGAPE vs. PHILEO
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Read the Bible quote.
2. Put an A or P in the blank before the quote to signify your choice
of the Greek word used, AGAPE or PHILEO.
DEFINITIONS:
AGAPE love: Deep, intimate, selfless love
PHILEO love: Casual "friendly" love.
I - Comparison: How Jesus used AGAPE and PHILEO.
1. Luke 11:42 the love of God
2. John 5:42 the love of God
3. Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother
4. Rev 3:9 to know that l have loved
5. Rev 3:19 As many as l love
6. Matt 23:6 love the uppermost. rooms
7. John 12:25 He that loveth his life
8. Luke 11:43 ye love the uppermost seats
9. John 5:20 the Father loveth the Son
10. John 16:27 the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have
loved me
II - Comparison: How other New Testament writers used AGAPE and
PHILEO.
l. II Tim. 3:4 of pleasures more than of God
2. John 11:5 Jesus loved Martha
3 John 20:2 the other disciple whom Jesus loved
4 I Cor. 16:22 If any man love not the Lord
5. Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love
6. I Cor. 16:24 My love be with you all
7. II Tim. 1:7 of power, and of love, and...
8. Rom. 12:10 one to another with brotherly love
9. II Thes. 3:12 abound in love one toward another\
10. Titus 2:4 women to be sober, to love their husbands
11. Eph. 5:28 So ought men to love their wives
12. I Peter 2:17 Love the brotherhood
13. Heb. 13:1 Let brotherly love continue
14. Titus 3:4 and love of God our Saviour
15. I John 2:5 in him verily is the love of God perfected
If you have taken the test and if you have been honest, you have found
that the TRUTH of the matter is that neither Jesus nor any of the New
Testament writers acknowledged the false rule foisted on us by heady
and high-minded Bible critics.
Thus we see that this little "nugget" is made only of "FOOL'S GOLD"
and has never really existed except in the deluded minds of men.
Whom will you believe? Jesus Christ or your Greek professor?
Here are the answers (A signifies "agape;" P signifies "phileo"):
JOHN 21:15-17 ÄAGAPE vs PHILEO
I - Comparison: How Jesus used AGAPE and PHILEO.
A 1. Luke 11:42 the love of God
A 2. John 5:42 the love of God
P 3. Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother
A 4. Rev 3:9 to know that rhave loved
P 5. Rev 3:19 As many as I love
P 6. Matt 23:6 love the uppermost rooms
P 7. John 12:25 He that loveth his life
A 8. Luke 11:43 ye love the uppermost seats
P 9. John 5:20 the Father loveth the Son
P 10. John 16:27 the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me
II - Comparison: How other New Testament writers used AGAPE and PHILEO.
P 1. II Tim 3:4 of pleasures more than of God
A 2. John 11:5 Jesus loved Martha
P 3. John 20:2 the other disciples whom Jesus loved
P 4. I Cor 16:22 If any man love not the Lord
A 5. Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love
A 6. I Cor 16:24 My love be with you all
A 7. II Tim 1:7 of power, and of love, and. ..
P 8. Rom 12:10 one to another with brotherly love
A 9. II Thes 3:12 abound in love one toward another
P 10. Titus 2:4 women to be sober, to love their husbands
A 11. Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives
A 12. I Peter 2:17 Love the brotherhood
P 13. Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue
P 14. Titus 3:4 and love of God our Saviour
A 15. I John 2:5 in him verily is the love of God perfected
../