Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Lew Osborne" <osbo AT hn.ozemail.com.au>]

So,

Yes we do get into theology. Regretably theology has influenced the
translators to too great an extent. A symple example is the statement found
in the preface to the RSV page 9 where the transdlators make the remarkable
statement that to translate the words God LORD Lord etc "is entirely
inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church" (preface
page 9)"

Now to translate these words is inappropriate?

I ask you!!!!!

LOsbo


----- Original Message -----
From: <Polycarp66 AT aol.com>
To: <markeddy AT adams.net>; <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2003 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Nephesh Mesopotamian myths


> In a message dated 2/7/2003 11:28:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> markeddy AT adams.net writes:
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Walter R. Mattfeld"
> > Subject: [b-hebrew] Nephesh Mesopotamian myths
> > >
> > >IF, IF memory serves me rightly, I recall that in some Mesopotamian
myths
> > >the dead were described as alive in the Underworld possessing
FEATHERED
> > >BODIES, flying about, chirpping and twittering. Egyptian myths have
the
> > Soul
> > >or "BA," as a bird with a human head that leaves the body and flies
about,
> > >always returning to the body.
> > >
> > >So, we have in Mesopotamian and Egyptian myths, notions of the dead
> > >possessing feathered bodies, capable of flight. As Israel did not come
> > into
> > >being in "a vaccum" and as "some" scholars allow that Israelite
beliefs
> > >evolved from those of the nations who preceeded her and co-existed
with
> > her,
> > >I see nothing strange in the Hebrew notion of the dead as twittering
as a
> > >means of communication ( did not the Heavenly Spirit or Soul of God
> > descend
> > >upon Christ in the form of a twittering Dove ?).
> >
> > Nowhere does it say that the dove was twittering. Nowhere is the Spirit
of
> > God ever called a soul. Where
> > is any evidence that this teaching is a reflection of Egyptian myths?
> >
> > Why do so many on this list seem to assume that the religion of Israel
> > imitated, metamorphized, borrowed,
> > or otherwise was based upon the myths of other ancient societies?
Israel's
> > sacred writings from beginning
> > to end demonstrate that something quite different from that happened.
The
> > gods of Canaan (and to some
> > extent Egypt and Mesopotamia) were unknown to the people of Israel in
the
> > patriarchal period through the
> > settlement of Canaan (or at least not worshipped by them--with
exceptions
> > which were severely punished,
> > e.g. the golden calf incident).
> >
> > In Deut. 13:6-10 Moses says, "6 If your brother, the son of your
mother, or
> > your son or your daughter or
> > the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you
> > secretly, saying, 'Let us go and
> > serve other gods,' which neither you nor your fathers have known,  7
some
> > of the gods of the peoples who
> > are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end
of
> > the earth to the other,  8 you
> > shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him,
nor
> > shall you spare him, nor shall
> > you conceal him.  9 But you shall kill him. <snip>
> > And why do I believe that Israel's sacred writings were original and
> > correct while other ancient Near
> > Eastern writings were secondarily derived and in error? Jesus accepted
the
> > Mosaic authoriship of the books
> > attributed to him. Since we know that He demonstrated His authority
with
> > "signs and wonders" culminating
> > in His own resurrection, we can and ought to read the Old Testament in
the
> > light of His teaching. (You
> > always start from the best attested facts, and then work to that which
is
> > harder to proove.) <snip>
> Mark,
>
> We try to not get too much into theology here.  The aim is to discuss
rather
> what the text might be saying.  We do wander somewhat into theology, and
when
> we do we have a wide range of opinions here.  You represent the very
> traditional protestant conservative view.  That's OK, you have a right to
> your opinion.  I may understand it better than some since I come from
that
> background myself though I no longer hold that view.  I think we would
all be
> better served if you saved your energy for putting this material into
your
> sermons where your parishoners might be more in agreement with you and
> appreciate it more.
>
> The problem is that if we simply take what is written and attempt as best
we
> can to harmonize it, we still have many problems.  Then again, if we were
to
> simply  to accept this because "the Bible tells me so", we wouldn't have
much
> to talk about.  It's all been written already.  We hope to learn
something
> new regarding these texts which we have not known before.  Most of all,
we're
> here to discuss any problems or developments in the understanding of the
> language.
>
> gfsomsel
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