Continued from last episode-
Preamble: There is obvious gross interpretation of the
Scripture as a result of the way and manner the Scripture has been studied and
read. The inappropriate studying and reading of the Scripture has led to wrong
interpretation of the Scripture and that has resulted into wrong application of
what the Scripture says.
Anchor Text:
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Acts 8:30
Text of Interest:
“But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Ephesians 4:20
As rightly pointed out in the earlier episodes, the
Scriptures were written in human languages which are subject to development as
time goes on. The languages used in translating the Scriptures have advanced to
certain levels and the advancement is still ongoing because of man’s increase
in knowledge. As a result of this, there has been an increase or expansion of the
vocabularies of these languages, thereby rendering some expressions and words
used in the past inactive, if not useless in the present day interpretation.
What I am trying to convey is that some words in the old English language does
not mean the same in the present day English language, for instance let’s see
one of the verses these words appear. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”
(Colossians 1:12).
The word meet that appeared in the verse above in the
present day English language literally mean to come across or to encounter
with. However, in the present day translation that verse should be translated
this way “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us “qualified” to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”. In order to avert or
overcome this kind of issues in the Scripture, one should try and equip oneself
with different and latest translations in the English language.
Another thing to keenly observe while studying the
Scriptures is the issues of some syntax errors that occur in several verses.
One should understand that the translations were done by humans and of course
human factors should not be exonerated in its totality. However, we should be
grateful to God that the quickening of translation was established in the
hearts of the individuals that pioneered it in the first place. Being humans,
the translators with their different levels of understanding of the lines,
placed the punctuations in the lines at some places that are not really
correct. As a result of this, many verses have turn out to mean something they
are not supposed to mean.
I am placing emphasis on this because if a verse happens
to mean what it is not to people, it means that it will definitely affect the
application of that verse in the life of the reader. Therefore, the doctrine
obtainable from that verse may not be absolutely correct and sound and of
course it will affect the reasoning and mentality that will be developed from
it by the reader. Let’s see one of the verses these occurred; “If we live in
the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25). Here, the word
‘if’ suggests a conditional statement, but doctrinally, for Christians, it
should not be an ‘if’ because Christians are meant to live in the Spirit.
Therefore, for a Christian it is a normal thing to live in the Spirit because
that is his or her place of being always. So the translation should be “Since
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Now, this creates a
better understanding for a Christian that he or she is always in the Spirit and
of course should always walk like someone who is in the Spirit.
However, remember one cannot ascertain the truth in
error!
To be continued…..
Till I come your way again, keep on basking in the Arena
of Indubitable Truth!
Chukwuemeka C. Asiegbu
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