Yesterday I shared some results of the struggles I have with the way that some of the versions render some words in Greek. I shared how that struggle led me to look up how a particular word was used through time and what would some possible implications be of using how the word was used differently than how it is currently translated. The point was that we often take for granted that we know the definitions of the words we read in the text. The reality is that there are shades of meaning that can amplify or clarify what a passage may say.
In meeting with men in the Bible and in the seminars I do on Bible study; one of the things I recommend is that the men should look up keywords in the passages they are studying. The recommendation is to do so in the oldest dictionary one can find.
Friday morning I was meeting with a man and we were discussing a study we were beginning on the believer’s position in Christ. The initial assignment is to look at Ephesians 1 (here @ Bible Gateway) and Colossians 1 (here @ Bible Gateway) and make several observations about what that phrase “in Christ” means to each of us who have trusted Him.
This gentleman had been through one of the seminars last fall. So, applying what he learned, he looked up “in”. Frankly, as many times as I have done this study, as many times as I have suggested that one look up keywords, I had not looked up “in” in relation to this particular study.
He did.
He used Google and got these definitions that he saw had an impact on our topic (click the down arrow at the bottom where it says “Translations, word origin, and more definitions”):
As a preposition
1. expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.
5. expressing inclusion or involvement.
As an adverb
1. expressing movement with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.
2. expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
3. expressing arrival at a destination.
There were several more. He considered the nuances as they applied to the believer in Christ. Some of these do not fit grammatically, but the exercise caused him to slow down and think more thoroughly the implications of our being in Christ.
It is a fairly good way to extend one’s meditation on a passage or a concept.
Friday morning I was meeting with a man and we were discussing a study we were beginning on the believer’s position in Christ. The initial assignment is to look at Ephesians 1 (here @ Bible Gateway) and Colossians 1 (here @ Bible Gateway) and make several observations about what that phrase “in Christ” means to each of us who have trusted Him.
This gentleman had been through one of the seminars last fall. So, applying what he learned, he looked up “in”. Frankly, as many times as I have done this study, as many times as I have suggested that one look up keywords, I had not looked up “in” in relation to this particular study.
He did.
He used Google and got these definitions that he saw had an impact on our topic (click the down arrow at the bottom where it says “Translations, word origin, and more definitions”):
As a preposition
1. expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.
5. expressing inclusion or involvement.
As an adverb
1. expressing movement with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.
2. expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
3. expressing arrival at a destination.
There were several more. He considered the nuances as they applied to the believer in Christ. Some of these do not fit grammatically, but the exercise caused him to slow down and think more thoroughly the implications of our being in Christ.
It is a fairly good way to extend one’s meditation on a passage or a concept.
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