Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

You may read and post, but some features are restricted to registered members. Please consider registering to gain full access! Registration is free and only takes a few moments to complete.
De-Commissioned Forum
March 29, 2024, 06:40:28 am *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
  Home   Forum   Help Search Login Register  
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Literature  (Read 3630 times)
theresearchpersona
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 418



« on: January 23, 2008, 12:04:44 am »

What elements of the word do you notice that are literary features that are probably original?

For instance, Robert Alter, a Hebrew/Lit professor makes sure to put the "and"s that translations today so non-nonchalantly throw-out because of "english" and the effect: it's hypnotic.

Here's a few things I notice: the Greek of the NT drops the "to be" verbs a lot; Greek doesn't naturally do this, but Hebrew does: so much for claims which say it's  fourth+ century fabriction...besides very early writers to wrote of the books long before critics assailed the Bible itself (they were persecuting the Christians). "Blessed the poor in spirit" not "blessed are...".

The "thou fool" of Matthew 5...is probably like "Raca", a Hebrew term: the word is "more" which has been thought to be the vocative of "moros" however when another Hebrew term is used just before one that would have sounded like "rebellious apostate (against God)" in meaning in the ears of Jews, it's suddenly a different consideration.

Many little expressions often obliterated matter. For instance, I once read a piece by a Jewish fellow who was extremely concerned about the constant use of "hand" in the OT; translations give english idiom (dynamic equivalent) renderings for many of the expression with "hand" but apparently it's likely very significant to those who understand it: and God since it is He that put the word there. : )

Personally, one of my favorites is when the definite article isn't improperly inserted or deleted before "angel of the Lord", since except for a few contexts that forbid it, it's talking about *Christophanies! (as far as we can tell.)

These are tiny examples, and there is so much more. What literary elements do you find and enjoy in the word that are due not to the english, or english style, but the originals, as far as you know? There's all kinds of stuff to discover! And form also dictates meaning as part of the contexts too...so anything in mind?!



*Christophany=pe-advent appearance of Christ! (that is, OT appearances of Christ before his human birth, such as wrestling with the angel of the Lord, or the angel (or, "messenger") that God prophecies to Israel in a warning to fear, because, He says, "My Name is in him".
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  


Powered by SMF 1.1.11 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines LLC
SimplePortal 2.1.1