April, 2009 Comments

[mwvickers]

I was thinking along Suzi's line.  Being left-handed was evil way back when and even possibly during the Biblical times, because they were "different" and God wanted to show there was no difference.  But then the shaking of hands, and the checking of weapons also makes a lot of sense and that would be one way that God could help the Israelites.

I checked several study Bibles, and none of them mention the idea that being left handed was considered evil.  So while that may have been the way people were viewed by some in history, I'm not positive it would apply here. 

One of them also seems to offer an explanation that would make it impossible for it to be interpreted this way, but I'm not sure.  It states that the Hebrew word or phrase that is translated as being "left handed" in this case can also mean ambidextrous.  If so, then Ehud is not simply left handed, but could use both hands.  This seems to imply that he knew they would check the right-handed places for storing weapons (i.e., the left leg), and so if he could use both, he wisely chose to hide the dagger on the right thigh, where they wouldn't check, and where he could use his left hand to draw it.

[Suzanne]

Thanks so much for the explanations. Having these discussions sure add a lot to our daily readings!

[mwvickers]

Thanks so much for the explanations. Having these discussions sure add a lot to our daily readings!

I'm enjoying it immensely!  I love hearing all of your ideas, as it gives me new perspectives to think from. 

[love2read]

My mom who is left-handed can tell lots of stories of being told that it was wrong to use her left hand. She was raised by her grandmother (born in 1900) and my grandma was a superstitious person. She was contantly trying to get my Mom to change and was really concerned about what people would think or that she would be cursed for being left-handed.

I don't know how far before my Grandmother's time that this was what people thought. She was actually a very nice lady but was trying to raise my Mom right.

Lynn M

[love2read]

I especially loved the reading in Psalms today. It was a real blessing to me.

I hope of you enjoyed it too.

Lynn M

[mwvickers]

Unless I am mistaken, today's reading in Luke mentions the releasing of Barabbas in place of Jesus (I read yesterday's and today's reading yesterday, as I will be too busy today). 

I wanted to point out an interesting note on names that is revealed in some early manuscripts (and is incorporated into a few translations today, but I don't think NLT is one of them). 

In today's assigned reading, we read about Jesus before Pilate.  I don't remember if the following occurs in today's reading, but it is in at least one of the parallel readings in another gospel.  Pilate asks the crowd, "Who do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?" 

I always wondered why Pilate specified "who is called Christ" after the name Jesus.  Wouldn't the people have been clear on Jesus' name? 

Interestingly, "Barabbas" is a last name.  It is a semitic combination of "bar" (meaning "son, or son of") and "abbas" (interestingly, meaning "father").  So, Barabbas literally means "son of the father." 

We can see this usage with Peter, or "Simon Bar-Jona," which means "Simon, son of Jona."  Blind "Bartimaeus" would be a last name meaning "son of Timaeus." 

So, Barabbas is a last name, not a first name.  There have been a few early manuscripts discovered which have a first name listed for Barabbas in Pilate's question.  It then reads like this:

"Who do you want me to release to you?  Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?" 

It is fully possible, then, that Barabbas' first name was "Jesus."  Pilate, then, would specify which Jesus, Barabbas or the one called Christ.

[Anju No. 469]

I was always under the impression that "Christ" was not an official word, so to speak for many years.  That Christians were not called Christians for hundreds of years.  But then we are talking translations here and how many are out there?

Yesterdays and today's psalms were both wonderful, I enjoyed them and they gave me a lift.  Particularly after Luke's reading.

[Elijsha]

I read somewhere, that being left handed had something to do with being poorly potty trained. odd i know.

[Elijsha]

"Christ" means The Anointed One, right?

[Pawz4me]

I believe Christ or Christus is the Greek word for Messiah (which is Hebrew).  I believe both of them can mean annointed or annointed one.

[mwvickers]

I was always under the impression that "Christ" was not an official word, so to speak for many years.  That Christians were not called Christians for hundreds of years.  But then we are talking translations here and how many are out there?

I'm not sure what you mean. 

"Christ" in Greek means "anointed one."  It was a title (i.e., Jesus the Christ, Christ Jesus.).  After a time, people almost started thinking of it as a name.  But it really is a title.

As far as Christians being called that, when we get to Acts, you will see that it was not long after Jesus' death and resurrection that "the disciples were first called 'Christians' at Antioch."  Interestingly, the word "Christian" is only used three times in the Bible.  The first time it is introduced, it was actually introduced by people who were not believers to describe them, as "Christian" means something like "Christ follower." 

As far as your comment on translations, I'm not sure exactly what you are meaning.  Can you explain your question a little better?  I study Bible translation issues, so I may be able to respond if I'm sure of what you are asking. 

[Suzanne]

We are now in the month of May for comments on the OYB readings. You can find them here:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,7420.0.html