If someone refers to the "greek scriptures" is that a sign of JW indoctrination?

by scotoma 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  L3G

  Terry's right. If you could talk to first century Christians and ask them what their "Geeek Sciptures" were, they would produce the Septuagint. That was the "Greek Bible" back then. The term "Hebrew Scriptures" is commonly used outside of the JW world because some people don't want to offend the Jews by calling that portion of the Bible the "Old Testament." It implies it's now longer in force or no longer good any more. So you will hear/see some use of "Hebrew Bible" instead of "Old Testament" outside of JWs, both by Jews and non-Jews.

  But the "Christian Greek Scriptures" phrase has got to be another Freddie Franz idosyncrasy, an attempt to distance JWs from "Christendom." I once read that article by George Howard about the tetragrammaton in the New Testament. In it he uses the term "the Greek Bible." He means the Septuagint and the New Testament combined. He does not use the term "Christian Greek Scriptures." That would definitely mark one as JW, but it's not the same as simply saying "Greek Scriptures."
• 

  fulltimestudent

  Terry's right. If you could talk to first century Christians and ask them what their "Geeek Sciptures" were, they would produce the Septuagint. That was the "Greek Bible" back then.

  I agree. Without question, the early Christians made the Greek Septuagint version, their own Bible.

  But more, the key Textbook I'm using this semester is entitled, Introducing the New Testament - Its Literature and Theology (Eerdmans, 2001) The authors are Achtemeier, P.J., Green J.B., Thompson M.M. Check it out- its a respected textbook.

  And in ch. 2, the first sentence is: The New Testament is in Greek. Important in the eyes of the authors, because the fact that the NT is written in Greek is evidence of the massive cultural transformation that shaped the era just prior to early Christianity and the next centuries. Christian thought as we have inherited it, is as much a product of Greek/Hellenic thought as was Jewish/Hebrew influence.

  Is Freddie's term, the Christian Greek Scriptures demonstratably wrong? No! its actually quite descriptive. The term, Christian Greek Scriptures is as descriptively correct as the more commonly used term, the New Testament.
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  Band on the Run

  When I was in college, the texts referred to Hebrew and Greek scriptures. I believe the idea of testament is a religius idea. Sometimes even the WT is correct. You needed to learn Koine Greek for advanced work within the History Dept or the seminary.
• 

  villagegirl

  Perry makes an important point about preventing people from

  seeing themselves as part of the body of Christ and in a new covenant.

  Evidence : did you attend the "Memorial" ? The WT so called memorial is all

  about NOT being part of the body of Christ and NOT partaking of the new covenant

  which was the whole reason the Messiah came to INCLUDE not EXCLUDE, to make one

  single body out of all mankind, not set up "classes" and separate "hopes" The average

  witness will say things like " I do not aspire to being born again" Aspire ? Because

  they haven't a clue what Grace is all about. And they think born again, means, gone insane.

  Yes it is definitely a sign. I believe the Watchtower exists for the purpose of preventing people from accepting the New Covenant and avoiding condemnation. (The terms testament and covenant are interchangeable in the bible....same greek word)

  What better way to prevent this than by doing away with its name? The enemy would have people believe that the New Covenant (a literal contract with God) was only for 144,00 people who lived long ago.... not for YOU. They say it was for rulership positions in the coming Kingdom. That's a lie from Hell.