The Issue of DistanceThe Issue of Distance© John Stevenson, 2010

Cultural-Historical Context

Have you ever Have you ever written a letter, a written a letter, a

poem, or an poem, or an article that was article that was misinterpreted?misinterpreted?

• Who was Onesimus? Who was Onesimus? • What was Paul’s attitude toward slavery, What was Paul’s attitude toward slavery,

as exhibited in this letter?as exhibited in this letter?• What was the cultural practice of slavery What was the cultural practice of slavery

in that day? in that day? • Did Paul’s attitude differ from the cultural Did Paul’s attitude differ from the cultural

norm? Would it lead to changes in the norm? Would it lead to changes in the cultural norms? cultural norms?

• How should we “apply” any theological How should we “apply” any theological principles given in this letter?principles given in this letter?

Page 39 WorkbookPage 39 Workbook

• Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

• PoetryPoetry

• Wisdom LiteratureWisdom Literature

• ProphecyProphecy

• EpistleEpistle

• Apocalyptic LiteratureApocalyptic Literature

TRUNKTRUNK

Words are more than the sum of Words are more than the sum of their partstheir parts

Original meanings do not govern Original meanings do not govern meaning in later textsmeaning in later texts

Greek words that have later derived Greek words that have later derived English meanings are not governed English meanings are not governed

by those meaningsby those meanings

For I am not ashamed of the For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the gospel, for it is the powerpower of of

God for salvation… God for salvation… (Romans 1:16).(Romans 1:16).

Greek words that have later derived Greek words that have later derived English meanings are not governed English meanings are not governed

by those meaningsby those meanings

……the merchants of the earth the merchants of the earth have become rich by the have become rich by the wealthwealth of her sensuality. of her sensuality.

(Revelation 18:3).(Revelation 18:3).

The Strongest The Strongest NIV NIV

Exhaustive Exhaustive ConcordanceConcordance

Lexical form of Lexical form of the Greek the Greek

wordword

Lexical form Lexical form transliteratedtransliterated

Part of Part of speech (verb)speech (verb)

Frequency Frequency countcount

Root wordRoot word

Basic Basic definitiondefinition

Various ways Various ways it is translated it is translated

in the NIVin the NIV

Look up the word “world” as it is Look up the word “world” as it is used in the NIVused in the NIV

• From which Greek/Hebrew words is it translated?

• What are the other ways in which those words can be rendered?

• What are the various range of meanings?

Look up the word “transformed” Look up the word “transformed” used in Romans 12:2used in Romans 12:2

• From which Greek word is it translated?

• What are the other ways in which that word is rendered in the NIV?

• In what other places is that Greek word used in the New Testament?

Look up the word “love” as used Look up the word “love” as used in the New Testamentin the New Testament

• From which Greek words is it translated?

• What are the other ways in which those words are rendered in the NIV?

• Is there a distinction in these various terms?