Posted on: Saturday, September 27, 2003

EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Bible language matters

By Joel Fujita

One of the greatest hindrances in understanding our Bible is that we get lazy or lack desire to know what God has written. We would rather listen to others, careless of how they got their facts, either from commentaries, TV, movies, magazines or seminary lessons. We reason: Let the pastors and Bible scholars study and then let us know what we need to hear.

No individual can teach the deeper things of God's doctrine without proper study.

I would rather see a sermon than hear one. Going to church does not make one a good Christian — just as sleeping in your garage does not make you a Cadillac. God has revealed it to us by the spirit, which searches even the deep things of God and will reveal to us directly, not through men's wisdom.

When God formed Adam from dust and infused him with the breath of life, what did Adam receive? In the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament written about 270 B.C., the word "breath" is written "spirit."

In another example, 50 days before Pentecost, Jesus breathed on his apostles and said to them, "Receive you, Spirit Holy." There is no article before the phrase and it is written in the reverse. We have become accustomed to accepting "The Holy Spirit."

If revised to the original Greek, the Bible would be so voluminous that the public would never accept it. But it is our responsibility to seek out any misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Many of us just read our favorite version without making any distinction between Greek idioms:

A title like "The Comforter" (paraclete) is one who is called alongside to help and assist, fulfilling it by bestowing with spiritual knowledge, which is identified in Greek idiom as "Spirit Holy."

Notice the difference between these words. One translates as "The Spirit the Holy (one)" and the other as "Spirit Holy." The former refers to the source of power and the latter is that power itself with spiritual knowledge, wisdom, ability, talents, bestowing it to the believers.

Those who are still doubtful or perplexed about these expressions, "Spirit Holy," "The Holy Spirit" and "The Spirit The Holy," may retort, "It's Greek to me."

An excerpt from the Greek New Testament by George Richer-Berry, University of Chicago and Colgate University: "Within 10 years the average person wastes more time in fruitless reading without any time spent acquiring a good knowledge of Hebrew/Greek that in turn would impart to his teaching that quality of independence and of reliability which so greatly enhances one's power as a teacher."

Jesus said in Luke 11:13, "Sinful persons know giving good gifts to their children. How much more Father from heaven will give 'Spirit Holy' to those asking him." Notice the words "giving" and "asking" are written in the present tense in Greek grammar, as a continuous action in this moment. Not a one-time deal.

Whenever we need boldness, ability, wisdom, Spirit Holy and power from high, we need to pray for Spirit Holy guidance.

Joel Fujita, 83, has been a Baptist since 1960 and is a member of Pali View Baptist.