Thanks for the show of humility - it's a nice change from the recent trend...
I am just a bit suprised you didn't label him with 'general'.
I do not know what his "level of scholarly achievement" is supposed to be. But, I commend him for giving honest effort to in-depth study of the scriptures - even to the extent of detail found in the original languages. Yet, I would certainly not put him on nearly as high a pedestal as you do. (or, seem to want to)
I believe he - like some others on here (all of whom I like and respect for the people that they are - or, certainly seem to be) - makes some [common] 'grammar of the language' mistakes when interpreting scripture.
It is neccessary to "balance" the 'trees' and the 'forest' when considering the overall meaning of words / phrases / verses in scripture.
If you look too closely at the trees while not keeping the forest in proper view, you can all-too-easily start [re-]defining everything - including the forest - erroneously - based strictly on the bark and the leaves - forgetting the roots and the branches.
@TheDivineWatermark - I believe this is an unfortunate "bad habit" with you. I want to encourage you to "balance" the 'scope' of your examination of the bark, leaves, roots, branches, trunk, shape, height, etc. of the trees as well as the patterns they make in the forest.
Yes, it does. And, if you can maintain humility in heart and mind, it will count for all-the-more...
Along with "always being ready to give an answer" - how about we all try to be ready to 'discuss' the matter at hand with a proper attitude that is encouraged by brotherly love in Christ - not "pulling out the weapons of war", as it were, or any such similar thing.
I am just a bit suprised you didn't label him with 'general'.
I do not know what his "level of scholarly achievement" is supposed to be. But, I commend him for giving honest effort to in-depth study of the scriptures - even to the extent of detail found in the original languages. Yet, I would certainly not put him on nearly as high a pedestal as you do. (or, seem to want to)
I believe he - like some others on here (all of whom I like and respect for the people that they are - or, certainly seem to be) - makes some [common] 'grammar of the language' mistakes when interpreting scripture.
It is neccessary to "balance" the 'trees' and the 'forest' when considering the overall meaning of words / phrases / verses in scripture.
If you look too closely at the trees while not keeping the forest in proper view, you can all-too-easily start [re-]defining everything - including the forest - erroneously - based strictly on the bark and the leaves - forgetting the roots and the branches.
@TheDivineWatermark - I believe this is an unfortunate "bad habit" with you. I want to encourage you to "balance" the 'scope' of your examination of the bark, leaves, roots, branches, trunk, shape, height, etc. of the trees as well as the patterns they make in the forest.
Yes, it does. And, if you can maintain humility in heart and mind, it will count for all-the-more...
Along with "always being ready to give an answer" - how about we all try to be ready to 'discuss' the matter at hand with a proper attitude that is encouraged by brotherly love in Christ - not "pulling out the weapons of war", as it were, or any such similar thing.
The thing is GaryA, at the heart of the matter of 2Thes2 there is quintessential unequivocal biblical truth. I just happen to believe that you have it all wrong. And quite frankly I don't know why. I mean I "get it". Little old me. Because I "get it" I figure everyone else "gets it" too. But they don't. Even when it's laid out for them such a manner that it's really beyond debate.
I'm not a mind reader, or a heart reader for that matter. But I figure that misunderstanding these biblical truths has much to do with outright stubbornness.....or worse a darkened understanding and blindness of heart. I keep saying to myself "whaaaat?? You don't get it???" And it's true they don't get it. No matter how hard you try they just don't get it.
It is axiomatic that not all opinions are truths. IMO in this case there is one correct solution, all the rest are error.