Gary
See below
> >I cannot see the problem of the Israelites "borrowing" from their
> >surrounding culture though that would shatter some evangelical views of
> >inspiration.
>
> In general, nor can I. But your first example above tends to give
> me the impression that Moses was a bit of a charlatan - claiming
> divine inspiration for the tabernacle design (also Heb. 12) when
> all the time he was 'plagiarising' what he had seen in Midian....
> I guess the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but it
> does give one pause for thought.
One can see this as learning from rather than plagiarism.
Some of Paul's ways of puttting this ideas across are partly based on
contemprary non-Jewish ideas. Recent scholarship, which I am not up in,
stresses Paul's use of contemporary rhetoric. I dont see why inspiration
must be like Joseph Smiths gold plates for the book of Mormon. Why cannot
biblical writers be inspired to use ideas from the culture in which they
lived, be it Jewish, Greek or Egyptian? Luke was inspired to gather together
a coherent life of Jesus and account of the early church by using
contemporary techniques.
I am aware I am blurring the old categories of natural and special
revelation, but we need to and see how our faith is incarnated or incultured
in various cultures. I dont have time to develop this.
>
> But then is the LOGOS of John borrowed from the Greeks.
As George pointed out it has roots in the OT but has parallels in the Greek
culture and thus a superb example of inculturation for the early church to
use.
> >
> > > It's certainly interesting... thanks.
always remember that in the words of the NT scholar George Ladd the bible is
THE WORD OF GOD IN THE WORDS OF MEN,>
> /Gary
>
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Received on Fri Jul 23 15:54:54 2004
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