Re: [asa] Opposing Anti-Evolution

The Greek is straightforward. ekupsas tauta apo sophon kai sunetwon is word for word "you have hidden these from wise and understanding". Whether this is to be understood in an absolute sense is another matter - we always should be aware of the Hebrew/Aramaic tendency for hyperbole. Again, Paul says in I Cor that "not many" were wise "according to the flesh."

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Dawsonzhu@aol.com
  To: gmurphy@raex.com ; RFaussette@aol.com ; rich.blinne@gmail.com
  Cc: pleuronaia@gmail.com ; asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 8:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Opposing Anti-Evolution

  George Murphy wrote:

    "At that time Jesus said, 'I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'"

  This is more of a question and a minor comment:

  I'm not sure how the New Testament Greek reads here, knowing
  next to zero in that domain, but, perhaps having read many
  of Plato's works, I always took this to mean "those who call
  themselves wise". People like St. Augustine were wise and
  intelligent, but by Grace, somehow, he could finally see that
  it was neither a vast accumulation of knowledge nor superior
  intelligence that leads us to Christ. Indeed, if I claimed
  myself to be wise, I would have the sin of pride, and that
  would surely be a stumbling block to salvation. The wisdom
  that leads us to know of God seems unreachable by this route,
  and might as well be viewed as more silly than a male peacock's
  display of feathers to a disinterested female. Neither does
  God accept such futile displays we love to do before others.

  Since the simple have been spared _this_ pride, perhaps they
  have an easier time coming to Godly wisdom and living
  by it. And as Augustine (and others) acknowledge, the pure
  and simple already get this point whereas those who call
  themselves wise and intelligent remain as stubborn and stupid
  as an ass.

  But, lacking the knowledge of the Greek, I can accept that maybe
  I am reading this point wrong.

  As to the rest of the thread, I would only add,
  although our knowledge of God has certainly "evolved" over the
  ages, our coming to God is no more easy or likely now than it
  was in the time of Abraham (or even before). Likewise, our faith is
  no better either. Though the knowledge we have accumulated is of great
  value, in as much as we forget that these are the blessing that God has
  granted us, this knowledge might as well be counted as "loss". A humble
  and contrite heart is what God accepts, not our tawdry pomp.

  By Grace we proceed,
  Wayne

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Received on Tue Jul 18 06:41:51 2006