Kristen

Mark, when you said (I will refer to this as “quote 1”):
“Kristen, i stand by what i said. As i see it, i cannot see what you define kephale as. It’s obviously not what i believe it to mean. Suzanne has shown her dislike for source and she is egalitarian, and a very good scholar. So thus, i don’t see how you are giving the proper meaning to kephale.”
— You just said something entirely different than when you said (I will refer to this as “quote 2”):
“you are rejecting the meaning of biblical words.”
In quote 1, you have stated that we don’t see eye to eye. You don’t see my definition of kephale. It is not what you believe it to mean. In other words, you disagree with me.
In quote 2, this is not what you said. What you said was that there was a “meaning” of “biblical words” that I had “rejected.” In effect, you were saying what YOU had decided the meaning of the words was, WAS the meaning of those words– authoritatively and without dispute– and that I was “rejecting” that meaning, and thus, the authority of those biblical words.
Do you see the difference? “We disagree,” or even “I think you’re wrong” is one thing. Or (which is less polite but still not going as far as you actually went) you could have just said, “You’re wrong.” I would have bristled a little at that being worded in such an in-your-face manner, but at least it would not have been a judgment of my character and motivations.
But what you said was “You are REJECTING the meaning of BIBLICAL words.” Whether or not you meant to say that you believed I was in rebellion against the true meaning of the Bible– that is what I heard you say.
If I were to tread very hard on someone’s toes– even if it were an accident and unintentional– I would apologize. You just treaded very hard on my spiritual toes. It hurts to have someone tell you, whether they mean it or not, that you are rejecting the meaning of the Bible.
I will grant that this may not have been what you intended to say– but communication is a two-way street. It is just as much your responsibility to word things the way you mean them, as it is my responsibility to do my best to deciper your meaning.
The plain sense of your words was “you are rejecting the true meaning of the Bible.” I took those words to mean what they actually said.
So– now when you say, “I still stand by what I said,” you are NOT standing by “you are rejecting the true meaning of the Bible.” You are standing by, “I think you’re wrong.” I don’t mind a bit that you think I’m wrong. 🙂 What I minded was being told I rejected the Bible.
Does that make things clearer?