Cheryl Schatz

Paula,

There is no doubt that every version has its problems even if minor problems.

By interpretation I mean putting into the text what we think the writer means not what is actually said.  This is where all the extra words come into play i.e. “a symbol of” added to the text.

When I wrote this I was referring to extra wording that was put into the text that is not what the writer meant by the passage.  This is why I think it is a good idea to have a bible that places these additional words into italics.  I tend to read without the added words and I do not find it hinders the meaning from coming out but does help to remove unwarranted additions.  Extra words are not bad in themselves if they are not adding or taking away from God’s intended meaning.  Extra meaning is bad.

Because languages render ideas differently, sometimes there may be a need for extra words in English.  However extra meaning is always bad no matter what language we are talking about.  Extra words that import an additional meaning hold us captive to a man’s idea.  Changing of words to make a female into a male is manipulating the text to man’s tradition and just as Jesus said, these things invalidate the word of God.  If we truly love the word of God we will want to note where tradition has changed his inspired word and we will not pay attention to that tradition.