Jim

I know that this has got some age on it now, but it has taken me a bit of time to muddle through the resources everyone mentioned I sample. I have had the opportunity to look through most of the information and translations that you folks have generously steered me toward. I also took some sites/information given to me by folks who are on the opposite side of the fence from your perspective…not to be difficult mind you; but to try to see why they are so sure in their beliefs as well. What I have found is that both sides of this argument are stating as near fact translations that are in direct conflict with one another. One side says an ancient word is feminine, the other says masculine. Both argue without a doubt that if the text is the way they say it is, then there can be no mistake in it’s meaning. This leaves me in a very confusing position. I am not an un-intelligent person. I made a perfect score on my ACT in reading years ago, and I have both a bachelors degree and a masters degree in education. But with all my skills and gifts in the realm of reading and comprehension it boils down to who do you believe. I have spent the last few weeks trying very hard to discern which set of truths is the truth, and I am no closer now than I was. Everything you folks have shared with me, makes absolute sense in the framework of correct translation. But these points are equally proven based on the alternative translations that were presented in other forums. Perhaps credentials is the tiebreaker, I’m not sure, but I do feel I must offer my sincere appreciation for the time and effort you have put forth in helping me understand your point of view. You have alerted me to the idea that simply believing the concordance of my bible can be the wrong way to go. These lapses and disagreements in translations…do they make you believe that our Bible has been changed/altered over the years based on historical events/cultures until now it cannot be considered infallible? I know the selling point to every new translation is that it is supposedly the most historically accurate of any…but that cannot be true for each version. How does a “normal” (not that anyone who knows me would use that word to describe me) person pick up a bible and teach his daughters in truth? My ex-wife has belonged to five different denominations in the past 5 years and now professes to be catholic. I don’t judge her for that, but I do feel like I need to have a firm grasp of what is true so that I can be a consistent source of information for my girls as they grow up and ask questions about the nature of Christ. I feel more lost now than when I began. I appreciate your insight so far, I just don’t know where to go from here. I hope you all have a good week.