Buzz_B
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- Oct 15, 2017
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The problem is that though you assessment of 1 Corinthians 5:5 is sincere, it is mistaken.2 Thess.1:9 speaks of their "destruction", though some translations read "extermination", "ruin", etc
A recent new translation by EO scholar David Bentley Hart reads: "Who shall pay the just reparation of ruin in the Age, coming from the face of the Lord and the glory of his might" (The New Testament: A Translation, 2017, Yale University Press).
The Greek word for "ruin" (2 Th.1:9) is the same for "destruction" in 1 Cor.5 & refers to the flesh being destroyed, not the person, for the purpose of salvation:
4 When you are gathered in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
First off, the word "his" is translated from the definite article "ho" but it is the neuter gender written as "to" in the Greek text of 1 Cor5:5. As it has no gender we cannot properly render it as "he" or "him". (And both Westcott-Hort and Stephanus Textus Receptus do use the neuter "to pneuma" there.)
I am saddened by such uncaring mistranslation like as that which was done obviously to harmonize a preconceived belief to the text. It is supposed to work the other way around. We ought to not alter the Greek text by turning the Greek neuter "to" into a masculine "tov" if we care about truth. We alter what we believe so that what we believe harmonizes with the Greek text.
The spirit there spoken of is the one being grieved by the congregation's failure to put the leaven out from it, just as shown in context. This is because God's house (his temple) is holy and allowing leaven to work freely within the congregation to corrupt it threatens to quench the spirit of the congregation.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you("the church of the Thessalonians") all, making mention of you("the church of the Thessalonians") in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work("the church of the Thessalonians") of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; ................................
5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you("the church of the Thessalonians") wholly; and I pray God your("the church's) whole spirit and soul and body (which they have of Christ) be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you("the church of the Thessalonians"), who also will do it.
Now, I know some will buck what I have there shown you, but not only does the Greek plural pronouns indicate that the way I showed you is correct but you have the example of the churches being spoken to as congregations there in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 to use as a comparison for how Paul was talking to the church as the first 3 verses of 1 Thessalonians 1 shows.
I know it makes us wrestle in ourselves a bit at first. It is not easy finding out we have had a few things wrong. Nobody likes it until they have so surrendered to God's hands that they get used to being found wrong when they are wrong, and even look forward to it as it means more growth in Christ.
Be brave and hang in there. It gets better.
Edit: The KJV sets the singular off as "thy", "thee", "thou", "thine" which is very helpful when one learns to use it to their advantage.
Because this failure to correctly understand the Bible writers use of the plural Greek pronoun translated "ye", "you", "your", "yours" is a source of much error in doctrine, I will add this little extra help. Do a word search for "among you" and notice that these you's are able to have people and many other things "among" (as in "distributed within") those you's. That is because "you" is the congregation as one body one spirit of Christ. Example: Romans 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more ..." "among" is there the Greek preposition "en". So one could say , ""For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is (in or within) you ..."
Most are not so skilled at this basic word usage as they think. It is these simple things we overlook.
Not all Bibles have distinguished the plural pronouns from the singular with the use of "thy", "thee", "thou", "thine" for the singular 2nd person pronouns the way the KJV does. Some do it by capitalizing all the letters of the plural and using lower case for the singular. But many do noting at all to help you know if it is the plural or singular used. Then you have to look it up yourself in a reference.
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