|
The Bible:
1.
The New Testament, in its original form was penned using a form of Greek
called Koine - which simply means common. It was, unlike the literary Attic or
Doric, the language of the common first century business and social intercourse.
2.
The literacy rate of the first and second century church is estimated to
have been approximately 10%. Thus, the New Testament was meant to be read aloud.
3.
The first recorded New Testament books as a canon, as we know them, were
first recorded in 367. They of course were generally recognized and used much
earlier.
4.
We do not have an original copy of any book. The earliest we have is a
small portion of the Gospel of John dating to about 120.
5.
The church, prior to 357, included other books with its canon. The
included I Clement, perhaps an associate of the apostle Paul; The Didache, the
first Church manual; and The Shepherd of Hermas. Yes, they are all available
today.
Translations:
1.
1611 King James - only generally available today in one edition
– a Nelson 301
hardcover.
2.
Many people mistakenly refer to the current KJV as a 1611 edition. The
current family of KJV’s has undergone four edition changes and 150 years or
six generations appearing at the time of George Washington. The current KJV is
not the original KJV…interesting?
3.
The KJV of 1611, in some editions, included the Apocrypha, those
Deutrocanonical books generally found in the Roman Catholic Bibles.
4.
One cannot translate from an ancient language into modern and current
English without considering the differing social norms. Language equivalency is
an oversimplification. For example examine I Cor. 11:5
(see below –Women).
5.
We are asked, “Can I get a Spanish (or some other language) Bible in
KJV translation.” The answer is
no. KJV is an English translation of ancient manuscripts.
6.
Was the KJV the fist or oldest translation?
No, there were others. Martin Luther’s German translation was prior to
KJV and is still available today.
7.
Why are there so many translations? The
best answer is because there are many preferences, skills and views. But
remember, our translations are just that! Translation
of ancient manuscripts of which there are many variants. However, the variations
in the variants are significant only to scholars.
8.
Be very cautious concerning the negative statements many personalities of
the
Evangelical
Church
make concerning translations. Few of our well-known personalities have the
skills, expertise and practice to substantiate such subjective opinions. They
certainly have a right to their opinion, but in most cases the statements are
subjective personal as opposed to objective technical.
Women in the New Testament Era:
1.
Women held the status of running the home and educating the youth.
2.
Through child bearing, property was legally transferred from generation
to generation.
3.
Some suggest that I Tim. 2:15 was heard by the first and second century
lady as salvation being tied to child bearing resulting in the youth remaining
in the faith.
4.
There were women functioning as patrons of the Church, in a system based
on patronage. Although financially responsible and probably a behind the scenes
decision maker, women did not teach, assume a male role, baptize (especially
males) or perform any sacerdotal act.
5.
Women were veiled. Both outside the home and in the Church, women were to
wear a covering of the head to include the neck – I Cor. 11:5 An example of
this can be seen on the Roman coinage reverse of Pudicitia. (Chastity and Honor)
6.
Women, in society, were considered a matron if she had three children and
one husband. She was permitted to handle her own financial affairs.
7.
Widows were vulnerable in the very difficult society. The Church assumed
responsibility for widows under her wing.
Slaves:
1.
The New Testament, as society in general, assumed the ubiquity of
slavery. It was a given.
2.
Females suffered the most as female slaves were viewed as property having
no rights and many were forced into prostitution. This presented a problem for
the Church, which took a strong stand against prostitutes.
3.
The Church attempted to purchase freedom for slaves with varying degrees
of success and faced continual problems.
4.
There are records indicating that early Bishops of the Church were
slaveholders.
Money:
1.
The basic unit of measure of money of the day was the Sesteretius, a
brass or bronze coin, of which there were four to the Denari.
2.
A Denari was a silver coin worth approximately one day’s pay for a
laborer. A book would cost about 5 Denari.
.
| 
