I am a self-student of Greek, not learning as fast as I would like, but doing what I can, around my other responsibilities.
I'm not sure how examining the Greek would change the reading of this passage; it is not a different translation that affects my understanding of the verse, but a way of reading it. As I mentioned, I read it in a "wider inclusionary" sense rather than a "narrow exclusionary" sense. I think that the essence of Christ is to draw people together, not to create distinctions but to bind by compassion.
I think that the word "Christ" refers to that spirit which draws humankind closer to the divine. Since this is a work that is never done, I cannot imagine that the Christ would truly limit itself to one time, or culture, or place, and so risk the failure of its task.
I agree with Paul when he says "when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (I Cor. 15:28). Either there is to be total reconciliation, or this will never come to pass.
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Date: 2003-04-20 04:03 pm (UTC)I'm not sure how examining the Greek would change the reading of this passage; it is not a different translation that affects my understanding of the verse, but a way of reading it. As I mentioned, I read it in a "wider inclusionary" sense rather than a "narrow exclusionary" sense. I think that the essence of Christ is to draw people together, not to create distinctions but to bind by compassion.
In one of my very first entries on LJ I described another interesting perspective about this passage:
http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?journal=sophiaserpentia&itemid=340
I think that the word "Christ" refers to that spirit which draws humankind closer to the divine. Since this is a work that is never done, I cannot imagine that the Christ would truly limit itself to one time, or culture, or place, and so risk the failure of its task.
I agree with Paul when he says "when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (I Cor. 15:28). Either there is to be total reconciliation, or this will never come to pass.