| Author |
Message |
    
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 12:09 pm: | 
|
Just have some questions i need answers to if you can help i would be most gratefull |
lds
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 9:48 pm: |
|
what are your questions? |
godchild (godchild)
New member
Username: godchild
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2005
Posted From: 64.28.60.17
| | Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 12:54 am: |
|
I would be happy to answer your questions if I can. You must read the Bible to verify. |
godchild (godchild)
Advanced Member
Username: godchild
Post Number: 918
Registered: 1-2005
Posted From: 64.28.51.32
| | Posted on Friday, May 06, 2005 - 1:11 pm: |
|
Hebrews 13:17
This verse tells Christians to obey their leaders. Is this in conflict with Romans 14, which teaches individual responsibility to Christ? If we obey others, that means they make our decisions for us. What about Jesus' teaching in Matthew 20 that leaders are to be servants, not bosses in the church?
The solution to this apparent conflict in teaching is found in the subtleties of the original language, which our English versions fail to reflect accurately. The original reads peithesthe tois hegoumenois hymon kai hypeikete. Each of these words is significant.
Peithesthe is from peitho, which literally means "let yourselves be persuaded, or convinced." A fair translation is, "be open to the persuasion of your leaders".
Tois hegoumenois hymon is tranlated "your leaders." The key term is used of rulers and princes, but the original meant to lead or guide. Here the spiritual leader is cast as one in the church who has traveled along the road toward godliness and, as a valid model, is able to point others to that way.
Hypiekete is the single word that our English versions render "submit to their authority." The word is rightly translated this way. But originally it was used, as in classical Greek, to describe soft and yielding substances. The root meaning is not "give in" but "be disposed to yielding."
If we put this together, we see that the verse has none of the tone of harsh command that seems to come through in the English. Rather, the writer says, "In your relationship with those who are your leaders and guides to godliness, be sure you maintain a yielding disposition and remain open to their persuastion." The passage gos on: "They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. (Be responsive) to them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden for that would be of no advantage to you."
This is not in conflict at all with Romans 14 or other New Testament passages that affirm the freedom and responsibility of the Christian and the servant nature of spiritual leadership. Leaders are to remember to be servants. The rest of us are to remember to be responsive and not so hard headed that we are unwilling to listen to or be persuaded by those who are further along in the Christian life than we. |
|