Tuesday, October 30, 2007

2 Things

Something caught my attention in this passage today.

Hebrews 121-4 NLT

"1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;* then you won't become weary and give up.4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."

1. How to do verse 1 (which includes running with endurance, stripping off weights, especially sin)??? Answer: Keeping my eyes on Jesus

2. How to not become weary???? Answer: Think of Jesus (all that he endured)



7 comments:

cgl said...

That is interesting that the NLT translates that word as "champion." The word is archegos in the greek and it is almost always translated as pioneer or author. However, it was used at the time to also denote the winner or the last one standing in the colosium in Rome. So then is just taking a common use at the time of writing a good way to translate? I am hoping our resident expert in Greek can help out.

mwh said...

Lisa,
What do you think the "joy" was? The place of honor beside God's throne?

mwh said...

Chuck,
I suspect archegos actually lies behind their concept of "initiates"; then "initiates and perfects" stands parallel to "author and perfecter" "pioneer and perfecter" etc... of other translation versions. Champion has probably been added from context to make it more clear--many translations, including the NET, specify the antecedent for clarity.

I'm not a Greek expert, though.

lisatatj said...

mwh...I don't know what the JOY is...the notes on the NLT suggest "12:2b Or Instead of the joy"--but I have never heard that one before.

I do think that the joy would be sitting beside God's throne though, among other things...maybe I will look into this more.

Interesting comments on the 'champion'...I didn't notice that initially, because I was keeping my eyes on Jesus :)

mwh said...

We'll be awaiting a full report concerning what the joy is; you were made for joy, after all. :-)

The alternative translation is interesting; I'll have to look around at what other translations say. That would make the phrase easier to explain.

Thanks.

Ben Canfield said...

According to BDAG, "archegos" in Heb. 12:2 takes on the meaning, "originator or founder." "hence, the recipient of special esteem in the Gr.-Rom. world." Maybe this week i can check out NIDNTT or ask one of my greek professors about it!

mwh said...

Thanks, Ben!