Isn't this like "the love of God", where if I receive the love from
God, then I will have love for Him; and if I love Him, it is because
"He first loved us" -- my love is an echo or reflection (as in the
"image of God"?) of "God's love poured into my heart" -- that in the
person who is God's, then both MUST be operating, and to separate
them is more a matter of semantics rather than reality?
I guess here doctrinal position will influence interpretation,
because I understand the Bible as indicating that I cannot believe
unless the faith is given to me -- that He must be the Source of
everything, even my faith. So MY faith is only the product of the
faith poured into me.
Would it best be compared to a multi-faceted diamond which as it is
turned reveals more about itself, yet is the same diamond throughout?
Rather than "choosing THE correct translation" (which I realize
someone who *publishes* a translation must do -- but isn't the Greek
student given the opportunity toward a greater picture of the
text?), would it be more helpful to discover how each interpretation
builds up the passage, recognizing a certain intentionally built-in
flexibility/ambiguity of application?
What I have in mind is that the relationship with the Lord is not
"quantities" of "faith" but a dynamic flow back-and-forth: He trusts
ME (!), through Him I trust Him, He is faithful, in Him I am
faithful, etc. The passage then would be the urging to step inside
(or step further into) this flow: "Look at God's faithfulness, Look
at His faith in you, Hold on to Him,
Jim Lindemann
jlindem@canuck.com
Box 964 Pincher Creek Alberta CANADA T0K 1W0
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Israel had the first Oktoberfest!
Check out history's first Beer-drinking song -- Numbers 21:16-18
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