Re: Hamartia

From: Timster132@aol.com
Date: Wed Jan 03 1996 - 13:19:37 EST


In a message dated 96-01-02 David Moore
<dvdmoore@dcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us> writes:

>IMO, there is a danger in our taking too limited a view of what is
>defined by "sin," since (human as we are) we have a tendency to define it
>in a way that allows us a clear conscience.

  How true David!

  In all this talking about defining sin, it brought me back to memories of
my church history prof, Newel Williams, who said if you want to understand a
Christian group in history, you need to ask three questions of that group: 1)
What is sin? 2) What is salvation? and 3) How do you get from sin to
salvation?
   He applied this to hymns to bring out various theological differences of
understanding: e.g. Amazing Grace, Trust and Obey, Rock of Ages, etc.

   I've found this approach helpful in understanding NT authors as well. One
may ask of Paul these three q's, as well as Matthew, Luke, Hebrews, etc. It
helps to clarify each author's place in the NT and some of the intercanonical
dialog between them.
   So when asking what is an author's view of sin, it would help to define
that position even further by asking what is salavtion for that author? And
by what means does one get from sin to salvation?
   Just an exegetical tool I thought I'd add to the conversation.

Tim Staker
Timster132@aol.com



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