Nathaniel Turner's Blog, page 6

November 14, 2016

Swimming the Tiber 3: Whence Cometh Scripture, Thither Go I

Where does Scripture actually come from? The Holy Spirit, of course. But by what means? Did the Spirit grasp a pen and write it down? Did Christ? Did the Father? Of course not. No one of reason adheres to such claims. (I include certain heretics when I say “no one of reason.”)

So by what human means do the Scriptures come down to us? For when I absolve God of their physical origin, I leave only two options: lesser spirits and human beings. God forbid I attribute Holy Writ to demonic possessio...

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Published on November 14, 2016 10:00

November 9, 2016

Romans 7

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1Or do [you] not perceive, brothers—for [I] speak [to those who] know law—that the law is lord of a person for as long a time as [he] lives? 2For the marriedlit. under-a-man woman has been bound by law to the living man; but if, on the other hand, the man dies, [she] has been left f...

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Published on November 09, 2016 09:12

November 7, 2016

Swimming the Tiber 2: The Rules of Faith

It is obvious that tradition is only democracy extended through time. It is trusting to a consensus of common human voices rather than to some isolated or arbitrary record. The man who quotes some German historian against the tradition of the Catholic Church, for instance, is strictly appealing to aristocracy. He is appealing to the superiority of one expert against the awful authority of the mob. […] Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the de...

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Published on November 07, 2016 10:00

October 31, 2016

Swimming the Tiber 1: Introduction and Definitions

On this Reformation Day, marking 499 years since Martin Luther set the snowball rolling on what would eventually become Protestantism, I have decided to begin a series on my own Counter-Reformation. You see, of late I have been feeling a conviction of the Spirit that I have been too taciturn about my faith. Part of that is wanting to avoid a misrepresentation leading to misunderstandings; I may well do the topic a disservice. Part of my reticence, too, is avoiding the modern trend of getting...

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Published on October 31, 2016 10:00

October 19, 2016

Romans 6

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1What therefore shall [we] say? Should [we] tarry with(persist in)dubitative independent subjunctive error,here and throughout, (sin) in order that grace may be more than enough?(superfluous)a 2Would that it not come to be.here and throughout, (become [so]) Whichever [of us] died [o...

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Published on October 19, 2016 12:02

October 5, 2016

Romans 5

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1Therefore, having been justified [on a particular occasion] out of belief,cf. Romans 3:24, 28 [we] havesome manuscripts: let us have peace before God through our lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also [we] have had the solemn approachlit. the act of bringing / raising something up (...

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Published on October 05, 2016 13:40

September 26, 2016

Romans 4

1What therefore do [we] say that Abraham, our forefather according to flesh, has found?indirect statement using accusative + infinitive constructionsome manuscripts: that Abraham, our father according to flesh, has found?; others: [about] Abraham, our forefather according to flesh?; others: [about] Abraham, our father according to flesh? 2For if Abraham out of works was justified [on a particular occasion], [he] has a boast, but not before God. 3For what does the writingi.e., Scripture say? “...

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Published on September 26, 2016 07:40

September 16, 2016

Romans 3

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1What therefore is the more [thing]i.e., the benefit of [being] Jewish, or what is the advantage of circumcision? 2Much according to every way. [For]The presence or position of this word is disputed. first, on the one hand, that they were entrustedlit. they were believed in [on a pa...

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Published on September 16, 2016 09:08

September 3, 2016

Romans 2

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1Wherefore [thou] are (inexcusable / undefended), O every person who judges(who chooses, who condemns); lit. judging; for in what [thou] judge anotherlit. the different [one], [thou] hand down judgment to(condemn) thyselfcf. Matthew 7:2; Luke 6:37; John 8:7, for [thou] practice the...

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Published on September 03, 2016 10:58

August 31, 2016

Romans 1

This is a literal translation of an ancient Greek text. It has also been cross-posted on 31Prayers.com. For more information on how to read this post and what everything means, see the relevant page on that site.


1Paul, a slave of Christ Jesussome manuscripts: Jesus Christ, a called(invited) apostle having been set apart into [the] gospel of Godcf. Acts 9:15; 13:2; Galatians 1:15, 2cf. Romans 16:25-26; Titus 1:2whoi.e., God promised before[of his own free will] implied by verb in many cases...

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Published on August 31, 2016 00:06