While I think my stance is pretty clear from my previous comments in this thread, I appreciate your levelheaded response and effortpost so I'll leave that part alone.
One more question though, I had always heard the Bible was originally written in Aramaic? Or maybe just parts? I'm not sure but maybe you're more familiar with where that fits in?
Aramaic was the spoken language. Koine Greek was the trade language of the era, and was used for written communications within the Roman Empire.
My own take is that since the New Testament was written some years after the death and resurrection of Christ, God’s decision to pen it in Greek wasn’t simply a logistical one, but a symbolic one. It demonstrated the hard break between the Hebrew language specific to one “chosen” race before the incarnation, elevation, execution, resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the general language of Greek used throughout the whole known world by all people.
Basically, as Israel had turned their backs on God, God turned his back on them as a nation, opening the doors to all men.
It also removed Israel and the structure of the Mosaic law from being the avenue by which man could reach God as symbolized with the necessity to learn Hebrew. Israel had been charged with the responsibility of being a nation of priests, serving God and acting as servants to all men, but failed to to do so, elevating themselves for wealth and power using the blessings they had been afforded.
Israel had been charged with the responsibility of being a nation of priests, serving God and acting as servants to all men
Ok, since we're back off the topic of language, I think it's fair that I ask if the part I quoted is a core belief of Christianity? As in this was the Christian God's intent before the events described in the New Testament?
Simply put, in my view, looking at Exodus 19 and 20, God offered direct communion with Israel. He used specific language of a “nation of priests,” which was also alluded to in Hebrews of the New Testament with mentions of Priests on the order of Melchizedek.
Israel repeatedly told God to shove it, while continuing to enjoy the miracles and blessings, but ignoring the responsibilities placed upon them.
Eventually, at the stoning of Stephen, the full story is laid out succinctly, and Stephen says as his last, in Acts 7, “behold, I see the Son standing at the right hand of the Father,” the language was clear to the jews about to kill him, and the stopped their ears, and moved to kill Stephen. The symbolic language meant that Christ was standing, prepared to pass judgment, on the jews. The jews recognized this and wished to silence Stephen.
This was the end of their story as the “set apart” special ethnic people of God, at least for the time being.
There are some who think that, following the rise of the (((antichrist))), a remnant of 144,000 of Israel descent will reclaim their spiritual heritage and resist their evil jew brothers. That one I’m still not sure about.
(post is archived)