Retrobyter
Active Member
Shalom, daq.
I get so sick and tired of the misinterpretation of Luke 17:20-21! That is NOT what Yeshua` was talking about! The Greek word "entos" CAN mean "within," but not in this context! Here, the word should have been translated "among."
First, Yeshua` was talking to the P'rushiym (Pharisees). Would you really expect Yeshua` to say that the Kingdom of heaven is "within" THEM?!
Second, the word translated "you" is the Greek word "humoon" (using the "oo" for omega), and it's a PLURAL second-person word.
This is one reason why the KJV is still the better translation of Scripture. The "thee's" and "thou's" are SINGULAR and the "ye's" and "you's" are plural in the KJV. Modern versions, like the NIV, the NASB, and even the NKJV, LOSE that information in translation! Greek had singular and plural forms of the second-person pronoun, and the English of the 1600's could convey that information. Most modern versions are trying to get RID of the "thee's" and "thou's" but they are INFORMATION that once lost is difficult to regain without going to the original languages! They are prey to the "dumbing down" of English!
Yeshua` was not talking to an individual or individuals; He was talking to the GROUP of P'rushiym! He was telling them that the Kingdom wasn't going to come from "Heaven" with a lot of pomp and circumstance! HE WAS ALREADY THERE AMONG THEM! HE was the embodiment of the Kingdom, because HE was the KING!!!
THAT'S what He was telling them!
Now, Paul, too, was NOT saying what you think he was saying! He wasn't talking about "knowing Christ" in a physical way as opposed to a "spiritual" way! He was talking about the fact that the Messiah ISN'T HERE ON EARTH ANYMORE RIGHT NOW!
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Hooste heemeis apo tou nun oudena oidamen kata sarka; ei kai egnookamen kata sarka Christon, nun ouketi ginooskomen.
Greek New Testament
16 Hooste= 16 So-likewise/therefore
heemeis = we
apo = away-from
tou = the
nun = now/present
oudena = no-one
oidamen = we-see
kata = according-to
sarka; = flesh;
ei = if
kai = and/also
egnookamen = we-have-known
kata = according-to
sarka = flesh
Christon, = Messiah,
nun = now
ouketi = no-longer
ginooskomen. = we-are-knowing.
16 So-likewise/therefore we away-from the now/present no-one we-see according-to flesh; if and/also we-have-known according-to flesh Messiah, now no-longer we-are-knowing.
16 Therefore from now on, we see no one according to flesh; though we have known Messiah according to flesh, we are no longer knowing now.
Paul is simply saying that the disciples can no longer approach Him physically and talk with Him ... for now. More importantly, OTHERS can't physically approach Him and learn from Him, as the disciples once did. That is why we are "in the stead of the Messiah" - "in the place/position of the Messiah" - to show them how to exchange places with the Messiah and be justified by God, receiving God's righteousness. This chapter of the Bible is all about the GREAT EXCHANGE!
Now, not everything in Galatians 4:22-27 is allegorical. The part that is an "allegory" is the bond-woman/free-woman analogy which represents the two covenants. And, the two covenants are named by their respective origins: The First Covenant - the Mosaic Covenant, as it is called - was from Har Sinai in the wilderness. The Second Covenant - the New Covenant - was from Har Tsiown (Mount Zion) upon which Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) currently sits. It is NOT talking about the New Jerusalem! That Greek word is "anoo" not "epi." It's not talking about "Jerusalem above" but the "Jerusalem UPON!"
Sorry, bro', but that's too much "spiritualization" or "allegorizing." It's a literal city with literal foundations.daq said:The Kingdom of Heaven is within you even if you are an inmate: :)
Luke 17:20-21 KJV
20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Paul was likewise a prisoner and in chains for Messiah yet look what he states:
2 Corinthians 5:14-17 KJV
14. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Does that final statement not sound familiar? "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!" . . .
Revelation 21:3-5 KJV
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
What then is the Holy City? She is like the clothing which God has provided for the saints. She is what it means to be clothed from on high and for the sons of God to be cast about or "tented" with the Tabernacle of God. This is part of the meaning in the Jeremiah 31 New Covenant where he states: "The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, a nqebah-female shall compass a geber-warrior-man" (Jeremiah 31:22). My mother is Jerusalem cast about in gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins. Her strength is like the myrtles and willows that stand beside the brook, her frame is of acacia wood, she has the pure oil olive for the light, spices with anointing oil, sweet incense, and all the holy tamiyd-continual things which are written. And my bride is of the daughters of Jerusalem; in the latter days every true geber-warrior-man of the Spirit will consider it.
Galatians 4:22-27 KJV
22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27. For it is written, (Isaiah 54:1) Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Isaiah 54:1-3 KJV
1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3. For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
I get so sick and tired of the misinterpretation of Luke 17:20-21! That is NOT what Yeshua` was talking about! The Greek word "entos" CAN mean "within," but not in this context! Here, the word should have been translated "among."
First, Yeshua` was talking to the P'rushiym (Pharisees). Would you really expect Yeshua` to say that the Kingdom of heaven is "within" THEM?!
Second, the word translated "you" is the Greek word "humoon" (using the "oo" for omega), and it's a PLURAL second-person word.
This is one reason why the KJV is still the better translation of Scripture. The "thee's" and "thou's" are SINGULAR and the "ye's" and "you's" are plural in the KJV. Modern versions, like the NIV, the NASB, and even the NKJV, LOSE that information in translation! Greek had singular and plural forms of the second-person pronoun, and the English of the 1600's could convey that information. Most modern versions are trying to get RID of the "thee's" and "thou's" but they are INFORMATION that once lost is difficult to regain without going to the original languages! They are prey to the "dumbing down" of English!
Yeshua` was not talking to an individual or individuals; He was talking to the GROUP of P'rushiym! He was telling them that the Kingdom wasn't going to come from "Heaven" with a lot of pomp and circumstance! HE WAS ALREADY THERE AMONG THEM! HE was the embodiment of the Kingdom, because HE was the KING!!!
THAT'S what He was telling them!
Now, Paul, too, was NOT saying what you think he was saying! He wasn't talking about "knowing Christ" in a physical way as opposed to a "spiritual" way! He was talking about the fact that the Messiah ISN'T HERE ON EARTH ANYMORE RIGHT NOW!
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Hooste heemeis apo tou nun oudena oidamen kata sarka; ei kai egnookamen kata sarka Christon, nun ouketi ginooskomen.
Greek New Testament
16 Hooste= 16 So-likewise/therefore
heemeis = we
apo = away-from
tou = the
nun = now/present
oudena = no-one
oidamen = we-see
kata = according-to
sarka; = flesh;
ei = if
kai = and/also
egnookamen = we-have-known
kata = according-to
sarka = flesh
Christon, = Messiah,
nun = now
ouketi = no-longer
ginooskomen. = we-are-knowing.
16 So-likewise/therefore we away-from the now/present no-one we-see according-to flesh; if and/also we-have-known according-to flesh Messiah, now no-longer we-are-knowing.
16 Therefore from now on, we see no one according to flesh; though we have known Messiah according to flesh, we are no longer knowing now.
Paul is simply saying that the disciples can no longer approach Him physically and talk with Him ... for now. More importantly, OTHERS can't physically approach Him and learn from Him, as the disciples once did. That is why we are "in the stead of the Messiah" - "in the place/position of the Messiah" - to show them how to exchange places with the Messiah and be justified by God, receiving God's righteousness. This chapter of the Bible is all about the GREAT EXCHANGE!
Now, not everything in Galatians 4:22-27 is allegorical. The part that is an "allegory" is the bond-woman/free-woman analogy which represents the two covenants. And, the two covenants are named by their respective origins: The First Covenant - the Mosaic Covenant, as it is called - was from Har Sinai in the wilderness. The Second Covenant - the New Covenant - was from Har Tsiown (Mount Zion) upon which Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) currently sits. It is NOT talking about the New Jerusalem! That Greek word is "anoo" not "epi." It's not talking about "Jerusalem above" but the "Jerusalem UPON!"