I understand that the discussion has moved past this, but in reference to the issue of scriptural phrases versus theological terminology...
ernie wrote:
It seems to me that it is more likely that the church will have a united definition in the future if we use the term Godhead, vs. the term Trinity or God in Three Persons.
It seems to me that it is more likely that the church will have a united definition in the future if we talk about "meet the Lord in the air" then if we use the term "rapture".
I agree with this. As to the issue of "which translation" to use, once the translations get sufficiently literal, I perceive less of a difference between the terms used by different translations than I perceive between any one of the translations and the theological terminology. E.g., the NIV for the "rapture" verse seems pretty similar to the KJV:
NIV wrote:
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
KJV wrote:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
And I find both markedly different from "rapture."
I would say the same thing about my two examples from earlier:
cmbl wrote:
For example, I've met a man who attends Beachy who says that he is quite careful to use the Biblical terms "Father" "Son of God" "Jesus" "Son of Man" and "Holy Spirit" when talking to his Oneness Pentecostal family. Now in my case, I come from an evangelical Protestant background which shares the CA view on the Trinity, but I might want to use only Biblical terms when talking about things like discipleship, salvation, justification, faith, and works.
For the Beachy man, just replace the 1 Thess. 4 verse and the theological term "rapture", with some verses from John and the theological terms "Modalism" or "Trinity." For my case, just replace 1 Thess. 4 and "rapture" with James 2 and the Protestant theological construct called "active saving faith."
Neto wrote:
it is possible to spew out the "Biblically correct" terms all day long, and not know what they mean. (I right away think of stuff like 'propitiation'.)
This issue is also good to keep in mind.
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."