Comments on: A Transparent Life

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:04:35 +0000

Great post! I agree we need to be transparent. I love what they told us today in our chaplain spouses’ training - “Be yourself. Be who God created you to be, and love those God gives you to minister to.”

Love,
Laura

By: Patti N

Patti N — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:18:44 +0000

Great addition by Chaplain Candidate Chris Harmon!
Thanks, Chris. =)

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:52:03 +0000

Thanks Chris. Goodness, I need to brush up on my Greek. It has been too long.

Love the post Rachel. You know I agree.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:30:58 +0000

Good post wife,

And as Joy said the meaning of the word translated “encourage” and “exhort” does mean more than either of those words mean in English.

As you can see below:

παρακαλουντες (2) as speaking with persistence earnestly ask for, implore, beg (3) as speaking authoritatively exhort, urge, encourage(4) as speaking to relieve sorrow or distress comfort, cheer (up), encourage

So both words correctly reflect some of the meaning of the Greek word. Neither word changes its meaning, although neither may completely relate the intended meaning. The translators of each translation had to make a choice, and they both did a good job.

I think however, that I would lean toward encourage if I was tranlating it. I guess the safest thing to do would be to just post the verse in Greek and we could translate it ourselves.

Here ya go,

25 μη εγκαταλειποντες την επισυναγωγην εαυτων καθως εθος τισιν αλλα παρακαλουντες και τοσουτω μαλλον οσω βλεπετε εγγιζουσαν την ημεραν
(Stephen’s 1550 Textus Receptus)

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:08:36 +0000

Yes, yes, yes! Wonderful post, Rachel! I just loved it. If only we could all live our lives as transparent and vulnerable as possible. I think we all have so much we could glean and learn from each other. =) Great thoughts!

By: Joy

Joy — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:17:56 +0000

So true. Too many people pretend to be super-Christians when they are not. We should always strive to be our best. But our best is not always someone else’s best. Everybody grows at different rates. The key is making sure you are growing. Those are good Scriptures, but the meaning is changed in the version you used. We’re not just to “encourage” one another. We are to “exhort” one another. It means to pray for, comfort, and encourage. We have big jobs as Christians!

By: Patti N

Patti N — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:00:08 +0000

Rachel, I agree. I think for some personalities (like mine) this “baring of one’s soui” is easier than it is for others. Nevertheless, I think a church is not a true community if the members do not truly know one another. There are too many scriptures that say “bear one another’s burdens,” “confess your sins to one another,” “encourage one another,” etc. ‘Tis true. We weren’t meant to go this road alone. The Lord is helping me be more “real” with people. He is doing this by sending people into my life with whom I feel safe. This is important. People are very reluctant to share their weaknesses if they think they will be judged or rejected. =) Great post. Thanks for sharing.