Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Last Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15;
Deuteronomy 6:10-15; Hebrews 1:1-14; John 1:1-18:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
This is the opening of the Gospel of John. What we must take away from this is that it is “Word” not book (Bible)! In the beginning is the Word, not the Bible. There is a difference.
The experiences of our relationship with God and God Incarnate was just that, Godly experiences. It was word of mouth about the Word of God. Later we would put these experiences down in writing. Perhaps first for Christians in Aramaic, the spoken language of Jesus and later in Greek the language of an occupied Middle East. But in all translated recordings there are gaps, misrepresentations and mistakes due to languages that do not have words that fit the exact meanings.
Later, the Greek was translated into Latin, and sometime later (for us) the Latin into our early English. And now, into our American tongue and even that into various understandings, New International Version, King James, New Revised Standard Version, Message and many, many others. And all of these are English translations, English translations that even the word-smiths didn’t agree on.
Many people hold to every word of the Bible. But the Bible has flaws due to mistranslations, mistakes and bias of the translator. Having said this, I still believe the Bible contains all things necessary for our salvation. However, not everything in it is necessary for our salvation. There is a difference.
All Biblically based faiths do a certain amount of picking and choosing about what words of the Bible they hold most sacred. This is especially true for New Testament or Christian faiths. No exception. We have to because of some of the contradictions therein contained.
What we can take real comfort in is that the Bible is only a written reflection of an interpretation of the Word that was with God, and is God. The reading of the Bible must always be accompanied by loving prayer. In this way we can truly hear what the Holy Spirit is really saying to God’s people. Loving prayer is our personal translator.
Today we remember John and Charles Wesley; Renewers of the Church (March 3, 1791); and their information may be found at: John & Charles Wesley
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
O Almighty God, You have no beginning and no end and yet came to us as one of us. You came to us and wrestled with Jacob and formed your people Israel. You Came to us as the Israelite Jesus, born of Mary, and even died for our sake. Bring us to You, Dear God, when our end comes in order that we may rest with You forever and ever; Amen.
onewhoponders 