Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 1
The speaker suggests that if God had preserved a perfectly identical Greek New Testament (or Paul’s original), it would imply “it’s only God’s word if you read it in Greek”; what does that scenario reveal about what God seems to value most—precise wording or communicable meaning—and why would that matter for His mission?
Another way to ask: If God had kept one perfect Greek New Testament, would that suggest His Word only counts in Greek? What does that say about whether God cares more about exact wording or about people clearly understanding the message, and why does that matter for His mission?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, that scenario suggests God values the communicable message more than perfectly preserved, precise wording—because God wants His word to be shareable across languages for the sake of the gospel.
- He imagines a “perfect” preservation: “each of these Greek manuscripts read exactly the same, or we actually had Paul’s original.”
- He says that would imply: “it’s only God’s word if you read it in Greek,” since translation necessarily changes wording.
- He emphasizes translation requires choices: “anytime you translate, you automatically have to make decisions.”
- He concludes this would hinder mission: “it would mean everybody to share the gospel… they’ve got to learn Koine Greek. And see, that’s not what God wanted.”
- He states the core value: “We don’t worship the words on the page. We worship the message. And so God’s word is his message.”