Tuesday, February 17, 2009
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
IDEA: If translating arkagos as Jesus is the "pioneer or leader" is preferable, it paints an image of a trailblazer.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that there are different ways of looking at Jesus and gaining insight from that.
What is a translation of Scripture? What do we mean by that?
What challenges does a translator have in taking the truth in one language and putting it into another language?
For example, when we say "the mother made the beds," that means one thing to an English speaker, but in translating it into another language, it demands that you pick up a different idiom or image.
I. Some translations, in place of "looking unto Jesus the author of faith," offer "looking unto Jesus the pioneer of faith."
It's a legitimate translation of the word, but it pictures what Jesus did in a different way.
What does a pioneer or a leader do?
When you think of the early western United States, you talk about the men and women who settled the west as pioneers. What does that mean?
II. If we say that Jesus is the pioneer of faith, what does that tell us about what He has done?
He is the one who made the way to salvation and who makes following Him possible.
What do you think is the significance of saying that we're to look to Jesus as the pioneer and finisher of faith? Why do you think that the author of this letter to the Hebrews used the name "Jesus"? Why not "Christ" or "Lord"?
In Matthew 1:21 the angel told Joseph that he was to name his new son JESUS which is the Greek form of Joshua meaning "The Lord saves."
Why is Jesus to be called Jesus? The angel made that clear to Joseph.
Because Jesus saves His people from their sins, He has prepared the way for us to follow Him. He is a pioneer in that He has completed the road to heaven.