What to say and how to say it…

I’m not particularly good at this, hopefully this is useful.

I want to add my longer comments to this….

I got up early, too early this morning…4:30am. Was reading another of Mike’s posts.

It’s on that famous passage Judge No! Matthew 7:1

I never react well when Mike does his own translation. Part of that is my own lack of humility. I never learned Greek let alone Hebrew. Another part is because in the readings and study I’ve done, I share concerns that others have in the New Greek texts which Mike uses, NA28 soon to NA29, (you would have to read a lot about those who initiated those texts, and their Alexandrian sources, to understand that), so just note they  have influenced virtually all the newer translations, not just Mike’s own work. To Mike’s credit I do love it when he uses the old Geneva 1560 version. I also refer to the later revision, Geneva 1599, since it is more common online. Surprisingly, the notes in each are a bit different. The notes in the 1560 do seem a bit more pointed….but I’m not an expert on the topic. But I do keep checking Mike’s work when he translates it himself, and uses the NA28 text and have not found any issues with what it says vs. the Geneva or the AKJV or KJV….which are my preferred versions based on the Textus Receptus Greek.  I do greatly appreciate his taking the time to explain key Greek words and their implications.

As for the v7.1 Text you can compare yourself.

Matthew 7:1

1 Do not judge lest you be judged. Mike’s translation..

1 Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε· NA28 

Mat 7:1  μη κρινετε ινα μη κριθητε TR

Geneva 1599, & note.

(See my comment on the use of capital/non-capital version of that first word)

7:1 Judge {1} not, that ye be not judged.

(1) We ought to find fault with one another, but we must beware we do not do it without cause, or to seem holier than others or because of hatred of others. 

Geneva Bible 1560 Matthew 

1 Christ forbiddeth rash judgement.

V1 Judge (a)not, that ye be not judged

1 a He commands, not to be curious or malicious to try out, and condemn our neighbors fautes: for hypocrites hide their own fautes, and seek not to amend them, but are curious to reprove other men’s.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged KJV

Old John Gill Commentary:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. This is not to be understood of any sort of judgment; not of judgment in the civil courts of judicature, by proper magistrates, which ought to be made and pass, according to the nature of the case; nor of judgment in the churches of Christ, where offenders are to be called to an account, examined, tried, and dealt with according to the rules of the Gospel; nor of every private judgment, which one man may make upon another, without any detriment to him; but of rash judgment, interpreting men’s words and deeds to the worst sense, and censuring them in a very severe manner; even passing sentence on them, with respect to their eternal state and condition. Good is the advice given by the famous Hillell (u), who lived a little before Christ’s time;

“Do not judge thy neighbour, (says he,) until thou comest into his place.”

It would be well, if persons subject to a censorious spirit, would put themselves in the case and circumstances the persons are in they judge; and then consider, what judgment they would choose others should pass on them. The argument Christ uses to dissuade from this evil, which the Jews were very prone to, is, “that ye be not judged”; meaning, either by men, for such censorious persons rarely have the good will of their fellow creatures, but are commonly repaid in the same way; or else by God, which will be the most awful and tremendous: for such persons take upon them the place of God, usurp his prerogative, as if they knew the hearts and states of men; and therefore will have judgment without mercy at the hands of God.

(u) Pirke Abot, c. 2. sect. 4.

As always solid Biblical advice…..

Shifting topics….I made a comment to one of my good friends about an earlier post by Mike on the Visible and Invisible Church, and the lack of teaching on the subject. He made the useful observation…

Pastors and other teachers can’t mention anything about Visible vs. Invisible for several reasons. One reason is that everyone in the congregation is part of the Visible Church, but the vast majority of the congregation is not part of the Invisible Church and never will be. Speaking on this topic is likely to offend (rather than motivate) the vast majority and increase the probability that they would leave. That would detract from the objective of moving as many people as possible as far along the spectrum as possible.

Besides, it is impossible to measure the results. How many people ever make it to the Invisible Church? Only God knows. Pastors, teachers, and the rest of us just have to treat everyone in the Visible Church like believers, and try to move each other forward.

So we must go forward knowing that there will always be unbelievers mixed in with believers.

Again a good observation… one can read about the Church in the WCF, but even here that last part has been changed in newer version like those used in the EPC.

CHAPTER 25
Of the Church

1. The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

2. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

3. Unto this catholic visible church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.

4. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

5. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.

6. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.

EPC and other modern versions leave out the editorial comment…

6. There is no other head of the church than the Lord Jesus Christ.13

13. Col 1.18, Eph 1.22.

That’s another topic. Too controversial to discuss.

But interestingly on the Visible/Invisible issue, and what should be taught in the Church. This does relate to the Biblical teaching of the Elect. Lot’s of verses here but these stands out.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

I see that teaching about the Visible/Invisible Church is a valid topic, not to ignored or purposefully avoided but taught as it comes up in the Biblical texts, and treated in a non-judgmental, humble and fair way.

Twice now in the last 24 hours I’ve encounter similar comments about preaching.

Mike wrote:

“On the other hand, if we humbly obey our Lord in rebuking those enslaved to sin or apostasy from the motivation of delivering them from darkness we will not bring judgment back on self and God will use us to either draw them into the light or cause our words to be judgment against them if they do not repent.”

I heard a similar statement a couple of times from Chris Gordon of Abounding Grace Radio (or one of his guests) on a long drive I had yestarday…I don’t have the exact words, but it was something like our preaching has two purposes….to bring those of God’s choosing, what we call the elect, not only into the visible church but into the invisible church helping them to know and understand their calling, salvation and Justification under God’s Grace. Or have an understanding of God’s judgment. It sounds ironic, but my friends comment above about moving as many people forward as possible, actually does include preaching the full Bible doctrines and even bad news….as part of sharing the good news. We just need to do it in humility and by not Judging. Many will react:

Jhn 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, andthey are life.

Jhn 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Jhn 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jhn 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Jhn 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Are You a Hypocrite?