In the next few days, I will be starting a series of word studies dealing with NT Greek words which are doctrinally significant. I invite participation and response. The first word, which I don't have time right now to review, but will bring it up in advance to start discussion, is 'hagia.' It is significant with regard to the sanctuary doctrine. If anyone has any thoughts about the word, especially as it occurs in Hebrew 9 etc., by all means please do share them!

Dave

Do we believe ourselves to be more skilled in Greek word translation than the scholars who translated our current Bibles?

mel

Perhaps we are more in tune with what certain words mean to us today and can find a better suited word for modern use than what has been handed down previously.

For example something translated as awful in the 13th century would be intended to be something that was full of awe. In modern use if we are to read the word awful, it usually means quite the opposite.

Studying the original Greek and Hebrew can only be to our benefit, not our detriment.

No matter how skilled translators are or how accurate the very best translations, there is no perfect translation of the entire Bible or even of the New Testament. So it's useful to study original languages in order to do research and in order to know which translations, or which reading in a particular passage, are the most accurate.

But generally speaking, a person does fine if they accept the best translations just as they read. It helps that today there are many very good ones.

Okay, getting to the Greek word 'hagia' . . . There are approximately 16 occurrences of the word in the Greek New Testament. It is the neuter plural nominative form of 'hagios.' It appears without a definite article, and is used as an adjective. Reviewing the various occurrences in the NT (New Testament), I find the word being applied to a variety of subjects and objects, including God's people, their children, and so forth.

In the book of Hebrews, hagia is used as an adjective to desribe the 'Holy Place' in the sanctuary. Interesting, since it is a plural form. For whatever reason, the plural is used. Perhaps John317 can shed some light on why this is so?

At any rate, hagia is used to describe the Holy Place. The Most Holy Place is described as 'hagia hagiwn.' We can see the difference. Now, in v. 12, Christ is described as going once for all into 'ta hagia,' here used with the article. It is NOT the Most Holy, 'hagia hagiwn' but the Holy Place.

Here is what Louw-Nida has to say about this occurrence:

"7.35 hagia, wn n: the interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple or of the earlier tabernacle or of a corresponding ‘spiritual holy place,’ perhaps regarded as being in heaven - ‘the holy place.’ . . . {Agia ‘a tent was constructed, the outer one...which was called the Holy Place’ He 9.2; . . . ‘he entered once and for all into the Holy Place’ He 9.12. The inner room was more specifically identified by the phrase hagia hagiwn, literally ‘holy of holies’ He 9.3, a Hebrew idiom indicating superlative degree. The inner sanctuary could also be referred to as ‘within the curtain’ . . . He 6.19). See a{gio"a (88.24) and 7.18.
The outer room of the sanctuary may be referred to in some languages as simply ‘the first room of the Holy Temple’ or ‘the first holy room of the Temple.’ The ‘holy of holies’ may be referred to as ‘the most holy place’ or ‘the second holy room of the Temple’ or ‘the interior holy room of the Temple.’ What is important here is the degree of holiness, not so much the actual location within the Temple. It is for this reason that for the ‘holy of holies’ many translators use ‘the most sacred place’ or ‘the very, very sacred room.’ In this type of context the term ‘sacred’ may be rendered as ‘dedicated especially to God’ or ‘consecrated to God.’ "

Louw, Johannes P. and Nida, Eugene A., Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains, (New York: United Bible Societies) 1988, 1989.

After His return to heaven, Christ did indeed enter the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary to begin His mediatorial work. However, He did not enter the Most Holy Place until the Judgment Hour, (Dan. 7; Rev. 14:6,7) Some NT translations take liberties with the text and insert their doctrinal views here, for example the NKJV and NIV, which say that Christ entered the 'Most HOly Place' once for all. However, that is not borne out by the text, or by Louw-Nida.

I would like to invite comment at this point.

Dave

Do you have the original manuscript in hand so you can be absolutely certain of your interpretation?

mel

When Jesus died the dividing curtain was torn. It showed that the first "room" services were finished. The way into the Most Holy was laid open and available to all from that time on. It's in the book of Hebrews.

Nestle-Aland includes the majority reading, minority reading and variant readings. That is what is relied on here. I am using the 26th ed. Perhaps John317 has the 27th ed. (UBS 4th ed.)??

The dividing curtain was torn in the earthly temple, thus signifying the end of the typical services. The way to the MHP in the heavenly sanctuary is open to our High Priest. It does not say that He ENTERED the MHP, but that the way to the MHP was opened. It does say that He entered the Holy Place (Heb. 9:12) Once in the Holy Place, then the time would come when He would enter the MHP. HOwever, that is at the end. The work which goes on in the MHP is a work of judgment, of reviewing the books. That does not occur until just before Jesus returns. Its purpose is to make a final determination regarding whom Jesus will bring home with Him when He returns.

Dave

All this is somewhat over my head and my pay level. BUT ....

I do have a question. And if this question is out of order since it is from Ellen White and the NT Greek ... then just delete it John ... but here goes.

Christians who don’t realize Jesus left the Holy Place for the Most Holy Place in 1844 are actually praying to Satan?

This is the question raised from the reading of Mrs. White as follows ...