Why is it we put so much confidence in our interpretation of the word in the Strong's concordance, and not let Gods inspired word teach. Does not the word tell us to rightly divide the word, so there is a right way to divide and a wrong way to divide. I believe the word is inspired by God hes the author of it right. So what I'm saying is don't draw all your conclusions and interpretations of words from a Strong's that is not inspired by god,this can be very misleading. What would some people do without their Strong's concordance?
Hello Samuel,
I understand what you are saying, but I've known many people who just read the bible, insisting that their translation is the most accurate or it's the " right " one, especially the Older Versions of The King James, I work with a guy like that and he can quote many Scriptures, but doesn't realize or doesn't want to realize that many mistakes and wrong translations of certain Greek words have crept in. I have a Bible Dictionary, it's not Strong's, but as an example, whenever I look something up and the Author puts their explanation of something beyond what the primary meaning of a Greek or Hebrew word means, I take it with a grain of salt. A good example of this is found in Ray's Article at the front page of this Site: IS EVERLASTING SCRIPTURAL, in response to some wanna be Bible Scholar and this involves the Greek Word Aion and it's adjective Aionios. He shows the history of this word and explains it's Hebrew equivalent Ohlam or Olam showing it never meant forever, Eternal or Everlasting until sometime in the second Century C.E. If we just Read the Bible, sticking stubbornly to one particular translation, like the man mentioned earlier, that I work with, how would we know about Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus, if it's always rendered Hell, Hellfire; or tha the true meaning of Kolasin rendered punishment is chastisement or the pruning of the Luzurian tree and is not forever, only temporary and meant for our discipline with a view to our improvement.
If I wasn't attempting to study the true meanings of Bible Greek Words, at least in my case, I might not have found my way here. That's one of the causes leading to my choice, especially considering that Ray shows the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words explaining thoroughly with ample proof. Of course my being here is All God's Will, but God put the desire in me to know these truths, that's what I consistently prayed to him, prior to finding this Site, " Please reveal to me the true understanding of your word. " The main problem with sources outside the Scriptures is that they go beyond the primary meaning of these Hebrew and Greek words, then proceed to say, this word can also mean this, but when we dig deeper and Ray helps us in this, we find that these other meanings were added later. The Hebrew Word Ra is translated Calamity in many Bible Translations at Isaiah. 45:7, but it's supposed to be translated Evil, as Ray explains, there is another Hebrew word that's translated Calamity and it isn't Ra. If it was supposed to be Translated Calamity, the Hebrew word RA wouldn't be used there.
These are just some of the examples that might help you, my apologies if I rambled on too much, but I know of so many people in my life who just read the Bible and still believe in Hellfire, Free Will and Eternal Punishment and they write Ray all the time.
Hope this helps and may God guide and direct your efforts.
Kind Regards, Samson.