K. Mathews: Both Testaments show how the message of salvation is anchored in history by presenting genealogies as their prelude.
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Monthly archives: March 2009
Zhubert Gone for Good
Or should I say that Zhubert is gone for bad? It is truly lamentable that Zhubert.com and other Greek New Testament (GNT) projects utilizing the MorphGNT database are running into copyright issues with the German Bible Society (GBS).
For example, where Zhubert once provided a portal for the study of the GNT it now reads:
It has come to my attention that the MorphGNT team has had to pull their text offline at the request of the German Bible Society, so this site is offline as well. As their database was the heart of the window-dressing we provided here, there’s not much to show without it.
Others projects like Open Scriptures, an open source project in the works to carry on the baton of Zhubert, is running into similar copyright infringement problems as it utilizes the same MorphGNT database which is in question. Why MorphGNT is still available I’m not sure. The MorphGNT web site says it will be back soon; but I wonder if “soon” isn’t an overly-optimistic word choice. I would hope all efforts are being made to bring projects involving the GSB’s copyrighted text into full compliance.
German Bible Society
When the pioneer of Open Scriptures emailed the GBS concerning the use of their text in his open source project, he received this reply:
The German Bible Society is a not-for-profit religious foundation. Its
mission, in collaboration with other members of the United Bible Societies,
is to promote biblical research and worldwide Bible translation work in
order to make the Bible available to everybody in their own language.Biblical research and translation work costs a lot of money. Therefore,
according to the standing rules of our foundation, we have to earn money
with our texts to enable further Bible translations worldwide.Please understand that as a matter of principle we don’t license the NA27
or the UBS4 Bible text for open source projects.Regarding the “MorphGNT with UBS4″ on the Open Scriptures website: This is
again a copyright infringement as the basis of the text is the UBS4. We ask
you to remove this text from your website, too, as we are the copyright
holder of the UBS4.
The GBS is not to be blamed for bringing or slowing these projects down. Their principles are sound and understandable and should be respected by those looking to forward any Scripture project. At the same time, it can be desired that an agreement be reached in which all parties benefit from their labors and are equipped to continue with their projects. I know I’m not the only one hoping for such a cooperative, Scripture-propagating outcome.
Watch the “Licensing and the German Bible Society” thread on the Open Scripture forum for updates.
Alternative: E-sword
While online projects work to reach an agreement with the GBS, those interested in GNT studies can make use of the exceptional freeware E-sword which utilizes public domain texts not in danger of copyright infringement. E-sword offers six GNT Bibles free for download: the Majority Text, Scrivener Textus Receptus, Robinson/Pierpont Byzantine Greek New Testament (w/ Strong’s), Textus Receptus Greek New Testament (w/ Strong’s), Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament (w/ Strong’s), and Greek New Testament (w/ Variants). Though these are obviously not the UBS4/NA27 text, they are very good, helpful and important for original language study. Don’t overlook ‘em!
A Word about the Robinson/Pierpont Byzantine GNT
Of the above six versions of the GNT freely available, the most salient, in my opinion, is the Robinson/Pierpont Byzantine Greek New Testament. Here is a life’s work carried on by a professor at my seminary (SEBTS), Maurice Robinson, who believes that the Word of God should not be copyrighted nor sold for profit. It is the Word of God and for all. Praise God for such labors of love!
The Bottom Line
Don’t get rid of your red UBS4!
Posted in Language
Tagged Computer, German Bible Society, GNT, Greek, Maurice Robinson, UBS
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Often hear “I would argue…” …
Often hear “I would argue…” but rarely does one subsequently offer an argument as if threatening to argue is argument enough.
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Who’s at the Christian Book Ex…
Who’s at the Christian Book Expo in Dallas? Christopher Hitchens is at the Christian Book Expo: http://tinyurl.com/dmysm4
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Why Many Parts to Redemptive History
Why do we use the phrase “redemptive history“? Wasn’t redemption accomplished in that single act of Jesus offering himself upon the cross in our place? Yes and no, says, Jonathan Edwards in his 1739 sermon “A History of the Work of Redemption.” He notes that there are many parts or acts of redemption that make up what we call redemptive history. Therefore redemption has a history to it. Specifically, redemption has a history because it was first planned in eternity past, begun after the Fall, and its fruit will continue on into eternity future.
On this last aspect where one might expect the work of redemption to continue into eternity future, Edwards writes,
“The Work of Redemption is not an eternal work, that is, it is not a work always a-doing and never accomplished. But the fruits of this work are eternal fruits…[A]s God’s electing love and the covenant of redemption never had a beginning, so the fruits of this work that shall be after the end of the work never will have an end” (A Jonathan Edwards Reader, p. 130).
Why many parts?
My dad asked this question last week as we talked about the relation of the Testaments and the span of redemptive history. Why did God wait so long? My mind was immediately taken to Galatians 4:4 where Paul speaks about God sending for his son in “the fullness of time.” We must remember that what is a long time in our minds is perfect timing is God’s grand scheme of redemptive history. Still, we wonder why.
Edwards likens the many parts of redemptive history to the construction of a building:
“Like an house or temple that is building, first the workmen are sent forth, then the materials are gathered, then ground fitted, then foundation is laid, then the superstructure erected one part after another, till at length the topstone is laid. And all is finished. Now the Work of Redemption in that large sense that has been explained may be compared to such a building that is carrying on from the fall of man to the end of the world. God went about it immediately after the fall of man. Some things were done towards this building then, immediately as maybe hereafter shown; and so God has gone as it were getting materials and building ever since, and so will go on to the end of the world. And then the time shall come when the topstone shall be brought forth and all will appear complete and consummate” (A Jonathan Edwards Reader, 132).
This analogy, however, does not serve to explain why God did things this way. It just makes it more understandable, more reasonable when we think of redemptive history as a work in progress.
Still, why many parts?
God’s glory.
Edwards, as you may well be aware, argues thoroughly and compellingly for God’s glory as the end of all his works (cf. “The End for Which God Created the World”). Most importantly, this is the testimony of the Bible. Therefore, Edwards can conclude his sermon on the work of redemption by saying (n.b. read slowly),
“In all this God designed to accomplish the glory of the blessed Trinity in an exceeding degree. God had a design of glorifying himself from eternity, to glorify each person in the Godhead. The end must considered as first in the order of nature and then the means, and therefore we must conceive that God having proposed this end had then, as it were, the means to choose” (A Jonathan Edwards Reader, p. 135).
In my own words, God’s goal (his end) is to glorify himself. (Don’t worry: your joy in life is not opposed to God glorifying himself but included in it.) The goal is always first or primary. The way to accomplish the goal is secondary or subordinate. God has the right to choose how to accomplish his goal. He chose to do it in many parts. God’s timing like his plan is perfect. We therefore trust him.
A Jonathan Edwards Reader
The book I’ve quoted in this post is A Jonathan Edwards Reader published by Yale University Press. I ordered my copy from Westminster Seminary Bookstore for a class on Jonathan Edwards I’m taking this semester. Use the following referral link to check it out in the Westminster Bookstore (every click gets me closer to a free book): Jonathan Edwards Reader
Posted in Christianity
Tagged Bible, books, eschatology, Jonathan Edwards, New Testament, Old Testament, the fall, why
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Today celebrate a young man wh…
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Will the USPS take a letter wi…
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Day 2 of assembling Ikea furni…
Day 2 of assembling Ikea furniture for the baby’s room.
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Edwards: All that is ever spok…
Edwards: All that is ever spoken of in the Scripture as the ultimate end of God’s works, is included in that one phrase, the glory of God.
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RT: @sebtssocratic First Socra…
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