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PeonForHer -> RE: The Authority of the Bible? (3/8/2012 7:15:18 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
That in no way says god hates rich men.
The saying was a response to a young rich man who had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied that he should keep the commandments, to which the man stated he had done. Jesus responded, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The young man became sad and was unwilling to do this. Jesus then spoke this response, leaving his disciples astonished.
The "eye of a needle" has been interpreted as a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could only pass through this smaller gate if it was stooped and had its baggage removed. This story has been put forth since at least the 15th century, and possibly as far back as the 9th century. However, there is no evidence for the existence of such a gate.
Variations on this story include that of ancient inns having small entrances to thwart thieves, or a story of an old mountain pass known as the "eye of the needle", so narrow that merchants would have to dismount from their camels and were thus were more vulnerable to waiting brigands.
Do you have a citation for that? It's true: from what I've found there's no evidence for the existence of such a gate.
I said 'dislike', not 'hate'. I presume that God isn't big on 'hating', as such. But a minor quibble.
I've found this at http://www.ensignmessage.com/archives/needle.html:
"It is more probable, however, that Jesus was illustrating something actually impossible, rich man meaning a person selfishly bound up in his riches. That such was the meaning of Jesus is becoming more and more the accepted theory among Bible scholars. In Mark 10:24 it is recorded that Jesus said: "How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" After relating the parable of the sower, Jesus, according to Mark 9:19, said: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Luke 18:22 tells us that Jesus told the ruler who was rich but who had kept the commandments: "Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." There are other passages in the Gospels illustrating the same attitude toward worldly riches.
Also, the most plausible explanation, for me, is this:
"The original Greek tells not of a camel, but a rope ... When it was translated into Latin, kamilos (rope) was confused with kamelos (camel).
In fact, the original Greek says kamelos (camel), not kamilos (rope). The latter is found in a few late manuscripts/lectionaries, mostly 11th century or later, and in one 9th or 10th century manuscript. The oldest manuscripts are unanimous in reading kamelos, i.e., camel.
. . . .
And even with the largest 6 inch needles that were used for sewing rugs and tents, it would be impossible to force one of these large ropes through the needle's eye. (From: A New Accurate Translation of the Greek NEW TESTAMENT into simple Everyday American English by Julian Anderson) Julian Anderson is a retired professor of Classical and Biblical Greek, Seminary professor, Lutheran pastor, and successful publisher of Bible study materials."
(http://www.angelfire.com/wy/Franklin4YAHWEH/camelthroughneedle.html)
More on that site on the similarity of words for 'rope' and 'camel' in different languages. But the gist if it does seem to be: to one degree or another, you weren't morally upright if you were rich.
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