[Kolokotronis]

"I am reminded that Orthodoxy has its own definition for sin. It's really not the commission of evil, it's just missing the mark." No, its what the word "Αμαρτια", which is translated into English as "sin", actually means. The made up definition is the English one, not the Greek meaning. Greek is what was used in scripture, not English. FK, what part of sola scriptura provides for the creation of new definitions for Greek words? What is it we keep hearing on the radio talk shows? You are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts.

[HarleyD]

No, its what the word "Αμαρτια", which is translated into English as "sin", actually means. The made up definition is the English one, not the Greek meaning. Greek is what was used in scripture, not English.

Perhaps it would be more helpful to tell us what the correct meaning is in English instead of simply telling us we're wrong. I am sure there is a way to correctly translate this word.

But this does remind me of the same situation we get into with the Catholics over the word "venerate". We say venerate means worship and they say we're crazy; we don't know what we're talking about because the Latin word doesn't adequately translate into the English.

I pity all those non-Greek Orthodox priests who can't truly understand their doctrine as much as I pity those priests who've lost the ability to speak Latin.

[Forest Keeper]

No, its what the word "Αμαρτια", which is translated into English as "sin", actually means. The made up definition is the English one, not the Greek meaning. Greek is what was used in scripture, not English.

Then you must also believe that all the words around the word "sin" in the Bible, putting the word into context, are also wrong? I'm not so sure that your real beef is with the word "sin" itself, but with the concept behind it. If true, then tons and tons of scripture in English meets the chopping block. Yet, worldwide Orthodoxy has apparently abandoned its English speaking laity. While you and Kosta are very learned, you can't tell me that there aren't plenty of new or otherwise unlearned, English speaking Orthodox out there, whose English Bibles are so full of errors that they are virtually unusable.

FK, what part of sola scriptura provides for the creation of new definitions for Greek words? What is it we keep hearing on the radio talk shows? You are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts.

First of all, I don't understand your question about radio talk shows. Could you clarify?

Now, excellent scholars can disagree on the definitions of Greek words, just as they can with English words. Hence, we have more than one reputable English dictionary. But the Orthodox do not recognize this fact at all. Comparatively, the Orthodox would say that the American Heritage Dictionary was full of lies because no one related to Noah Webster contributed to it, but Webster's Dictionary was 100% truth because only a Webster could ever understand English. Even the Latins resist this approach. Is it really intellectually honest to say that ONLY Orthodox scholars, throughout time, have ever understood the true Greek?