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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Does God Have Blood?

Acts 20:27-31

“…which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

So the church was purchased with blood but whose blood was it? That would depend on who's church it is.


This is one example of scripture dependant on which Greek your translation uses. “The Authorized Version of 1611 (King James Version) utilizes the Textus Receptus ("Received Text") as the basis for the Greek New Testament. The Textus Receptus is based upon various Greek texts but also carries some influence from the Latin Vulgate. The earliest work was prepared by Desiderius Erasmus. This work was later revised by Robert Estienne (or, Stephanus) and further revised by Theodore Beza. The text produced by each is substantially the same, aside from some minor variations.
In the KJV it says, “ἐκκλησίαν (church) τοῦ θεοῦ (of God).”

I use the Constantinus Tischendorf Greek New Testament and reference with the KJV. Tischendorf “is perhaps best known for his discovery of the Codex Sinaiticus (one of the oldest extant copies of the New Testament in Greek, circa 360 A.D.) in a monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. Tischendorf devoted his life to locating the most accurate sources for the compilation of the Greek New Testament. This desire for the earliest, most reliable manuscripts drove him for most of his life. The result of this drive is Tischendorf's Eighth Edition Greek New Testament, completed just two years prior to his death, and considered by many to be his best.”
It represents the oldest known text and says, “ἐκκλησίαν (church) τοῦ κυριου (of the Lord).”

Another Greek version I use occasionally is the Byzantine/Majority Text. It blends a variety of Greek texts to form a type of harmony. “The Byzantine text-type (also called Majority, Traditional, Ecclesiastical, Constantinopolitan, Antiocheian, or Syrian) is one of several text-types used in textual criticism to describe the textual character of Greek New Testament manuscripts. It is the form found in the largest number of surviving manuscripts, though not in the oldest. The New Testament text of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Constantinople Patriarchate edition of 1904, is based on this text-type. While considerably varying, it also underlies the Textus Receptus Greek text used for most Reformation-era translations of the New Testament into vernacular languages. Modern translations mainly use Eclectic editions that conform more often to the Alexandrian text-type.
The Byzantine text is also found in modern Greek Orthodox editions, as the Byzantine textual tradition has continued in the Eastern Orthodox Church into the present time. The text used by Greek Orthodox Church is supported by late minuscule manuscripts. It is commonly accepted as standard Byzantine text
.”
The Byantine text uses them both saying, “εκκλησιαν (church) του κυριου (of the Lord) και (and) θεου (of God).”

So take your pick. I personally believe that the Father is a spirit and does not actually have blood and that if speaking of “God’s blood” this is more of a statement about sonship and not Trinity. My son Caleb is my flesh and blood because he is my son. If I was a being without flesh and blood I could still use the word picture but that is not to say God has blood. Nor is it a proof that:

a. God purchased with blood
b. Jesus is the one with blood therefore
a=b Jesus is the Trinitarian God…

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