Various Theology Questions: 2002

Various Theology Questions:

2002

Below are assorted, short e-mails I have been receiving in 2002 asking various questions on theology. The e-mailers' comments are in black and enclosed in "greater than" and "lesser than" signs. My comments are in red.

>Subject: Language?

Gary,

I have enjoyed the ALT-NT--great job. I have an unrelated question. When did the common language (lingua franca?) change from Aramaic to Greek in the Holy Land? I suspect that this occurred sometime shortly after the dispersion of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Do you have any information about this? I realize most that lived during this time there were at least bi-lingual if not tri-lingual, since they had four languages from which to choose (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin).

In Christ,
Keith

7/13/2002<

When Alexander the Great conquered the Holy Land in 330 BC, he tried to force the Greek culture on the Jews, including speaking Greek. So Greek became the "official" language of the land. Jews had to use it for business deals, etc, but they probably continued to speak Aramaic in the home, among other Jews, etc. until 70 AD. After that, what language they spoke probably was based on where each particular Jew migrated to. But it was probably Latin or Greek for some time officially, but Aramaic in private.

>Thanks a bunch,

God Bless You
Keith
7/16/2002<

>Subject: Satan and Eve

Hi Gary. I have a problem with two men who are promoting the idea that Satan had relations with Eve to beget Cain, and am looking to discover if this is the belief of a particular cult. Do you know if the person you had the exchange with was a cultist, or involved in a cult, and if so, which one?

Thanks,
John
6/17/2002<

I believe various people and groups have promoted this idea from time to time. It is decidedly unbiblical as the Bible specifically teaches, Gen 4:1 "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, 'I have acquired a man from the LORD.'"

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