03-02-2008, 04:31 PM
Shlama all,
The Way International translated from the same text as I did (Western critical edition). The Eastern text is identical in Hebrews 4:9 (and in most other places).
I would take issue with Lamsa's "it is the duty" part of his translation. The Aramaic "Qayam" means "standing, continuing,existing,lasting". As used elsewhere in The NT, it always has the idea of "standing" or "remaining". Hebrews 4:1 uses the same word: "Let us fear, therefore, lest, while the promise of entering into His rest stands- (Qayam), any of you should be found to come short of entering." (my translation) Even Lamsa translates "Qayam" as "remains" here.
The context of discussion is not merely extending the Old Covenant Sabbath, but entering into The Rest of The Creator by faith, which is the true fulfillment of the Sabbath commandment ("For if Joshua, the son of Nun, had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards of another day."-verse 8 "For he who enters His rest has rested from his works as God has from His own. Let us take pains, therefore to enter that rest, lest we fall in the manner of those who were not persuaded."-verses 10 & 11 (my translation) Notice that the Sabbath rest is spoken of as the promise in 4:1, not "the duty", or "the commandment". It is also "appointed": "He appointed another day, after much time...", verse 7. The true Sabbath rest is a promise, not a commandment. Still, we must "take pains, therefore to enter that rest" by faith.
The "to keep the Sabbath" part is correct. The true keeping of the Sabbath is for those who have faith in The Messiah Yeshua, and only those. That Sabbath has no end, as God's rest is timeless.
Blessings,
Dave
The Way International translated from the same text as I did (Western critical edition). The Eastern text is identical in Hebrews 4:9 (and in most other places).
I would take issue with Lamsa's "it is the duty" part of his translation. The Aramaic "Qayam" means "standing, continuing,existing,lasting". As used elsewhere in The NT, it always has the idea of "standing" or "remaining". Hebrews 4:1 uses the same word: "Let us fear, therefore, lest, while the promise of entering into His rest stands- (Qayam), any of you should be found to come short of entering." (my translation) Even Lamsa translates "Qayam" as "remains" here.
The context of discussion is not merely extending the Old Covenant Sabbath, but entering into The Rest of The Creator by faith, which is the true fulfillment of the Sabbath commandment ("For if Joshua, the son of Nun, had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards of another day."-verse 8 "For he who enters His rest has rested from his works as God has from His own. Let us take pains, therefore to enter that rest, lest we fall in the manner of those who were not persuaded."-verses 10 & 11 (my translation) Notice that the Sabbath rest is spoken of as the promise in 4:1, not "the duty", or "the commandment". It is also "appointed": "He appointed another day, after much time...", verse 7. The true Sabbath rest is a promise, not a commandment. Still, we must "take pains, therefore to enter that rest" by faith.
The "to keep the Sabbath" part is correct. The true keeping of the Sabbath is for those who have faith in The Messiah Yeshua, and only those. That Sabbath has no end, as God's rest is timeless.
Blessings,
Dave