Nida: the Word in its place

Saturday, August 18, 2018
Meditation:
    For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
    —Romans 15:4 (NIV)
Quotation:
    (Peter) Waldo, a business-man in Lyons, France, in about A.D. 1170 became intensely curious as to the content of the Scriptures. But he could not read Latin, and so the Scriptures were a closed book to him. However, he hired two money-minded priests, who, in violation of strict regulations, translated the Bible for him into Provençal, the language of southern France. The content of the Word of God made such an impression upon this earnest man that he gave up his business, took upon himself a vow of poverty, and dedicated himself to the simple preaching of the contents of God’s Word...
    The Latin of the Church only mystified its hearers [but] Waldo’s humble preaching edified the souls of men. His words were not spectacular but powerful, as he pleaded with them to repent. Much of his preaching and that of his followers consisted in reciting long passages of Scripture in the vernacular. Many of them could not afford an expensive handwritten copy of the Bible, and the ecclesiastical authorities could too easily rob them of such a book; but they could not erase the words which were treasured in the heart.
    ... Eugene A. Nida (1914-2011), God’s Word in Man’s Language, New York: Harper, 1952, p. 82-83 (see the book)
    See also Rom. 15:4; 4:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:3; 2 Pet. 1:20-21
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have gifted Your word to Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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