Thanks, Jon for getting this up and going. Nice graphics and header.
After that enlightening lunch I went back and got a chance to get the exact reference to the passage I was recalling - 1 Thessalonians 2: 17.
An old prof. of mine translates the passage as follows: "But we, brethren, having been orphaned by being separated from you for a short time, in person but not in heart, most earnestly endeavored to see you face to face with great longing." (A.J. Malherbe Anchor Bible vol 32B).
The obviously clunky syntax suggests a young and possibly distraught Paul. Recall that 1 Thessalonians is the oldest NT book and likely represents the Jesus Movement and Paul's work at its earliest stages (circa 49-51). Here Paul is orphan. Later in his correspondence he will be child and man (Corinthians). Interesting progression.
Well, now we're flying.
1 comment:
Here is the NRSV:
As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.
And here is yours:
But we, brethren, having been orphaned by being separated from you for a short time, in person but not in heart, most earnestly endeavored to see you face to face with great longing.
Sometimes it is satisfying to draw on what we know best and to remember the goodness of those who took us in hand and taught us.
And to keep in sight the reasons for the quotation:
Sometimes we feel like motherless children, on the edges of things and wishing that we could warm ourselves by the fires of home and family. That we wonder why the Church, which is so often and in such irritating fashion described as being "just like family", can be so cold and wounding.
Like the man says, or sings, to be more exact:
No one can hurt you,
no one can hurt you,
no one can hurt you,
like someone you love.
For me, the challenge is to muse without claiming the victim's stance of poor-me. The Church has hurt me and is hurting me, and I love the Church, as well. And going deeper, perhaps I would not know how to act, would not know what "normal" is, in terms of the Church Family. Perhaps I can embrace the orphan's position and find out why I prefer it.
Post a Comment