The orchestra is an integral part of Biola’s music program. Girls pictured are rehearsing for an upcoming concert
There’s every indication that the early Church had a real sensitivity to the language barriers which they met. In the Gospels we find a re peated phrase, “which being inter preted says.” The Holy Spirit knew that there would be those who would read these writings who would need to understand what was meant. So, from Aramaic, the Greek meaning was given. Paul encountered problems at Ly- conia since he probably spoke in Greek. The sermon apparently didn’t get through to the people. They started worshipping him instead of the God whom he sought to declare. The reason was the language barrier. While Paul was probably tri-lingual, he evidently didn’t know the lan guage of Lyconia. Paul realized that something had gone wrong. He told them not to worship him. This shows how utterly distorted our message can be when we’re not able to use the language of the people to whom we’re speaking.
As a later principle Paul put down a basic concept that applies in a broader scale than in I Corinthians 14. He declared that he’d rather speak five words in a known lan guage and be understood, than ten thousand words in a strange lan guage and not be understood. Paul recognized that there were language differences and that all tongues and dialects should be used for the com munication of God’s truth. When in Jerusalem Paul took Gen tile converts into the temple area. The Jews felt that he had somehow desecrated their temple in this man ner. He was seized and a riot ensued. When word got out about the tumult the Roman garrison sent soldiers to rescue him so that they could dis cern the basic problem. As they es corted him back to the castle of An tonio, he turned and spoke to the Roman commander, asking permis sion to speak to the crowd which followed. Granted the right he made his defense (Acts 22:2). The Holy Spirit through Luke explains that
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