Comments on: Translation and the Virgin Birth http://www.xyre.org/2008/08/06/translation-and-the-virgin-birth/ Ancient writings, current events, and my other whims Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:25:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: invisible_hand http://www.xyre.org/2008/08/06/translation-and-the-virgin-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-516 invisible_hand Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:07:18 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=320#comment-516 as a jewish studies professional, i gotta say that this meme comes out a lot in jewish circles. it is code for how christianity is an illegitimate offspring of our TRUE religion. the problem is this: the christian reading of almah as virgin may not be pshat (the plain sense) but it is a decent interpretation (midrash), and, as we all know in postmodern hermeneutical times, all reading is interpretation. indeed, the jewish style of reading has been lauded for its embrace of interpretation, so we must be utterly critical in examining why such things emerge. as a jewish studies professional, i gotta say that this meme comes out a lot in jewish circles. it is code for how christianity is an illegitimate offspring of our TRUE religion.
the problem is this:
the christian reading of almah as virgin may not be pshat (the plain sense) but it is a decent interpretation (midrash), and, as we all know in postmodern hermeneutical times, all reading is interpretation. indeed, the jewish style of reading has been lauded for its embrace of interpretation, so we must be utterly critical in examining why such things emerge.

]]> By: melia http://www.xyre.org/2008/08/06/translation-and-the-virgin-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-514 melia Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:55:00 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=320#comment-514 I'm guessing part of the reason this tradition got started or solidified was that it made sense in a time of proselytizing to gentiles to draw from their miraculous birth of demi-gods tradition? (I'm probably stating the perfectly obvious.) How are you, anyway? I'm very glad to have recently finished German. I’m guessing part of the reason this tradition got started or solidified was that it made sense in a time of proselytizing to gentiles to draw from their miraculous birth of demi-gods tradition? (I’m probably stating the perfectly obvious.) How are you, anyway? I’m very glad to have recently finished German.

]]> By: Devin http://www.xyre.org/2008/08/06/translation-and-the-virgin-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Devin Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:47:14 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=320#comment-513 I love this post! Thanx for doing it! I want to say how wonderful it is to have found your blog. I majored in Religion with emphases on the turn from Judaism to Christianity and Hebrew Bible in college. I love Bart Ehrman and love Misquoting Jesus. I look forward to reading many more of your blogs! I love this post! Thanx for doing it!

I want to say how wonderful it is to have found your blog. I majored in Religion with emphases on the turn from Judaism to Christianity and Hebrew Bible in college. I love Bart Ehrman and love Misquoting Jesus.

I look forward to reading many more of your blogs!

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