[PRCo] Re: HAPPY HOLIDAYS_ i.e._ MERRY___CHRISTMAS

[Donald Galt]

On 22 Dec 2003 at 11:04, Jim Holland quoted and expanded:

> > Linus lets us all in on the true meaning of Christmas ...
> 
> > Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men.
> 
 
> 	Only the King James and New King James translates this in
> Luke-2.14 as:    """Good Will Towards Men."""
> The NASB, NIV, Amplified, NEB, RSV, ABUX, Knox, TCNT, etc. all
> translate similarly to ...
> 
> "Glory to God in the highest, and on
> 	earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (NIV)
> 
> 	Quite a difference in meaning between KJV and these!
> 

"Peace to men of good will" - until recently the preferred Roman Catholic 
version - corresponds to the centuries-old "pax hominibus bonae voluntatis" of 
the Vulgate. I'll accept that the more recent translations are more accurate - 
though of course they are only as good as the Greek texts they are based upon.  

> Matt 10:34    "Do not suppose that I have come to
> 	bring peace to the earth.    I did not come to
> 	bring peace, but a sword. (NIV)
> 

Doggone religion, never as simple as you expect!

Anyway, as a practising-but-often-skeptical Christian who has recently seen all 
too many instances of the drawbridge of faith being raised against the infidel, 
in this particular season I'm going with "peace, good will toward [mankind]". 

Up Linus!

Don