READERS RESPOND

"I RECOMMEND A CAREFUL READING OF THE HOLY BIBLE FROM THE FESHITTA, BY GEORGE M. LAMSA, BECAUSE IT IS A DIRECT TRANSLATION FROM THE ARAMAIC, THE LANGUAGE THAT JESUS SPOKE, BY A SCHOLAR WHOSE NATIVE TONGUE IS ARAMAIC AND WHO ALSO SPEAKS ENGLISH FLUENTLY. IT CONTAINS SEVERAL CORRECTIONS OF ERRORS PERPETUATED IN OTHER TRANSLATIONS; FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR THEIR DEEP LOVE FOR FRIENDS OR ATTRIBUTES TYPICAL OF THE OPPOSITE SEX: *...AND WHOEVER SAYS TO HIS BROTHER, YOU ARE EFFEMINATE, IS CONDEMNED TO HELL FIRE,' (DIRECT QUOTATION FROM JESUS, IN MATTHEW 5:22).

"THERE ARE OTHER PASSAGES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN WHICH JESUS MAKES DIRECT REFERENCE TO BROTHERLY LOVE IN A VERY CLEAR AND DEFINITE MANNER, SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: *THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF HIS FRIENDS.' (JOHN 15:13)

"ALSO, IN MATTHEW 19:10-12, JESUS IS QUOTED AS SAYING, WHEN THE APOSTLES REMARKED THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER NOT TO MARRY: 'THIS SAYING DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERY MAN, BUT TO WHOM IT IS GIVEN. FOR THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE BORN SO FROM THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB; AND THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO WERE MADE EUNUCHS BY MAN; AND THERE ARE EUNUCHS WHO MADE THEMSELVES FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINDOM OF HEAVEN.

TO HIM WHO CAN COMPREHEND, THIS IS ENOUGH.'

"IN ADDITION, GEORGE LAMSA WROTE SEVERAL OTHER BOOKS CLARIFYING THE BIELE. ONE VERY SIGNIFICANT VOLUME IS MY NEIGHBOR, JESUS', IN WHICH LAMSA EXPLAINS THE CUSTOMS AND COLLOQUIALISMS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN IN A MANNER THAT THROWS LIGHT ON SEVERAL OF THE STATE-

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