Dear Webmaster Matthew:
Thanks for such a long and thoughtful reply. I wanted to ask just one follow-up:

What about the objection:
"Look, why am I to think that after taking a few years of Biblical languages, that MY interpretation/translation of the original text is going to so much more accurate than what I can already rely on in the translations now extant? The ones who have put together all the modern translations, being complete experts in the languages, have now given us several different ways to interpret given texts and words. Am I to believe that they're not accurate enough to trust? And how am I, as one who is just "competent" and not "expert" going to disagree with what's already given? Also, what about all the exegetical aids and word studies, etc. that give complete meanings to all the words? Shouldn't that suffice to make sure one is dealing accurately with the text? Just how far off is one going to be when preaching on a text just because he or she (ha ha, just kidding!) doesn't know the original languages?"

Well, that's my follow up question. If you would be gracious enough to deal with this it would be a great help to me. Thanks so much!

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Christopher Hinton
Northland, A Church Distributed;
Altamonte Springs, FL