WCF 7.4 reads:
This discussion came up at a recent meeting because a man took exception to the notion that the CoG is "frequently" set forth in the Scripture by the name of a testament.
At first I was greatly puzzled by the exception because it seemed as if the person thought that the WCF didn't know that all the Confession is saying here is that the Scriptures use the term "testament" to refer to the CoG in many places. I found out from another person that it is not an infrequent exception because, he stated, that it occurs only once (not frequently).
I then did a quick word search in Logos to discover that the word testament only occurs once in modern versions (ESV, NAS, etc) but it occurs quite frequently in the AV.
Now I know I'm likely opening up a hornet's nest with this question. I'm really not interested in the debate on the issue but I'm wondering about the intent of the clause itself.
Did the writers have a Greek or Hebrew word in mind for the above or do they have in mind the frequency of the English word "testament" when they wrote the statement in WCF 7.4?
IV. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.
This discussion came up at a recent meeting because a man took exception to the notion that the CoG is "frequently" set forth in the Scripture by the name of a testament.
At first I was greatly puzzled by the exception because it seemed as if the person thought that the WCF didn't know that all the Confession is saying here is that the Scriptures use the term "testament" to refer to the CoG in many places. I found out from another person that it is not an infrequent exception because, he stated, that it occurs only once (not frequently).
I then did a quick word search in Logos to discover that the word testament only occurs once in modern versions (ESV, NAS, etc) but it occurs quite frequently in the AV.
Now I know I'm likely opening up a hornet's nest with this question. I'm really not interested in the debate on the issue but I'm wondering about the intent of the clause itself.
Did the writers have a Greek or Hebrew word in mind for the above or do they have in mind the frequency of the English word "testament" when they wrote the statement in WCF 7.4?