(9 votes, average: 4.56 out of 5)
Loading...I’m sorry (well happy) to say that I’m on a meditation retreeat this week, until June 24, in a remote part of Merry Ole, walking (aka hiking) and thinking deep thoughts. I will be almost entirely incommunicado as I reflect on reality and try to figure out my life….
I’ve set up posts to run for the week, and all other blog functions should be running along as normal (including Support from Diane!). BUT, I will not be able to get to blog comments till I’m back. Apologies! But this too shall end (too soon, no doubt!)
Please thrive and be happy in the meantime.
Best wishes for your returning refreshed and enlightened!
Wonderful! Enjoy.
Have a lovely time! I’ll be Merry Ole for most of August …
We’re saving up the rain for when you come. For now it’s been lovely.
More people should do this. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the time before cell phones, before everyone expected you to be connected 24/7.
Good luck getting this thing called life all figured out this week, Bart!
Hey, one week? No problem…
I didn’t realize you meditated! That’s a passion of mine. I’d be interested to know what kind of meditation retreat it was and what prompted you take part. =)
It was a retreat organized and taken by one person (moi). I do a variety of meditation practices but have no formal training in it (I do body recognition, kinds of mindfulness, and something I call immanental [since I don’t believe in the transcendent]. I was prompted by a desperate need to get away from the craziness of life (the past eight months have been unusually frenetic). For seven days I meditated, did Pilates, went on long hikes (more thinking), and, well, read Plato and Epictetus. How good does it get?
Dr. Ehrman, it’s a week later so now I’d like to respectfully interrupt with a question. When you get the time of course. 🙂
In 2 Cor. 12:7, Paul mentions a messenger of Satan. I believe the word (angelos) may be translated as messenger when referring to mortals, and angel when referring to immortals, depending on the context. So if Satan, a demigod opposite of God, has a messenger, why isn’t he too identified as an angel? After all, aren’t God’s messengers always referred to as angels?
Are you asking why English translators use the word “messenger” instead of “angel” for the one sent from Satan? It would be simply a choice — it could be translated either way. My guess is that English translators prefer to use “angel” for those sent from God and “messenger” for those sent from anyone else (including from humans). The word just means “messenger” but in common parlance God’s messengers are simply termed angels.