Verses that ETers got wrong - Matthew 7:14 (Gospel, believe, Jesus)

[trettep]

I wanted to start this thread - not to be a debate with ETers but to show to others and maybe even a few of them that they got some verses wrong. I'm going to start with an often quoted one and how ETers ATTEMPT to use this to put down universalism. If this goes well, I create different threads for different verses with the same sort of heading.

KJV
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

ETers want you to believe that Matthew 7:14 is showing us that only FEW shall ever FIND the way that leads to life. But I'm going to show you now why that is an INCORRECT interpretation of this verse. First, understand that I'm quoting the King James version of this verse.

The key word to look at in this verse is the word/verb "Find" in verse 14 above. The ETers would have you believe that this verse is showing us that the word FIND there is FUTURE tense and if that was the case then it would indeed be telling us that there would be FEW to EVER find the way leading to life. BUT what happens if the word FIND is NOT Future tense? What if it is PRESENT tense? Then the whole verse would FAIL to uphold the ETers view that FEW will EVER find the narrow way.

So now let's look closer at that verse and especially that word "Find". We know the KJV version was translated from a Greek text. Let's look at the Greek text:

First here is the proper Strong's numbers for the verses:

Mat 7:13 EnterG1525 ye inG1223 at theG3588 straitG4728 gate:G4439 forG3754 wideG4116 is theG3588 gate,G4439 andG2532 broadG2149 is theG3588 way,G3598 that leadethG520 toG1519 destruction,G684 andG2532 manyG4183 there beG1526 which go inG1525 thereat:G1223 G846
Mat 7:14 BecauseG3754 straitG4728 is theG3588 gate,G4439 andG2532 narrowG2346 is theG3588 way,G3598 whichG3588 leadethG520 untoG1519 life,G2222 andG2532 fewG3641 there beG1526 that findG2147 it.G846

I have bolded Strong's number G2147 above. Now let's look at the number in the Greek parsing:

Mat 7:14 | οτιG3754 CONJ | τιG5101 I-NSN | στενηG4728 A-NSF ηG3588 T-NSF πυληG4439 N-NSF καιG2532 CONJ τεθλιμμενηG2346 V-RPP-NSF ηG3588 T-NSF οδοςG3598 N-NSF ηG3588 T-NSF απαγουσαG520 V-PAP-NSF ειςG1519 PREP τηνG3588 T-ASF ζωηνG2222 N-ASF καιG2532 CONJ ολιγοιG3641 A-NPM εισινG1510 V-PAI-3P οιG3588 T-NPM ευρισκοντεςG2147 V-PAP-NPM αυτηνG846 P-ASF

Again,I have bolded G2147 above. Notice the parsing for this (V-PAP-NPM). This "V" means this is a verb, which we already knew. The very next letter is the tense and that tense is "P" which stands here for PRESENT Tense. So there we have it. Jesus was actually speaking here in the PRESENT Tense. He was not saying that Few would EVER FIND the narrow way (future tense) but saying that Few were FINDING the narrow way at that time (Present tense).

Here is a better translation of that aspect as found in the YLT (Youngs Literal Translation):

Mat 7:13 `Go ye in through the strait gate, because wide is the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it;
Mat 7:14 how strait is the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!


Notice that the verse is much more recognized as being spoken of as in the PRESENT tense in the YLT version.

To aid the student in understanding this I highly recommend the e-sword Bible software and the Youngs Literal Translation download and King James Version downloads along with the Greek Westcott Hort with Strong's numbers download.

Hopefully, you can refer to this thread anytime to counter the understanding that ETers promote so you can rightfully compare and seek the Truth.

[Vizio]

That's a long way to go to try to make that point.

[Pleroo]

Originally Posted by Vizio

That's a long way to go to try to make that point.

Here's the short route:

ETers would have you believe that the passage means few people will EVER find the way which leads to life; future tense.

But when Jesus spoke those words 2000 years ago, he said few ARE FINDING it. Present tense, 2000 years ago. Not future tense.


Nothing about lots of people never finding the way.

[Horn of ‘83]

I don't see a difference in the meaning.

[Pleroo]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

I don't see a difference in the meaning.

You don't see that the ET version excludes the majority of people ever finding the way to life, whereas Jesus' version was simply a statement of the current state of affairs as it was 2000 years ago?

[Vizio]

Originally Posted by Pleroo

Here's the short route:

ETers would have you believe that the passage means few people will EVER find the way which leads to life; future tense.

But when Jesus spoke those words 2000 years ago, he said few ARE FINDING it. Present tense, 2000 years ago. Not future tense.


Nothing about lots of people never finding the way.

In the context, I think it was a clear statement that only a few will be saved.

[DRob4JC]

It doesn't say ALL will find it...

[Pleroo]

Originally Posted by DRob4JC

It doesn't say ALL will find it...

OP didn't say it did. He simply said it doesn't say what ET says it does.

[Pleroo]

Originally Posted by Vizio

In the context, I think it was a clear statement that only a few will be saved.

Of course you think that, because you read the verse through the lens of Eternal Torment and an exclusive "gospel".

[pcamps]

Originally Posted by DRob4JC

It doesn't say ALL will find it...

It says few at that time were. Jesus was speaking in present tense.