Form of Words

I believe I'm turning into a thief. Wait! I am a thief. I've been stealing all kinds of really good stuff from other web sites. But, then, I don't think the others mind, I always try to attribute what I use, to them, and am grateful they have not threatened to soak my typing fingers in hot-grease or something. Besides, the 'Gummint' says we can use reasonable amounts of copyrighted material if we attribute the usage to the authors. Ok! So much for rationalizing, justifying, weasling-out, and generally making excuses for my un-originality.

I've also been hung-up recently on the use of language in and around church in particular, and in life, in general. Seems the folks at Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics thought about this as well. This I stole from them:

2 Timothy 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

13. Hold the form of sound words. Some explain it thus: “Let thy doctrine be, as it were, a pattern which others may imitate.” I do not approve of that view. Equally removed from Paul’s meaning is Chrysostom’s exposition, that Timothy should have at hand the image of virtues engraven on his heart by Paul’s doctrine. I rather think that Paul commands Timothy to hold fast the doctrine which he had learned, not only as to substance, but as to the very form of expression; for — the word which Paul employs on this occasion — denotes a lively picture of objects, as if they were actually placed before the eyes. Paul knew how ready men are to depart or fall off from pure doctrine. For this reason he earnestly cautions Timothy not to turn aside from that form of teaching which he had received, and to regulate his manner of teaching by the rule which had been laid down; not that we ought to be very scrupulous about words, but because to misrepresent doctrine, even in the smallest degree, is exceedingly injurious.

–– John Calvin, from his commentary on 2 Timothy

Could it be that our modern paraphrases and simplified versions of the Bible and Confessions will, in the end, have the exact opposite effect from what we hoped for? What form will we use for the next generation?

Now, before everyone becomes apoplectic over "Calvin," I recommend actually reading some of his material to find out what he says - not what people say he says.