@Daи Why would a Baptist believe in purgatory?

@Anonymous dunno, but if you Google 'Jerry Walls purgatory' I'm sure you can listen to him explain it himself

@Daи But purgatory is a Catholic doctrine.

@Daи How many languages do you know? How do you contribute to the Biblical Hermeneutics.SE? What are your areas of expertise?

I confess I know of no biblical language. I can only contribute to the Biblical Hermeneutics.SE by sources found in academic journals. And, I really don't have a fine area of expertise.

I think the lack of knowledge of languages is a hindrance, because I am extremely dependent on the translation work of others.

Being a bilingual person myself, I know firsthand that idioms and connotations cannot be translated so easily.

I was going to ask the question on the main SE, but then I figured it might be too off-topic. It's about Sparknotes' interpretation, not a clerical authority.

@Anonymous most of what you just said would probably fit better in the C.SE chat room

I'm formally trained in Koine Greek (and currently both take coursework in it and teach it), and I've also taken courses in Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, and some other languages not pertinent to Biblical Studies

@Anonymous there is ambiguity in the Greek on whether Paul was arguing his readers are saved by faith in Christ or the faith(fulness) of Christ. Google 'pistis Christou debate' to learn more

@Anonymous I explain the debate some in relation to a specific verse on this question

It has to do with the syntax of the genitive case, whether understood as subjective or objective (is Christ the subject or object of faith/fulness?)

So yes, those Sparknotes are highly interptetive

If you're interested in another perspective on Paul, check out NT Wright

And if you'd like to hear a summary of a (growing) scholarly perspective which believes Paul and his disciples wrote almost all of the books in the New Testament (including the Gospels), check out Tarazi

Paul Nadim Tarazi is his full name I think

@JLB Saw your message on your original question. I recommend undeleting your question and letting it be closed as duplicate. Then it can remain as a sign post with a different flavor of the question from the other one so that it's easier to find in the future.

@Soldarnal I undeleted it. You don't think the moderators will shut it down? If you appreciate my question I would appreciate it up voted. I don't know who down voted. Give me your opinion, do you think it would be helpful for the site to make it so that when someone down votes they are required to reveal themselves and give a short reason? I think this would be helpful for the posting person and the community. What are your thoughts?

@JackDouglas it seems a recurring problem - where people are to put what comment. How do you think this misunderstanding can be rectified in the minds of the community?

@JLB by gently guiding folk as and when there is a need?

@JLB but @Anonymous is not new

@Sarah I just wanted to tell you I replied to your comment on my answer to hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/a/6231/2873 as I tried to clarify. Thanks

@JackDouglas If you're around, could you close this question as a duplicate before other people answer. JLB (the OP) agrees that it is a duplicate

@JLB I upvoted to balance the down vote (and since I think it's a good question :)) I asked Jack to close it. Closing is different from deleting - the question will remain for others and be marked on the bottom as a duplicate linking to the first question.

@JLB I think it's helpful (and courteous) when people do comment after down voting, but I can understand why some people want to do so anonymously. And there are cases where something is just spam or very low quality and it's obvious and it wouldn't be worth everyone having to add a comment to down vote on the post

@JackDouglas I was referring to your chat with Anonymous, not my chat regarding Solidarnel.

@JLB I understood that, thanks. Wasn't that made obvious by me mentioning Anonymous 3 times?

@Soldarnal Good plan, Caleb beat me to it, but I added my +1 :)

@JackDouglas Thanks

@JackDouglas, How we can help @John Martin strengthen his questions? He is following a consistent theme of dates in Genesis. His questions are receiving consistently low ratings, yet he seems to be driving at something deep and putting a lot of research effort into it. I'm horrible with dates so I can not even really grasp the concepts he is dealing with to help him to any extent. I have been directing him to resources and such. He has been most receptive to assistance and thankful.

@user2479 I've recently joined the club of folks receiving downvotes, so... welcome to the club! :P

@JLB speculating about who downvoted something is generally futile

@JLB most of us do comment when we DV in most occasions. Like @Soldarnal said, some posts aren't worth the effort (obvious spam or where someone else has already commented)