Dear Youngman:

> By all means, you are free to use the emails in any way they are useful in
> your ministry. I will let you know if there is ever something I would
> prefer
> to keep offline. I appreciate your care and that you asked me.
>
> I am working on the Math from the Bible treatise to send you. I realize
> how
> little true foundation I have in math. I don't understand the real sum of
> why and how math works. I can use it-- but the foundation is in large part
> missing-- it is not the powerful tool in my hands that it should be. I
> desperately want that foundation.
>
> I went to the scriptures to learn about four basic functions of math. But
> what I received was understanding, strength, and encouragement. It is so
> SIMPLE to learn what the Bible says.
>
> James 3:17
> But the wisdom that is from above is first PURE, then peaceable, gentle,
> and
> EASY to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
> and
> without hypocrisy.
>
> Was the Bible-word for "triangle" simply "three angles?"

No.  I do not think that you understand the point.  The Bible word for
triangle is "three corners".  When I asked Hannah this question last
year [at 8 years old]--how to say "triangle" the Bible way--she told me "three corners". 
That is because she learned that an angle is a "corner" based on the
scriptures.  She had already learned the basic term and when asked simply
extrapolated in order to give the right answer.  The point is that there
are basic counting terms that must be found in the scriptures and THEN
extrapolated to encompass the phenomena with which we deal.  We must not
look for an exact word that only means "undecagon" in the scriptures, we
must extrapolate.

If you disagree with this assessment, show what you believe is the word
triangle and then show me the exact Bible words for the 9-sided, 10-sided,
11-sided, and 4442-sided figures.

Concerning this endeavor, this extrapolating, it was given to man to make
names for things.  Adam named the animals himself--naming was something
given to man.  That's why I am not afraid to call orange orange even if
it is not in the Bible.  But in terms of what we are doing in our studies--

We search the scriptures for the rudiments of each subject.  It is here that we 
find the basic terms (as we need them--we don't sit down and look for every 
mathematical term at one time.  We take a precept back to the scriptures for sifting
and purification.  If anything comes out of the fire we can use it.).  With foundational
terms in hand, we extrapolate to apply them to all things as necessary.

Biblical scholarship is useful.  It must be.  And it cannot be far out and
unreachable.  It is built on words and concepts found in the Bible and
presented in a systematic and careful manner.  When laid out properly, a
baby can get ahold of it AND EXTRAPOLATE.

> Is there a Bible-word for "Bible-word?"

Scripture word.  Word does not just mean a single word.  A word is also
the conveyance of a single message, e.g.,  Jer 37:17, "Is there any word
from the LORD?"

"Bible" is not a Bible word.  It means "book" but I use it anyway--Joshua
1:9, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth...."  Yet
this word "Bible" is associated with only one book--the holy scriptures. 
Perhaps one day, I will change the way I refer to the holy scriptures, I
do not know.  I've thought about this before.

> I was just thinking about Bible "versions." "Versions" is not a Bible
> word.
> The very word "versions" should immediately be a warning that something is
> wrong-- there are not "versions" of the truth. There are translations. A
> translation is not a new version. It is a moving of a thing from one place
> to another. These words are not exchangeable, and the fact that they are
> interchanged today bears witness to the fact that there is a lack of
> reverence and understanding for God's Word.

Your point is taken.  The King James Bible is a translation.  It uses
"formal equivalence"--word-for-word translation.  The modern versions use
"dynamic equivalence"--not word for word translation, but what they think
the "originals" are trying to say--they are versions of the truth.  They
say whatever they want to say even if it is not in the "originals".  They
are versions--actually PERversions.

 > Thank you Lord for preserving your Word to us, perfect, tried, and pure.
> Thank you for entrusting us with your knowledge. May we grow fervently by
> it. May our thoughts and meditations be pleasing in your sight. Teach
> me
> understanding, and to know my days. These things I pray in Jesus' name,
> Amen.
>
> Your friend,
> Youngman


Amen.

Mephibosheth