Learning Koine Greek from a Debate

DISCLAIMER no.1: The purpose of this blog article is not to teach but merely share what I've learned from my pastor, Bro.Eli

DISCLAIMER no.2: I will not be able to elaborate the details of this topic because I'm not competent to do so. My comments are directed only towards the Koine Greek aspect. Should you want the details, you would have to ask Bro.Eli directly in one of his Bible Expositions

Last Sept 21, 2014 Sunday, 1pm @ Sao Paolo, Brazil, a debate was held between a Brazilian Pastor Rubens Sodre and Bro.Eli. It was televised live via high definition on youtube (yes, they have the live feature now) and via a Brazilian channel with the program title, O Caminho Antigo (The Old Path).

It was all in Portuguese, of course. 

I do not know the language, but I must say, I enjoyed the debate so much. You would get the idea of some of it when Bro.Eli quotes the verses. Sometimes he speaks in english (to my relief). It was magnificent. 

There was a very, very, very hilarious (did I use the the adverb "very" already? haha) incident at that debate that I will never forget: pastor Rubens was so overwhelmed with how well versed Bro.Eli is with the Bible that he remarked that he wanted the microphone that Bro.Eli was using! He thought someone was dictating the verses to Bro.Eli because the lapel mic Bro.Eli used has an earpiece: 

The microphone of Bro. Eli was requested to be tested by Pastor Rubens for
he thought someone is dictating verses to him! (Photo twitted by @maryjocm)

After testing the mic, he was good enough to apologize to Bro.Eli.

Pastor Rubens obviously did not know Bro.Eli well. Bro.Eli knows the Bible like the back of his hand.

I remember there's another man, a self righteous reporter in the Philippines, Efren Padilla, who did not know Bro.Eli, yet he lied about Bro.Eli saying that Bro.Eli is no different from the corrupt officials and pastors of our country. He mentioned the pastors, Velarde (Catholic), Quiboloy (who claimed that he's the son of God) and Manalo (head of the super politically-powerful Iglesia ni Cristo).

It's easy to dismiss these three:

Velarde - anyone under the Protestant umbrella should be able to counter the Catholic doctrine with ease
Quiboloy - he's the son of God? A joke really
Manalo - their belief Christ is a man and not a God, so why bother?

Padilla putting Bro.Eli to this group of Biblical knowledge-challenged is an insult to the intelligence.

What's that? The greek? Oh yes, sorry about that little detour, one of the topics of the debate is that pastor Rubens is claiming that there is no need for Christians to congregate themselves. Bro.Eli then quoted Heb 10:24. I'd like to show you guys 3 versions of that verse:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds New International Version 

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds New American Standard 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works King James

See how these 3 versions used the same word "consider". However, if you would look at the greek original, the term that was used was, KATANOωMEN:

from the Codex Sinaiticus

KATANOωMEN according to Strong's Exhuastive concordance means:

From kata and noieo; to observe fully -- behold, consider, discover, perceive.

Bro.Eli emphasized that "to observe fully" has an ocular element. Members need to physically see their fellow Members so they can be "provoked unto love and to good works," Why is Bro.Eli so sure about this? Because the next verse that is after 24 has this to say:

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:

We need to congregate, to assemble ourselves together, so we can perceive, discover, behold our fellow men, so we can be provoked unto love and good works.

Bro.Eli won.

To God be all the glory!