Re: Psalm 14

In message <87y78054h2.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Gareth McCaughan <Gareth.McCaughan@xxxxxxxxx> writes
Mark Goodge wrote:

That's an interesting point. I'm inclined to the opinion that most
English translations have the quote marks in the wrong place. I have a
feeling it should be punctuated like this:

The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God. They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

I think that this is a pretty good representation of the beliefs of
many who reject God because of the perceived actions of some who claim
to follow God. And I would agree with the Psalmist that this is a
foolish choice.

Doesn't that mean that St Paul completely screwed up in Romans 3,
where he appears to quote those words (about what "they" do and
don't do) with approval?

My own take on this, for what it's worth, is that Psalm 53
isn't commenting on the foolishness of atheists but on the
atheism of fools. By which I mean: it's not saying "you
know those people who say there's no God? well, they're
fools" but "you know those fools? well, here's how stupid
they are: they actually think there's no God". Or perhaps
"they behave as if they think there's no God". It *assumes*
that saying in one's heart "there is no god" is a terrible
thing, it doesn't *argue* for it.

Just to comment that that's how I've always read it.

Mike

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--
Michael J Davis
http://www.trustsof.demon.co.uk
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For this is what the Lord has said to me,
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