I didn’t mention that I found the

problem with the rear tire on the Marauder – a big ‘ol roofing screw embedded deep. It was time to purchase a new one anyway and the consensus from the Riders is that I should use Discount Motorcycle Tire on Shaver in Pasadena. Called ’em and they didn’t sound so great but hey, the Riders can’t be wrong. I’ll pay them a visit Monday if all goes well. Spent last evening stripping the pillion, sissy bar and bags off in preparation. Actually looks pretty cool as a solo rider.

Getting ready to head to Canton tomorrow with the church, who’d a thunk it’d be freezin’ with a possibility of snow? Wow, it’s gonna be cold!

Looked up Mary as a topic in the Libronix system, pretty much confirmed what I had found on the ‘net. The whole theology is based upon a faulty manuscript and tradition. It’s amazing that people still use the Latin Vulgate as a basis for translations, its’ been proven to be not so accurate for at least half a century. But there are those that still rely upon it. It’s mostly accurate but as they say, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Vulgate and other older translations have Luke 1:28 saying that Mary is “full of grace” and “blessed among women” and Orthodox theology (as well as Roman Catholic) uses this to exalt Mary somewhat higher than she should be (Protestants don’t exalt her enough, methinks). Here is a much better reading of Luke 1:28, along with translators notes from the NET Bible, one of the best translations I’ve read (and it’s free online!).

^{Luke 1:28} The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Notes for 1:28

⁸⁸ tn Grk “And coming to her.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁸⁹ tn Grk “And coming to her, he said”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹⁰ tn Grk “coming to her, he said.” The participle εἰσελθών (eiselthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

⁹¹ tn The address, “favored one” (a perfect participle, Grk “Oh one who is favored”) points to Mary as the recipient of God’s grace, not a bestower of it. She is a model saint in this passage, one who willingly receives God’s benefits. The Vulgate rendering “full of grace” suggests something more of Mary as a bestower of grace, but does not make sense here contextually.

⁹² tc Most mss (A C D Θ ϝ¹³ 33 M latt sy) read here εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν (eulogÄ“menÄ“ su en gunaixin, “blessed are you among women”) which also appears in 1:42 (where it is textually certain). This has the earmarks of a scribal addition for balance; the shorter reading, attested by the most important witnesses and several others (�ℶ B L W Ψ ϝ¹ 565 579 700 1241 pc co), is thus preferred.

Biblical Studies Press. 2003; 2003. The NET Bible Notes (Lk 1:28). Biblical Studies Press