XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien, alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox   
   From: jointuser@thepub.co.za   
      
   Steve Hayes  wrote in message   
   news:3fa9ce9b.169406177@news.saix.net...   
   > On Wed, 5 Nov 2003 11:43:00 +0200, "Membranous Gauss"   
      
   > wrote:   
   >   
   > >   
   > >> >   
   > >> >Does it not also say in the New Testament: "The wages of sin is   
   Death?"   
   > >>   
   > >> So it does.   
   > >>   
   > >> But what is your point?   
   > >>   
   > >> Are you suggesting that wages are a punishment?   
   > >>   
   > >   
   > >With the amount I get paid, yes!   
   > >   
   > >But seriously, folks... the implication in that line is that sinners earn   
   > >death, it is what they deserve for their actions. This is linked to the   
   > >concept of punishment. A man who commits a crime is said to deserve to go   
   to   
   > >prison. Reward and punishment are two sides of the same coin. Do good and   
   > >you deserve good things i.e.reward. Do bad (sin) and you deserve bad   
   things   
   > >i.e. punishment. So in that sense 'wages' is equated with the coin of   
   reward   
   > >/ punishment, the line can be interpreted as saying: Commit sin  and you   
   > >deserve death (a punishment).   
   >   
   > I'm not sure that I agree with your line of reasoning.   
   >   
   > Would you say that death is a punishment for getting cancer, or measles,   
   or   
   > pneumonia?   
   >   
   No. But would you say that getting paid your wage is only a consequence of   
   working, and not a reward for doing work?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)