₦airaland Forum

Daejoyoung:
Yeah so Matthew was reading from the septuagint. ln my belief ( and l might be wrong) no one truly knew much about the birth of jesus as at the time the gospels were written probably because Mary must have died when they were writing, as well as the siblings of jesus and as at then there were probably different traditions on the birth narrative. Mark doesn't even bother about the birth of jesus, and for john, jesus already existed from the beginning. Matthew and Luke were trying to write an all round biography, and could only write down what they have heard and what was popular in their own community.

Perfectly on point, thank you.

femi4:
There is no miracle in a young woman conceiving but a miracle exist in a VIRGIN given birth. The miraculous birth is KEY here

Is 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. NIV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. KJV

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). NLT

You are not listening.

The Hebrew word used in the Isaiah verse you have quoted above is "Almah" - that word means "young woman". It does not mean virgin. That is a mistranslation -

Read:

Almah (עַלְמָה ‘almāh, plural: עֲלָמוֹת ‘ălāmōṯ), from a root implying the vigour of puberty,[1] is a Hebrew word for a young woman of childbearing age.[2] Despite its importance to the Christian tradition of the virgin birth of Jesus, scholars agree that it has nothing to do with virginity.[2] It occurs nine times in the Hebrew Bible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almah

The word which translates as virgin is actually "betulah" and that word is not used with respect to Mary.

midnighter:
Yes, I have seen that but my point is still valid.

Having a child out of wedlock doesn't mean that you're consigned to the dustbin but it doesn't mean that people who try to give birth in the order that God ordained should be derided.

People here keeping saying "God can use anybody" as if people who try to do the right thing are stupid.

Virgin or young maiden or whatever, pointing out a good quality in another person shouldn't make you flare and jump up to rubbish it unless you have an unresolved issue within yourself.

It looks like inferiority complex if you ask me. That you failed somewhere doesn't mean everybody should fail too so that you will feel better.

nB "you" here is an impersonal "you", not that I'm necessarily aiming my post at you

Fair, tempered, reasoned and enlightened response.

ImmaculateJOE:
You thought about Immaculate Conception is wrong. Immaculate Conception is not about Jesus Christ but about Mary herself. She was conceived without the sin of Adam & Eve at her mother's womb

How was she exempt from said sin oga?

femi4:
Being a virgin is part of the sign

It validate the non Adamic nature of Jesus

The prophecy never referred to a virgin, it referred to an Almah - which means young woman.
Betulah, is the Hebrew word for virgin, and that word was never used with reference to Mary.

Daejoyoung:
Some people argue though that the translation of the word almah in Isaiah 7v14 is not virgin but maiden. The translation of the Hebrew bible to Greek about 200 years before christ may have translated it as virgin. That is their arguement, and l don't know enough yet to refute it, but someone here who is familiar with this arguement should bring in his/her own perspective.

Either way Merry Christmas to you all.

The word translated as virgin is Almah. This is a mistranslation as Almah simply means "Young Woman."

Almah (עַלְמָה ‘almāh, plural: עֲלָמוֹת ‘ălāmōṯ), from a root implying the vigour of puberty,[1] is a Hebrew word for a young woman of childbearing age.[2] Despite its importance to the Christian tradition of the virgin birth of Jesus, scholars agree that it has nothing to do with virginity.[2] It occurs nine times in the Hebrew Bible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almah

midnighter:
I was grappling with this concept after reading.

God still used immoral and undeserving people to prove his points so is this argument not circular?

But since the question is about Mary in particular, her own particular path in life was tied to being a virgin, among other things.

How will you know what blessings you missed if you don't keep the law? That God redeems people when they fail doesn't mean they actually have license to indulge their failures.

This is what people who are insulting the OP refuse to understand. See how they're flaring because of a simple message.

Because God will still use non-virgins, that's why nobody should be encouraged to remain chaste right? Smh

My dear sister, the whole concept of Mary's virginity is totally misconceived. Na lie. Na fabu - arising from babanla mistranslation. Please read -

In the same way that in the English language the words “young woman” does not indicate sexual purity, in the Hebrew languagethere is no relationship between the words almah and virgin. On the contrary, it is usually a young woman who bears children. The word alma only conveys age/gender. Had Isaiah wished to speak about a virgin, he would have used the word betulah1 (בְּתוּלָה) not almah. The word betulah appears frequently in the Jewish Scriptures, and is the only word – in both biblical and modern Hebrew – that conveys sexual purity.

https://outreachjudaism.org/alma-virgin/

jesusjnr:
Lol!

You're right that Mary didn't choose to be the mother of Jesus but she was chosen by God, for the is the message of the Op, but i just discovered that I made an error in the thread title and left out a word.

Thanks for your correction.

God bless.

Do you sincerely believe that Mary got pregnant without sexual intercourse?

1. [Redacted]

2. Do you know the punishment for adultery at that time?

3. Do you know the distinction between the hebrew words "Alma" and "Betulah"? - Please do your research - Alma - which is mistranslated "virgin" actually means "young woman" - this is therefore an error of translation which has led to this misconception. The word "Betulah" is what actually refers to a virgin and this is not used with respect to Mary. The thing is that young women were generally expected to be virgins at that time.

4. Lets imagine you do not have sex with your wife for a year and she turns up pregnant. She tells you an angel appeared to her and the pregnancy was as a result of the Holy Spirit poking her. Will you believe this bro? Be honest - What will be your response, if no be slap?

Righteousness89:
[left][/left]

You don't own yourself! You can't keep yourself!
You Have an Owner..
and that is GOD ALMIGHTY...

He can do whatever HE wills with you..

The above leapt out at me.
Particularly the bold.

How is the bold a good thing? ? ? ? ?
Or to put it differently - is the bold something to be celebrated?

In fact, what type of God should be proud of the above, if not a sadistic tyrant?

Christophorus:
A single mom with integrity and swag!

Integrity?
Where were you when this woman lined up to sing for Abacha's life presidency bid?

texazzpete:
Of all the statements around this Sanusi issue, i find the 'the amount kept changing' argument to be the most intellectually lazy and dishonest one.
Essentially because it betrays a complete lack of understanding about the issues.

Not really. Tardiness with figures is not a virtue for any banker much less a central banker.

Sanusi never claimed $49bn was stolen. NEVER. Check anywhere.

You are arguing with yourself here as I didnt say he alleged theft.

Guess what happened? President Goodluck Jonathan sat on the memo and did nothing, despite being personally clueless about the reasons for the shortfall himself.

I must concede that GEJ could be quite tardy - he also was not a strong or decisive leader. Bad on him.

Only after the memo leaked...

And who leaked the memo?
Please dont attempt to evade this question - your careful and detailed response thus far leads one to believe you surely would know this essential part of the story.

There was NEVER any carelessness with figures.

There was. Not just carelessness but also impulsive sensationalism - which was a repeated pattern throughout his tenure. Something that's a lousy trait for a central banker.

Figures will always change everytime reconciliation effort is put in.

This is a weak excuse. A person of his exposure and erudition ought to have understood what was at stake and treated the matter with greater care ab initio.

Trust Nigerians. An ever cowardly, misguided lot. It's the person who blew the whistle that exposed discrepancies that is being attacked today.

Please dont canonize this man as some brave and righteous whistleblower - SLS committed more illegalities during his tenure than most politicians manage in a lifetime. He was also exceedingly corrupt, but it is regrettable that we live in a most illiterate country and he was able to breeze through with fast-talk and razzmatazz.

blazhykowskyi:
But okonjo confirmed that $10.8B was missing.

Even if that is true, it is a long way from $49 billion - and it remains abysmal that a Central Bank Governor will goof around with sensitive figures with such disproportion - it is quite clear that as with most of his actions, he was seeking sensation.

Sensationalism is not an attribute of any half decent central banker.

texazzpete:
Nothing SLS said was a lie.

You corruption loving GEJ acolytes will not rewrite history to suit yourselves.

Beyond being partisan, at least try to know the facts of a matter and try to make reasonable conclusions please.

On this matter, SLS did jump the gun with statements he could not substantiate, and in what can only be said to be an abomination for a central banker, had to keep changing his figures. He first said $49 billion was missing, then revised it to $12 billion and finally said it was $20 billion. So what do you mean he told no lies? Its not possible for all three statements to be the truth you know?

Be reasonable please.

I doubt you are aware that PWC was subsequently called in to do an audit together with CBN, NNPC and the Ministry of Finance. Of course s this is Nigeria, discrepancies were found here and there, but absolutely nothing near any of the wild figures your hero was bandying about. It is disgraceful for a governor of a central bank to be so careless with figures.

Mynd44:
The scene I will love most is if Ganduje dethroned Sanusi
Sanusi contests to be governor in 2032 and wins.

Then Ganduje will know the neaning of "inside life"

Have you forgotten Sanusi's level of high handedness as CBN Governor?
Do you recall the many people he kicked to oblivion within six weeks of taking that chair?
If Sanusi was in Ganduje's shoes, do you think he would hesitate to dethrone any Emir who so much as irritates him?

"Inside Life" - ....Karma as a B*itch - that is exactly what Sanusi is seeing right now.

soberdrunk:
If you know you don't have money for Chicken this xmas just buy Chelsea dry gin #200 and one cup of dry corn #50 and contact me for instructions, you will fry so much chicken that your neighbors will think you have become Chicken Republic Ambassador #Helpingthepoor

Guy abeg this is highly unfair, spill the beans here. na beg we dey beg.

bluebay:
Stop saying what you don't know brother .. it's not about the name but about who's Hot at the moment in the industry.. can you still remember that Wizkid was paid 45M to perform in Dangote's daughter's marraige? There's no doubt Marley can be paid such for he worth it..

I strongly doubt any significant corporation (much less a bank) will take on an artiste with criminal investigations regarding fraud pending over his head.

Dammytrager:
Haven’t seen you around, Do you play Asian dynasties

I just joined when you mentioned the platform.
I play the classic Age of Empires 3
Is that cool with you?

Dammytrager:
sure man, are you on voobly

Yup -
Username SHAKAZULUMANSA

How do we proceed?

Interested persons, if youve got Age of Empires 3 on your system, lets play online.

BeansAndBread:
**scoffs** You wish!!!

You are warned, lest I unleash a battery of Ifreets and Jinn upon your wretched self.

Does secularism in anyway deny or oppress people? No, the so called secular is subjected to the laws and constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. If the exams was let's say, IELTS, this is an exam the British can set any time but not WAEC. Ever wondered why students don't write WAEC examinations during the weekend but you write IELTS on Saturdays, a weekend and worship day of some Christians. SO with your big big grammar, you ought to know WAEC is like a federal exam and it can't hold during prayer times unlike IELTS.

How does fixing an examination on a working week day amount to oppression of anybody? Where exactly does the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prohibit such, you frothing quadriplegic victim of epilepsy?

Are you so illiterate that you know nothing of the idea of separation between Church (in this case Mosque) and State - which is the founding pillar of secularism?

Let me help you with an extract to educate your generation -

The separation of church and state is a philosophic and jurisprudential concept for defining political distance in the relationship between religious organizations and the nation state. Conceptually, the term refers to the creation of a secular state (with or without legally explicit church–state separation) and to disestablishment, the changing of an existing, formal relationship between the church and the state.

Kindly make sure you do further reading here -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state

If you thus understand this concept you should realize that in point of fact the State should have nothing whatsoever to do with religion(s). Indeed it is an anomaly that in Nigeria we fund pilgrims. A serious anomaly.

Actually, when the British left Nigeria, Friday and Saturday were workdays, but the Seventh Day Adventists pressured Yakubu Gowon to declare it a weekend. Muslims didn't demand such, asking for our rights isn't imposition. When we ask for Hijab, it's for our head not yours. You need to be tolerant and accept people for who they're,

What tomfololery. So are you suggesting that 7th day Adventists as responsible for Saturday being a non work day globally? Can you see how illiterate you are? At all events you contradict yourself by later saying it was a half day. Please clean up your ass and stop spewing ignorant nonsensicalities in public. You are disgracing your family, please stop it.

and in case you don't know why Muslims have a separate section. Muslims on nairaland never requested for it, rather it was the owner of the forum who deemed it fit to restrict Muslims into that section because of the way Christians like you abuse Muslims from morning till night. There are some threads Muslims talk about marriage, history, etc but then Christians come in and derail it. Some call Muslims unprintable names, some even wish for genocide on Muslims. So my question to you and you bigoted cohorts, why can't you people be tolerant?

C.rap. You obviously dont know the history of Nairaland. The Muslim section was created because a Muslim threatened Seun, the owner of Nairaland with death. Dont take my word for it, just ask him yourself or do a google search.

In fact let me help you with the words of the owner of Nairaland himself. He said:

"The Islam section was created for security reasons, to protect non-muslims from the risk of violence, and not to promote Islam."

https://www.nairaland.com/1411578/injustice-religion-section-nairaland#17675080

There you go!
Satisfied now?

When, of all religions which exist, only one religion has to be quarantined, to the extent that one must swear an oath before commenting on it, that alone suffices to show you just how tyrannical, fanatical, fundamentalist, extremist and absolutist such a depraved religion has become in its abhorrence for all natural freedoms of mankind.

On a side note, why do you assume I am a Christian. I am not a Christian. I could never subscribe to a religion which parrots pagan folk tales such as the Virgin Birth or the Sacrificial Death. I am not religious, period. Learn not to make assumptions.

Bla bla bla bla, and where I've worked, there's that reservation. Even in the West, some employers even go further and give you time for your noon prayers.

Dont deceive yourself there is no such iidiotic provision made in any proper and decent work environment.

BeansAndBread:
You're inherently stupid for this statement.

You bovine antediluvian recidivist, please do not dare look me in the eye for the fire therefrom shall scald you to the bones.

Since when is a secular country required thump upon the rights of it's citizens despite granting them freedom of worship which is clearly spelt out in the constitution? The problem with dummies like you is that, you think secularism is an authoritarian system where rights aren't respected. In a democracy which is accompanied by secularism and liberalism, all religions are respected. Stop displaying ignorance!

You are the only ignorant one here - because I see no reason why you conflate freedom of religion with the right to impose your worship time on any period of time picked during a working week day for the secular activities of a secular institution.

The truth is that Muslims are used to this oevr arching imposition of their views and conveniences on everyone else and its frankly nauseating. This is the very same reason this very forum has to restrict commentary on Muslim threads when that is done for no other religion. Kindly wake up and stop speaking through your rectum: Friday is a work week day in Nigeria, Live with it.

Saturday was a half day during the colonial era and Sunday was the only full day at the weekend. However, Saturday was made a full day to favour the Seventh Day Adventists, during the regime Yakubu Gowon while Friday remained a half-day. Now Muslims aren't complaining, but why still thump on that by setting an exam by the time they're to be the mosque? Asin, this doesn't even happen in the west we claim to emulate.

This is nothing but pure illusion, and leads me to suspect that you are a patient in a psychiatric institution. Are you suggesting that all over the world, in countries where Saturday is a non work day, this is in global deference to seventh day adventists? Once again, are you drunk? Please do put away that burukutu which causes you to come across as a being conceived from the sweat of the balls of an orangutan.

Dummy, all work places in Nigeria reserve the 12pm-2pm for Muslim worshippers. Don't be foooolish!

I have worked in multinationals for over twenty years in Nigeria and I can assure you there is no such nonsense as this anywhere. It is a pity you have been limited to the Local Government Offices in Damaturu or Jalingo. This is doubtless the reason for your mistaken apprehension of things.

BeansAndBread:
I'm not intolerant, you can be whatever religion you want no one gives a fuccck. Asking for our rights to be respected doesn't tantamount we support Boko haram, as usual instead of you to be logical you resort to ad hominem. Ever since the establishment of Nigeria, Nigerian Muslims have had their free day turned to work day and Christians having Saturday and Sunday. We didn't complain, but your people then went ahead to set examinations on day and time were the students ought to be in the mosques. I mean, what kind of oppression is that?

You can go through my posts, I don't always support MURIC as the guy says rubbish most times. Example is the last one they said Buhari should consider Yoruba Muslims in his cabinet, I consider it rubbish. But in this case with WAEC, I'm with them, it's our right. And for my relocation, I'm in Yorubaland, come and beat me

You are either a lunatic or your drunk kind sir.

1. Since when is a secular country required to plan secular activities around religious days or hours of worship?
2. Since when have Saturdays and Sundays been for Christians as you say?
3. Why should an examination authority change its schedule on a working week day on account of the worship hour for a particular religion?

4. When those same students graduate and gain employment, would you ask their employers to cancel work on Fridays at the hour of worship? ? ?

Lukgaf:
For, WAEC Official Threatens MURIC Director With Disappearance In Leaked Audio, see:

https://www.nairaland.com/5097287/waec-official-threatens-muric-director

I dont know why a anyone would make such a threat (if it is true that such a threat twas made) and certainly such should both be condemned and investigated. I also hope he has not been quoted out of context.

I am still not clear how will an exam body fix exam for Jumat service period

It will be ridiculous in the extreme to ask a secular examination body to take into consideration hours of worship during the daytime on a weekday, in terms of scheduling its examinations. Nigeria is supposed to be a secular state sir.

and still not clear why should Muslim must go to court before their daughters are allowed to use Hijab in schools when we are in Democratic settings (a non-hypocrite mind will ask the same question too). The most annoying thing is the nonobjective contributions of some Nairalander here (many who have travelled to a developed country with strictly less Muslim population).

Please don't be absurd. Why should anyone violate a school uniform on religious grounds?

Abba Kyari and gang are constantly countermanding the President. We have an absent President, that is the truth.

Same behavior in Dele Momodu's below -

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/05/05/30-years-of-living-and-working-in-lagos/

What kind of President is this?

Lalasticlala - why not place this germane topic on FP

tobdee:
Trashy

Shut up!

Ridiculous

nNEOo:
Her index finger is pind to her xposd thigh,a deliberate act to guide all searching eyes . . . . . . . . What is even wrng with all these useless girls forming wonder woman,can they Bleep all of us at ones?

Sharrraaaaap!

This is beyond sad. Really there is no point complaining about leadership in Nigeria anymore. All these people were once ordinary citizens but see what they do when they have the chance.

FastShipping:
Nobody is missing, period.

Are you being cynical or have you checked the news

http://www.thebriefng.com/2016/09/30/breaking-wife-of-cbn-governor-godwin-emefiele-kidnapped/

This is really daring.

The frustration in the land has peaked.

Those boys aint smiling o!

Wife CBN Governor has been Kidnapped today.

See details -

http://backnaira.freeforums.org/post18.html#p18

Lalasticlala, FP pls

The economic downturn in Nigeria has forced us to focus more on the various governments, their ways and wastage. There is no doubt that oil wealth and the woes associated with it have transformed the character and substance of power in Nigeria. In the past, Nigerian leaders live simply. Today, the life of a Nigerian ruler is complex and expensive. If you are in doubt, compare the simplicity of the old Doddan Barracks residence of the Nigerian ruler to the beguiling complexity of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

During the First Republic, the official residence of Prime-Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the house facing the Lagos Island Club which is now being used as an office of the Economic Commission for West Africa, ECOWAS. The titular President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was staying at the State House, Marina, once the residence of colonial Governor-General. When General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi became Nigerian first military ruler in January 1966, he moved to the State House, Marina. General Yakubu Gowon, who was a bachelor when he became Nigerian ruler after Ironsi was assassinated in July 1966, preferred the more modest residence of the former Minister of Defence in Doddan Barracks. That residence and offices were to be used by succeeding Nigerian rulers until General Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of power to Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The only exception was General Murtala Muhammed who lived in his old official residence in Ikoyi and commune to Doddan Barracks, which he used for his office.

I believe two events transformed the nature of power in Nigeria. One was the assassination of General Muhammed in the morning of February 13, 1976 as his car got stuck in the early morning Lagos traffic. He was alone in his car with his driver . . .

http://backnaira.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8