the "gates of hell"

@mister-moggy removed their quoted post

There is no "new grammar". It's the same as the "old grammar".

@mister-moggy removed their quoted post

You're talking about fringe groups.

This is not taught in any English class I know of, not yet anyways. Of course you can label this as anything you want and blame whomever you want for it, but this is not "leftist", since it is not the politics of service. This is politics of the self, which is more closely aligned with political thugs like Ayn Rand and the politics of the right.

@suzianne said
You're talking about fringe groups.

This is not taught in any English class I know of, not yet anyways. Of course you can label this as anything you want and blame whomever you want for it, but this is not "leftist", since it is not the politics of service. This is politics of the self, which is more closely aligned with political thugs like Ayn Rand and the politics of the right.

But how do you feel about things like using the pronoun "they" in a singular form to comfort all the people who feel neither male nor female?

-Removed-

I think the phrase "gates of hell" is more like an idiom than a metaphor. (Either way it's irrelevant to the meaning of the text, imo)

In the Bible, the gates of a city, built into the walls, as most cities had walls, were rooms where the elders of the city would hold council with regards to war, civil matters, laws and the stratagems associated with ruling its citizens.

The phrase "gates of hell" occurs only once in the New Testament in Matthew 16:18 were Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

That "rock" was Christ Himself, and "the gates of hell" is in reference to the very real and literal strategies and plans of the adversary.

Contrary to popular understanding the "gates of hell" are not the entrance to hell, but instead refers to the enemy of the Church and his plans and strategies to undermine Christ and His Church.

Also, the "gates of hell" "shall not prevail against" the Church infers that the Church is on the offense and will have victory over the gates of hell.

@secondson said
I think the phrase "gates of hell" is more like an idiom than a metaphor. (Either way it's irrelevant to the meaning of the text, imo)

In the Bible, the gates of a city, built into the walls, as most cities had walls, were rooms where the elders of the city would hold council with regards to war, civil matters, laws and the stratagems associated with ruling its citizens. ...[text shortened]... t" the Church infers that the Church is on the offense and will have victory over the gates of hell.

Thanks for that appropriate explanation. The gates of hell therefore would refer to all those who undermine Christ and as a result pollute His church. Some examples would be :
- Those who claim that the Sermon on the Mount was just another lecture from Christ about His life during the first 30 years or so and not commandments for people to follow.
- Those who twist the Matt 25 judgment day details of sheep and goats, with the claim that it is not applicable to Christians, but to nations who assist Christians fleeing persecution during the Armageddeon.
- Christians who promote a 'Lord Lord' doctrine of calling on the name of God and that they are saved eternally by professing the name of Christ.
- Christians who relish the idea of eternal torment to all but nonChristians
- Some who preach that no good works can be done by nonChristians.

These are not teachings of Christ and are all as you say doctrines of the ... enemy of the Church and his plans and strategies to undermine Christ and His Church.

Under no circumstances, as you said as well, will Christ allow these doctrines to prevail over His.

@secondson said
I think the phrase "gates of hell" is more like an idiom than a metaphor. (Either way it's irrelevant to the meaning of the text, imo)

In the Bible, the gates of a city, built into the walls, as most cities had walls, were rooms where the elders of the city would hold council with regards to war, civil matters, laws and the stratagems associated with ruling its citizens. ...[text shortened]... t" the Church infers that the Church is on the offense and will have victory over the gates of hell.

The Gates of Hell is a sculpture by Rodin.

Also, this, from Dante:

"Through me the way into the suffering city,
Through me the way to the eternal pain,
Through me the way that runs among the lost.
Justice urged on my high artificer;
My Maker was Divine authority,
The highest Wisdom, and the primal Love.
Before me nothing but eternal things
Were made, and I endure eternally.
Abandon every hope, who enter here."

-- Dante, Inferno, 3.1–9


Even Tom Petty gets into the act:

"Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down
No, I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won't back down"

-- From "I Won't Back Down", from Full Moon Fever (1989)