Newt Gingrich Justifies Staying in Race With Bible Quote
Although Newt Gingrich has fallen behind in the polls and recent primaries, he says he has been inspired to stay in the race because of a particular Bible verse.
"I've stayed in the race because I think what Proverbs said is right," Gingrich said to a crowd at Illinois' Judson University on Thursday. "Without vision, people perish."
Gingrich's first quote is paraphrased from the King James Version of Proverbs 29:18, which reads, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
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According to professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary Dr. Claude Marriottini's blog entry on the verse, "Proverbs 29:18 is one of the better known of the many proverbs in the book of Proverbs, but one that is least understood and one that is abused the most."
Marriottini explains that this disconnect comes from differing translations of the Hebrew word "hazôn." While the King James Version translates "hazôn" as "vision," Marriottini says it is commonly used to designate the revelation of God's will to prophets.
"What the wiseman is trying to communicate to his audience," Marriottini continues, "is that without prophetic revelation and without the preaching of the prophets calling the people into a faithful relationship with God and obedience to his word, people lose restraint and abandon God's law."
In Gingrich's speech, he followed the proverb by saying, "I believe we need a visionary leader who is prepared to break out of politics as normal and is prepared to talk about big ideas."
For Gingrich, one of those "big ideas" is a new brain science initiative, which he promoted during his visit to Judson. The initiative focuses on research involving the study of brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Autism.
"I am convinced that we should have a brain science initiative. Now, I know this isn't something you expect politicians to come talk to you about," Gingrich said.
