The Bible

[steven lloyd]

Don't know what version of the Bible you've been reading cliffy but I'm more than confident that what I use is accurate and reliable.

Just to be clear then:

1. the earth was created in seven days ?
2. Noah located a male and female of every species on the planet and coerced them on to the Ark ?
3. the Red Sea split to allow Moses to lead his people across and then smashed closed on the following army ?
4. Jesus turned water to wine, walked on water, fed 400 people with a loaf of bread ?

Seriously LW - just asking for your take on these examples.

[cliffy1]

Just to be clear then:

1. the earth was created in seven days ?
2. Noah located a male and female of every species on the planet and coerced them on to the Ark ?
3. the Red Sea split to allow Moses to lead his people across and then smashed closed on the following army ?
4. Jesus turned water to wine, walked on water, fed 400 people with a loaf of bread ?

Seriously LW - just asking for your take on these examples.

You forgot Jonah in the whale's belly for three days and talking burning bushes and turning a staff into a snake and, and....

[LoneWolf_53]

You forgot to add reincarnation to your list as well, and angels coming down from the heavens taking on human form to mate with human women creating offspring called Nephilim (giants) and, and, and,

There's no shortage of things to pick apart if one doesn't have faith in the creator in the first place.

Looking at the Bible from a perspective of flawed imperfect human logic is your first mistake and closed minded about it the second.

Basing opinions on a few points that more than likely you didn't even read yourself, but rather were hearsay would come in third as the only way to gain true knowledge is in depth study which takes years not just a Cole's notes type quick once over.

Some who have been studying for their lifetimes still come to new understanding of some things written, and believe it or not even that is recorded in the Bible as it mentions the light getting brighter so to speak.

[steven lloyd]

There's no shortage of things to pick apart if one doesn't have faith in the creator in the first place.

Looking at the Bible from a perspective of flawed imperfect human logic is your first mistake and closed minded about it the second.

I don’t know how I would describe or explain It, but I have absolute faith in the existence of something beyond human understanding, something that connects us all and everything, and even possibly (likely?) responsible for our existence. I believe It is infinite, meaning It has always been here (everywhere), is here now and will always be here – before and after the existence of time even. For lack of a better word I call this God.

I have my own personal reasons and experiences for my belief, and I’m not concerned about the spiritual beliefs or lack thereof of others. It is not something that can be proven to someone else either way so the point of a debate on the issue is quite moot. Discussion of the Bible can be quite interesting though.

If you’re talking about looking at the Bible from a literalist perspective (which many people unfortunately do), I would agree that is a mistake. I would suggest this mistake is even compounded further when people not only take the literal meaning of the words but also do so out of historical understanding or context. So I’m just wondering (as I’m really interested and would like to keep the discussion respectful), what is your take on the accuracy of the ancient text? In addition to the fact we know much (if not most, particularly with the Old Testament) is the result of oral tradition, do we accept that a great deal is also metaphorical (particularly with writings that make up the New Testament)? What about the political interests and influence of the Roman Catholic Church? What about the known influence of exaggeration over time in legend building? This book was, after all, written by fallible human beings – or would you dispute that? I am interested in your thoughts.

[cliffy1]

In response to this question on another forum:
If you were Lucifer, wouldn't *you* work on getting people to focus and stress over a part of the Bible having nothing to do with salvation in order to keep them from reading and thinking about the parts describing behaviors of the type that will make God want to keep those souls of alive after their bodies die?

I responded:
No. If I was Lucifer I would write a book claiming I was god, threaten the hell out of everybody with a promise of eternal damnation so they would bow down and kiss my feet and pay charlatans to tell them they are saved because they believe in the book I wrote. God certainly wouldn't write a book like that.

[Sneaksuit]

Looking at the Bible from a perspective of flawed imperfect human logic is your first mistake

We are no doubt limited to our senses, brain capacity, and intellectual evolution of the time, and anything beyond that is pure speculation. However, believing the bible is the written word of God is illogical for many basic reasons that are within our limited capacity to understand. For example, believing God killed 50 000 people for looking into a box is not even using the logic of a child.

and closed minded about it the second.

Lonewolf, it's nice to hear you are not closed minded in this discussion. Tell us what you think about other scripture believed to be "inspired" by God in other religions. Are they authentic like the bible?

[Glacier]

If Jesus brought a new covenant with god, why is the old testament even in the bible?

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill"
~ Matthew 5:17

[averagejoe]

Because Christ came but for only the lost sheep of Israel and then his disciples went only to the lost sheep of Israel. They went to Parthia, Scythia, North Africa, etc.....for Israelites only.

[LoneWolf_53]

Because Christ came but for only the lost sheep of Israel and then his disciples went only to the lost sheep of Israel. They went to Parthia, Scythia, North Africa, etc.....for Israelites only.

Really?

Explain the following then...........

John 10:16  “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

[averagejoe]

Yes he will bring the Israelites back as one! Armenia became the first Christian country in the world.


http://www.welcomearmenia.com/armenia/f ... ian_nation


Actually Armenia was 1 of 18 vassal Province's of Parthia.

[LoneWolf_53]

That hardly explains the verse I asked you about.

[averagejoe]

That hardly explains the verse I asked you about.

Sure it does. Christ's disciples were doing there work.

[averagejoe]

That hardly explains the verse I asked you about.

Flock is sometimes referred to as a Church congregation and Christ as the Shepard! One people under God Through Christ.

[cliffy1]

Because Christ came but for only the lost sheep of Israel and then his disciples went only to the lost sheep of Israel. They went to Parthia, Scythia, North Africa, etc.....for Israelites only.

Whose brilliant idea was to get the Gentiles involved in this?

[LoneWolf_53]

Sure it does. Christ's disciples were doing there work.

Incorrect.

The chosen ones were Israelites and after their repeated disregard for God's laws they lost favor and Jesus sacrifice made it possible for Gentiles to be saved as well.

You have not understood what was meant by the term "other sheep".

Jesus apostles were commissioned to spread the word amongst all people and most certainly not just Israelites.