Bible Questions?

Well, if you want to define Authoritatively as a good idea, then you win.

 

No, the Bible doesn't have all the answers Just the important ones.

Also it is not the fault of the Bible that some people do not wish to listen to it.

Many teachers do the same thing with the Bible but that is not what the Bible says and one of the signs of true Christianity is that daily bible reading is a recommendation and if some one is not literate then they should be taught to read so they can read and examine the Bible for themselves.

The Bible is not the self published ramblings of control freaks, it is the word of God.

 

Although the Hebrew word bethu·lah′ means “virgin,” another term (‛al·mah′) appears at Isaiah 7:14: “Look! The maiden [ha·‛al·mah′] herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name Immanuel.” The word ‛al·mah′ means “maiden” and can apply to a nonvirgin or a virgin. It is applied to “the maiden” Rebekah before marriage when she was also called “a virgin” (bethu·lah′). (Ge 24:16, 43) Under divine inspiration, Matthew employed the Greek word par·the′nos (virgin) when showing that Isaiah 7:14 found final fulfillment in connection with the virgin birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Both Matthew and Luke state clearly that Jesus’ mother Mary was then a virgin who became pregnant through the operation of God’s holy spirit.—Mt 1:18-25; Lu 1:26-35.

So even though it may not be a word for word translation, it does not change the fact that Jesus' mother, Mary, was both a maiden and a virgin when he was born.

 

I agree with you that they should be taught, but "should be" just isn't the reality of the situation. They aren't, and they're taken advantage of. The west is just lazy, but that is also taken advantage of.

OWB, when someone asks you a question, whether it's about the bible, or a general question, you always refer to scripture for the answers. When your life isn't going the way you want it, you pray and read the bible. If that isn't helping yourself with a book, then what is it?

 

The NT says she was a virgin although hardly anything is mentioned about Jesus' birth and childhood. And it was written many years after he died, of course they won't remember everything.

If one word can apply to both a virgin any non virgin, you can't just assume and go on what happened to someone else!

 

I'm entertained by what you consider to be the truth in accuality.

People often times wonder how Hitler could convince so many good people to go along with so many bad things, I believe Joeseph Goebells summed it up best during Nazi Germany's rise to power when asked about his propoganda techniques he stated "People never believe the small lie, only the big ones."

Think about it.

 

Among true Christians that isn't just the way it should be, it is the reality of the situation.

Thanks, I'd like to think that's true but in reality that's not always the way it works.

As for the Bible being a "self" help book, I like to think of it as being more of a God help book, where God is helping you more than you are helping your self.

 

Well, of course I believe the Bible was written by God and he would remember.

It is only the Hebrew word that could mean both but the Greek word used means only virgin. So Jesus was born of a virgin but being a virgin means that Mary fulfilled both meanings of Isaiah.

 

It's not me, millions also consider the Bible to be the truth but you don't have to take our word for it, the Bible continues to prove itself to to be the truth and has done so for thousands of years.

Is that why you think people would believe any thing you would say?

 

That sounds to me as just a good way to ignore the discrepencies in the Bible. Anything that can't be explained, or is being questioned is reasoned by saying "Jesus will eventually come back, then all prophecies will be fulfilled".

 

That's a bit harsh, don't you think?

Personally I don't think I've ignored anything, let alone discrepancies. I mean have you read this thread or the the other thread "The Bible contradicts it self?", I've tried to address everything that can be said about the Bible and now you say that I ignore the discrepancies. I don't think so.

 

I guess if you're skimming the book looking for all the pretty parts, this would be the case. How nice and rosy.

How can God help me more than I help myself if I'm just reading a book? I'm the one who actually has to apply said information. So I'm helping myself by reading a book.

You know, "self help" is more than just a category at Barnes and Noble.

 

I can see you are new here and do not yet know me, let alone know how I read the Bible, so I'll just chalk this comment up to you being new.

Because God wrote the Book and if he had not you would not have access to the information that you need and some of that information is good to know but is not something you need to apply.

 

I'm actually not as new as you think, and I've been reading your posts for months. The only thing I've seen is that the bible is all there is for you. There is a whole universe of information out there far beyond the bible. Relevant information that doesn't read like stereo instructions and make people feel guilty and confused.

I admit, you are far less of an evangelist than some I've run across. But, I am not godless, or doing it wrong because I don't agree with your perceptions of the bible. Admittedly, scripture isn't my strong suit, as it is yours. But, living my life to its fullest good is the best thing I can do. It involves God, but not the bible. What IS so wrong with that OWB?

 

What do consider "a whole universe of information out there far beyond the bible" to be?

It is not the purpose of the Bible to touch on every piece of knowledge in the universe but the knowledge that God possesses dwarfs the information you speak of and the possessor of that knowledge knows what is most important for us to know and the purpose of that knowledge is to teach us how to benefit ourselves.

No one has to agree with my "perceptions" of the Bible. Once again it is not about my perceptions of anything, if you let it, the Bible will tell you what it's talking about without any help from me.

Also how do you know that you are living your life to the fullest?

If you wanted to know the best way to do something, wouldn't the best way be to find someone who is already an expert?

If you want to get the most out of your life doesn't make sense to turn to your creator, wouldn't he be the one who would best know how you could the best out of your life?

 

As I said, I am not godless, or without spirituality. So, yes, I know that I AM living my life to the fullest. My feelings of wholeness and well being prove to me that I'm the expert on my own life, not someone else. I didn't have to read the bible, I only had to find God. And it was easy because he's everywhere.

Yes, you do try to get people to agree with your perceptions, because that's all an interpretation really is, perception. A prime example would be your exchanges with thedope. He clearly has one interpretation of the bible, and you have another. Yet you continue to try to convince him your way is the right way. I know you're going to say "It's not my way. It's God's way." but that's not the case. It's just your IDEA of God's way.

But this thread is a still fun little place to play around in.

 

Genesis

2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

What does rest mean in this stanza, why would god need rest?

 

If you want to think that you are getting the most out of life without God's word the Bible, fine, if that is what you want to think but the simple truth is you are not.

Actually no, I have no interpretation of the Bible. The Bible interprets itself just fine without my help. The Bible was designed by God so that those who wish to understand it can do so but those who want the Bible to say what they want it to will never understand the Bible or God.

Like I said I have no interpretation of the Bible. As for the exchanges with thedope, he continues to make statements that disagree with what the Bible says and all I do is remind him of what the Bible actually says on the matter.

As an example our recent exchange on whether the Bible is inspired of God or not. He said there was no scripture that said so. So I showed him several and he tried the say that's not what they mean. So I showed him one more. (2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is inspired of God . . . Now there is no "interpretation" needed, the Bible plainly states; All Scripture is inspired of God, do you real need someone to interpret that for you? It really can't get any easier to understand than that and yet people still want to say; that's not what it means, that's just your "interpretation". Well they can say that but it is just not true.

 

It is a story of what came before and ends or rests in the current age.

 

Really? You're going to judge the quality of my life by my reading material? Very daring of you, and what a fine Christian you are in doing so.

I don't need to understand the bible to understand God.

:beatdeadhorse5: 60 plus pages of this crap....