Official Bible Interpretation Thread

If you're referring to the bible/christianity, whatever truth remains in the book, how is it amazing that it has been preserved? The only real threat to the bible came from those who followed each word of it. The same people who heavily edited it.

 

I was shown this image in a different light.
There was no damage done. Man usurped the power of god only in his dreams. The "fall of man" is no more than the dream of separation and death. God did not create the corruptible.

Jesus said a thing, "he was a liar from the beginning." He was referring to Satan or the serpent. It is interesting to note the the word Satan means "accuser". The word devil means "slanderer."
The first slander against the holy child of god was that he was not like his creator, if they had the knowledge of good and evil they would be like god. The second lie was that the knowledge of good and evil represented truth, your eyes will be opened and you will be like god knowing good and evil.

A single instant of criticism obscured a fundamental trust in our own innocence and in the innocence of our fellow man. We saw that we were naked and hid, ashamed. This happens over and over again in the life of every child as they are told no in an accusing tone for the first time. A fundamental sense of unworthiness in instilled at a young and vulnerable age. There are things we are told we cannot do because we are too young.
We are told that our aspirations are silly. We are told that, "nobody is perfect", and are left with only the prospect of varying degrees of failure.

From then on, trust is "earned", you can no longer walk the world "free", of suspicion at best, to viciousness at worst. A simple childhood slight, a wound to the vulnerable and trusting, is the source of all the contention in the world as we seek to restore that fundamental sense of our own good that we had lost.

The remedy for all of this,

forgiveness.

 

From-- Of Voluntary Death

Truly, too early died that Hebrew whom the preachers of slow death honour: and that he died too early has since been a fatality for many.
As yet he knew only tears and the melancholy of the Hebrews, together with the hatred of the good and the just - the Hebrew Jesus: then he was seized by the longing for death.
Had he only remained in the desert and far from the good and the just! Perhaps he would have learned to live and learned to love the earth – and laughter as well!
Believe it, my brothers! He died too early; he himself would have recanted his teaching had he lived to my age! He was noble enough to recant!
But he was still immature. The youth loves immaturely and immaturely too he hates man and the earth. His heart and the wings of his spirit are still bound and heavy.

 

This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. What's more interesting is to note that in that case logically the serpents name was not in fact "satan", but was only named satan later by man due to it's accusing nature. This would mean if there is such a thing (I don't believe there is) it's name likely isn't satan.

Good point. I just re-read this passage. It seems satan never told them they were unlike god. Unless it says elsewhere that they aren't it must have been assumed they were created as less than god and not equal to. In his image doesn't necessarily mean "less than." Does the tree of knowledge not attest to the fact there are things adam and eve didn't know? Isn't knowledge and knowing which knowledge is the truth what separates us from god/Jesus?

So why didn't god simply forgive?

 

He has. He waits.

Perhaps your question is more like why didn't God put a stop to all law that had been set in motion? Why didn't he take it all back? When He saw that some of His children had erred in their free will, why did He not take it away and lessen their purpose rather than waiting for them to use it to find their way back to Him?

 

I regard the whole of the description as archetypal allegory.

That they would be "like god if". They were already created in the image and likeness of god.

The knowledge of good and evil is not knowledge, it is perpetual arbitration.
What is helpful is a matter of timing. There is nothing that separates man from god but his judgment of himself, his brother, and the world. "By our words we are justified". That means as we describe it, so it appears for us.

God never condemned. God created the world and saw that it was good.
The last or final judgment is the last one made by man, then god's judgment is restored to our awareness. The story of the prodigal son is our story and the prodigals welcome is ours.

 

So you don't believe that God has the ability to control what is in and out of the book that is called the word of God, the bible?

 

Sweet pea?

They both tell of the last days of a system of things and many of the the things said of the destruction of Jerusalem also apply to the destruction of the last days but yet you agree that the destruction of Jerusalem actually happened but appear to be saying that the last days are only symbolic.

 

Most new "versions" are not taken from older "versions". Most new translations have been translation directly from the oldest existent original language manuscripts and not from other "versions".

 

Accept you as what?

 

All scripture is inspired of God, so yes.

Also if a thousand years is but a day in God's eyes it only him a couple of days to dictate.

And even if God did it in what you call "dribs and drabs" it is still one cohesive narrative.

 

But we not talking about God's temple here we are talking about the hipforum's forum of Sanctuary and the guidelines for said forum state Christians only.

 

You are suppose to read the guidelines.

The guidelines were set up by Skip, you know Skip the guy who set up all of hip forums and keeps it running. And don't believe that Skip is a Christian. So if you have any questions about the wording of the guidelines or why they are there, I'd say ask Skip.

It may be irritating but when the word "scripture" is used in a Christians only forum, it is generally considered that it is the Bible being spoken of.

 

As I am.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one. So, I know waterbrother already asked, I can't remember your answer, and feel free to answer if you don't want to, but do you think Jesus was real? Or just the martyr archetype? I'm sure he was no more the son of god than I am, or no more god incarnate than I am, however I often wonder if he actually was real or was a character. Socrates for example; never left any written work and the only time he ever spoke was through the pen of Plato. One has to wonder if he was even real or was just a great archetypal martry/wanderer.

I see now. The lie is the insinuated idea they never were like god. Thanks

I understand now.

Similar to the idea;

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. … For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Paul: Romans 14:14,17)

In the story of Adam and Eve god punishes them though. Pain during child birth, "cursed is the ground for thy sake," etc. Is this not a form of condemnation?

 

No I don't. God apparently wouldn't want to interfere with free will, and I'm sure there'd hardly be other means to stop that from happening aside from striking people down. Physically something could go into the book that maybe shouldn't be there, or else something that should be has probably been omitted.

Okay. Thank you for clarifying. I still don't understand though how it's okay to just translate what is supposedly the direct word of god. How do you justify this? You personally believe god wrote all those words through the hands of men. How is it you're okay with it been translated into so many versions?

 

His question was do you accept him, godless as he is?

 

Well you go along and weed everyone out. As far as I am concerned There is no where on this planet that is not sacred And I will stand up for anyone who contributes here. This world is ours. Christians do not have the only line on devotion, my fathers house has many rooms. I say this not to promote the breaking of forum rules but to call attention to the truth about Gods, presence in the world and among us.

As we do unto the least we do also unto him, is there a time when this is not true?

 

I believe in a form of god, and in Jesus's message. If you can point me in the direction of a forum where they discuss this I'll be glad to go there.

Is it you want me to leave because I ask all the "wrong" questions? God forbid anything religious be open for interpretation. I've spoken to many accepting christians here. I only seem to have discordance with you. You don't like the questions I ask. There's nothing to fear. They're just questions.

 

Jesus was a physical person only to the extent that the body is needed for communication. Given our sensory apparatus a disembodied principle is hard to pick up on. The ministry of Christ involved many players not just Jesus. John the baptist, the disciples, disembodied persons, (the transfiguration).
Christ is the truth of what we are, as you do unto the least you do also unto me.
I also think Jesus was not a martyr. Jesus made the comment, How long must I bear with you? There is an example of how I view the crucifixion and resurrection in popular culture, the movies. In the movie star wars, obiwan kenobi, (spelling?) is cut down and becomes more powerful than we will ever know. He becomes spirit which is not bound by the limitations of the body. He must go, that the "comforter" may come.

Pain is a natural result of embodiment, not a verdict against man. You may notice that these depictions of God punishing man for disobedience come after the "deep sleep" fell over him.
In it's simplest terms, have you ever had the thought, why me? Why me, what did I do to deserve this? This is a depiction of the human psyche, not judgment by god.