Bible - The Noble Gospel

[Windwalker]

It's far from being one book, the Bible, it's a compendium of literature spanning millennia, and imo has to be considered in that light if we are to make sense of it.

Very much so. Rather that seeing it as a single monolithic view, it's more a record of evolving human views of the Divine. It's "according to" perspectives, not direct immutable dictations that do not vary or change with the people saying them, as though they were merely stenographers taking dictations verbatim.

Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying that if all Hindu scripture was lost, the entirety of Hinduism could be reconstructed from one verse of the Isha Upanishad. This set me to wondering if there were one verse or one book in the Bible for which the same could be said.

That's a great thought! I'd say yes. And this is that one passage:

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

~Matthew 22:36-40​

It even says so right there in itself. All the rest of scripture, when it aligns with this, is merely elaborations and illustrations of this. Really, there is no need for any of the rest of scripture. If you understand and are living the above you are fulfilling it, you are 'the law made flesh'.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Very much so. Rather that seeing it as a single monolithic view, it's more a record of evolving human views of the Divine. It's "according to" perspectives, not direct immutable dictations that do not vary or change with the people saying them, as though they were merely stenographers taking dictations verbatim.


That's a great thought! I'd say yes. And this is that one passage:

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

~Matthew 22:36-40​

It even says so right there in itself. All the rest of scripture, when it aligns with this, is merely elaborations and illustrations of this. Really, there is no need for any of the rest of scripture. If you understand and are living the above you are fulfilling it, you are 'the law made flesh'.

The Golden Rule that is the foundation of all Faiths, allowing us to consider that One God is the source of all Faith.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

One thing about the Bible is Prophecy, but Prophecy appears to be a relative truth.

I see the Bible foretells of the future, it shows the history of Islam and the birth of the Faiths of the Bab and Baha'u'llah as the 'Day of God', this day, and then gives us events that will continue to unfold over a millennium.

Yet all that vision is relative to a chosen frame of reference.

So it may be that to be a sure spiritual guide, we also need to consider different frames of references? That God wants for us these choices.

I just ask that the Word given by Jesus the Christ becomes my life, that the Spirit that is Christ becomes my only inspiration and that the way of life that was taught by Jesus the Christ, most importantly, becomes my way of life.

Regards Tony

 

[Truthseeker]

For some, yes. For some, no.

The history is not reliable, especially the Old Testament, and also bloody.

 

[Truthseeker]

I answered, "it can be," based on how one interpreted it and incorporates its teachings into day-to-day life.

So true.

A compilation of stories written by men to create a moral compass for society that have gone through innumerable transitions and interpretations.

It certainly is a compilation by different authors with different perspectives. It has been understood differently at different times.

 

[Truthseeker]

It's far from being one book, the Bible, it's a compendium of literature spanning millennia, and imo has to be considered in that light if we are to make sense of it.

Yes, there were different stages in the development of the Bible, those of the more distant past being a more primitive time. Perhaps Genesis could be seen as a compendium of mythical stories. There were different authors that had a hand in Genesis according to scholars.

 

[Truthseeker]

It's lovely literature but that's about it to me.

Some of it is.

 

[Truthseeker]

But if only the Psalms, Ecclesiastes and the Gospels were left, that might be enough to sustain Christianity; those books help sustain me anyway.

Proverbs, too. But I think Christianity really only needs the Gospels.

 

[Truthseeker]

The entire Bible, I'd have to say no.
The narrative of Jesus created by the 4 gospels, sure.

Outside of this, The OT is more of a tribal narrative and the rest of the NT is a Church narrative. None of which I find particularly useful.

Quite understandable. The gospels are the best part.

 

[PureX]

The history is not reliable, especially the Old Testament, and also bloody.

I don't think the stories collected in the Bible were ever intended to be taken as history, or fact. They were written to inspire contemplation, discussion, and debate within a specific culture about their specific and unique god-concept.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

There cannot be very many people on RF that feel the Bible is a sure spiritual guide.

There are many epic stories in that Bible that have guided men and nations.

What is to you?

Regards Tony

 

[e.r.m.]

I don't think the stories collected in the Bible were ever intended to be taken as history, or fact. They were written to inspire contemplation, discussion, and debate within a specific culture about their specific and unique god-concept.

They were written to inspire contemplation, and discussion.
It is meant also as history and fact. And it is not only for a specific culture about their specific and unique god-concept.
There are many passages, especially in the New Testament such John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that whosoever..., Matthew 28:19 Go make disciples of all nations..., Acts 17:24-27 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. [25] And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. [26] From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. [27] God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Etc.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

They were written to inspire contemplation, and discussion.

Why is it then that people will not discuss?

To me the Bible was given to bring us all to God, a sure spiritual guide.

Regards Tony

 

[e.r.m.]

Why is it then that people will not discuss?

To me the Bible was given to bring us all to God, a sure spiritual guide.

Regards Tony

People do have group Bible discussions all the time. As were done in Acts 19:9-10, they are done now.
Cool beard.