Understanding passages

[hannahrose1209]

When I read a biblical passage I find it hard to understand sometimes. I find it very confusing too! Like a Shakesperian language that I don't understand! I can pick out parts but to know it as a whole is tough! Of course you can't just ask someone what it means because it means different things to different people. I was just wondering if there are any tips that people would care to share with me that I could try to better understand the word of God!

Thanks,

 

[Aqualung]

The only advice I would give you have already denied. Asking people is the best way for me. If I ask a bunch of different people, and get a bunch of different answers, at least that will give me a starting place. Then maybe from their answers you will be able to construct an answer that best fits what you know about God and the Bible.

 

[Halcyon]

When I read a biblical passage I find it hard to understand sometimes. I find it very confusing too! Like a Shakesperian language that I don't understand! I can pick out parts but to know it as a whole is tough! Of course you can't just ask someone what it means because it means different things to different people. I was just wondering if there are any tips that people would care to share with me that I could try to better understand the word of God!

Thanks,

Which version are you using? Because if its the KJV then it can be confusing because it was written for poetic style rather than theological benefit.

 

[hannahrose1209]

Ummm I am using the NRSV. I mean I understand and can comprehend some but sometimes the way it's written confuses me a bit!

 

[ChristineES]

While I can read the KJV, I don't. I choose a more modern translation. It is the word of God and I don't want to make any mistakes about it's meaning. There is even a basic English version of the Bible.
BTW-Hannah, I love your signature!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Even if you understand the words the message can be hard to understand.

In Judges ... there is this dude who wants to win a battle, so he makes a pact with God, that if he wins he will sacrifice the first person who come out of his house when he returns.
He wins... the first person is his Daughter. She asks for two months to go into the mountains with her friend to lose her virginity... She duly comes back and is sacrificed.
Now pick the bones out of that from a Christian view point?
The only thing I read into it, is think before you make promises.

 

[joeboonda]

First, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate scripture and help you understand it and apply it to yourself. Compare translations, use a concordance, commentaries, compare scripture with scripture--use good guides for interpreting scripture, read books by highly esteemed theologians, use the net, ask others who have been studying longer and more intensly, whose lives show it, perhaps your pastor, suday school or Bible study teacher and others who seem well grounded in their studies of scripture and whose interpretations seem sound. It just takes time and patience and a lot of study and prayer.

 

[joeboonda]

Even if you understand the words the message can be hard to understand.

In Judges ... there is this dude who wants to win a battle, so he makes a pact with God, that if he wins he will sacrifice the first person who come out of his house when he returns.
He wins... the first person is his Daughter. She asks for two months to go into the mountains with her friend to lose her virginity... She duly comes back and is sacrificed.
Now pick the bones out of that from a Christian view point?
The only thing I read into it, is think before you make promises.

Lol, yeah me too, don't be quick to make a vow or sware on anything. Jesus warned of that. Also, as strange to us and terrible as this story is, I think it may show how important it is to keep our promises to God and reflects God's willingness to sacrifice his Son to keep his promise to us of a Saviour. That's just a guess, haven't researched it.

 

[hannahrose1209]

In Judges ... there is this dude who wants to win a battle, so he makes a pact with God, that if he wins he will sacrifice the first person who come out of his house when he returns.
He wins... the first person is his Daughter. She asks for two months to go into the mountains with her friend to lose her virginity... She duly comes back and is sacrificed.
Now pick the bones out of that from a Christian view point?
The only thing I read into it, is think before you make promises.

I still think that story is a little messed up!!

 

[ChristineES]

I have always had trouble with Ezekiel, particularly the story of the dry bones. I have asked many times on different Christian sites about this story and received just as many answers.

 

[Free4all]

Which version are you using? Because if its the KJV then it can be confusing because it was written for poetic style rather than theological benefit.

Confusing only is you don't have a 3rd grade education. The AV is solely responsible for leading thousands to Christ, and will continue to do so. The AV 1611 is absolutely correct-100%. The "new translations" (anything from 1881-2007) are "improvements" in the sense that a washtub is an improvement over an automatic washer-dryer.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I still think that story is a little messed up!!

To give that reply, you know more of the Bible than you are letting on.

 

[ayani]

hey- when i read the Bible, i prefer the NIV (new international version), with its notes and explanations, and clear language. of course, i think one has to read scripture with others... so for me it's NIV combined with discussion and reflection.

 

[joeboonda]

I have always had trouble with Ezekiel, particularly the story of the dry bones. I have asked many times on different Christian sites about this story and received just as many answers.

Most recognize it as God bringing the Remnant back in the last days as he promised and we see happening now. Israel became a nation again in 1948, the desolate land produced abundance of fruit, and the Jewish people have been returning there from all points on the compass. This is the bones coming together with a great rattle (some relate this to the TNT used in WWI--a stretch, I know) The flesh and sinew on the bones is the people returning, re-populating the land, and God breathing his Spirit into them and they coming to life is them acknowledging God and perhaps the more and more Messianic Jews and the Jews in the Tribulation who are sealed by God and preach the Gospel to the world. That's a rough answer, I know, but I thought I'd say something.

 

[joeboonda]

Confusing only is you don't have a 3rd grade education.

Hey, let's not insult people, please.

The AV is solely responsible for leading thousands to Christ, and will continue to do so.

Really?