It seems like everyone has to interpret the Bible to meet his or her own ideas. Why not just believe what it says? Some examples. In Matthew chapter 12 Jesus says the only sign that He really is the son of God will be that He will be 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. Everyone has some excuse why He was only there 72 hours. It was a Greek idiom. It meant any part of 3 days and nights. Etc. Why not just believe what it says and stop making excuses. In Matthew chapter 19 Jesus says if you love Him you will keep the commandments. He goes on to show that He is talking about the 10 commandments. Do not kill. Do not steal, etc. But people have to make up reasons why the commandments do not apply to people today. They were only for the Jews. Jesus "nailed them to the cross." If Jesus said to obey them why not believe Him instead of making excuses why you don't have to. In Jeremiah chapter 10 people are warned not to follow heathen ways. Then it says that heathens cut a tree from the forest and decorate it with silver and gold. But of course that does not mean we should not have "Christmas trees" even though it sounds like that is exactly what it is saying. So on these and many other points why is it so difficult to believe what the Bible says instead of making excuses why it does not mean what it says. Of course if you don't believe in the Bible at all that is one thing but if you claim to believe in it why do have to say it does not mean what it says?
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Why doesn't the Bible say what it means?
- Thread starter truseeker
- Start date
A
angellous_evangellous
Guest
Paragraphs.
According to several linguistic and literary theories dating back to Saussure (and actually before), language is in some ways a barrier to communication (e.g. the famous langue and parole or signifier and signified).
McBell
Unbound
I take it you do not believe in the Trinity?
Midnight Pete
Well-Known Member
The Bible doesn't say what it means because it was not written by a single person in a single language at a single place or time.
And what has that got to do with the points truseeker made ?
Btw, the Bible does say what it means except people think they know better and begin to meddle.
McBell
Unbound
Everything.And what has that got to do with the points truseeker made ?
IF he believes in the Trinity then he should be able to answer his own question.
I disagree.
The Bible is as clear as mud.
Tathagata
Freethinker
Probably because Christians don't like it when the Bible says to stone victims of rape.
"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city." Deuteronomy 22:23,24
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"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city." Deuteronomy 22:23,24
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Blackdog22
Well-Known Member
Aha! So it wasn't written by God and the Christians at my Church are liars. I always knew at least one Christian adopted the idea that the Bible is just a sheep hearders handbook, bravo Pete.
PS: God is timeless and so is his word according to your Bible.
Seems you are 2000 years behind the times. Jesus introduced a different system.
Only to the blind and the deaf ! :sleep:
Tathagata
Freethinker
Seems you are 2000 years behind the times. Jesus introduced a different system.
God: My wrath will destroy everyone with a vengeance. Stone your enemies to death.
Jesus: Dad, don't you think that's a bit harsh? Don't stone your enemies, turn the other cheek... Wait, why am I talking to myself?
^^^^
I seriously don't hope you take that as a valid excuse for ignoring the OT.
Btw, the New Testament has it's fair share of abominations as well. In fact, the NT introduced Hell which is 10 times worse than any atrocity in the OT. At least getting stoned to death lasts a short period, Hell is an eternity of immense suffering.
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ." Ephesians 6:5
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Tathagata
Freethinker
Not at all !
But some laws were changed , some abolished and new one's introduced.
But why? If God doesn't make mistakes, why did he feel the need to abolish the previously atrocious laws and introduce new ones? You would think that he would've got it right the first time when he laid down the eternal law for all humans (which is especially odd given that morality is objective).
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Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
Whan that Aprill, with his shoures sooteThe droghte of March hath perced to the rooteAnd bathed every veyne in swich licour,Of which vertu engendred is the flour;5Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,10That slepen al the nyght with open eye-(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimagesAnd palmeres for to seken straunge strondesTo ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;15And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to sekeThat hem hath holpen, whan that they were seeke. Bifil that in that seson, on a day,
The above is the beginning of the Canterbury tales written in the 14 century.
It is English and means exactly what it says. Of course It is telling of many things and is not "history"
The Old Testament is telling of times and events and beliefs of perhaps many thousands of years earlier than the above. many of which are transcriptions of an aural tradition.
The Texts we use to day are mostly translation of selections made in the third and fourth Century and translated again Later.
It would be amazing if the Bible could still be read, to have the same meaning as those Early translations.
Just like the Chaucer above it has to be read in context and re interpreted in the language of today. And Like the Chaucer , even the meanings of words that you can translate rarely have the same meaning as now.
The above is the beginning of the Canterbury tales written in the 14 century.
It is English and means exactly what it says. Of course It is telling of many things and is not "history"
The Old Testament is telling of times and events and beliefs of perhaps many thousands of years earlier than the above. many of which are transcriptions of an aural tradition.
The Texts we use to day are mostly translation of selections made in the third and fourth Century and translated again Later.
It would be amazing if the Bible could still be read, to have the same meaning as those Early translations.
Just like the Chaucer above it has to be read in context and re interpreted in the language of today. And Like the Chaucer , even the meanings of words that you can translate rarely have the same meaning as now.
What makes you think GOD made a mistake ? God is dealing with uneducated (by Him) ignorant, selfwilled, stubborn, disobedient people and for THEIR sake he made changes so he would not have to destroy them before giving them EVERY chance to turn from evil. That means trying differnt ways with man perchance WE would eventually come to see GOD's ways. God is not forcing anyone yet has patience with us, not wanting anyone to perish.
McBell
Unbound
If the Bible was as clear as you claim, then please explain the 30,000 plus Christian denominations.