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Why do you understand the Bible?

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wondering said:
I have to agree with you.
If it were so easy to understand the Bible we would be united in our beliefs. Sometimes I just wish Jesus had just said everything very clearly.

Did Paul help?
I think he made a bit of confusion. He spoke of the great mystery, our personal salvation, and other times spoke of Israel's part and it's difficult at times to distinguish --- so we get predestination doctrine by some churches.

I also think studying is important.
Click to expand...
I think Paul was showing Gods promise had not failed. But even among the israelites God made a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous.
 
Randy said:
I think Paul was showing Gods promise had not failed. But even among the israelites God made a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous.
Click to expand...
Of course. Even in the O.T. many were saved by faith in God.
In the O.T. however, persons were righteous of their own merit because Jesus had not died yet.
Now we are made righteous through Him.

The promise was to come through the Jewish people, but they did not believe in the Messiah.
So God kept His promise and invited all the nations in to the New Testament, the whole world, whoever would accept, and in this way He kept His promise.
 
wondering said:
Of course. Even in the O.T. many were saved by faith in God.
In the O.T. however, persons were righteous of their own merit because Jesus had not died yet.
Now we are made righteous through Him.

The promise was to come through the Jewish people, but they did not believe in the Messiah.
So God kept His promise and invited all the nations in to the New Testament, the whole world, whoever would accept, and in this way He kept His promise.
Click to expand...
Yes a righteousness that is from first to last by faith.
 
wondering said:
Why do you believe you understand the Bible, especially the New Testament?
Is it important to also understand the Old Testament?
Did you learn from reading it?
From studying under the guidance of a church?
Studying theology?
From the Holy Spirit?
Why do you think you are right in your theology?

Pick one or all.
It's problematic to me that we are not united in our beliefs.
Click to expand...
To us we Study the Holy scriptures because of the context of each one of them: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Tim.3:16, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Tim. 2:15
 
WalterandDebbie said:
To us we Study the Holy scriptures because of the context of each one of them: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Tim.3:16, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Tim. 2:15
Click to expand...
So you study the bible on your own from home?
Even the Old Testament?
 
Yes we do study from our home mostly, even The old Testament, like for an example: Line on line, For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10
 
wondering said:
Of course. Even in the O.T. many were saved by faith in God.
In the O.T. however, persons were righteous of their own merit because Jesus had not died yet.
Now we are made righteous through Him.

The promise was to come through the Jewish people, but they did not believe in the Messiah.
So God kept His promise and invited all the nations in to the New Testament, the whole world, whoever would accept, and in this way He kept His promise.
Click to expand...
Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”h
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”i
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
 
Years back I read a book by Kenneth Davis called "Don't Know Much About the Bible." I had a lot of understanding about the Bible from years of study in the Catholic perspective but also from study from debating for years at the other CF joint...

But that book was very enlightening. I did not get much through the 2nd half because Davis I think was an atheist and I did not like his take much on Jesus.

To say that you think you can fully understand the Bible without knowing the history, the inspired writers, sections that were rewritten, or parts in there written by political agendas is short sighted. To think the Bible was just handed in it's current form in nice tidy bundle like the 10 Commandments just spewls ignorance. You cannot fully know the context of the Bible without first knowing about it.
 
Creative said:
Years back I read a book by Kenneth Davis called "Don't Know Much About the Bible." I had a lot of understanding about the Bible from years of study in the Catholic perspective but also from study from debating for years at the other CF joint...

But that book was very enlightening. I did not get much through the 2nd half because Davis I think was an atheist and I did not like his take much on Jesus.

To say that you think you can fully understand the Bible without knowing the history, the inspired writers, sections that were rewritten, or parts in there written by political agendas is short sighted. To think the Bible was just handed in it's current form in nice tidy bundle like the 10 Commandments just spewls ignorance. You cannot fully know the context of the Bible without first knowing about it.
Click to expand...

How about He shows what is important to each seeker in the way and form we can understand... I doubt any one fully knows the Whole of Scripture... You seem to have a wonderful amount of knowledge of Scripture that is great... not all of us have the same intellect .. Some of us are emotional ...etc.
 
wondering said:
Why do you believe you understand the Bible, especially the New Testament?
Is it important to also understand the Old Testament?
Click to expand...

I think one reason I'm confident in my understanding of the bible, is because of the time I've had to read it and struggle through understanding it. For this confidance I think it's important to read both the New Testiment and the Old Testiment, and to listen to those who've read it and understand it more then you, like in group bible studies.

That said, I agree with WIP. I don't understand the bible completely. It's probabley more on the aspect of what I think I do understand, I'm confidant about it. And on the things I haven't heard before or agreed with yet, I'm confident in my knowledge to filter out the purely BS teachings that don't line up with scripture in one way or another.

My hope is that our understandings are second to our faith. That if we know and trust the core elements of believing in God, believing in Jesus, and knowing our sin (and His salvation); then our faith in God and Jesus will save us more then our knowledge base. That's one of my main hopes because there's no way I can earn God's salvation. Either through right living (even though I try I fail too often), or through right knowledge and understanding (there are too many perspectives, philosophies, and theologies to swim through in Christian enviornments that my hope is in God not in my understanding).

Did you learn from reading it?
From studying under the guidance of a church?
Studying theology?
From the Holy Spirit?
Why do you think you are right in your theology?
Click to expand...

I grew up without a church foundation. Not that I didn't have church growing up, but I don't think I count a specific church or a denomination as my foundation. So all the differing views were part of the growing in knowledge, and the fear of being saved by right knowledge or not.

I hope the Holy Spirit has guided me, but I never know. What is from God, and what is from me? There are those who seem more confidant in discerning what is from God. I envy them and hope they are right.

Pick one or all.
It's problematic to me that we are not united in our beliefs.
Click to expand...

Two thoughts. Paul argued in his letters that if anyone tells you a gospel different from what he gave them then to reject it (even if it came from Paul). This seems to speak about Paul's ministry and about the foundation on what he taught the churches. Even though we don't have that experience we have his letters and the importance of a solid foundation. The second thought (also from Paul) is that we are all one church body, even if we have many parts. Like a human body we need each part and cannot say that we don't need another part.

Both of these teachings seem to deal with division and with weeding out wrong teachings. Try to let our faith be our uniting element, and encourage both a solid foundation from what you know is true, as well as encourage a Christian love. Because that's how Jesus said we should be known and recoginized, by our love for one another.
 
Allen Wynne said:
The blue one?
That's Russian vodka.
The brown one is coca cola.
Click to expand...
Omg. I drank russian vodka before, with my polish fil...it goes down like water. Then all of a sudden...all of a sudden!
Geez when drinking slavic men drink, they drink. Wow...lol
 
wondering said:
Why do you believe you understand the Bible, especially the New Testament?
Is it important to also understand the Old Testament?
Did you learn from reading it?
From studying under the guidance of a church?
Studying theology?
From the Holy Spirit?
Why do you think you are right in your theology?

Pick one or all.
It's problematic to me that we are not united in our beliefs.
Click to expand...

I believe I understand the new testament more because I also read the old testament. The old testament actually explains the new testament.
It is important to understand the OT. The NT, is, in the OT concealed...and the (so-called) NT is the OT...revealed...
There's really only one page of any bible that should be removed.

I learn from reading it every time I pick it up. Not under the guidance of a corporate church. Nor any formal theology classes, but by seeing it (reading it) and hearing it (watching pastors preach on youtube). I hear their message and think...I see the message and think...and pray. And sometimes, Holy Spirit confirms stuff to me.

Why do I think that I'm right in my theology? Well, I know a few things for sure, but there's prolly so much more that I don't know that Im not sure I could say, I am right.

No one is 100% right. That's why wee all need each other. Brothers and Sister's...fellowship. Many members, one spirit. Everyone has a small piece of the puzzle, lol
 
wondering said:
Why do you believe you understand the Bible, especially the New Testament?
Is it important to also understand the Old Testament?
Did you learn from reading it?
From studying under the guidance of a church?
Studying theology?
From the Holy Spirit?
Why do you think you are right in your theology?

Pick one or all.
It's problematic to me that we are not united in our beliefs.
Click to expand...

The Holy Spirit leads me, and reveals to me the truths set forth in the scriptures as I study.

He actually puts topics on my heart to study in the bible, then as I co-operate with Him to study what He wants to teach me, He gives me revelation and understanding.

Spending time in worship and praying in the Spirit first, then studying and meditating in His presence, is the best way I have found to study and understand the scriptures.



JLB
 
Honestly I don't understand the Bible. It seems the more I read it the more it confuses me, which I do not understand at all. I want to understand, I just don't.
 
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