What do you think of this apologetic reasoning?

[live2blieve]

Bruce.Leiter basically said what I did, and you already agreed that:

"There are two conclusions from Paul's words:

• Obviously, many things cannot be known about God. Everybody agrees with that.
• However, some things may be known of God, because He showed them to people. In particular, Godhead is clearly seen or understood by the things that are made. So, people are without excuse of not knowing."

That is precisely what Bruce.Leiter stated--"it does mean that we can never fully understand him." You agree yet state "This is not what Paul said," so you're contradicting yourself.

I asked, "Does this mean that it is impossible to understand the Godhead?"

Bruce.Leiter responded, "Yes, live2blieve, it does mean that we can never fully understand him. He is a mystery beyond what the Bible says about him. After all, he is God; we're not."

So, the first statement is "Yes", i.e. it is impossible to understand the Godhead. Which is not what Paul said, i.e. that Godhead can be understood. I asked if it is possible to understand. I did not ask if we can understand fully or not.

 

[Free]

I asked, "Does this mean that it is impossible to understand the Godhead?"

Bruce.Leiter responded, "Yes, live2blieve, it does mean that we can never fully understand him. He is a mystery beyond what the Bible says about him. After all, he is God; we're not."

So, the first statement is "Yes", i.e. it is impossible to understand the Godhead. Which is not what Paul said, i.e. that Godhead can be understood. I asked if it is possible to understand. I did not ask if we can understand fully or not.

It doesn't really matter what you asked, but what the response was. You have to take what he said in context. He said "Yes," but then qualified that with "it does mean that we can never fully understand him. He is a mystery beyond what the Bible says about him."

 

[live2blieve]

It doesn't really matter what you asked, but what the response was. You have to take what he said in context. He said "Yes," but then qualified that with "it does mean that we can never fully understand him. He is a mystery beyond what the Bible says about him."

I understand what you are saying. I hope you understand me as well: for me what I ask does matter, and I like the precision in the answer. I don't think we should continue to discuss this matter .

 

[Groovy]

1) The God of the Bible is beyond human reasoning as three Persons in one God and Jesus as all-God and all-man.
2) The prophets and apostles who wrote the Bible had human reasoning.
3) Therefore, God had to have guided them in writing it because they couldn't have come up with God as Trinity and Jesus as fully human and fully human on their own.

Hey Bruce,

As you know I just joined CF and discovered this thread, whose topic I find intriguing, because I think
Christians are too quick to disparage the role of reasoning in God's revelation. I value logic/reason without intending to demean emotion. Both are important aspects of personality, but their relationship is analogous to that of saving faith and good works: faith precedes love (per Gal. 5:6), and right reasoning should guide one’s emotion.

Right reasoning or logic functions in a way similar to the OT law: leading sinful souls to learn the need for God’s Gospel (Gal. 3:19-25). Biblical passages that seem to support the view that human logic is a divine gift include the following:

1. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. (Isa. 1:18a)

2. “They hated me without reason.” (John 15:25)

3. “So [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17:17)

4. “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom [right reasoning] among the mature…” (1Cor. 2:6)

5. “When I was a child… I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” (1Cor. 13:11)

6. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1Pet. 3:15b)

These passages indicate that we should think and attempt to learn the best beliefs/opinions or solutions regarding issues including the arguments or accusations of atheists. Right?