Protestantism

» Brother_Jones - Interesting Tree symbolism

In response to Interesting Tree symbolism posted by Migisi:

True. Without them, how can modern Bible versions be checked for errors, omissions, and interpolations?

Biblical translators usually take their job as seriously as the ancient translators. It starts with studying the ancient languages of Hebrew and Greek and studying the usuage in the ancient culture.

Does this imply that perhaps the old KJV - used by millions of Christians for centuries - was incomplete or inaccurate? And that the Bible is not a finished work, but is 'evolving'?

I like the question. In a sense, yes. God is always attempting to break through with His message to every age and culture. But the concepts and ideas in the bible remain the same. Perhaps we all new some new eyes to see what is being said by God.

Which ancient manuscripts are you referring to? Which were compared to what? The original Bible manuscripts no longer exist.
If recent finds agree perfectly with the Bible as written, there'd be no reason to revise and update it, would there?

Language concepts are fluid and constantly changing. You won't find the phrase 'hot chick,' in the bible, but back in the 19th century, it was popular to say, 'handsome woman.'

I am referring to the ancient manuscripts discovered in the 19th century and the 20th century near the Dead Sea, known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. When you compare them with each other, they have the same wording in the original languages.

How can you be convinced of that - given the 'sinful' nature of Man, and the corruption of the later church and its leaders. I think we can agree on one thing: I can say the writings were altered. You can say they weren't. Neither of us can prove our position because we don't have the originals for comparison.

Well, migisi, you have a whole library of books in the bible to select from. So, far you haven't provided a single instance of anyone altering the bible for our discussion.

They made copies to distribute to the churches for 'uniformity' purposes - so everyone would be on the same doctrinal page.

We are talking about the Jews and their history. And Jesus and His history. Thousands of years elapsed and the story had a lot more meanings than just to keep order in the land...to the believer. It is a story about their God and my God.

Do 'we know better' now? The remark implies that the previous translators were inaccurate in their translations. I've read Jewish scholars on this subject, and they confirm there were many errors in translations and cultural interpretations. Surely the Gospel writers wouldn't have made those errors, being Jews themselves and familiar with their own languages and culture. So who did make the errors?

Every age feels somewhat superior to the last. I don't believe the Gospel writer did make mistakes. They saw Him and walked with Him and heared Him with the spoken voice.

In the final analysis, the bible is accurate because it actually works in the life of the believer, both then and now. It is the avenue for understanding what God had in His mind when He sent Jesus to us.

i am the Lord's oldtimer.
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-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - Interesting Tree symbolism

In response to Interesting Tree symbolism posted by Brother_Jones:
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In the final analysis, the bible is accurate because it actually works in the life of the believer, both then and now. It is the avenue for understanding what God had in His mind when He sent Jesus to us.
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Another way of saying that is that the Bible is a compilation of most of what a people out of ancient civilization had learned regarding success for individuals and the overall culture. It includes a great deal of history some of which may be novel; but, never the less, a great work of a surviving people. It's hard to knock success. And, when that People came to their Waterloo, the Bible shows they made a highly significant and major turn around in the written word they held most sacrosanct in order to accomodate the changed conditions.
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As long as the conditions prevail and the rules are upheld, the teachings of the Bible will help almost any individual or group of individuals attain at least a modicum of success in any venture upon which they might take. Some individuals and groups will attain great success in their ventures. The results are mathematical certainties according to the rules under which the culture operates.
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A person or any group of persons within a culture that is oriented toward the teachings of the Bible and that doesn't line up with its principles will find it difficult to make satisfactory alliances or to contract with those that do. So, yes, "it actually works in the life of the believer, both then and now/".
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The same can be said about any culture that is governed by any such compilation. It is why societies such as the Chinese, Indian, and many others have prevailed over time. But, time sees everything change. The German Nazis learned the lesson as have many others in history.
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Now, we know. Nothing is constant--nothing except change.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Interesting Tree symbolism

In response to Interesting Tree symbolism posted by pink101:

So, yes, "it actually works in the life of the believer, both then and now/".

I appreciate this post and the fact you analyzed it so well. It is problem in religious circles when faith becomes an it not a Him. We are told about what Jesus did for us, but so often we just want a set of rules, and no time spent in the prayer closet. You have been around for quite a while on the planet. What advice would you give a struggling person about prayer? Have you drawn closer to God in these past couple of years by talking with Him in private?

i'm the Lord's oldtimer.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - Are You Being Serious?

In response to Interesting Tree symbolism posted by Brother_Jones:
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Are you being serious?
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After being very complimentary to-wards me, Brother Jones asks, "What advice would you give a struggling person about prayer?"
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I think I would tell them to follow what Albert Einstein had to say about such questions, "Never stop questioning--curiosity has its own reason for existence."
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BTW, here's a site with a lot of advice, http://freaky_freya.tripod.com/einstein....
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Have You Drawn Closer

In response to Interesting Tree symbolism posted by Brother_Jones:
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Brother Jones also asks, "Have you drawn closer to God in these past couple of years by talking with Him in private?"
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I think post-modern day Christianity has more to do with promulgating a set of indisputable rules than it has to do with faith as such. Jesus becomes the icon that causes the "believer" to shape up and bow down when the trumpets are sounded. I've watched as those trumpets have sounded and I've seen the responses when I've refused to bow. The responses can be quite incredible. The sacrosanct never seem to be able to recognize that the Bible's lessons can be about them as well as their opposition. Have you noticed?
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But as to your latest question, I see that action as increasingly more and more intimate; which helps define what it means to be drawn closer to another entity. Intimacy is the soul of a relationship--the sublime.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Are You Being Serious?

In response to Are You Being Serious? posted by pink101:

I think I would tell them to follow what Albert Einstein had to say about such questions, "Never stop questioning--curiosity has its own reason for existence."

Pretty serious.

I did not see anything there at Einstein about prayer. I just see that everytime anyone asks you a simple question about godly pursuits, you will parse it almost every time. I would imagine that if I asked you if it would be a good idea to send your grandkid a birthday card, you would come back with some partial explanation that maybe Einstein thought differently. I asked about prayer. Obviously, you could have answered in some form or fashion concerning the benefits of prayer or about Jesus Christ and His example. But you can't encourage other people to follow His example when you don't believe much of anything about the man.

i am the Lord's oldtimer.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - Hip Shots

In response to Are You Being Serious? posted by Brother_Jones:

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Be careful with those hip shots.
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I gave a direct answer in my post. It was for those who struggle to never stop asking questions.
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I also threw in a BTW for other advice on all sorts of things. it was just a fun site where Einstein is quoted line after line.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Hip Shots

In response to Hip Shots posted by pink101:

I gave a direct answer in my post. It was for those who struggle to never stop asking questions.

Yea, that's really good advice. Just keep taunting God and taunting everybody else. I didn't really get anything like that from reading your Einstein. You just seem to use him as some sort of a marker or boundary when you get stumped and can't really think your way out. You remind of me a whole lot of the older hippies that hang around the University of Texas years after graduation. They oppose authority. And every question and every person that they meet or see, they stick it out there, that nobody has any authority anywhere to tell them where to pee. lol.

i'm the Lord's oldtimer.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - Hip Shots

In response to Hip Shots posted by Brother_Jones:

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Others are reading our posts.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Hip Shots

In response to Hip Shots posted by pink101:

Others are reading our posts.

Ya reakon. You think maybe others would toss up an idea about prayer and try to follow your act or mine. ABC.

i am the oldtimer.

-- posted by Brother_Jones