#Bible Interpretation

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

“A perfect god would make its word perfectly clear to everyone so no interpretation was ever necessary.

The bible does no such thing.”

-- Miller

Saying “interpretation” is the same as saying “nobody can be sure what it means.” This is particularly evident when reinterpretation is used to change divinely inspired religious doctrine after humans have already changed.

#Author Unknown #christianity #bible #bible study #religion #interpretation #bible interpretation #open to interpretation #religion is a mental illness

[areadersquoteslibrary]

“Thomas Aquinas had delivered the medieval judgment on the Bible in his emphatic sentence: "The author of the Bible is God." This notion of inspiration naturally led to the opinion that God had hidden in the sacred text all sorts of esoteric truths about various subjects. In a paradoxical way, the belief that God had dictated the various books of the Bible to inspired writers contributed to the medieval habit of not reading the Bible as a book-or as the collection of books that it is. It became rather a treasury of proof texts to be used as needed for the support of this or that doctrine propounded by theologians and preachers. God was everywhere equally in it. With the allegorical interpretation, anything could be found in all of it.” ― Richard Marius, Martin Luther: The Christian between God and Death

#bible #quotes #biblical studies #interpreation #biblical hermeneutics #bible interpretation #luther #martin luther #lutheranism #scripture #faith #God #religion #spirituality #God's word

[apilgrimpassingby]

So, I have a morbid fixation (or an extremely one-sided Sitcom Arch-Rivalry, in TV Tropes parlance) on @geoproxus4, whose failings include the usual objectification, misogyny and smug attitude of typical "trad male" blogs with a dash of heresy.

That's a harsh charge. But I think I can justify it. On his Twitter, he has declared that "a monogamy-only mindset is antithetical to the words of the Most High. Such a mindset will prevent a proper understanding of Scripture." So I guess the vast majority of Christians from Paul's day to the present were wrong.

And now I have to argue with his latest Tumblr post. In it, he points to Jesus saying that He did not come to destroy but to fulfil the Law. The Law included provisions for polygamy. Therefore, polygamy is good.

Things I have to say include:

The most you have demonstrated is that polygamy is okay. This is far from "a monogamy-only mindset is antithetical to the words of the Most High."

Jesus fulfilled the Law, by removing the need for it. The crucial bit in that section is "until everything is accomplished." And what were His last words? "It is finished." The Law is obsolete. The entire Book of Galatians is about this, not to mention Matthew 19 and Mark 7.

Being allowed in the Mosaic Law does not demonstrate that it a thing is good, only that God did not choose to ban it at that time. This made explicit in Matthew 19:8-9; divorce was permitted because of the Israelites' hardness of heart, but Jesus abolished it because it was always suboptimal.

Considering that Paul regarded the creation of sexuality as between two, and the problems caused by Solomon's multitude of wives and concubines, I very much believe that polygamy is a distortion of God's intended design.

But does this add up to heresy? In my 17-year-old, truly-Christian-for barely-a-year opinion, yes. To declare a thing that God never endorsed (or explicitly condemned) to be essential to understanding the Bible, in defiance of the vast majority of past and present exegetes, to elevate into key doctrine a practice on the periphery of Scripture - what is heresy but that?

I've blocked him for the sake of my peace of mind. I hope that this post allows more people to recognise heresy and helps me to get him out of my system. In the meantime, what's left for me to do is to pray to God for the silencing of false teaching, forgiveness for my sin of grudge-holding and turning my heart away from doing so.

#traditionalism #tradblr #christianity #holy bible #bible interpretation

[heresylog]

would it be heresy to view the book of genesis as an allegory instead of historical?

The entire book of Genesis? I'm going to use the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Revised Edition (pg. 31) as my only source because I am lazy.

You cannot deny that the Bible is a historic document. To say it isn't is just flat out wrong. To not be considered heretical you must also not deny that God intervened in the world or that no supernatural occurrences happened.

The book of Genesis can be allegorical as well as historical. But also, that book is huge so to paint it all as an allegory would be inaccurate.

#anonymous #Bible interpretation #Catholic #Christianity #HeresyLog

[verysaltynik]

Just Luci

#saltsart #art #my art #lucifer #christian inspiration #bible interpretation #huh??? #idk man

[omegaphilosophia]

Adam as The First Mother

Adam, traditionally considered the first man according to the Abrahamic religions, may also be considered the first mother in certain respects. While the term "mother" is generally associated with women, it can also be used to describe nurturing and caregiving behaviors, regardless of gender.

According to the Bible, Adam was created from the dust of the earth by God and was then tasked with caring for the Garden of Eden. He was also responsible for naming all of the animals in the Garden, which required a deep understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

Furthermore, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were subsequently banished from the Garden, Adam took on the role of provider and protector for his family. He worked the land to provide food and shelter, and he defended his family from danger and harm.

Adam's nurturing and caregiving qualities are also evident in his relationship with Eve. After Eve was created from one of Adam's ribs, the Bible describes Adam as "holding fast" to her and declaring that they were now "one flesh." This suggests a deep emotional connection and a sense of responsibility and protection for his partner.

In summary, while Adam is traditionally considered the first man, his role as caretaker, provider, and protector for his family suggests that he also possessed many qualities typically associated with motherhood. Therefore, he could be considered the first mother in certain respects.

Some interpretations of the creation story in the Bible suggest that Eve's creation from Adam's rib can be seen as a metaphorical type of birth. This perspective highlights the idea that Adam was the source of Eve's existence, much like how a mother is the source of a child's existence through birth.

In this sense, Adam's role in the creation of Eve could be seen as a kind of birthing process, which adds another layer to the idea that Adam could be considered the first mother. This interpretation highlights the importance of both male and female roles in the creation and nurturing of life.

It's worth noting that this interpretation of Adam's role in Eve's creation is not universally accepted or agreed upon within the Abrahamic religions. Some may argue that the metaphorical birth analogy is not appropriate, as it diminishes the unique and important role that women play in actual childbirth.

However, the idea that Adam could be considered the first mother highlights the diverse and multifaceted roles that individuals can take on in caring for and nurturing others. It also challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes, encouraging us to recognize and value the full range of human capabilities and contributions.

#philosophy #theology #religion #christianity #adam #eve #mother #motherhood #gender #gender roles #bible interpretation #first mother #abrahamic religions #birth #knowledge

[buggie-hagen]

Luther's meaning . . . seems to be that anyone claimed by the Spirit through the Word—and who is thus grasped by its "internal clarity"—can in turn never attribute unclarity, ambiguity, or insufficiency to that Word, nor will he or she claim special authority on the Spirit's account, but will move instead to grant all authority and honor to the external, literal Word of Scripture as the means through which the Holy Spirit works—however lowly, strange, or offensive that literal Word may seem to men. This, I believe, is the point of Luther's insistence on the Holy Spirit as author of Scripture. The Word, too, stands under the theologia crucis; indeed it is the Word of the cross. ~Gerhard Forde

#scripture #bible interpretation #Spirit #Luther #Forde

[bibleglittergifs]

Our God is both the Lion and the Lamb.

Powerful yet gentle, merciful but willful, the King and that which enriches us, the sacrificed and the executor of judgements.

His duality is within all of His children; the nuance and balance of miracles and tragedies are reflected in His ultimate will.

-mod L

#Christianity #bible interpretation #the lion and the lamb #ours #txt #mod L #glitter text #christlikeness #devotion #mercy #purple

[eli-kittim]

Christian Universalism Debunked

By Bible Researcher & Author Eli Kittim 📚🎓

Introduction

Universal reconciliation (also called “apocatastasis”) is the belief that, in the end, everyone will be saved. Advocates of this position assert that the concept of an eternal hell was never part of Judaism or early Christianity. Although this is certainly a very appealing view, there are many problems with it. For one thing, it is, in effect, a denial of free will, as if God will somehow coerce us into union with him. For another, morality has been thrown to the wind, as if there is no punishment for lawlessness. This doctrine essentially urges us to do what we please because, in the end, we will *literally* get away with murder! It reminds me of Aleister Crowley’s occultic expression, “Do what thou wilt.” The motto is, eat and drink for tomorrow we’re saved. Thus, whether or not you murder, torture, molest, or harass innocent human beings is unimportant and irrelevant. You’re going to heaven. So carry on. There’s no need to stop. This position reminds me of free grace theology which essentially says the same thing: don’t stop sinning because you’re already saved. Therefore, both views are unscriptural and unacceptable❗️

The New Testament does not support universalism, and in fact mentions the reality of hell many times. The belief in hell is also contained in the Nicene creed and in the writings of the apostolic fathers. In fact, universalism was officially condemned as a heresy in the second Council of Constantinople (553 AD), when Origen’s teaching of apokatastasis was formally anathematized. Universalism is, therefore, not only a heresy but a denial of scripture. Nevertheless, since the apostolic age, there have been quite a few people who have affirmed the doctrine of universalism. The latest proponent is religious studies scholar David Bentley Hart with his 2019 book, “That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell, and Universal Salvation.”

Universalists come in many different flavors. Although some reject the existence of hell completely, others see it as a sort of purgatory prior to entering heaven. Universalists typically argue that the concept of eternal hell is based on a mistranslation of the Greek term αιών (aion). However, the word αἰώνιος means “ever-lasting,” or “eternal” (see Liddell and Scott. “An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon.” Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1889). Moreover, the idiomatic phrase «εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων» does mean “forever,” as seen in the following examples:

Gal 1.5 - ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν

αἰώνων ἀμήν.

Phil 4.20 - τῷ δὲ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ ἡμῶν ἡ

δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν

αἰώνων· ἀμήν.

1 Tim 1.17 - τῷ δὲ βασιλεῖ τῶν αἰώνων

ἀφθάρτῳ ἀοράτῳ μόνῳ θεῷ

τιμὴ καὶ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας

τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν.

Rev 1.6 - καὶ ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς βασιλείαν

ἱερεῖς τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ

αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς

τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν.

Rev 1.18 - καὶ ὁ ζῶν καὶ ἐγενόμην νεκρὸς

καὶ ἰδοὺ ζῶν εἰμι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας

τῶν αἰώνων καὶ ἔχω τὰς κλεῖς

τοῦ θανάτου καὶ τοῦ ᾅδου.

The No-Hell Argument

Universalists claim that there’s no hell, and especially no “eternal hell.” Let’s see if their claims can be substantiated. How do the universalists explain the fallen angels who are locked away? Where are they imprisoned? (2 Pet 2.4). Doesn’t sound like the land of the dead (Sheol)! Plus, the Greek words that are used in these particular contexts suggest “eternity,” not annihilation or apocatastasis. For example, Jude 1.6-7 (NRSV) reads:

And the angels who did not keep their own

position but deserted their proper dwelling,

he has kept in eternal [ἀϊδίοις] chains

[δεσμοῖς] in deepest darkness for the

judgment of the great day. Likewise, Sodom

and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities,

which, in the same manner as they,

indulged in sexual immorality and pursued

unnatural lust, serve as an example by

undergoing [ὑπέχουσαι] a punishment

[δίκην] of eternal [αἰωνίου] fire [πυρὸς].

By the way, «αἰωνίου δίκην» means “eternal judgment.” So the question is, if all the damned are eventually saved (universalism), or if they simply die in the land of the dead (annihilationism), then why did God *prepare* (ἡτοιμασμένον) the eternal fire (τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον) for the devil & his angels❓ (Mt 25.41, 46 [eternal punishment; κόλασιν αἰώνιον]; cf. Mk 9.48; 2 Pet 2.4; Jude 1.13; Rev 14.11; 20.10)! The Greek phrase «κόλασιν αἰώνιον» actually means “eternal punishment.” Daniel 12.2, in the Septuagint (LXX), also mentions an “everlasting life” for the righteous, as well as an “everlasting shame” for the wicked:

καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν καθευδόντων ἐν γῆς χώματι

ἐξεγερθήσονται, οὗτοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ

οὗτοι εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν καὶ εἰς αἰσχύνην

αἰώνιον.

English translation by L.C.L. Brenton:

And many of them that sleep in the dust of

the earth shall awake, some to everlasting

life, and some to reproach and everlasting

shame.

The Greek phrases «ζωὴν αἰώνιον» and «αἰσχύνην αἰώνιον» mean “everlasting life” and “everlasting shame,” respectively. Look up the phrase «εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων» (Gal. 1.5; Phil. 4.20; 1 Tim. 1.17; 2 Tim. 4.18; Heb. 13.21; 1 Pet. 4.11; Rev. 1.6; 1.18; 4.9-10; 5.13; 7.12; 10.6; 11.15; 15.7; 19.3; 20.10; 22.5)! The phrase «εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων» means “for ever and ever.” Moreover, if the damned die once for all, then why is the word “eternal” used to frequently describe their punishment❓ Is it simply that our *memory* of them will be “eternal”? That’s not exactly what the Bible says. So, is the Bible (or God) lying to us or trying to confuse us?

Annihilationism: How ‬Bart Ehrman‪ Gets Things Wrong In His Book, Heaven and Hell

Although some believers in universal reconciliation (aka “apocatastasis”) might accept the notion of hell in some short-term temporal sense, they do not accept it either as a a place of endless torment or as a place of ultimate “annihilation” for the wicked after the last judgment. And although this subsection is on the topic of annihilationism, I’m discussing it simply because it has a great deal to say about the term αἰώνιον (everlasting), which the universalists mistranslate!

In his “Fresh Air Interview” with Terry Gross, world-renowned biblical scholar Bart Ehrman falsely “states that eternal rewards and punishments aren’t found in the Old Testament.” This statement directly contradicts the teachings of the Old Testament. Much to Bart Ehrman‪’s‬ dismay, there is a clear reference to a resurrection from the dead in the Old Testament in which there are definite rewards and punishments that await both the righteous and the wicked. In fact, these rewards and punishments are said to be “everlasting.” The following constitutes a further treatment of Daniel 12.2 (NRSV), which reads:

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the

earth shall awake, some to everlasting life

and some to shame and everlasting

contempt.

The so-called “Theodotion Daniel” form of the Septuagint (LXX) confirms that the rewards and punishments in the aftermath of the resurrection are indeed *continuous* by using the Greek word αἰώνιον, which means “everlasting.” Daniel Th 12.2 proclaims:

καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν καθευδόντων ἐν γῆς χώματι

ἐξεγερθήσονται, οὗτοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ

οὗτοι εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν καὶ εἰς αἰσχύνην

αἰώνιον.

The Hebrew text (BHS) of Daniel 12.2 reads:

‎וְרַבִּ֕ים מִיְּשֵׁנֵ֥י אַדְמַת־עָפָ֖ר יָקִ֑יצוּ אֵ֚לֶּה לְחַיֵּ֣י עֹולָ֔ם

‎וְאֵ֥לֶּה לַחֲרָפֹ֖ות לְדִרְאֹ֥ון עֹולָֽם׃ ס

The key Hebrew words are עוֹלָ֔ם ‘ō·w·lām (everlasting) and לְדִרְא֥וֹן lə·ḏir·’ō·wn (contempt). In short, the dead are not annihilated, nor do they sleep forever, as Ehrman mistakenly assumes, but are rather *resurrected* to exist either in an “everlasting life” of Blessedness or in “everlasting contempt.” What is more, Daniel 12 is found in the Masoretic and Qumran texts and is not, therefore, a later edition.

As for Ehrman’s other false statement “that eternal rewards and punishments aren’t found . . . in the teachings of Jesus,” he should go back and restudy the Koine Greek of the earliest New Testament gospel, namely, the gospel of Mark! The English translation of Mark 9.47-48 reads as follows:

And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear

it out; it is better for you to enter the

kingdom of God with one eye than to have

two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where

their worm never dies, and the fire is never

quenched.

Two things are indisputably mentioned by Jesus that are both unequivocal and categorical: the *punishment* is •everlasting• in that neither human beings nor the fires of hell (γέενναν) are put out or extinguished. In short, human beings never die and the fires of hell never end. And this pericope is considered to be part of the sayings of Jesus! Thus, in accordance with Daniel 12.2, Jesus definitely confirms the duration, rather than the extinction, of the afterlife! In fact, the Greek term πῦρ (“fire” of hell) in Mark 9.48 is the exact same term used to designate “the lake of fire” (Gk. λίμνην τοῦ πυρὸς) in Revelation 20.10! The Greek text (NA28) of Mark 9.48 is illuminating in this regard. It reads:

ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ τὸ

πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται.

The Greek term σκώληξ (skóléx) means “worm,” “symbolizing perhaps the loathsomeness of the penalty” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) or it maybe used figuratively as a general term of contempt for a living being. Moreover, the Greek phrase οὐ τελευτᾷ means that their “organism” (or “worm”) never ceases to exist; it does not come to an end. Equally, the Greek phrase οὐ σβέννυται means that the fires (Gk. πῦρ) of punishment are not put out: they are not extinguished or quenched! It’s also important to note that Mark 9.48 is not an interpolation because it’s preserved in Isaiah 66.24. It’s part of the Old Testament tradition.

In other words, Jesus clearly teaches in Mark 9.47-48 that there are eternal punishments precisely because people do not cease to exist after death, nor are the fires of hell put out (cf. Mt. 25.46). And Daniel 12.2, among other places in the Old Testament (cf. e.g., Isa. 66.24), supports the New Testament teaching of the abiding presence of rewards and punishments for both the righteous and the wicked in the afterlife! Further supportive evidence comes from Rev. 20.10, which contradicts annihilationism by explicitly stating that the damned “will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Gk. βασανισθήσονται ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων)! Besides, if annihilationism is true, why, then, will the damned be resurrected? To die again❓(Jn 5.29). It doesn’t make any sense! It is, therefore, deeply misleading and particularly dangerous to assume that the Bible does not speak of an afterlife or that there are no ultimate consequences for our actions here on earth!

Universalists Misinterpret Scripture

Universalists are putting a spin on practically every scriptural verse they mention, adding a speculative (private) interpretation that is not in the text, while ignoring other parts of scripture that say the exact opposite. It’s a sort of *confirmation bias* in which they add interpretations to the text that are not explicitly stated. For the sake of convenience, I’ll simply mention a few verses that they often use to twist scripture in order to make it say what it doesn’t actually say.

For example, Rev 5.13 is talking about the new creation——that is, everyone who has been reborn in Christ——when it says that all will sing praises to God. But it doesn’t mean that the most violent and wicked demons that ever lived (such as Satan) will hold candles and sing praises to God. Or, take 1 John 4.14. Yes, Christ is the Savior of the world, meaning that his atonement covers all human beings, provided that they’re freely willing to come to him. But that doesn’t mean that the will of the people can be forced into salvation. Similarly, 1 Timothy 2.4-6 says that God wants all men to be saved. But this verse is simply informing us of God’s disposition, not that all men will definitely be saved. Along the same lines, Philippians 2.9-11 says that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. But this could be referring to the new creation following the judgment, after the former things have passed away. Besides, during the judgment, the unsaved will certainly recognize that Jesus is Lord, even if they despise him. It’s a similar situation to the demons who acknowledge God’s existence in James 2.19. Moreover, the narratives in Ezekiel and Isaiah, which claim that all nations will come to worship God, are true. But they are symbolic of those particular nations that will be saved. They don’t imply that each and every person that ever lived will be saved, or that there is no judgement:

Psalm 1.5 - Therefore the wicked will not stand

in the judgment nor sinners in the

congregation of the righteous.

Psalm 7.6 - Rise up, O Lord, in your anger;
     lift yourself up against the fury of

my enemies; awake, O my God;

you have appointed a judgment.

Jn 5.24 - Very truly, I tell you, anyone who

hears my word and believes him

who sent me has eternal life and

does not come under judgment but

has passed from death to life.

Jn 5.29 - and [they] will come out: those

who have done good to the

resurrection of life, and those who

have done evil to the resurrection

of condemnation.

Rom 2.3 - Do you imagine, whoever you are,

that when you judge those who do

such things and yet do them

yourself, you will escape the

judgment of God?

1 Pet 4.17 - For the time has come for

judgment to begin with the

household of God; if it begins with

us, what will be the end for those

who do not obey the gospel of

God?

2 Pet 2.4 - God did not spare the angels when

they sinned but cast them into hell

and committed them to chains of

deepest darkness to be kept until

the judgment;

What is more, Ephesians 1.11 doesn’t say that God will bring all people under Christ, as some universalists have argued. Rather, it says that those who have been saved have been predestined to obtain an inheritance according to God’s will, and that all things work according to his will. Besides, in 1 Corinthians 15.22-28, Christ is said to eliminate all his enemies, and after that he will recreate a new universe in which God will be all in all (in the new creation, that is!). It means that God will be in all the righteous people that remain, not in all the wicked to whom he says “I never knew you; depart from me” (Mt. 7.23 ESV)! Moreover, if “the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7.14 NRSV), does that sound like universalism? And if “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3.5), how, then, can people who are not born of the Spirit be saved? And if all will be saved, then why are we commanded to preach the gospel? Why do we need to be reborn then? Why even believe in Jesus? Thus, universalism has clearly embraced aberrant teachings based on mistranslations and misinterpretations❗️

The Universalists Claim that Eternal Hell Does Not Exist Because God is Love

But God is also Justice. Everyone will be punished accordingly. Everyone will be judged. No one will get off scot-free. Everyone will get what they deserve. You don’t have to look very far to see the coming judgment, such as Jesus waging war on the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2.8), or waging a just war in Rev. 19.11, or the wrath of Christ that leaves corpses lying dead by the thousands (Rev. 19.18), or “the great winepress of the wrath of God”:

Rev 14.19-20

So the angel swung his sickle over the earth

and gathered the vintage of the earth, and

he threw it into the great winepress of the

wrath of God. And the winepress was

trodden outside the city, and blood flowed

from the winepress, as high as a horse’s

bridle, for a distance of about one thousand

six hundred stadia.

Rom 12.19

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave

room for the wrath of God, for it is written,

‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the

Lord.’

Deut 32.35

for the day of vengeance and recompense,

for the time when their foot shall slip?

Because the day of their calamity is at

hand; their doom comes swiftly.

Isa 13.6

Wail, for the day of the Lord is near;

it will come like destruction from the

Almighty!

Isa 13.9

See, the day of the Lord is coming,

cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,
 to make the earth a desolation

and to destroy its sinners from it.

Jer 46.10

That day is the day of the Lord God of

hosts, a day of retribution,

to gain vindication from his foes.
 The sword shall devour and be sated

and drink its fill of their blood.


Does that sound like universal salvation❓So even though God is good, he is also just❗️

Conclusion

There are two views on opposite sides of the spectrum. One claims that all the wicked will be destroyed, while the other asserts that they will be saved. Both are wrong❗️ As we have seen, both annihilationism and universal reconciliation (apocatastasis) are not consistent with the teaching of Scripture. The Bible tells us that the wicked will continue to exist in “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12.2). Their everlasting abode is described as an eternal place “where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched” (Mark 9.48)❗️

#heaven and hell #annihilationism #universalism #biblical hebrew #koine greek #bible interpretation #rewards and punishments #afterlife #EliKittim #eternal hell #αἰώνιον #firesofhell #thelittlebookofrevelation #αἰώνιος #Mark9v48 #universalreconciliation #Daniel12v2 #septuagint #Theodotion_Daniel #lxx #ελικιτίμ #age #bibleprophecy #apocatastasis #judgment day #biblicalexegesis #το_μικρο_βιβλιο_της_αποκάλυψης #eternal life #Biblicaleschatology #εἰςτου��ςαἰῶναςτῶναἰώνων

[averagechristiannet]

Romans 8: God is Our Portion

Another helpful and encouraging article on the teachings in Romans 8. From PlaceforTruth.org……….. https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/romans-8-god-is-our-portion

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#Bible Application #Bible Interpretation #Book of Romans #Constancy of God #The New Testament

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

“Even though it had been illegal for over a hundred years for common folks to own a Bible, ol' William Tyndale translated and published an English Bible from the existing Hebrew and Greek so the common man could read for himself all about God's unconditional love...

So of course, the Catholic Church had the scholar strangled and burnt at the stake in 1536...

Couldn't have the common folk reading and understanding all about their God's unconditional love all on their own. now, could they?”

Studying the bible began the downfall of Xianity.

#William Tyndale #catholic church #roman catholic #catholicism #catholic #bible #bible study #christianity #unconditional love #god's love #religion #bible interpretation #interpretation #religion is a mental illness

[kgdrendel]

(via When Jesus Said Literally Not to Take Him Literally)

I wonder how often we miss the intended meaning of Scripture by taking it too literally? My writing today is inspired by a time when Jesus literally told his disciples not to take him literally.

#literal interpretation #bible interpretation #parable

[biblebloodhound]

The Way of Love (Song of Songs 3:1-11)

"You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens." Rumi, 13th century

Song of Songs III, by Marc Chagall, 1960 Night after night on my bedI looked for the one I love.I looked for him but did not find him.I will get up now and roam around the city,in the streets, and in the squares.I will look for the one I love.I looked for him but did not find him.The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me.I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?”I had just left them…

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#beloved #bible interpretation #divine love #eastertide #god&039;s love #hermeneutics #holy scripture #king solomon #love #love for god #new life #pain #power #resurrection #song of songs #song of songs 3 #spiritual connection #spiritual encounter #spiritual experience #spiritual life #trusting god

[spokanefavs]

Walter Hesford observes that conservative #Christians view the #bible as one overarching narrative of salvation, striving to reconcile its individual stories and testimonies.

He believes a harmonized Bible does not do justice to what it has to offer.

"Bible believers are often portrayed as being narrow-minded. But those who open the Bible can be broad-minded as they read with discernment its multitudinous stories and testimonies."

#Christian #Bible #bible interpretation

[heresylog]

Is it heresy to say that some of the Bible, like Job and Ruth, is completely fictional?

I love this question! It’s actually a bit complicated so I’ll do my best to explain.

There are many ways to interpret the Bible. Fundamentalist Christians tend to take every story as literal while Catholics are taught that there are physical and spiritual truths. This is why Catholics are fine with evolution and believe in it while also acknowledging the world was made in 6 days. The language in the Bible is sometimes poetic.

There are exceptions. Any miracle performed by Jesus is considered the truth and not poetic. (I don’t know about the fig tree though, I’ll have to look into that.) Denying those realities is considered reductionism.

There are 5 unacceptable assumptions in scriptural interpretation as stated by the Pontifical Bible Commission. You can look those up whenever you find the time.

As for specifically Ruth and Job? I’m actually not sure.

#catholic #christianity #religion #not heresy #anonymous #heresylog #Bible interpretation #The Bible

[igate777]

Scripture of the Day. August 17/2023.

God’s power does not rest on the weakness that glory in sin. God’s power does not rest on the weakness of humans, which gives them the lessons and excuses to carry out some willful sin acts. The weakness Paul refers to is the result of a person that has come to the end of its soul-driven strength and power.

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#Scriptures for the Day #This present truth #God's word #Word for the day #Bible verse #verse of the day #church #discipleship #body of christ #Truth in God's word #Bible interpretation #Truth that sets free #Sin #Sin nature #The Soul-life #the power of the soul #Overcoming sin #Faith #overcomers #Spiritual freedom #Portalsgate Broadcast