So You Believe Everything In The Bible? (moral, Leviticus, Deuteronomy)

[linwood]

The blood link comes from men. The lineage of Mary would come from her father, Joseph
(posted by True Blood)

I`ve still seen no reason to believe Joseph was her father when it is repeated throughout the book that he is her husband...even for the sake of argument.

[harold e. rice]

Originally Posted by true blood

Interesting. Actually the Temple market had become dishonest, a den of thieves. Jesus was not in any way cruel or physically abusive to those men; he just pointedly told them to get out. Although he did not touch any of the merchants, he did overthrow their tables and seats. You should note this is a completely different occasion from the recorded events in John 2:15 which too place earlier in his ministry. John 2:15 and 16 reads: "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all [the sheep and oxen] out of the temple, and ["and" is "both" in the text] the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." Jesus drove out the four-legged animals with a whip; he poured out the money and overthrew the tables [inanimate objects]. He then used persuasion to authoritatively tell the people to take their dove sacrifices and leave. He never laid a whip to a human being as tradition tries to make you believe

The story in John differs from the one in Mark, Matthews and Luke and is very contradictory as to when Jesus supposedly entered the temple. It was only once that he entered the temple, at the beginning of his ministry or near the end. One of these writers got it wrong.

There is nothing in scripture that indicate that the merchants were Dishonest or robbing the people. This is an explanation made up by Christian apologist.

According to Jewish law it was permissible for merchant to sell the animal for those that didn’t bring their own sacrifice with them to the temple. There was a rule that only a certain coin could to be used to pay the temple tax charged for admission. Therefore the moneychanger were there by law to render this service. On top of that, there was a special building in a far corner away from the temple that was designated for this purpose. They were not actually selling in the temple as the bible indicates.

Something is wrong with this entire story. Did Jesus make a big mistake?

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by harold e. rice

There was a rule that only a certain coin could to be used to pay the temple tax charged for admission. Therefore the moneychanger were there by law to render this service. On top of that, there was a special building in a far corner away from the temple that was designated for this purpose.

That's pretty interesting. Would you mind providing your source(s) for this information?

[spacemantip]

I have studied Hebrew and Greek (a little) and have a long way to go but one thing I am convinced of is that the Bible is in fact GOD's word to mankind (based on the Hebrew and Aramaic Greek).

What I think has been done in all other languages is that mankind has applied wordly meanings (but of course) which cannot give complete and total understanding to GODs message to us. Why would GOD communicate to us in words that cannot really give clear meaning? Because (I believe) that diversification amoung peoples is an element for growth, even in our paranoia and distrust of the unknown.

Ex: GOD is HOLY..........in all actuality the word HOLY is only discriptive of GOD but not conclusive.

My point is that in the written word we as humans have only a finite understanding as to what GOD meant. Ex: Thou Shall Not Kill....that is an english interpretation or translation and not all people can put together the idea of not killing and then going to war.

ex 2: Unless you hate your father and your mother and etc.etc. you are not worthy to enter into the gates of Heaven..............

How does one equate Love your neighbor as yourself with Hate for your father ,maother etc etc.

Believing everything is the Bible is of course a decision. Knowing every intent and possibility that the Bible contains is an impossibilty (except for the original author)

I believe that everything in the Bible is TRUE. I also know that I do not understand it all. I believe because I have faith that the GOD I worship and the GOD who instructs me has full knowledge and so I can put my TRUST in HIM to make me aware of what HE wants me to know.

[Ceridwen018]

What I think has been done in all other languages is that mankind has applied wordly meanings (but of course) which cannot give complete and total understanding to GODs message to us. Why would GOD communicate to us in words that cannot really give clear meaning? Because (I believe) that diversification amoung peoples is an element for growth, even in our paranoia and distrust of the unknown.

You reaction to this dilemma is interesting, although hardly surprising. You recognize that the words used in the bible are perhaps not as 'meaningful' and complete as they could be, so you assume they must have been jarbled from their initial perfection by sinful man, instead of even considering the idea that they were possibly never perfect even in the beginning, i.e., that they are not divinely inspired.

I assume that you made this decision quite hastily, and without any real research.

[precept]

Mis-understanding and mis-interpreting the bible is itself the biggest sin in Christendom.

The bible is not a hand book of do's and don'ts..or else one would follow the example of the good guys and eschew the example of the bad guys. But yet the bible chronicles the examples of all....good and bad guys alike. Without favoritism, ther bible points out the good points and bad points of both good and bad guys alike.

A case in point is the good guy king David, and the chronicling of the bad things he did. And in contrast is bad guy, the king of Israel, king Manasseh who even sacrificed his own children to his heathen gods.

The bible is but a book that contains the word of God to humanity. Words that are meant to guide humans in how they relate with one another and with God.

These words are cast within the culture of the times. And according to, and depending on that particular culture..."God winked at their ignorance re following faithfully His word"..Acts 17:30

Marriage and concubinage are classic examples of the latitude enjoyed even by those who walked close to God Himself in those different cultures.

Abraham had concubines; a practice that is as wrong as committing adultery, then as well as today..."But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts....." Genesis 25:6
This culture of more than one wife complete with concubines was also practiced by Abraham's grandson, Jacob; and irony of all ironies, Judah was born to Leah, his wife given in deceit by his uncle Laban.
You would think that God would support Jacob in frowning on the deceit played on Jacob, and support Jacob in his refusal to love his wife of deceit, Leah. Jacob refused to love Leah, his wife given in deceit; and waited another seven years to get the wife he truly loved, Leah's sister, Rachel.
Imagine the pain of Leah; knowing that she was not loved by her husband; and also knowing that it hadn't been up to her; she was powerless to go against her father's wishes. Imagine also her pain in not being able to bear Jacob children. If you can imagine the double agony she endured, then you will be able to catch a glimpse of the God of understanding, the God of love.
Yes! this God of understanding, not only "opened the womb" of Leah, but caused her to bear Levi "earthly ancestral father" and--ancestral father of God's holy priesthood--as well as Judah "earthly ancestral father" and--ancestral father to king David and King Jesus.

Certainly there is no indication here of God's commanding anyone to stone anyone...There must then be a reason for such commands; and when such reasons are researched, they will be as unfathomable as his reasons for opening the womb of Leah whom Jacob hated and closing the womb of Rachel whom Jacob loved.

precept

[t3gah]

The one thing that gets me in the bible is the story of the true sons of god looking to score with some women on earth, coming down from heaven without god stopping them and the true sons fathering children with earth women.

The instances I remember in the scriptures where supernatural interaction with a female resulted in a child was when god opened some womens wombs so that they were no longer barren and they had children and also mary with jesus.

In the instances above it was god's will that those children and jesus came to be. So how is it that these 'angels the forgot their place' could do the same thing as god? Where did the sperm come from?