Contradictions in the Bible

[rrobs]

At every mass, there are no fewer than three scripture readings, and Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible. The homily (sermon) must be a reflection on the scriptures as well. Also, in most Catholic churches there's mass said every day of the week, plus we are encouraged to pray and meditate on our own regularly.

Etc.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to imply the RC rejects the Bible outright. I only meant to suggest they don't have 100% faith in it. It declares that it has everything one needs to know about life and godliness.

2 Pet 1:3,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
​

Unless things have changed, the RC says that the Pope, tradition, the catechism, and a few other things are needed to understand God. Sorry, but Peter says it's in the scriptures, and nothing needs to be added to them. In fact,

Rev 22:18,

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
​

Don't get me wrong, I love my RC brothers and sisters. I just think they would benefit from a more perfect knowledge of God's word and nothing but God's word. But then again, who couldn't, myself included?

 

[rrobs]

Let me fix this bit of arrogance ,,,

I offered 5 specific ways that apparent contradictions can be rationalized. ​

So much better.

OK. So your arrogance is better than mine? I should have consulted you before making the OP.

 

[savagewind]

What else do you think Jesus came for?

Jesus came so that I would know the truth and be free. John 8:32

But, are you saying that the Lord God is not a jealous God? Does God not change only for the Jews? Does that make sense? I am sure that it doesn't.

God is always and forever Jealous. I know this because I realize that God alone knows righteousness.

 

[savagewind]

OK. So your arrogance is better than mine? I should have consulted you before making the OP.

Oh no! >ignore< coming your way.......I bet.

 

[Audie]

Jesus came so that I would know the truth and be free. John 8:32

But, are you saying that the Lord God is not a jealous God? Does God not change only for the Jews? Does that make sense? I am sure that it doesn't.

God is always and forever Jealous. I know this because I realize that God alone knows righteousness.

Um satire?

 

[metis]

I only meant to suggest they don't have 100% faith in it

The Church has never believed in nor taught scriptural inerrancy. Nor has the Church ever claimed that reading scripture is the only way for a Christian to know about Jesus and his teachings. In Jesus' time, most people were illiterate. It's undoubtedly a major reason why there were readings and homilies done during the mass itself.

Unless things have changed, the RC says that the Pope, tradition, the catechism, and a few other things are needed to understand God.

Not at all true. As I stated above, reading is not the only way to get Jesus' message, and one may come to God through various means.

I just think they would benefit from a more perfect knowledge of God's word and nothing but God's word. But then again, who couldn't, myself included?

There is no such thing a "perfect knowledge" for us, plus Paul himself said that we need to follow the traditions that have been left us by Jesus and the apostles.

And let me remind you that your Bible was written by the early Church during the first century, plus its canon was selected by the Church.

 

[savagewind]

Bible 100% faith in it.

What does 100% faith in it leave for Jehovah? My math says nothing.

 

[savagewind]

Um satire?

Good question! But, I fear that I can not hear what God will say about that, if I ask.

I know for myself that my depending on Jesus has opened my eyes to see that God alone knows the whole truth of the human race and so God alone can determine right from wrong in every circumstance.

So.....no, not satire, but, thank you.

I might be a happy soul if I could actually write satire.

 

[Audie]

Good question! But, I fear that I can not hear what God will say about that, if I ask.

I know for myself that my depending on Jesus has opened my eyes to see that God alone knows the whole truth of the human race and so God alone can determine right from wrong in every circumstance.

So.....no, not satire, but, thank you.

I might be a happy soul if I could actually write satire.

Ok, it takes a sec sometimes for me to wrap my lil
head around some of the things that people think.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Now that is Amazing. So what your saying That the Almighty God is not powerful enough to protect his own word. Now that's totally amazing.

But that's exactly what YOU said in Post 179!

 

[Audie]

But that's exactly what YOU said in Post 179!

you savage

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to imply the RC rejects the Bible outright. I only meant to suggest they don't have 100% faith in it. It declares that it has everything one needs to know about life and godliness.

2 Pet 1:3,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
​

Unless things have changed, the RC says that the Pope, tradition, the catechism, and a few other things are needed to understand God. Sorry, but Peter says it's in the scriptures, and nothing needs to be added to them. In fact,

Rev 22:18,

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
​

Don't get me wrong, I love my RC brothers and sisters. I just think they would benefit from a more perfect knowledge of God's word and nothing but God's word. But then again, who couldn't, myself included?

Isn't faith reserved for God and Christ? Having faith in a book is elevating it to an idol. Something that Christians are admonished to avoid.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Well, maybe because the words, "thy word is truth" is in written form?

It is always a flaw to be overly literal in one's interpretation of the Bible. That does not help your case since it clearly does not refer to the Bible. That is a twisted reinterpretation after the fact.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Isn't faith reserved for God and Christ? Having faith in a book is elevating it to an idol. Something that Christians are admonished to avoid.

I always find it a bit ironic that they have to break the Second Commandment to maintain their beliefs.

 

[nPeace]

Second paragraph: "e.g., the process of making a dish by hammering thin a lump of metal."

Yes. It is an example. That's why I put the font in bold.
The word simply means beat out, or spread out. It does not describe a process of beating out anything in particular - whether bowl, or ball.

No, they rely on anthropological information gleaned about the ancients by experts.

Do you have that information? Do you mind sharing it?

As I said, basically, persons that hold this view ["experts"], rely on ideas, and interpretations formulated after the 11th century C.E., and into our modern time, telling us what the Hebrews before the 11th century B.C.E. believed.
And what documents do they have to support their view? What documents state what they claim?
None.

Do you know of any documents? I'd be glad to see them.
According to what I read, it is based on interpreting the Hebrew scriptures, and speculating on what they think about them.
See Cosmogony

The Jewish Encyclopedia
The board naturally faced many difficult editorial questions and disagreements. Singer wanted specific entries for every Jewish community in the world, with detailed information about, for example, the name and dates of the first Jewish settler in Prague. Conflict also arose over what types of Bible interpretation should be included, with some editors fearing that Morris Jastrow's involvement in "higher criticism" would lead to unfavorable treatment of scripture.

Because that's how raqiya is used in other contexts; it has a common meaning and understanding. Additionally, the Genesis accounts were lifted from earlier Babylonian accounts. The Babylonians' cosmology was a disc-shaped earth. It makes anthropological and literary and mythological sense to go with continuity.

Well I certainly have no problem you choosing to accept that opinion.
I also appreciate the other guys having the right to their opinion.
There are various ideas floating around. Some assume that the "experts" must be right.
This is not how many people choose to see life. The "expert" is not always right, as historical facts have repeatedly shown.

"Beat" and "stamp" aren't "alternatives.

They are alternatives to spread out... certainly.
Alternative
noun

1. one of two or more available possibilities.

adjective

1. (of one or more things) available as another possibility.

 

[Skwim]

Isn't faith reserved for God and Christ? Having faith in a book is elevating it to an idol. Something that Christians are admonished to avoid.

Not sure about the idol part, but for most Christians the Bible is the sole source of everything they can say about god, Jesus and their objectives, so to give these notions any authority they have to have faith that what they read is true. They need to believe the Bible is correct in what it says, and lacking any supporting evidence they necessarily fall back on faith.

.

 

[nPeace]

I guess I have trouble in clearly stating my case.

I certainly haven't noticed that.

What is it about the following statements makes you think I would suggest that God asked Satan to kill people?

"Hebrews says the one with the power of death is the devil. God is certainly not in the business of helping the devil exercise his power."

"Death is an enemy (1 Cor 15;26). God on the other hand is love. It was nor ever will be his desire that anybody should die."

"Death is in no way God's cup of tea."

"Could it be my free will decisions throughout life be a factor in my death? I'm thinking it does."​

What is it I said that would lead you to believe I think the scriptures are a myth?

Perhaps I am the one with the communication problem.
Where exactly did I say I think you suggested that God asked Satan to kill people?
Where exactly did I say I believe you think the scriptures are a myth?
Thank you for answering the question though.

Sometime I think that forum denizens are so keyed up for argument that they see things that simply aren't there. Or maybe, as I said, I have trouble in clearly stating my position. If that is the case, please help me understand exactly what it was that I said that led you to your conclusions. I just want to be my best in declaring God's word to the world, so I'm open to constructive criticism.

Personally, I think it's the spirits on RF. They seem to make people edgy, and unable to see friendly posts for what they are, and yes, misinterpret them, and see things that are not really there. Don't worry about it too much. The only way to prevent that, is to leave RF, or, just read the post as it is, rather than imagine what's not there.

I know you mean well, and I am not your enemy.
True, there are some things about scripture we will disagree on, but these are things we expect.
What I think they can do for us, is make us think, question, and confirm, or refute our understanding / beliefs.

So are we good now?
So tell me, what conclusion did I reach, and where exactly in my post do you find it?

 

[rrobs]

Jesus came so that I would know the truth and be free. John 8:32

But, are you saying that the Lord God is not a jealous God? Does God not change only for the Jews? Does that make sense? I am sure that it doesn't.

God is always and forever Jealous. I know this because I realize that God alone knows righteousness.

Well, since the scriptures declare God to be a Jealous God, I would have to say He is a jealous God. What did I say that made you think otherwise?

 

[rrobs]

Oh no! >ignore< coming your way.......I bet.

What?

 

[nPeace]

Not sure about the idol part, but for most Christians the Bible is the sole source of everything they can say about god, Jesus and their objectives, so to give these notions any authority they have to have faith that what they read is true. They need to believe the Bible is correct in what it says, and lacking any supporting evidence they necessarily fall back on faith.

.

I don't understand why you guys keep saying no evidence.
Right now I am so hungry. Surely I have evidence of that... but do you?
I'm afraid the evidence you are looking for may well be eluding you... and there is a reason, I'm sure, but that reason is not, that the evidence is not there.