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Dragons in the Bible-"Bel and the Dragon"

Watcher

The Gunslinger
My mom brought this New Revised Standerd Version bible home one day from her Luthern Church. In it is a part titled "Bel and the Dragon," it is under the heading "Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books." It also says it is an addition to the Book of Daniel (Ch. 14 of the Greek Version). Here is a piece of it. It can also be found here- http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/BEL/BEL1.HTM
23 Now in that placec there was a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered. 24The king said to Daniel, "You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him." 25Daniel said, "I worship the Lord my God, for he is the living God. 26But give me permission, O king, and I will kill the dragon without sword or club." The king said, "I give you permission."
27 Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst open. Then Daniel said, "See what you have been worshiping!"
28 When the Babylonians heard about it, they were very indignant and conspired against the king, saying, "The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed Bel, and killed the dragon, and slaughtered the priests." 29Going to the king, they said, "Hand Daniel over to us, or else we will kill you and your household." 30The king saw that they were pressing him hard, and under compulsion he handed Daniel over to them.
What does everyone think about this?​
 

SoulTYPE

Well-Known Member
Do not be confused with dragons of myth:

Red Dragons always look to increase their treasure hoards. They are obsessed with their wealth and memorize an inventory accurate to the last copper. They are exceptionally vain and self-confident, considering themselves superior not only to other dragons, but to all other life in general. Red Dragons are born immune to fire. Red Dragons can be found on great hills or on soaring mountains. From a high perch they haughtily survey their territory, which they considered to be everthing that can be seen from their position. They prefer to lair in large caves that extend deep into the earth. The Red Dragon in the Caverns of Rafael the Immortal is one of the ancient huge dragons. A Red Dragon's horn posesses special powers, and can be made into a powerful weapon. Being made into a sword called the "Dragon Slayer", it has an incredibly damaging effect on Dragons. A Red Dragons' breath weapon is a searing cone of fire.


 

Pah

Uber all member
Watcher said:
My mom brought this New Revised Standerd Version bible home one day from her Luthern Church. In it is a part titled "Bel and the Dragon," it is under the heading "Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books." It also says it is an addition to the Book of Daniel (Ch. 14 of the Greek Version). Here is a piece of it. It can also be found here- http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/BEL/BEL1.HTM
What does everyone think about this?​
My avatar, soon to return, is an evolutionary advancement on the biblical dragon - She is a carnivore.and not fooled by Daniel, God's agent.

Bob
 

SoulTYPE

Well-Known Member
A dragon in the bible had different meanings on dragons to what they are "allegedly"..like the serpent..
 

Feathers in Hair

World's Tallest Hobbit
pah said:
My avatar, soon to return, is an evolutionary advancement on the biblical dragon - She is a carnivore.and not fooled by Daniel, God's agent.
*sniffles* But I like your current avatar!
 

Pah

Uber all member
FeathersinHair said:
*sniffles* But I like your current avatar!
Hehehe Gals seem to like equines - Me? I'd rather ride a flying dragon. Perhaps Pegasus is available and we could soar together.

Bob
 

robtex

Veteran Member
Daniel only has 12 chapters in standard versions of the Bible. Interesting. Wonder if it was written as the same time as the original 12 sections or after the fact. Or if it was was why is it no longer in the NIV or KVJ?

Ironically my buddy Wes who was raised Luthern just called just now and I told him about your post and he is going to pass it off to his Luthern friends who actually read the Luthern Bible and hopefully I will have some feedback from them soon.
 

Pah

Uber all member
Watcher said:
Thank you Rob, and erm, everyone else. Got to say pah, love the unicorn!
You realize,of course, that , in some circles, my avatar is a religious icon.

Bob
 

croak

Trickster
Dragons???? Thought they were made up. ;)

pah, isn't that the unicorn of heraldry? It has a lion's tail, a goat's hooves..........I read in a book it was used in heraldry. A mythology book.
 

Pah

Uber all member
RearingArabian said:
Dragons???? Thought they were made up. ;)

pah, isn't that the unicorn of heraldry? It has a lion's tail, a goat's hooves..........I read in a book it was used in heraldry. A mythology book.
That is an icon of Her Holiness, the Invisible Pink Unicorn, blessed be her name.

Heraldry has many symbols - amongst them are the cross, a lamb, a fish, a minister's cap taken from Christianity. Hummm - maybe there is an element of myth in some of the symbols. The unicorn is more frequently rendered as a supporter to the arms then an element of the crest or shield.

Bob
 

anders

Well-Known Member
Back on topic, my Swedish "Bibel 2000" (non-confessional, translated by a Govt. commission) writes "Bel and the Snake God". It gives a footnote "The Greek word may also be translated as 'dragon'. ... But worshipping snakes was common in Egypt."
 

SoulTYPE

Well-Known Member
(From my other thread on the Satan info)

Revelation 12:3 speaks of the red horned dragon. This is not Satan himself, but a reference to him from where these physical attributes possibly originate.
 

Watcher

The Gunslinger
anders said:
Back on topic, my Swedish "Bibel 2000" (non-confessional, translated by a Govt. commission) writes "Bel and the Snake God". It gives a footnote "The Greek word may also be translated as 'dragon'. ... But worshipping snakes was common in Egypt."
All the different translations are so confusing. Everything is different in all of them. So...snakes...or dragons?
 

Watcher

The Gunslinger
SoulTYPE01 said:
There is your KEY word..
Well, when the passage basically says that a huge dragon will rise out of the sea (I think that was it, I don't want to go find a bible) with ten heads and ten crowns and will rule the earth, I doubt that it should be taken literally.
 

SoulTYPE

Well-Known Member
Watcher said:
Well, when the passage basically says that a huge dragon will rise out of the sea (I think that was it, I don't want to go find a bible) with ten heads and ten crowns and will rule the earth, I doubt that it should be taken literally.
Yes, but anything is possible in the bible. If men could rise from the dead, and exist of evil spirit and Jesus's miracles, a dragon is not so unbelievable then lol.
 

Watcher

The Gunslinger
A dragon ruling the Earth though is. Erg, this is partly why I am not a Christian, I need to go and meditate!
 
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