Might as well post this here too.....
Lets take them one at a time.....keeping in mind that these quotes are taken out of context....and many of these verses are not the whole quote.
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons. This testimony is true. Titus 1:12-13
Paul found it appropriate to quote the words that apparently originated with Epimenides, a Cretan poet (prophet or spokesman) in the sixth century B.C.E. But Paul was agreeing with that description as applied to a particular segment of the Cretan population. These were the ‘profitless talkers and deceivers of the mind’ who were in contact with faithful Christians and were trying to ‘subvert entire households.’ Such subversive deceivers truly fit the description “liars, injurious wild beasts,” which was equally true of people like that elsewhere. (
2 Timothy 3:6; 13) Paul was not making that statement about all Cretans but agreeing with a Cretan poet Epimenides made 600 years earlier about his own people.
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Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. Romans 13:3
The apostles taught the Church to obey the laws of the land, and to respect those in authority because of their office, . . . to pay their appointed taxes, and except where they conflict with God’s laws (
Acts of the Apostles 4:19; 5:29) to offer no resistance to any established law. (
Romans 13:1-7;
Matthew 22:21)
Those who cause no friction with the law are a welcome relief for those in authority. Those who are law abiding have nothing to fear from the authorities and are often praised as model citizens.
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Women will be saved through childbearing 1 Timothy 2:15
Under inspiration Paul was discussing the proper attitudes and activities for women in a first century setting. One worthwhile and protective function for Christian wives was caring for their children. He said, if you quote the whole verse...."She will be kept safe through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and sanctification along with soundness of mind.”
Paul was discussing the proper frame of mind and duties for women. In the congregation their attitude should be one of submissiveness, recognizing that they are not to try to exercise authority over adult males. Exemplifying the difficulties that can result when a woman does not recognize her position, the apostle cites Eve’s case. She ran ahead of Adam, was deceived and came to be in transgression. (
1 Timothy 2:11-14)
Later in this same letter Paul cautioned Christian women about their activities. Some of the younger widows were “unoccupied, gadding about to the houses; yes, not only unoccupied, but also gossipers and meddlers in other people’s affairs, talking of things they ought not.” These activities could lead to all sorts of trouble, including getting involved in giving advice and making decisions on matters that were properly the responsibilities of husbands or appointed servants in the congregation. God did not create women to compete with men but to be in a supportive role. A Christian woman has no issues with this.
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From now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none 1 Corinthians 7:29
Again, in context this is speaking about the times. It is reminding those who take active roles in the congregation to put God's service first.
So how should we view Paul’s statement? With the remaining time clearly reduced and the end near, God’s people need to live in accord with the Bible’s counsel. So Paul’s words at
1 Corinthians 7:29 say....."
Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. From now on, let those who have wives be as though they had none".
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But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 7:40
In context, Paul is speaking about singleness and how it is of benefit to those who want to serve God undistracted by concerns over a mate. For one who is widowed he had this recommendation.....
"A wife is bound as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband should fall asleep in death, she is free to be married to whomever she wants, only in the Lord.
40 But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is; and I certainly think I also have God’s spirit."
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I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.
As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. But he was taken up into paradise, where he heard things too wonderful to tell. I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am. 2 Corinthians 12:1-5
Writing to the Corinthian congregation, Paul stressed that God was using him as an apostle. He then mentioned “visions and revelations of the Lord.” Paul did not in that context mention other brothers. Thus, we believe that he was referring to himself as being the man who had received visions and revelations.
So Paul was the one who was “caught away to the third heaven” and “caught away into paradise.” (
2 Cor. 12:2-4) He used the term “revelations,” which suggests a revealing of what will exist in the future.
Paul saw
“the third heaven.” What was the point? The Bible occasionally repeats something three times for emphasis, to show intensity, or to imply added strength. It appears that in speaking of
“the third heaven,” Paul was stressing a superlative, an exalted, form of rulership—the Messianic Kingdom by Christ. Since the "Paradise" is something yet future, we see that as a return to the original paradise conditions on earth. The Kingdom of God is a heavenly government with earthly subjects.
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I do not permit a woman to teach. 1 Timothy 2:9
"Let a woman learn in silence with full submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but she is to remain silent."
Women in the first century had a full understanding of God's headship arrangement. Right from the creation of Eve, women were to be a supportive complement to their husbands. Men were the appointed teachers and family heads. A woman was not permitted to teach in the congregation in Judaism either. It was not their place.
So any woman who stood up to question something in the middle of a Christian meeting would have been an unnecessary distraction to everyone else. She was to remain silent at that time and any questions were to be addressed to her spiritual shepherds or her husband at a later time.
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We also gave you this rule: If you don't work, you don't eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Paul as an apostle, could have lived off the hospitality of the brotherhood as he worked hard for their spiritual prosperity, but Paul did not take advantage of that provision and worked as a tentmaker to earn his own keep.
Verses 7-12 tell the story.....
"For you yourselves know how you should imitate us, because we did not behave in a disorderly way among you,
8 nor did we eat anyone’s food free. On the contrary, by labor and toil we were working night and day so as not to impose an expensive burden on any one of you.
9 Not that we do not have authority, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
10 In fact, when we were with you, we used to give you this order: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.”
11 For we hear that some are walking disorderly among you, not working at all, but meddling with what does not concern them.
12 To such people we give the order and exhortation in the Lord Jesus Christ that they should work quietly and eat food they themselves earn."
Lazy people should expect others to feed them. Neither Judaism nor Christianity promoted a 'hand-out mentality. Both taught self-sufficiency. Both valued the dignity of hard work.
I don't see anything Paul wrote as being bizarre in any way for the times in which he wrote them.