Bible Curiosities

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#1
Sep 4, 2013
30,277
6,585
113
#1
on another thread, Tintin mentioned that he found it curious that the four Gospels were written in the third person style. And that got me to wondering if there were any other curiosities people might find about the Bible. Not theological ideologies, rather curiosities.

Such as: How did the Bible come to be divided into Chapter and verse?

Every wonder about that?

Here is one explanation:

How did the Bible get its chapters and verses?

(excerpt from Article)

TIP:
In understanding how chapters and verses came to the Bible, it is important to realize that they were completely arbitrary. They were not applied with any logical or consistent method, do not represent literary units, and do not define the author’s unit of thought. The Bible was not intended to be read in bits and pieces! Chapters and verses are simply a reference point and should not be used to influence the interpretive approach of the Bible student!

There are others as well, but some might find this curiously interesting.......... :)

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR THING YOU FIND CURIOUS?
 
J

John_S

Guest
#2
#2
This doesn't properly answer your question - but I don't understand why so many Christians think that they are "holier" if they read the Bible in 16th Century English. It's idiotic. NO ONE else uses the ancient use of their language - French, German, Spanish, etc.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#3
Sep 4, 2013
30,277
6,585
113
#3
John_S said:
This doesn't properly answer your question - but I don't understand why so many Christians think that they are "holier" if they read the Bible in 16th Century English. It's idiotic. NO ONE else uses the ancient use of their language - French, German, Spanish, etc.
Click to expand...
It is a curiosity I suppose.........well, other than the "idiotic" part :).

I know some who believe that a person has to read a certain translation/printing of the Bible to even be considered a Christian. But, this leans more towards theological ideology than curiosity, and I really, really don't want this to turn into another KJV Only thread.........sigh......

:)
 
J

John_S

Guest
#4
#4
Those people would be wrong.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#5
Jul 31, 2013
36,691
13,135
113
#5
John_S said:
This doesn't properly answer your question - but I don't understand why so many Christians think that they are "holier" if they read the Bible in 16th Century English. It's idiotic. NO ONE else uses the ancient use of their language - French, German, Spanish, etc.
Click to expand...
one thing about that though, is that having grown up with the KJV, i find Shakespeare much more palatable than most modern-day English speakers do.
 
Cobus

Cobus

Banned
#6
Feb 17, 2010
3,620
27
0
#6
KJV and out old translation talks the same, and our new translation is really confusing... so I guess I will stick to the KJV and the Old Afrikaans. Now my children is also familier with the old Bibles so they will stick to them...

I test a Bible with 2 Peter 1:21... has to say HOLY MEN OF GOD...

If you leave Holy out, that is very curious how normal men can have prophecies... I thought prophets are appointed by God. Does God give a holy man of God any thing special that normal men do not have? What is the difference btween a holy man of God and a man?

For me the most curious of the Bible is... Why did some prophets had to go through some weird things... Like Ezekiel that had to lie on his one side for a long time, then on the other for a long time, 390 days... wow one day for every year of Israel's sin... Then ont the other side ... And he did it...
 
L

LT

Guest
#7
#7
p_rehbein said:
Such as: How did the Bible come to be divided into Chapter and verse?

Every wonder about that?

Here is one explanation:

How did the Bible get its chapters and verses?

(excerpt from Article)

TIP:
In understanding how chapters and verses came to the Bible, it is important to realize that they were completely arbitrary. They were not applied with any logical or consistent method, do not represent literary units, and do not define the author’s unit of thought. The Bible was not intended to be read in bits and pieces! Chapters and verses are simply a reference point and should not be used to influence the interpretive approach of the Bible student!

There are others as well, but some might find this curiously interesting.......... :)

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR THING YOU FIND CURIOUS?
Click to expand...
Very good question. I'll research it during this week. I do find it hard to believe that the divisions are purely arbitrary.

Here's my question: Why did God give the Church revelation about the Great Tribulation if we will be raptured beforehand? Wouldn't the two Witnesses be able to give the people of that day the revelation 1st-hand?
 
S

savedandhopeful

Guest
#8
#8
Okay..I have a question about something that came up inmy bible study last night..I apologize if this is a dumb question... but the thread is bible curiosities, right?

Revelation 2:17
Whoever has ears,let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who recieves it.

My question has to do with the last statement, concerning the new names and who they will be known to--- does this mean those members of our families who have gone before us will no longer know us ,or be known by us? I know how simple minded this sounds...but I'm just curious..
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#9
Jul 31, 2013
36,691
13,135
113
#9
savedandhopeful said:
Revelation 2:17
Whoever has ears,let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who recieves it.

My question has to do with the last statement, concerning the new names and who they will be known to--- does this mean those members of our families who have gone before us will no longer know us ,or be known by us? I know how simple minded this sounds...but I'm just curious..
Click to expand...
there are many interpretations of this verse floating around and i don't think anyone really knows the extent of what it means; one of the best interpretations i've heard is that, in Rome, the winners of athletic games were given a white stone with their name inscribed on it, that served as a 'pass' to get into special awards banquets and celebrations held after the games. This jives with the "one who is victorious" statement.

some interpret this as being a name of Christ written on the stone, i.e. to each of us will be given a special aspect of the full knowledge of Him; we will know Him in a way that no one else does. this jives with the "hidden manna" mentioned, as Christ Himself is our manna, the Bread of Life.

the High Priest of the ancient Hebrews wore a special ephod with 12 stones on it, each having the name of a one of the 12 tribes of Israel engraved (Exodus 28:21). this symbolized him carrying all Israel in the presence of God when he entered the holy of holies. some people have talked about linking the white stones with this, but i think they serve different purposes, and in any case the names of the tribes aren't a secret thing.

the Greek word translated 'white' here also means "bright" or "luminous" or "brilliant" -- it's not just a 'color' word but one that describes a quality of light.

whatever this is, i don't think it means something along the lines of a witness-protection-program sort of re-naming, but more of a special, personal knowledge & fellowship with the Lord for each of us.


 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#10
Sep 4, 2013
30,277
6,585
113
#10
LT said:
Very good question. I'll research it during this week. I do find it hard to believe that the divisions are purely arbitrary.

Here's my question: Why did God give the Church revelation about the Great Tribulation if we will be raptured beforehand? Wouldn't the two Witnesses be able to give the people of that day the revelation 1st-hand?
Click to expand...
I'm faced with a dilemma sigh, KJV Only Thread, or End Times thread?

Goodness, neither of which are "curiosities" are they? :)
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#11
Sep 4, 2013
30,277
6,585
113
#11
savedandhopeful said:
Okay..I have a question about something that came up inmy bible study last night..I apologize if this is a dumb question... but the thread is bible curiosities, right?

Revelation 2:17
Whoever has ears,let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who recieves it.

My question has to do with the last statement, concerning the new names and who they will be known to--- does this mean those members of our families who have gone before us will no longer know us ,or be known by us? I know how simple minded this sounds...but I'm just curious..
Click to expand...
THAT certainly qualifies as a "curiosity." :)
 
R

RowdyRoddy

Banned
#12
Oct 14, 2013
57
0
0
#12
Wasn't it voted on at the Council of Carthage or Council of Nicaea? They canonized the Bible with
a vote, right? It was around Constantine's time.
 
JesusChica1991

JesusChica1991

Banned
#13
May 9, 2012
1,514
25
0
#13
RowdyRoddy said:
Wasn't it voted on at the Council of Carthage or Council of Nicaea? They canonized the Bible with
a vote, right? It was around Constantine's time.
Click to expand...
I'm discussing this in my church history class here at school. You are correct that it was the Council of Nicea who officially canonized the Bible. And it WAS indeed around Constantine's time. I'm not sure it was with a vote though as we would think of it. The canonization process was methodical to see what scriptures were to be considered inspired by God vs those that are just good resources to use. :) Hope this helps.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#14
Nov 24, 2012
30,708
3,650
113
#14
One curiosity that comes to mind is concerning the book of Job. There seems to be no certainty as to when it took place and who wrote it but somehow it was received as Scripture by the Jews and the Church.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#15
Sep 4, 2013
30,277
6,585
113
#15
crossnote said:
One curiosity that comes to mind is concerning the book of Job. There seems to be no certainty as to when it took place and who wrote it but somehow it was received as Scripture by the Jews and the Church.
Click to expand...
The research I've done suggests that Job is the oldest of the writings in the Bible. Job was before there was an Israel, or Jews, or even the great flood of Noah's time..........

You are correct, Job is a curiosity! And possibly my favorite Book of the Bible. I have never faced a situation in life that I could not turn to the Book of Job to find guidance for.
 
I

IntoTheVoid

Banned
#17
Sep 14, 2013
915
5
0
#17
Another curiously in my eyes is how in the bible god is has killed approximately a listed 2.5 million people and Satan has killed 10.

And that's not including the flood!
 
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#18
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
765
113
39
Australia
#18
Void, I find it interesting you honoured satan by starting his name with a capital but not God. Does God bother you that much? ;)
 
Last edited:
I

IntoTheVoid

Banned
#19
Sep 14, 2013
915
5
0
#19
Hang on now. Let me type god and let me type Satan.

Looks like my phone is favouring Satan because it's autocorrecting to that!

I knew Steve Jobs was suspicious lol

And for the record I don't believe in either party. So I'm not at all bothered by either side.
 
Last edited:
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#20
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
765
113
39
Australia
#20
haha Apple is of satan, Christians you know what you must do! Burn your $700 iPad or burn with it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.