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Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
We must look for the gospel message hid from the lost in parables
Without parables comparing, that seen the, temporal to the unseen, eternal in order to have the spiritual meaning of the gospel hid from the lost., Christ did not speak We must compare the unseen spiritual to the same unseen spiritual. Or faith to faith,: as it is written for in interpreting the unseen, Not mixing faith in what we do hear or read, the mystery of the kingdom of God will remain hidden:
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
We must look for the gospel message hid from the lost in parables
Without parables comparing, that seen the, temporal to the unseen, eternal in order to have the spiritual meaning of the gospel hid from the lost., Christ did not speak We must compare the unseen spiritual to the same unseen spiritual. Or faith to faith,: as it is written for in interpreting the unseen, Not mixing faith in what we do hear or read, the mystery of the kingdom of God will remain hidden:
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
This is a very important topic, and something I have been meaning to start a thread on. But too busy these days, what with gardening season in full swing, and this black Greek final cloud hanging over my head! (Just joking, studying is very productive, and I am learning lots and consolidating a lot about Greek, and anxious to move forward!)
Suffice it to say, there are some true things on this thread, and some very wrong things. JMHO, of course! Take Revleation, for example. It is apocalyptic literature. It simply does not abide by the same rules as narratives or poetry or a systematic theology like Romans.
We translated Rev. 5, and found out basically anything goes. The basic rules of Greek, like the gender and number of an adjective agreeing with the noun or pronoun don't even apply at times. Was John, not a native Greek speaker, in such a hurry writing down his vision, that he didn't even get the Greek right? This is why people that come up with these rigid ideas about Revelation are just clueless. Because it is a "revelation" but not necessarily to us, to our time. It could be to John's time, to comfort them. There could be a few words written to the far distant future. Who knows? Some is theology, woven into the lines and words!
Too bad so many people in the 20th century wrecked Revelation by their ridiculous outlines of how everything would be fulfilled by 1987. Or was it 88 or 89 or....?
But getting back to studying the Bible, there are rules by which we need to interpret the bible. If people are serious, I would urge them to get "How to Study the Bible for All Its Worth" by Gordon Fee.
And context, context, context! That means, the Bible was written to those people. So what is Deuteronomy saying to the Jews, before they cross into the Promised Land? This must come before any attempt to apply the book to today. Then, what kind of literature is it? The geneologies will have a different way of being interpreted than a proverb, or a prophecy. Speaking of prophecy, get your definitions correct, before you prove that Jesus is returning after the 4 Blood Moons. Hagee really blew that one.
Finally, when we have looked at the whole Bible, each book, and chapter, we can see the pattern of the Bible being the revelation of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. How do we fit into that picture, as a church and individuals? That is the last question we should ask. But God will answer it.
And the Holy Spirit will guide. But if He is guiding into some completely weird revelation, no one has ever seen before, either you are Martin Luther, or the wrong spirit is guiding you.
Finally, read the Bible! From Genesis to Revelation, all year, every day. You simply cannot get a sense of what God is saying and doing if you only read one line devotionals, or the books of someone else. And that means, yes, the geneologies count! Of course, if you speak Hebrew, they mean a lot more, but still, find the names of important people and where they are. And also, listen to the way God wants us to grow and follow him.
The Bible is the most exciting, most information, deepest, most important book ever written. No part of it is "boring." Slog through the hard parts, and one day, they will become interesting. I'm reading through Leviticus and into Numbers right now. I used to think those were boring books. Now, every word seems interesting. The fault, dear Brutus, was not the books, but me!
Read, read, read the bible! That is the way to begin to study!
Suffice it to say, there are some true things on this thread, and some very wrong things. JMHO, of course! Take Revleation, for example. It is apocalyptic literature. It simply does not abide by the same rules as narratives or poetry or a systematic theology like Romans.
We translated Rev. 5, and found out basically anything goes. The basic rules of Greek, like the gender and number of an adjective agreeing with the noun or pronoun don't even apply at times. Was John, not a native Greek speaker, in such a hurry writing down his vision, that he didn't even get the Greek right? This is why people that come up with these rigid ideas about Revelation are just clueless. Because it is a "revelation" but not necessarily to us, to our time. It could be to John's time, to comfort them. There could be a few words written to the far distant future. Who knows? Some is theology, woven into the lines and words!
Too bad so many people in the 20th century wrecked Revelation by their ridiculous outlines of how everything would be fulfilled by 1987. Or was it 88 or 89 or....?
But getting back to studying the Bible, there are rules by which we need to interpret the bible. If people are serious, I would urge them to get "How to Study the Bible for All Its Worth" by Gordon Fee.
And context, context, context! That means, the Bible was written to those people. So what is Deuteronomy saying to the Jews, before they cross into the Promised Land? This must come before any attempt to apply the book to today. Then, what kind of literature is it? The geneologies will have a different way of being interpreted than a proverb, or a prophecy. Speaking of prophecy, get your definitions correct, before you prove that Jesus is returning after the 4 Blood Moons. Hagee really blew that one.
Finally, when we have looked at the whole Bible, each book, and chapter, we can see the pattern of the Bible being the revelation of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. How do we fit into that picture, as a church and individuals? That is the last question we should ask. But God will answer it.
And the Holy Spirit will guide. But if He is guiding into some completely weird revelation, no one has ever seen before, either you are Martin Luther, or the wrong spirit is guiding you.
Finally, read the Bible! From Genesis to Revelation, all year, every day. You simply cannot get a sense of what God is saying and doing if you only read one line devotionals, or the books of someone else. And that means, yes, the geneologies count! Of course, if you speak Hebrew, they mean a lot more, but still, find the names of important people and where they are. And also, listen to the way God wants us to grow and follow him.
The Bible is the most exciting, most information, deepest, most important book ever written. No part of it is "boring." Slog through the hard parts, and one day, they will become interesting. I'm reading through Leviticus and into Numbers right now. I used to think those were boring books. Now, every word seems interesting. The fault, dear Brutus, was not the books, but me!
Read, read, read the bible! That is the way to begin to study!
B
I agree with a lot you mentioned, yet one thing I'm curious is about this you mentioned.
And the Holy Spirit will guide. But if He is guiding into some completely weird revelation, no one has ever seen before, either you are Martin Luther, or the wrong spirit is guiding you.
How does Noah fit into the picture when all the people thought what Noah was saying was completely off keel to them.
Back to the OP.
Reading the Bible cover to cover is not the same as studying it, but it is important to read it from cover to cover continuously.
Don't be afraid to pick up and read books and articles on the Bible, or ask questions of others. Ask why are others drawing a different conclusion, than I am?
Just look at the different conclusions reached here by those who claim that they are guided by the Holy spirit.
Reading the Bible cover to cover is not the same as studying it, but it is important to read it from cover to cover continuously.
Don't be afraid to pick up and read books and articles on the Bible, or ask questions of others. Ask why are others drawing a different conclusion, than I am?
Just look at the different conclusions reached here by those who claim that they are guided by the Holy spirit.
Start here.......
Genesis 1:1- Revelation 22:21
John 5:39-40
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Genesis 1:1- Revelation 22:21
John 5:39-40
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
My response, not to be factitious, would be - why are you worrying about how Noah knew it was God, when this happened so long ago, it is before the patriarchs? It happened! Noah knew! You are not Noah!
I think Noah had it confirmed he had heard from God, when it started to rain, and the fountains of the deep opened up. So would God call us to be Noah, and build an ark?
Well, God promised with the rainbow there would never be a world wide flood again. So if you try and apply what happened to Noah to your own life, you are going to be wrong. Now, if you live where I am, and my large lake is at an all time flood high, for the history of this lake, and getting higher, might be advisable to sand bag your property if you are near the lake or any of the affected creeks bringing down snow melt from the mountains.
We have to use wisdom. Not everything that happened in the past is going to happen to us. But, there are important lessons to be learned. What can we learn from Noah's example? Well, sometimes when we know God has told us something, we do need to do it, no matter how small, no matter what anyone says. And how can we live righteously, is another important lesson that comes out of Noah and the ark. God was displeased with the people, who were living evil lives. What pleased God about Noah and his family? What displeased God about the rest of the people? That is a whole area of study - how to live righteously before God. (Not talking "self" righteously, either!)
As for hearing the voice of God, maybe that is another thread?
I think Noah had it confirmed he had heard from God, when it started to rain, and the fountains of the deep opened up. So would God call us to be Noah, and build an ark?
Well, God promised with the rainbow there would never be a world wide flood again. So if you try and apply what happened to Noah to your own life, you are going to be wrong. Now, if you live where I am, and my large lake is at an all time flood high, for the history of this lake, and getting higher, might be advisable to sand bag your property if you are near the lake or any of the affected creeks bringing down snow melt from the mountains.
We have to use wisdom. Not everything that happened in the past is going to happen to us. But, there are important lessons to be learned. What can we learn from Noah's example? Well, sometimes when we know God has told us something, we do need to do it, no matter how small, no matter what anyone says. And how can we live righteously, is another important lesson that comes out of Noah and the ark. God was displeased with the people, who were living evil lives. What pleased God about Noah and his family? What displeased God about the rest of the people? That is a whole area of study - how to live righteously before God. (Not talking "self" righteously, either!)
As for hearing the voice of God, maybe that is another thread?
Hi Kainos. Good luck on your career in theology. Lately I’ve been keeping a five subject notebook handy when I’ve been reading. I’ve chosen the top five topics that are most important to me when titling each subject. When I pass a verse or passage that pertains to one of those five topics, I write it down under the appropriate subject for later reference. This allows me to have a more in depth study on certain topics at later times. It also allows me to weigh both sides of an issue easier.
Post 25 by Kainos, John not only praises the churches for the good they have done but points out their flaws and corrects them with love as a good leader would. John did not praise or correct anyone, Jesus did. Kainos is making a strong but subtle point that the book of Revelation came out of the mind of John, not the mind of God. He also says that if we read Revelation in order to know future events then we are reading it wrong, that contradicts the book of Revelation itself. This is a common practice, tell a lot of truth and then slip in heresy and then quickly tell some more truth.
For crying out loud folks, no one noticed that right off the bat Kainos was teaching false doctrine?? He said, the book of Revelation is often misunderstood as a book of events to understand the end times WHICH IS FALSE...no it is not false! The book of Revelation by it's own definition is a book about end time events, Kainos openly contradicted the word of God and no one seem to notice. Also he clearly advocated that Revelation was from the mind of John, not God. Where is the discernment?
