For now we see in a mirror dimly
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Ah.. have you thought about the fact that Paul was talking about something in the past when referring to seeing in a mirror dimly.. but then face to face?
Paul was talking to people 2000 yrs ago.. to the church at Corinth about becoming mature in love for one another and in their christian walk.. some of 1 Corinthians applies to today.. but there are key contextual things happening in 1 Corinthians that were meant for then and not now.
Think that everything in the bible applies to now?
What about sacrificing bulls? Does that apply today?
What about the flood? Think God will do that again in the same way to Noah?
So.. think about whether Paul was talking about something that may have happened already.
Paul was talking to people 2000 yrs ago.. to the church at Corinth about becoming mature in love for one another and in their christian walk.. some of 1 Corinthians applies to today.. but there are key contextual things happening in 1 Corinthians that were meant for then and not now.
Think that everything in the bible applies to now?
What about sacrificing bulls? Does that apply today?
What about the flood? Think God will do that again in the same way to Noah?
So.. think about whether Paul was talking about something that may have happened already.
I like what wattie shared, I am always amazed at how scripture applies in past, presant and eternity.
I have longed to understand this scripture because I wanted all my life to see God Our Father. I know we all must wait untill the alloted time in Jesus.
But this scripture for me is a window.
There have been many times in each persons life where Gods presance is with us, each time this has happened to me, it was so great that I felt I could not contain it. I have wondered is this scripture speaks to the fact that while we are in our worldly bodies we just cannot hold Gods presance, simply because God is infinite,we can only veiw through a window a glimce.
Once we are no longer in the world, when we are with God Our Father is when we will see all, because its not just looking at God, it is being in Him.
In Jesus, God bless.
pickles
I have longed to understand this scripture because I wanted all my life to see God Our Father. I know we all must wait untill the alloted time in Jesus.
But this scripture for me is a window.
There have been many times in each persons life where Gods presance is with us, each time this has happened to me, it was so great that I felt I could not contain it. I have wondered is this scripture speaks to the fact that while we are in our worldly bodies we just cannot hold Gods presance, simply because God is infinite,we can only veiw through a window a glimce.
Once we are no longer in the world, when we are with God Our Father is when we will see all, because its not just looking at God, it is being in Him.
In Jesus, God bless.
pickles
C
Divide the word correctly at the cross and we see a little bit clearer, cant mix old testament with new, old testament is a typology of the new. Same yesterday today forever, man still has the same issues before God til this day except we have cars and they rode donkeys. Jesus fulfilled the law, no more bullocks to the priests to slaughter, two turtledoves etc etc - old wine
Paul said if any man brings another doctrine other than the one he preached let them be accursed = cursed x 2
Paul said if any man brings another doctrine other than the one he preached let them be accursed = cursed x 2
This word from Paul is more than a future hope, or a vision of the past. For he goes on and says that as we gaze into this mirror, seeing darkly, (not completely clearly,) that we are changed into His image from glory to glory. As we draw near to God, through Jesus Christ, (which is His purpose, and He lives to intercede for those who are drawing near,) we begin to see Him in our hearts, and His nature begins to become our nature, we begin to be changed into His image, from His glory to our glory. This is just as Jesus prayed to His Father, that the same glory that His Father had given Him be our glory. In fact, this is the only place where one matures in God, comes to know the Father, and becomes perfected in love.
M
I've learned that the Nephilim/Giants that roamed the earth, the offspring of the sons of God and Daughters of Men are STILL with us today. The angls/sons of God are the Watchers. Some of the lust and sin and come into human women. Others do not. Those that do not can return to the throne room of God. Those that sin are forever bound to the earth and cannot return and live out a physical existance on the earth, with hell as their final destination. That's only ONE of the things I've learned.
Maggie
Maggie
Well you see for people who believe the sign gifts have ceased.. and those who believe ministry gifts ceased with them also.. what Paul is talking about is the fact that at the time he was looking at a partial piece of the whole New Testament.. and when the New Testament is complete, he would then see 'face to face' ie.. have a complete mirror in the bible.. rather than seeing partially.. seeing fully.
So this is what I mean by something that has already happened.
Try and put Jesus' second coming in 1 Corinthians 13 and see how it fits in there... in my studies it like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.. or the other way around
So this is what I mean by something that has already happened.
Try and put Jesus' second coming in 1 Corinthians 13 and see how it fits in there... in my studies it like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.. or the other way around
C
Well you see for people who believe the sign gifts have ceased.. and those who believe ministry gifts ceased with them also.. what Paul is talking about is the fact that at the time he was looking at a partial piece of the whole New Testament.. and when the New Testament is complete, he would then see 'face to face' ie.. have a complete mirror in the bible.. rather than seeing partially.. seeing fully.
So this is what I mean by something that has already happened.
Try and put Jesus' second coming in 1 Corinthians 13 and see how it fits in there... in my studies it like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.. or the other way around
So this is what I mean by something that has already happened.
Try and put Jesus' second coming in 1 Corinthians 13 and see how it fits in there... in my studies it like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.. or the other way around
C
the best thing i find with Gods Word overall is that in one chapter God can speak to us personally about our personal individual walk with Him, even one scripture, God will reveal something that touches our heart personally, written personally for each one of us, spending time with Him in truth and spirit, a humble contrite heart
M
I’ve got another question for you, Maggie. You say the angels are the Watchers. What purpose is served if all they do is watch? Doesn’t it make more sense that they interact with us?
What makes you think that the don't??
They did 'back in the day' and they still do. Why do you think the Lord told us "Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" ?
Maggie
What makes you think that the don't??
They did 'back in the day' and they still do. Why do you think the Lord told us "Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" ?
Maggie
A
Those under the new covenant behold God’s glory even more plainly than Moses could (Ex 33:20); thus, like Moses, they are transformed to reflect God’s glory by the Spirit. On the “mirror.”
The mirrors of antiquity were flat disks cast from bronze (Job 37:18; Ex 38:8) and then polished to be as reflective as possible. In 1 Corinthians 13:12 Paul contrasts the earthly and heavenly knowledge of God: “Now we see but a poor reflection [Gk ainigma ”riddle,“ ”intimation“] as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (NIV).
Since mirrors of Paul’s day did not yield the bright, clear images that silvered glass does, many have plausibly interpreted the words to refer to the inferior quality of the image. Alternatively, this enigmatic metaphor expresses not the inferior qualities of a mirror but rather that what appears in the mirror is only an indirect reflection of the viewed object, which is perplexing and requires interpretation.
Paul asserts that the Christian can only see and understand God through secondary means. In the heavenly state intermediary means, such as human expressions of love (1 Cor 13) or Scripture itself (Jas 1:25), will not be necessary, for we shall see God “face to face.” Paul further enhances the mirror metaphor by comparing partial and full knowledge. God already fully knows the Christian, but Christians do not know God in full. One day all believers accepted into the heavenly kingdom will have their knowledge completed. Until that day, mirror reflections of reality are an imperfect means of understanding the riddle (Gk. ainigma) of life.
Although the word mirror does not appear in 2 Corinthians 3:18, by using the Greek verb katoptrizō, “to look at something as in a mirror,” Paul takes the mirror metaphor one step further into the Christian spiritual life. Here the veiling of Moses’ glory after receiving the law (Ex 34:33) is contrasted to the unveiling of the Christian’s heart and mind to reflect the liberating work of Jesus Christ. With an unveiled mind the Christian is able to be more like Christ and so reflect the glory of God to others. In effect, Christians have the freedom and the privilege to be mirror metaphors for the virtues of Jesus Christ. We are not only imitators of those who imitate Christ (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess 1:6; Heb 6:12), but direct reflectors of Christ. Those who peer into us must see Jesus.
Finally, in James 1:23–25 the writer compares the oblivious hearer of God’s message to one who glances at a mirror and then instantly forgets the personal image, neglecting to tidy up or to improve oneself. The law, like a mirror, shows us our true selves. But what benefit is that if we fail to act on what we learn? In context, the Word of God is also part of the mirror metaphor. “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,” (Jas 1:25 NIV) presents the Scriptures as an efficacious mirror for blessing-if, that is, the Christian does not forget what he has read or seen or heard.
The mirrors of antiquity were flat disks cast from bronze (Job 37:18; Ex 38:8) and then polished to be as reflective as possible. In 1 Corinthians 13:12 Paul contrasts the earthly and heavenly knowledge of God: “Now we see but a poor reflection [Gk ainigma ”riddle,“ ”intimation“] as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (NIV).
Since mirrors of Paul’s day did not yield the bright, clear images that silvered glass does, many have plausibly interpreted the words to refer to the inferior quality of the image. Alternatively, this enigmatic metaphor expresses not the inferior qualities of a mirror but rather that what appears in the mirror is only an indirect reflection of the viewed object, which is perplexing and requires interpretation.
Paul asserts that the Christian can only see and understand God through secondary means. In the heavenly state intermediary means, such as human expressions of love (1 Cor 13) or Scripture itself (Jas 1:25), will not be necessary, for we shall see God “face to face.” Paul further enhances the mirror metaphor by comparing partial and full knowledge. God already fully knows the Christian, but Christians do not know God in full. One day all believers accepted into the heavenly kingdom will have their knowledge completed. Until that day, mirror reflections of reality are an imperfect means of understanding the riddle (Gk. ainigma) of life.
Although the word mirror does not appear in 2 Corinthians 3:18, by using the Greek verb katoptrizō, “to look at something as in a mirror,” Paul takes the mirror metaphor one step further into the Christian spiritual life. Here the veiling of Moses’ glory after receiving the law (Ex 34:33) is contrasted to the unveiling of the Christian’s heart and mind to reflect the liberating work of Jesus Christ. With an unveiled mind the Christian is able to be more like Christ and so reflect the glory of God to others. In effect, Christians have the freedom and the privilege to be mirror metaphors for the virtues of Jesus Christ. We are not only imitators of those who imitate Christ (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess 1:6; Heb 6:12), but direct reflectors of Christ. Those who peer into us must see Jesus.
Finally, in James 1:23–25 the writer compares the oblivious hearer of God’s message to one who glances at a mirror and then instantly forgets the personal image, neglecting to tidy up or to improve oneself. The law, like a mirror, shows us our true selves. But what benefit is that if we fail to act on what we learn? In context, the Word of God is also part of the mirror metaphor. “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,” (Jas 1:25 NIV) presents the Scriptures as an efficacious mirror for blessing-if, that is, the Christian does not forget what he has read or seen or heard.