First, creeds have nothing really to do with the Bible. Well, they do attempt to lay out what the Bible says, and often do it well. But, we were saying the Apostles Creed in my Baptist Church last week, and I disagree strongly with the inference that Jesus descended to hell. He did not! But that is me! And the Bible!
Getting back to the Bible, you need to do some research on "Hermeneutics." That is the study of Bible interpretation. But look up hermeneutics, it will tell you about the science and art of how to interpret the Bible, and also, when we can disagree in love.
Using your example of Hosea being told to marry a prostitute, and does it apply to everyone, have you ever read Hosea? That might be your first place to start! God did this, because Hosea's life was to become a metaphor for Israel, and the way the people started whoring with foreign gods. Hosea obeyed God, had 3 children, each with significant names, which really were prophecies. (Children's names were Jezebel, No Mercy and Not My People!)
It has the story of redemption by God and betrayal by his wife, Gomer. The entire book is a warning, as all the prophetic books are, as to what will happen to Israel.
It is not a call for all men to marry prostitutes, or risk disobeying God. Read the book, it is not long! In a modern English version! This book is Hosea demonstrating the gospel, in OT times, and prophesying the future of Israel, who Hosea was called to address.
"Rejoice not, O Israel!
Exult not like the peoples;
for you have played the whore, forsaking your God.
You have loved a prostitute's wages
on all threshing floors.
2 Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them,
and the new wine shall fail them.
3 They shall not remain in the land of the Lord,
but Ephraim shall return to Egypt,
and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria." Hosea 9:1-3.
In these verses, Hosea predicts that Israel will be carried away, never to return to Israel. In fact, Israel was carried off by Assryia in 722 BC, and was never a country again. (Not Judah - they were carried off by Babylon in 586 BC, but they did come back, carrying the lineage of the Messiah, with Nehemiah and others!)
As far women being silent in church, that is more of a side issue. I can prove exegetically that it is ok for women to speak in church, but an extreme complimentarian can prove the opposite using the same verses! But, neither view really affects salvation, so although it is important, it is a red herring for this thread!
Hermeneutics is about context. When and where did it happen? Was it just for those people, or in the case of Hosea, only for Hosea, although we can learn a lot from that book, and how God sought after Israel to remain faithful? Is the message for some completely other country? Many times the prophets spoke of the downfall of various countries, for the evil they did. Or, in the case of Jonah, how God spared the Ninevites when they repented.
Hermeneutics can help you understand the rules and expectations of Scripture, and how to decide if a passage is universal (applies to everyone) or just to that person speaking, or that generation or country. Hermeneutics can show us the consistent character of God, through Genesis to Revelation. It can show us changing social mores, that do not affect our relationship with God, (example hair and clothing, but within the context of "modesty.") or how to apply universal principles, and how sin and repentance, never go out of fashion.
A good basic introductory book on the subject, which was recommended in pretty much all my seminary classes is
"How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth" by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. There are a few big words, but nothing that can't be helped by looking those words up, and then moving on.
It starts with what is Bible Interpretation and how to get the best Bible translation for you. Then it goes through the different genres and how interpreting them differs. In other words, we read a narrative, or story, differently than a book of poetry, or prophecy, or apocalypse! The book deals with the law, the gospels and the epistles, and shows you why and how they are different.
And also, that all the books of the Bible are important. Which is why we need to read ALL the books of the Bible, every year, at the very least. Don't get stuck in a favourite book, and never learn the wisdom contained in the books of the OT, for example. Well, unless God tells you to read on book over and over, like he did with me and the Psalms, when I was depressed, after 25 times or more reading the whole Bible. That is where our relationship with God comes in. We do need to know and cover the whole Bible. But sometimes, God puts us somewhere for a season, and we better be prepared to obey!
Here are some links to reputable sites, which will help you understand hermeneutics a bit, so you won't have to ask questions like this anymore!
7 Principles of Biblical Interpretation - LifeWay Pastors
https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-6-principles-biblical-interpretation
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/li...exegesis/essentials-hermeneutics/mark-strauss
