Which Way Is Up?

I believe most people would agree that the Bible itself is inspired and infallible. But all of us have come across verses that under a cursory reading seem to contradict beliefs we hold as truth. So I'm wondering what process do you employ to reconcile these apparent differences?

It's like someone said that I have a solution to the world energy crisis, but nobody believed it People always look at things with their own superficial understanding, such as the Bible As Jesus said, just believe me and Bible.

I do like an old book I once read says: Don't Sweat The Petty Stuff.

What I do is, first read the whole passage again to gain context. Then i read other passages on the same subject to see what they say. Then I look for othe subjects spoken of in the passage and see what is written about that. Then I look for what the theologians of old wrote on the matter, Then if necessary I change my thoughts on it. This has happened many times in my life. I have changed not only churches but denominations.

I noticed that if you read the verses before and the verses after the one that SEEMED to contradict your previous view it will 99% clear up the confusion.

For the 1% that it doesn't, the best option is to think about this verse for a while and see if it can be presented in a way that is different from the original way it was presented to you that seemed to contradict other scripture.

In other words, is the presenter's understanding of the verse REALLY the correct understanding of the verse? Or, is your first reading of the verse REALLY the way the verse was intended?

I find reading the passage in multiple Bible versions can sometimes help. You might also try reviewing it in a Hebrew interlinear version and study the key words in the passage. Internet searches sometimes help if the confusion is a word meaning. There are also times that you just have to accept the fact we do not have a clear accepted understanding (at this time) and move prayerfully on. Those things are in Gods time.

Thanks for replying. But what I'm really interested in is how you come to a determination about what you believe. Any thoughts?

Thanks for sharing and I agree that things not essential to salvation and faith aren't worth dividing Christians, what I'm looking for is how you go about reconciling in your mind which text needs to be subordinate to the other when they appear to contradict one another.

Thanks for sharing. Do you have any examples?

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Do you have any examples from personal experience?

I appreciate what you shared. Do you have any examples of something you still don't fully understand?

I don't. I wait for the Holy Spirit to teach me. He can do that quite easily without my mind getting involved.

Fair enough. Thanks again

Tithing is probably the the first one and the another is about how Jesus gave us the ability to forgive sins. When he breath the Holy Spirit onto his disciple he said receive the Holy Spirit and then followed that up with the forgiving of sin statement.

Appreciate you sharing.

This one qualifies for me. It seems straightforward, but it also seems most do not think it so. ???

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (1 Pet. 3:18–20)

What do you think it means? And thanks for replying

Well, you can start with the books of Revelation and Daniel, but I don't think that is what you are asking. The one that jumps instantly to mind is Genesis 6: 3-4. I don't believe anyone understands those passages beyond speculation. The same is true of Exodus 23:19 (although there are lots of opinions). I find that I can read a passage several times and get a different understanding each time. Therein is the mystery,

Thanks. I'll check out those verses.

Truth never needed a believer to be Truth, and yet all are without excuse not to become a believer. I've been pondering on how to give an answer to this question for 4 hours now, I guess I won't be the 7th one to reply in the lineup anymore either.

"The process", is His not ours, just as it is His word not ours and, in that process, we are to enter something that is freely given to all, yet hardly found by any. I can only hope I will die unashamed just as all of His own have.

Thank you, brother, your threads are fun for me, looked at it early this morning at 7 am it's 12 noon now and I am opting to reply, and I rejoice I at least had something to say whether it makes sense or not is not for me to answer.