What is the Bible?

[Pathfinder7]

Mine too, but not out of that movement. Discovered that a little later through the music of Keith Green, Chuck Gerard, Second Chapter of Act, and who was the guy who sang "Day? of Destruction"?

'Eve of Destruction' ?
- By Barry Mcguire.
*That song was..before he became a Christian.
---
He is also considered as one of pioneers in 'Contemporary Christian Music.'

 

[bbyrd009]

ever read any Dao stories? The Tao of Pooh, The Te of Piglet, might be considered Western versions of these, but a point id like to make here is that we have all read one surely, and notice how no one ever disagrees with a Dao story? Can you post a Dao story that someone, even one person, disagrees with? They wrote in the Eastern or "Naive" dialectic, which was being abandoned right about the time Jesus showed up i guess, at the rise of Greek or "Logical" thought; the way we are all trained to reason.

And it's hard to notice until you start looking for it, but i suggest that rabbis embraced Naive thought and took it to another level, couching it in phrases that might also be read Logically, so that Logical thinkers will deliberately misunderstand, seeing you will not see, etc, while retaining the essence of Naive thought, buried in phrases like hidden manna, pearl of great price (prolly "i don't know" fwiw; as they did not know how pearls formed back then, and some other hints)

 

[bbyrd009]

"Eugenics is a movement that is aimed at improving the genetic composition of the human race. Historically, eugenicists advocated selective breeding to achieve these goals. Today we have technologies that make it possible to more directly alter the genetic composition of an individual."

Maybe Base was speaking to our new "DNA" in Christ?? Other than that, I have no idea. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ya, the term "eugenics" just has too many negative connotations for us, a "forced" thing, which im sure Base did not mean to be carried forward in his pov? But i do expect that those who have left the world would have less compromised dna too, so i agreed there

 

[Joseph77]

ya, the term "eugenics" just has too many negative connotations for us, a "forced" thing, which im sure Base did not mean to be carried forward in his pov? But i do expect that those who have left the world would have less compromised dna too, so i agreed there

For years, on websites, on threads, it looks like b did what he intends, first being deceived by known and proven errors, then promoting them.

 

[marks]

marks said: ↑
Personally, I hold to Divine Plenary Inspiration, and don't think this is much like the musing of the Greatful Dead.

You don't think God sings?

I don't see the connection.

Yes, I think God sings. Actually, I don't see where angels sing! I think singing is something that God shares with us.

He will joy over thee with singing!

But I think the image you evoke of a band of hippies with guitars falls far short of the singing of our Creator God faithfully recorded in Scripture.

I guess that's just me!

Much love!

 

[marks]

Take Revelation for example. Have you studied the chiasm form John wrote in? He didn't just scribble out a whole lot of words and phrases like a monologue secretarial letter from the boss. It has structure, beauty, design... It's poetic, not a dissertation on theology. I think the Bible structure and form and beauty is far closer to the writings of one like Bob Dylan rather than Augustine or Kant.

Chiasms, a beautiful poetic form, and we see it in Scripture.

Chiasms hide mystery in style
Readers seek their form to reveal
The words God has hidden in His rhymes
In the patterns of words we can see His design
And revelation comes to those who are seeking
Beauty shows forth beauty

But just the same, knowing when to recognize a chiasm, and how to discern it's intents, that can be pretty tricky, and subject to much interpretation in my experience.

Sometimes I've seen people claim a chiastic stucture to a passage, but the use that to overturn the meaning actually expressed in the words.

I would compare the Bible to any of those writers myself. Actually, I can't compare it to anyone. The fact is, the Word is alive, and speaks to us in so many ways. But we do need a good hermanuetic.

Much love!

 

[DPMartin]

What it is not... Is a dissertation on theology. It wasn't written by a group of PhDs sitting in a communal classroom writing a doctorate/thesis on doctrine and dogma.
The Bible is essentially a story...a narrative. Rather than written by scholars, it was more the result of a band of hippies with guitars. Does this offend you?
So what is it that we are to get from reading the Bible... Considering it's largely a book of songs, poems, and literary masterpieces such as Revelation? Theology? Yes, we can extract from the Bible different points of theology. But that isn't the main intent as far as I'm concerned anyway. I think what we are to receive from scripture is a picture of God, through the story or narrative of how He presents Himself to man. A story of redemption...a story of love...a story of infinite and merciful faithfulness. And once we behold that picture... Then we are changed into His image. But if you get the picture wrong, then the image being created is not... The picture your mind is focused on... Is one of your own making, and your future may never rise higher than your own limited imagination.
So what to you is the Bible, and it's purpose?

it doesn't matter what it is to you or me

its called a testament for a reason, because that's what it is, a testimony, a witness, of a relationship between a people and their God, no matter what you want to think it is.

those are the facts, not opinions.

 

[Renniks]

The writers of scripture were farmers and fisherman ( and Peter dived into the sea naked on one occasion to swim ashore to Jesus) ... That takes care of the shabbily dressed...
The writers of scripture were a tax collector, and a rebel homeless prince... That takes care of the unemployed...
Others were a murderer and an adulterer...
That takes care of the dope smoking bums...
Yet another was a captive slave in a foreign land (3or 4 of them), there was a destitute herdsman...a widowed mother...a soldier...a tent maker...
All of them ordinary people doing their best in life... Like you and me.
And I would suggest that numerous hippies formed the nucleus of the 1970s global revival which spawned musicians such as Chuck Gerard and Keith Green

And Paul was a well learned Pharisee, who writes deep theology. The Bible has many modes of literature, and they all must be read as they are written, poetry as poetry, theology as theology, songs as songs, and prophecy as prophecy.
Some is literal some is figurative, some have a little of both, but even the figurative passages have literal meanings.
Where we get confused is reading it all as if it were about us when it's primarily about God.

 

[marks]

but you would have to explain what you mean by plenary.

That every word and every letter is from God Himself.

 

[farouk]

That is very true. What general picture do you take away from John's writing regarding the character of God,? Was his writing focused on a different aspect of character than other writers?

Themes such as love, grace, the glory of the Son of God, light, the certainty of eternal life, are prominent.

 

[Pearl]

The bible is the Creator's handbook; the manual that tells us how to live our live in a way pleasing to God.

 

[quietthinker]

You wrote, "..of the 1970's global revival which.. "
- 'Jesus Movement'
- One of Revival / Awakening movements ..in the 20th century.
- Pioneering days of 'Contemporary Christian Music.'
---
My spiritual journey started in 1970's.

Blessings,

1972 it was for me....barely 20yrs old living on a commune....perhaps you know the story?
Words from a stranger God used to pierce through the wall.... I responded and my world changed.....rapidly at first; the beginning of this journey was not a PhD in understanding though I thought it was.
In all my faltering and wayward paths God has held my hand and nudged me.....sometimes the revelations were loud; often the struggles blind. In recent years the beauty of righteousness has unfolded....whose righteousness? nah nah nah, the principle of righteousness!
We talk about beauty yet nothing has been seen till we see the overwhelming beauty of righteousness....and my heart is drawn with sighs and cries and many tears. Jesus has become for me the Desire of Ages.

And might I add a little plug here....If you haven't read that book (DoA) you're doing yourself a disservice.

 

[quietthinker]

Brake's post hit a nerve, eh?
He was right.

Brakelite2: 1
maryxxx: 0

You might be surprised by who you're kissing there Joseph! :)

 

[quietthinker]

Hmmmm.....soooo brakelite completely fabricated and added to scripture that Peter was naked and shabbily dressed. Was completely wrong about men of the Bible being unemployed even after acknowledging they were employed as fishermen and tax collector. He equated dope smoking to murder/adultery and you think he hit a nerve with me??? What a bizarre conclusion on your part! I think if those men were standing in front of him now it would hit a nerve with them but I personally don’t like to see lies written about what scripture says.

Mary Mary Mary....why strain at Knats and swallow Camels?

 

[Joseph77]

Nope. Who they are doesn't matter - not even close to kissing them (what made you think so at all ?

Anyone who is against those who are against Jesus, has that much going for them. At least one step in the right direction.... even if or when many more are needed.

You might be surprised by who you're kissing there Joseph!

 

[Joseph77]

Mary Mary Mary....why strain at Knats and swallow Camels?

Again, Jesus says why, and the other poster showed also .....

 

[quietthinker]

Nope. Who they are doesn't matter - not even close to kissing them (what made you think so at all ?

your post #34....have i made a mistake here?

 

[Joseph77]

your post #34....have i made a mistake here?

obviously , yes.

 

[marksman]

Yes, and those people were poets and song writers. They didn't write as Kings and priests and politicians and Rabbis... They wrote as intimate cheerful friends celebrating the wonder and beauty of God. God was revealing Himself through those folk and he didn't do so through the medium of scholasticism... He revealed Himself through a medium of delightful prose, wouldn't you agree?

My reply was a response as to WHO wrote the bible. Not HOW they wrote the bible.

 

[Marymog]

Mary Mary Mary....why strain at Knats and swallow Camels?

Hi quitethinker,

Fascinating.....soooo you AND @Joseph77 have no problem with a fellow Christian adding to Scripture?

I don’t think pointing out when a person is adding to or lying about scripture as straining gnats. As Christians that is what we SHOULD be doing.

I completely disagree with the suggestion that the great men who wrote Scripture.....a employed physician, tent maker, fishermen, tax collector etc....are like hippies. I think THEY would disagree with that analogy also AND be offended if it was suggested to their face. I believe they had more dignity than a hippie.


But that’s just me......a defender of truth and dignity. You and @Joseph77 seem to like to defend the person who does just opposite. Simply fascinating....

Keeping it real....Mary