Singularity

i was told recently that a person such as I could not possibly understand snd apply bible scripture for the salvation or edification of my soul.

. . . "the apologetics you mention is a tried and true method of using the Bible to interpret itself. You just can't read a single passage. you need the context of the chapter, book and whole Bible, plus historical and cultural context. You also need a knowledge of the original languages it was written in, since modern translations are not always completely accurate in their word usage."

Question:Who is qualified to explain the Bible? How many and what kind of ancillary aids SNF process other than straihht reading with normal concrntration.?

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

No one else wants to tell you this so I will express it for most that have remained silent about your posed inquiry.....

If you worked for someone and they eventually found out you had been stealing from your work place, that on and off company time, you ran around making statements against the owner of that company, saying things that were both LIES and also based upon some hidden hatred you had for the owner of that company, so you really think in the long run the owner of that company would desire to keep you employed? Do you think the owner of that company would continue to pay for you to have medical and a retirement fund if they fired you? Do you think the owner of that company would even care to KNOW you based upon that sort of history you would have presented to him?

Now lets flip that to the topic of God, the Bible or anything connected to it....

YOU and YOU all by yourself have elected to have YOUR take on standards to live by....and each and every single trait you spew forth about who and how you are, is like SPITTING in the face of the Lord and Savior of the World.....much more a serious offense then the example I used regarding how an employer would view you after learning of your back stabbing him.......

Maybe you can connect the dots without having to seek help from a few dozen people to explain it all to you...maybe not...but if I were you, you'd be far better off not going to any thoughts of the Bible or debating it with anyone. Just stick to what you do best and leave the rest alone....as it is....you seem to be very clearly an expert on being FELONY UGLY....so stick to it.

jeff smith

anyone can read and understand the Bible. you need to read the entire Bible begining to end to get a understanding of the history leading up to the new testament and then read the new testament. although the new testament is put together like a puzzle parts of everything are in each book. Then there is the book of Revelations, this one can be very mind boggling, but don't worry,it has messed with some of the greatest minds though out time. May God and Christ Jesus, touch you so with eyes you can see and ears you can hear.

FrankP

In my opinion, a person of average intelligence can read and understand the Bible. Fir serious study I would recommend a Bible Dictionary and an extensive Bible Concordance---such as Strong's---which also includes a Hebrew/Greek Lexicon. One does not need a professor or degreesd biblical scholar to understand the Bible. It was written for us plain folks.
Not just experts!!!

allthatsleft Loc: California

If you want to understand where the scholars are coming from, read the book, "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Your knowledge of the scripture comes from those past days as a younger person; when you believed openly and as a trusting child.

While you are going through a period of doubt, unbelief, and rebellion against all that the non-existent God you fail to believe in, God has stated in His Word even if we are unfaithful He remains faithful. Your knowledge is retained because no matter how you deny it and even may hate it, God has promised, 1. He cannot lie. 2. He will never leave us or forsake us.

You may find yourself one day screaming and yelling, but your ever so short dedication and believing in the Lord has made you a citizen of heaven.

I know this will irk you and even others will tell me that I am wrong. But you can never run away or hide from God. Adams sin may have been small but sin is sin in Gods eyes yet He still found Adam and Eve and made coverings for them when they didn't even ask God to cover them. As you say think about the ramifications and implications of His actions toward them when they sinned.

I hurt every time people enrage you with their cutting remarks this only causes you to defend what you believe now not what you believed then. As best I can I will never stop being your friend.

MajorAhrens Loc: Myrtle Beach

One must have faith as a child. In other words once we are grown we lose our innocence. Start with the New Testament. John is probably the best one to start in. When it comes to the book of Revelation it's best to have read the entire Bible before you read It. But unless your heart is filled with the HOLY SPIRIT you won't understand or care for the Bible. If you have any questions about anything I would be happy to try and help you. I've been studying the Bible for almost 40 years and haven't got half way across the pond. But it seems like I always find something new when I read a chapter or verse again. I pray you have much success and GOD BLESS

Singularity

Well, the point in contention was whether or not the Bible condones slavery.

I offered the following verses and received the above in coment.

The following passage shows that slaves are clearly property to be bought and sold like livestock.

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

The following passage describes how the Hebrew slaves are to be treated.

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

Notice how they can get a male Hebrew slave to become a permanent slave by keeping his wife and children hostage until he says he wants to become a permanent slave. What kind of family values are these?

The following passage describes the sickening practice of sex slavery. How can anyone think it is moral to sell your own daughter as a sex slave?

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

You would think that Jesus and the New Testament would have a different view of slavery, but slavery is still approved of in the New Testament, as the following passages show.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

In the following parable, Jesus clearly approves of beating slaves even if they didn't know they were doing anything wrong.

The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom mucih more is given." (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

Singularity

To which I received this reply:
"Your ignorance is appalling. As I mentioned earlier, you are not qualified to interpret the Bible. Your treatment of the topic of slavery in the Bible is shallow and cursory. You choice of a source (evilBible.com) is laughable. Here is a link to an article that gives the subject the attention it deserves. If you are really interested in the truth, you will take the time to study this in depth. It is a very long article, but it needs to be in order to answer such a complex question.

http://christianthinktank.com/qnoslave.html

This is the last time I'll address this topic. If this article doesn't convince you, nothing will."

Let's look at this response together. I smell bullshit. I was promised that whatever example I gave there would be New Testament refereñces to refute it.

Gonna go read. Ttyl.

MajorAhrens Loc: Myrtle Beach

Get a Greek Bible or Hebrew Bible an the explanation is a lot clearer.
I once asked my grandfather that very same question. He took me to several pastors and ministers in and around Jerusalem. And in the time of Moses and Abraham the practice of buying and selling the slaves was common. But what we consider slaves were more of a servant. If I wanted to marry a mans daughter it was not uncommon for me to work for that man for a set number of years. And if I was already married and owed a debt I was considered a "slave" to that person. Although they would still pay my family for my services, depending on what I did and to whom. Life was far from fair in those days. The Philistines were well known for just taking Jews and all their possessions. Pillage the tribes and keep the women. As I said it was quite atrocious. This very moment the Muslims are taking slaves, women, and children. The way they treat women makes me sick. A woman is, in GODS words, a precious gem to be honored. Not a piece of property. Like I said I've Been reading It for 40 years, started at about 13 and I'm still learning something every time I reread a chapter or verse. Like you many things didn't make sense until the HOLY SPIRIT came into my heart. And ever since it's a joy to spend time with the LORD. That was a good question.

Singularity

I would say that to have the legal authority to beat a human being
within an inch of his life is atrocious, but in accord with scripture, if he is a whatever you translate the word
slave, servant, bond servant, debt owner...

Some of the captives of war were young virginal girls. They could be spared death if they marry or become the sex slave of the Hebrew man. Again, atrocious, rape even, but in accordance with scripture!

Jesus doesn't denounce the practice, even though he mentions it several times.

So I'm in search of the verses which denounce slavery and explain away the above quoted


scriptural references.

MajorAhrens Loc: Myrtle Beach

Like you I wanted answers. The Bible also has individuals killing whole villages. But to understand why you have to read more than one chapter. And remember don't cherry pick the ones you think makes the Bible a horror story. Jesus also commanded his followers that if a man wants your tunic give him also your coat. Remember a parable is a middle eastern way of telling a story. I tell everyone that the Bible can't be properly read using western eyes. It was written using middle eastern terminology. Don't try to understand it all in one day, week or year. When reading the Bible, first you have to be sincere and have asked the HOLY SPIRIT into your heart. Don't use 'he new international or any of those. Even the King James doesn't get all of it right. You have to have a Greek or Hebrew version. You don't have to speak either language as both are translated to English after you read the chapter in Greek or Hebrew. I can take any book and make it say what I want it to. But taken in context it makes sense. You can even go online and read it in Greek or Hebrew. Trust me the way you think it means is not correct. But I like you wanted to know what the heck it meant. And that's a great start. At least your curious, and that's a good thing.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

The Orginal question wasWho is QUALIFIED to read and comprehend the Bible?

MajorAhrens Loc: Myrtle Beach

That is correct. And my answer was anyone who had the faith of a child and the HOLY SPIRIT living in their heart. If you have accepted JESUS as your Savior your hitting home runs!

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

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