John 8:44
You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
There is no mystery in John 8:44.
Followers of Satan will be liars and murderers.
The parables of Jesus are understandable. He does not "bait and switch" between eating a piece of fruit and having sex with a serpent.
Puffing oneself up with self-importance, believing one has "secret knowledge" which others do not is the ancient error of Gnosticism.
Paul said in Colossians 1:25, "I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,
26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints,
27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.…
Romans 16:25
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,
The gospel of Jesus Christ was that glorious mystery, now fully revealed to all seekers.
It is being a historical faith that differentiates Christianity from the world's religions.
I'm more than satisfied with the plain old Word of God, in all its spectacular glory.
waltmoreno wrote:
Even Jesus himself spoke in parables. In large part so their meanings could be understood by earnest seekers but hidden from all others. Or as Matt 13:13 puts it, "I speak to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; and hearing, hear not, neither do they understand."
It's precisely because Shepherds Chapel's interpretations are unorthodox that I was drawn to them. But they satisfy. You can choose to believe the standard fairy tale about Adam and Eve eating an apple, but it's wholly unsatisfying to me. All history, no mystery.
On the other hand, how do you explain John 8:44, where Jesus tells the Pharisees,
"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning,... for he is a liar and the father of it."
I could go on about numerous other unorthodox interpretations that are confirmed in other passages in the Bible but that's not my point.
Even Jesus himself spoke in parables. In large par... (
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