Barbara if we follow what you are saying then nothing in scripture can be trusted.
I simply don't believe that.
I have been reading the KJV and many other translations for over 40 years and find that there is no contradiction between the NT and the OT.
I see hidden depths and meanings that could not have been contrived by any pagan worshipers.
Many of the beliefs of religions are simply not supported by scripture, which shows they are not of God, but the scriptures are.
I know God has preserved his Word in the Bible, sure there are a few problems, but nothing that can not be cleared up by reading it in context and praying for understanding.
We can not throw out the entire Bible just because someone says it was corrupted, or all you are left with is what you want to believe, or what someone else tells you is true- which is what you are saying about the Bible anyway.
We have more Bible study aids than any people have ever had, various translations, commentaries, original word concordances etc.
We don't need to throw out the scriptures, or pick and choose what we think is correct, but study the word and allow it to guide us in understanding of how to love the lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and your neighbour as yourself.
Have you got a Gutenberg Bible? I don't so I can't compare. I also don't read old German, which I assume it was written in.
We therefore must rely on something else. We must trust God to provide the wisdom and truth for us through prayer and study.
Having said that we also must rely on some written text that claims to be the Word of God.
I am not a Hebrew or Greek scholar, and don't think it necessary to be one.
I rely on Strong's Concordance which apparently was translated from the original texts of Hebrew and Greek, Aramaic and Chaldean and compare that to the KJV, where there are many words added by the translators, most of which seem reasonable additions in order to clarify the meaning. Some additions seem unreasonable, but it really is only a handful of scriptures that are controversial.
Most contradictions in the KJV I find get cleared up if we look at what the scriptures actually say in context with what has been said before or after the verse. The trick is not to add our own assumptions to our interpretations, at least not without admitting that it is an assumption.
God needs to guide us in humility and wisdom- as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
This approach has left me with the conclusion that most of the KJV is ok, but we still need to be careful of the translations, and make sure that they have not added words that simply are not in the text.
Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always resort, and I have said nothing in secret.
(John 18:20)
Paul often went to the synagogues.
There is no scripture to tell us not to go to the synagogues.
Any time I read about the Sabbath, I think of my first marriage. We lived in an old house with a disintegrating attached garage. The house barely passed the "perk test", and one side of the garage was sliding into the mud. My ex never failed to criticize me for working on the Sabbath. I told her that I enjoyed what I was doing and that my participation in the project was simply saving my investment. I was taking physics at the time and I reminded her that there is a scientific definition of Work and I asked her if I should die every Saturday.
As far as the Holy Spirit goes, while I do not want to hang a millstone around any Christian's neck, I cannot accept the allegation that the Holy Spirit came into being after Jesus' resurrection. I find it hard to believe that Moses, Joshua, Daniel, or Isaiah were not directed by the Holy Spirit.
God defines what is acceptable work on the Sabbath, not physics.
The Holy Spirit was available to those in the OT:
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Martin! It is not necessary to be so serious. I was always joking when I told my ex that the definition of work, according to science, is this: work is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement. I do not find physical labor, especially when it saves a home from destruction, to be work.
Thanks Charles, unfortunately some people take such arguments about work as their logic! They understand nothing about science or religion but just want to win and argument- for which I am glad you are not like.
Regarding the Holy Spirit, it is a common misapprehension that God only gave his spirit to those in the NT, yet it is mentioned many times in the OT, As Stephen said: O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do. (Acts 7:51)
Just look up "Holy Spirit", "Spirit of God" in the OT and you will see it is all through the OT.
Barbara if we follow what you are saying then nothing in scripture can be trusted.
I simply don't believe that.
I have been reading the KJV and many other translations for over 40 years and find that there is no contradiction between the NT and the OT.
I see hidden depths and meanings that could not have been contrived by any pagan worshipers.
Many of the beliefs of religions are simply not supported by scripture, which shows they are not of God, but the scriptures are.
I know God has preserved his Word in the Bible, sure there are a few problems, but nothing that can not be cleared up by reading it in context and praying for understanding.
We can not throw out the entire Bible just because someone says it was corrupted, or all you are left with is what you want to believe, or what someone else tells you is true- which is what you are saying about the Bible anyway.
We have more Bible study aids than any people have ever had, various translations, commentaries, original word concordances etc.
We don't need to throw out the scriptures, or pick and choose what we think is correct, but study the word and allow it to guide us in understanding of how to love the lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and your neighbour as yourself.
Have you got a Gutenberg Bible? I don't so I can't compare. I also don't read old German, which I assume it was written in.
We therefore must rely on something else. We must trust God to provide the wisdom and truth for us through prayer and study.
Having said that we also must rely on some written text that claims to be the Word of God.
I am not a Hebrew or Greek scholar, and don't think it necessary to be one.
I rely on Strong's Concordance which apparently was translated from the original texts of Hebrew and Greek, Aramaic and Chaldean and compare that to the KJV, where there are many words added by the translators, most of which seem reasonable additions in order to clarify the meaning. Some additions seem unreasonable, but it really is only a handful of scriptures that are controversial.
Most contradictions in the KJV I find get cleared up if we look at what the scriptures actually say in context with what has been said before or after the verse. The trick is not to add our own assumptions to our interpretations, at least not without admitting that it is an assumption.
God needs to guide us in humility and wisdom- as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
This approach has left me with the conclusion that most of the KJV is ok, but we still need to be careful of the translations, and make sure that they have not added words that simply are not in the text.
Jesus said he always taught in the synagogue:
Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always resort, and I have said nothing in secret.
(John 18:20)
Paul often went to the synagogues.
There is no scripture to tell us not to go to the synagogues.
Any time I read about the Sabbath, I think of my first marriage. We lived in an old house with a disintegrating attached garage. The house barely passed the "perk test", and one side of the garage was sliding into the mud. My ex never failed to criticize me for working on the Sabbath. I told her that I enjoyed what I was doing and that my participation in the project was simply saving my investment. I was taking physics at the time and I reminded her that there is a scientific definition of Work and I asked her if I should die every Saturday.
As far as the Holy Spirit goes, while I do not want to hang a millstone around any Christian's neck, I cannot accept the allegation that the Holy Spirit came into being after Jesus' resurrection. I find it hard to believe that Moses, Joshua, Daniel, or Isaiah were not directed by the Holy Spirit.
God defines what is acceptable work on the Sabbath, not physics.
The Holy Spirit was available to those in the OT:
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
(Prov 1:22-23)
Martin! It is not necessary to be so serious. I was always joking when I told my ex that the definition of work, according to science, is this: work is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement. I do not find physical labor, especially when it saves a home from destruction, to be work.
Thanks for correcting me about the Holy Spirit.
Thanks Charles, unfortunately some people take such arguments about work as their logic! They understand nothing about science or religion but just want to win and argument- for which I am glad you are not like.
Regarding the Holy Spirit, it is a common misapprehension that God only gave his spirit to those in the NT, yet it is mentioned many times in the OT, As Stephen said: O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do. (Acts 7:51)
Just look up "Holy Spirit", "Spirit of God" in the OT and you will see it is all through the OT.