“We Should Expect Frustration Reading The Bible”

[com7fy8]

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

So, if we have gotten good things from our parents, keep what is good.

Edited July 31, 2023 by com7fy8

[Neighbor]

Might I add: Confusion or simply not getting "it" is yet another reason as well as justification for having those gifted by the Holy Spirit as elder/shepherd/teachers! Not all of us are so gifted nor do we have the time nor education/training that those so gifted do have and have put in the major effort to become scholars.

It is a marvelous opportunity to be enabled by the lead of the Holy Spirit to gather with many saints in order to hear and learn from scholars that are so gifted. And yes, usually they are working full time for a local Church body often a very large one for it will have attracted many because of the scholarly teachers.

The Holy Spirit does not leave fallow the many fields being nourished by such excellent stewardship.

[Mike Mclees]

14 hours ago, Solus Christus said:

There are passages that challenge us like:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) 

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) 

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

These are some hard sayings that if not interpreted carefully could cause damage to relationships. I admit Matt  23:9 makes me call my father  dad instead of father. Because I have yet to grasp fully what our Lord is saying yet. 

When we do not live in the free world we may find our faith in Christ will be despised by our family. 

[Solus Christus]

38 minutes ago, Mike Mclees said:

When we do not live in the free world we may find our faith in Christ will be despised by our family. 

Indeed, I interpret that verse to mean you must love Christ more than your family because they may be antichrist. 
 

But not calling my earthly father by the namesake father is more difficult to interpret, makes Father’s Day hard for me. 

[Solus Christus]

12 hours ago, Who me said:

As Peter wrote, there are passages that Paul wrote things that are difficult to understand and that is not just Paul's passages.

Many difficult passages need Christian and biblical maturity  to understand, but there is a resource  no o e has mentioned,  that of biblical commentaries, where other Christians have struggled  to understand the bible and are sharing the results of their studies.

Ah but in article I shared the lady mentions the dangers of relying on those commentaries. The Pharisees relied on Rabbi commentaries, later Jews have via Talmud, and it lead them all astray. 

Jesus our Lord told us The Holy Spirit would teach us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

I agree with the article writer there is learning process and running to experts is not always the way. For they are fallible scholars, they can be way off. 

 

[Neighbor]

9 minutes ago, Solus Christus said:

But not calling my earthly father by the namesake father is more difficult to interpret, makes Father’s Day hard for me. 

Hi, Seems to me such discomfort  is strong warning that the passage is being misapplied. Maybe some insight from various comment on the Bible will led to a more comfortable understanding.

As of recent times, I have taken to enjoying and even being enlightened by the comments found at Biblehub. It opens up my own mind some anyway.

Might take a peek at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm

[Solus Christus]

3 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Hi, Seems to me such discomfort  is strong warning that the passage is being misapplied. Maybe some insight from various comment on the Bible will led to a more comfortable understanding.

As of recent times, I have taken to enjoying and even being enlightened by the comments found at Biblehub. It opens up my own mind some anyway.

Might take a peek at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm

Its hard, I am a Biblical Literalist. In Matthew 23:8-12 Jesus commanded us not to call people by titles: teacher (rabbi), master/ instructor, father, and etc. and yet in the church we do use these titles. The Apostle Paul calls them gifts not titles of apostle, evangelist, teacher, pastor, and prophet (Ephesians 4:11). Probably the Imperial Church translated them titles instead of gifts. 

I am alright feeling uncomfortable. I call my pa Dad instead of Father.
 

I’ll look at some commentaries as you suggest, but I also am glad to wrestle with this. 

[farouk]

6 minutes ago, Solus Christus said:

Its hard, I am a Biblical Literalist. In Matthew 23:8-12 Jesus commanded us not to call people by titles: teacher (rabbi), master/ instructor, father, and etc. and yet in the church we do use these titles. The Apostle Paul calls them gifts not titles of apostle, evangelist, teacher, pastor, and prophet (Ephesians 4:11). Probably the Imperial Church translated them titles instead of gifts. 

 

While the Lord Jesus by right carries supremely glorious titles in Hebrews, for the local church it is the spiritual substance of how people prayerfully serve the Lord and one another that counts especially.

[Solus Christus]

1 minute ago, farouk said:

While the Lord Jesus by right carries supremely glorious titles in Hebrews, for the local church it is the spiritual substance of how people prayerfully serve the Lord and one another that counts especially.

I wonder if the context is helpful, that Jesus was trying to help his disciples not become like pharisees? 

[farouk]

5 minutes ago, Solus Christus said:

I wonder if the context is helpful, that Jesus was trying to help his disciples not become like pharisees? 

@Solus Christus I'm sure this is true, also.

Following Christ will often involve un-learning a lot of religious attitudes.