Thread: A question on Christian Scripture.

Originally Posted by Desdinova

Any New Testament book that is not John. Luke, Mark or Matthew are not the words of Christ.

They are the words and opinions of Paul. Paul never met Jesus and was dead-set against James who did receive the word of Christ directly.



So personally, I only read the 4 books mentioned above.

It would be helpful if you would select some passages which have strongly influenced your spiritual growth as I am most interested in what Jesus said; rather than the doctrinal precepts that define Christianity

Originally Posted by Desdinova

Any New Testament book that is not John. Luke, Mark or Matthew are not the words of Christ.

They are the words and opinions of Paul. Paul never met Jesus and was dead-set against James who did receive the word of Christ directly.



So personally, I only read the 4 books mentioned above.

I believe we are missing your further input. earlier I only wished to limit any arguments that may arise from disputes of authenticity, not to dissuade you from further participation. I humbly invite you to add your insights from your preferred reading list.

Personally, I think Paul is basically saying "you are noobs. Wake up to yourselves and have a bit of humility."

But I could be wrong.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Personally, I think Paul is basically saying "you are noobs. Wake up to yourselves and have a bit of humility."

But I could be wrong.

James.

So much said with so few words, good sir I tip my hat to you!

Babes= new believers that have a very basic understanding of salvation, but because of their envy, strife and quarrels(childish behavior) they are not ready for the deeper teachings(the meat) of Christian spirituality.

The woman was caught red handed committing adultery and was brought before Jesus to see what he would say in the hopes that they could catch him in some violation or negation of Mosaic law. They brought up the fact that the law demanded that she be stoned to death(not the 420 way), but Jesus told them to let the one without sin cast the first stone, one by one they walked away, each of them knowing that they were sinners the same as she. He asked her where were her accusers and then told her that he did not judge or condemn her either, but did ask that she sin no more. Jesus says in another verse elsewhere that "I did not come into the world to judge the world, but to save it." Meaning that he would rather forgive than condemn.

I hope this helps, I hope others will chime in and I hope this does not become a BS festival.Amen.

Originally Posted by kevint

The question arises from the metaphor of the following King James scripture: 1Corinthians 3:1
¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ²I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Something that has helped me to interpret scriptures is to read with my wife from different bibles. We typically read NKJ & NCV versions. For some reasons this helps us. I seem to be studying more & more from my NCV bible. Below is the same verses from my NCV by Max Lucado:

1 Corinthians 3
Following People Is Wrong
1.Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit---babies in Christ. 2.The teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food, because you were not able to take solid food. An even now you are not ready. 3.You are still not spiritual, because there is jealousy and quarreling among you, and this shows that you are not spiritual. You are acting like people of the world.

At our men's bible study this past Tuesday we talked about how a scripture gains depth the more we study the bible and more "mature" our spirit becomes. It was nice to know that my feeling like a "baby" as mentioned above is felt by most of our men in my study group and some of those guys have been Christians as long as I have been alive....

Thank you for this post, it's he first time I have grabbed my bible to quote on the forum, it's usually a razor book that I am quoting.

Scott

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Something that has helped me to interpret scriptures is to read with my wife from different bibles. We typically read NKJ & NCV versions. For some reasons this helps us. I seem to be studying more & more from my NCV bible. Below is the same verses from my NCV by Max Lucado:

1 Corinthians 3
Following People Is Wrong
1.Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit---babies in Christ. 2.The teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food, because you were not able to take solid food. An even now you are not ready. 3.You are still not spiritual, because there is jealousy and quarreling among you, and this shows that you are not spiritual. You are acting like people of the world.

At our men's bible study this past Tuesday we talked about how a scripture gains depth the more we study the bible and more "mature" our spirit becomes. It was nice to know that my feeling like a "baby" as mentioned above is felt by most of our men in my study group and some of those guys have been Christians as long as I have been alive....

Thank you for this post, it's he first time I have grabbed my bible to quote on the forum, it's usually a razor book that I am quoting.

Scott

Scott the men in your Bible study are a good example of what got me to ask this question. I am not trying to spread doubt but I have to ask: A 2000+ year tradition should be running like a well oiled machine. why is this such a difficult matter for us that after a half-lifetime of study and practice one does not become adept, become a mentor and spiritual guide with a very specific set of steps, practices that prepares/ allows the student to overcome.
John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Why are we waiting for this to happen still? or does it happen a lot that I just font know?

Originally Posted by kevint

Why are we waiting for this to happen still? or does it happen a lot that I just font know?

We are imperfect for one thing and if there is a God there is also another spirit working against him. As noted by Paul in Ephesians chapter 6;

10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places .

13Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one . 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Originally Posted by kevint

Scott the men in your Bible study are a good example of what got me to ask this question. I am not trying to spread doubt but I have to ask: A 2000+ year tradition should be running like a well oiled machine. why is this such a difficult matter for us that after a half-lifetime of study and practice one does not become adept, become a mentor and spiritual guide with a very specific set of steps, practices that prepares/ allows the student to overcome.
John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Why are we waiting for this to happen still? or does it happen a lot that I just font know?

I think that I understand what you are getting at in regards to steps, practices, & guidelines to overcome from being a "baby" to growing spiritually to a "mentor". I think it's actually a good question that we should ask ourselves. More than likely many of us would say that we haven't been a servant as we should have. I haven't. We have allowed other priorities to consume what little time we seem to have in a day. I will have to say that I think things are a little more complicated with our daily life compared to 1k-2k years ago. We are given that "free will" and it's up to you and I to feed our holy spirit and become the men we should be.

Scott

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I think that I understand what you are getting at in regards to steps, practices, & guidelines to overcome from being a "baby" to growing spiritually to a "mentor". I think it's actually a good question that we should ask ourselves. More than likely many of us would say that we haven't been a servant as we should have. I haven't. We have allowed other priorities to consume what little time we seem to have in a day. I will have to say that I think things are a little more complicated with our daily life compared to 1k-2k years ago. We are given that "free will" and it's up to you and I to feed our holy spirit and become the men we should be.

Scott

Something I hear from someone every day: I don't have time. Or words to that effect. A thing that I try to never say.

There are things I want to do and don't want to do. Some I need to do and some I should do. The ones that cause a bad situation to occur are those when it is both: don't want to and should.

Where do priorities come from? If I can always and only do what I should be doing then there is time enough to do everything.

matthew 6: 22-29
²²The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
²³But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
²⁴No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
²⁵Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
²⁶Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
²⁷Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
²⁸And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


The lillies and the fowls only do what is necessary. They do not have or experience time. They only exist in the eternal moment of this one to the next. Obviously though there is a time for planning. Jesus did not just happen to see a donkey walking by and hop on and say "let's see where this donkey is going" He sent an apostle to fetch one and told them where they were going.



Philippians 2
¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
²Fulfil ye my joy, *that ye be likeminded*, having the same love, being of one accord, *of one mind.*
³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but *in lowliness of mind* let each esteem other better than themselves.
⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
^5*Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:*
⁷But made himself of no reputation, *and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:*





I hope those red asterisks will separate out a few phrases enough for emphasis as you read the whole passage so not to be considered out of context. To me this is some meat.


I am unsure how this is preached today, but I would think telling a babe in Christ that he is(can be) equal to God may cause some confusion.


To be clear the passage says to allow this "one mind" which was also the same mind that was in Christ- a guy who thought it not robbery to be equal with God-. Was he God, are we God? It says "in the form of God"


God as form- material existence.


I like where this is going. The verses from Phillipians came from my searching the word Servant as suggested by Scott