It amazes me how many Christians have never read their Bible cover to cover. How can anyone know God and obey God if they don't know His word? How can anyone know if they are being told the truth by preachers, priests, or Bible teachers, if they have never read God's word? We are so blessed today to have Bibles, in our own language, readily available to almost everyone on earth. (There are a few remote people groups who don't have Bible's in their own language and I have friends who are working to translate the Bible into their languages). We take this blessing for granted and should be ashamed.
Discussion
It's true that many people should be more reverent for the Bible and study it more closely. However, it's important to remember that God is revealed primarily through first-hand experience and the natural order of His Creation rather than ink on paper.
> Romans 1:19-20 "What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
Ironically, many Christians fail to share and spread their faith due to dogmatic judgmentalism, which is something quite far from the true Christian spirit. It's important to remember that Christ transcends all creeds, and as Shakespeare says, a rose by any other name is just as sweet.
> Romans 2:14-15 "When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them."
> Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
> Job 12:7-10 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
God does show Himself through His creation (general revelation), but saying that is more important than God's word where He specifically revealed Himself is completely wrong. General revelation shows He exists. The Bible explains exactly who He is and exactly what He expects from us. When we only look at creation, we can easily be misled.
It is true that too many Christians fail to share the good news with others and fail to care for people, but it doesn't help to share our own opinions. We have to be sharing God's specific revelation.
God's Word created the Universe. It is a living force-- it is a living power at work at all times in your world, mind, body, and soul.
Christian teachings are only a representation of God's Word. Whether they actually lead you to God's Word or not depends entirely on your ability to interpret and implement them. Conversely, misinterpreting them can lead you far from God's Will.
It's true, the Bible can be indispensable, but it can also be a roadblock, just like anything in life. Meanwhile, there are people who have never read the Bible who are closer to God's Word than many dogmatic Bible thumpers who idolize flawed interpretations from men on podiums.
Just because some people misuse the words of the Bible doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the Bible. The Bible is God breathed. It comes straight from God. It is specific about who He is, what He did, and What He expects from us. Using anything other than the Bible to guide you can lead you astray. That is true of Bible teachers, nature, science, or feelings. It is true that the Holy Spirit can help you to fully understand the Bible, but if we don't have the Bible as our foundation, we can be misled by people, science, feelings, and spirits and have no idea we have been misled.
We need to be like the Bereans as described in Acts 17:11
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
"Just because some people misuse the words of the Bible doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the Bible. The Bible is God breathed."
> We & the entire Universe are God breathed. "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." - Job 33:4
"Using anything other than the Bible to guide you can lead you astray. "
> (Mis)using the Bible to guide you can lead you astray, too. Properly using anything can lead you rightly, because God made everything and his law governs all of creation. "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." - Isa 9:16
"if we don't have the Bible as our foundation, we can be misled by people, science, feelings, and spirits and have no idea we have been misled."
> Agreed, but there are other foundations which can also protect. The greatest of these is direct communion with God in your heart, something a child in the rainforest who has never heard of the Bible can accomplish. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you," - 1 John 1:3 || "For by one Spirit [[not Bible, not Creed]] are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles" - 1 Cor 12:13
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
> Critically examining the Scriptures daily is very far from dogmatic obedience to flawed human clerics and their interpretations. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - Rom 12:2
Even a child who has never read the Bible may be closer to God than someone who reads regularly and adheres to dogma without understanding. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven" - Matthew 18:10
saying the bible is god breathed and that the word comes straight from god is problematic. It means god doesn't know how some events actually happened... which goes against the claim that god is omnipotent. of course, most people would know this if they read the book.
I just finished the book a month or two ago. Took me a while to get through the old testament
Every time you reread the Bible you will discover more and more and learn what things mean. There are many things that you can't understand without the whole Bible. Most of the New Testament doesn't make full sense if you don't have the foundation of the Old Testament, especially the first 11 chapters of Genesis, which is the foundation of it all.
Do you think the Bible supports the ultimate restoration of all people/things? I always thought no but have recently followed Robin Perry’s work and think it is very plausible
The last two chapters of Revelation do describe a restoration, but it only happens after the near complete destruction of everything and everyone. There is one restoration right before the millennial reign of Christ and then there is the new heavens and the new Earth after that.
That’s interesting. Do you think even the “saved” will be destroyed and restored?
Based on my reading of Scripture, the saved will be raptured (caught up to heaven)
" For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
This will happen right before the 7 year Tribulation. There will be many new people saved during the tribulation, but most of them will be martyred. At the end of the 7 year Tribulation (During which about half of the world's population will die from war, pestilence, drought, earthquakes, famine, and persecution), Jesus will return, destroy His enemies and reign on earth for 1,000 years (His millennial reign) At the end of the 1,000 years, new enemies will rise up to battle against Jesus, but will be destroyed by His word and a New Heavens and New Earth will be created in perfection for the saved alone. There will be no more sin, death, or tears.
The greatest details on end times are in Revelation starting with Chapter 4 and in Daniel starting with Daniel chapter 7. I do have some articles on the subject on my trustjesus.substack.com , but don't feel like a great expert on the subject, even though I have been studying the Bible for ~40 years and studying end times prophecy hard the past year.
That’s a really great summary! I admit I was raised amil but I will have to check out your article. What do you make of verses like this
19For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20
24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “Godc has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15
I always read right past these but what does it mean for God to “reconcile all things” or be “all in all” if some are eternally in hell or destroyed?
" 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phillipians 2:9-11)
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In that respect they will all be reconciled to Him, but those who bow and confess before the Great White Throne Judgment will join Him in the New Heavens and New Earth while those who bow and confess Him after His return and victory will be punished by an eternity in Hell.
I think the "all in all" just refers to God being in all things because He created all things and upholds all things by the power of His word (from Hebrews 1:3). Right now He is the all in all, but at the last judgment he will be acknowledged as the all in all by everyone who is and ever was. (from Revelation 20)
When I'm more rested, I might be able to answer more or better.
That’s interesting you pulled that verse from Philippians. A lot of Christian universalists use that to argue that all will be saved because the Greek work for “confess” they claim means to openly give praise which leans more towards all people eventually accepting Christ.
Also have a Merry Christmas!!!!
Good point about all in all tho
Changed my perspective on my Christianity when I read The Holy Book cover-to-cover
Absolutely TERRIFIED OF LORD GOD
tbh made me stop consuming pork; trying to live a more Kosher life (I know its not a requirement for Christians as JESUS says, but I'd rather follow HIS word as perfectly as I can)
Interesting points but also significantly complicated by many translations and subjective selection of words with nuanced and clear deferences in meaning during the translation processes.
It is true that not all translations are created equally, but we can look at them and pick a better translation. As a general rule, paraphrases are not as accurate as phrase for phrase which is not as accurate as word for word because anything other than word for word requires some interpretation. I'd argue the NASB and ESV are the best translations. They are word for word translations using the oldest and best manuscripts. Because of the word for word translations of Hebrew and Greek, it can be a little harder to read and follow. The old (1984?) version of the NIV is pretty good and easier to read, but the newer NIV version is woke and bad. Of the paraphrases, I'd argue that the NLV is the best. I've actually given a NLV Bible to my special needs son because it is too hard for him to understand the others and he probably won't understand the fine nuances anyway.
Very helpful information. Thanks!
Although they were not based on the best and oldest manuscripts because they hadn't been found at the time, but the traditional KJV and the easier to read NKJV are both good translations and are written with a wonderful poetic flare that is inspiring.
Doing my first read through the Bible this year. It’s been challenging but very rewarding. I recommend following “The Bible Recap” for any one who wants to try it out. It’s starts up again January 1st.