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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED"!!! | Matt 22:37 | yokefellow | 30364 | ||
Dear Joe, You stated, "if you don't like healthy debate, you have found the wrong forum." In the Webster's New World College Dictionary, I find the word "forum" with the following meanings: (a) "an assembly, place, radio program, etc. for the discussion of public matters or current questions (b) an opportunity for open discussion. I don't see anything in this definition concerning "debate" do you? I further do not see in this definition anything regarding a "healthy debate" do you? Besides, how can you possibly "debate" the scriptures if you believe 2 Tim. 3:16? They are "given by inspiration of God." If the truth of the scriptures is "given by inspiration of God", how can God's Word be debated? (Unless you want to "change" God's Word which is strictly forbidden - Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Gal. 1:6-9). The only "debate" that could possibly occur is a "debate" over what's NOT in God's Word. Wouldn't that be a more "logical" conclusion? Any time the word "debate" is used in the scriptures, it ALWAYS refers to Greek words whose meanings refer to "STRIFE". I'm quoting from W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary Of Old and New Testament Words, Page 82. 1) ERIS means - strife, contention, is the expression of enmity (Rom. 1:29, R.V., "strife" (A.V., "debate"); Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 1:11, "contentions" (R.V. and A.V.); 1 Cor. 3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20, R.V., "strife" (A.V., "debates"); Gal. 5:20, R.V., "strife" (A.V., "variance"; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:9, R.V., "strifes" (A.V., "contentions"). 2) ERITHIA - see FACTION. 3) ANTILOGIA - "strife," Heb. 6:16, A.V.: see DISPUTE, A, No. 4. 4) MACHE - "strifes," 2 Tim. 2:23: see FIGHTING, A. 5) PHILONEIKIA - "strife," Luke 22:24, A.V.: see CONTENTION, A, No. 3. 6) LOGOMACHIA - "strife of words", 1 Tim. 6:4: see DISPUTE, A, No. 2. Now, considering the above "quote", my question then to you is, why would a Christian want to engender or promote "STRIFE" on this "forum" or anywhere else for that matter? I would rather believe Mr. Webster's definition that this "forum" should be for the purpose of "learning" through an opportunity of "open discussion". This type of "forum" would allow students of the Bible to freely, rationally and logically ask concerning any type of Bible question, "What do the scriptures say concerning the answer to this question?" and then receive a "Bible answer" rather than giving someone's opinion, idea, philosophy, dogma, creed. A true Bible student doesn't care what someone's opinion, idea, philosophy, dogma, or creed is - their only objective is discovering what God's Word says on a matter - period! Why can't that be the simple criteria of discussion on this forum rather than stirring up strife among individuals? Mike |
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2 | "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED"!!! | Matt 22:37 | Hank | 30370 | ||
Mike, "debate" as Joe used it, and "open discussion" as you used it, work out to essentially the same thing, and neither necessarily causes strife. It should indeed be the aim of everyone who consults Scripture to get at the bottom of it, to find out to the best of his ability what it says and what it means. In order to do this, however -- since the Bible is an enormously complex body of writings -- one needs all the help he can get. It is decidedly unwise to close one's mind to the vast amount of light that the Spirit has provided to a vast array of God's servants who have gone before us. Which makes more sense when you are planning a trip from, say Denver to San Francisco -- to strike out on your own, equipped with packpack and machete, and blaze your way through the mountains without a compass -- or follow a carefully mapped-out road, a road that many people have prepared before you, to get to your destination? --Hank | ||||||