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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Scripture - more than one meaning? | Bible general Archive 2 | kalos | 139940 | ||
Avoid Allegorizing the Bible ____________________ If the meaning of the Bible "cannot be discerned through the normal understanding of language, how can it be discerned?" ____________________ "Avoid spiritualizing or allegorizing the Bible. This is that which gives to the Bible some kind of mystical meaning. In other words, what is on the surface is not the meaning, but what is hidden becomes the meaning. This is very popular. Allegorizing means to say that the historical meaning is not the real meaning, and in fact may be nothing but a fabrication. The historical meaning is not the real meaning, the real meaning is the spiritual meaning hidden beneath the surface. "And once you say that something in the Bible is an allegory, that is, it is only a symbol of the reality, you have just made it impossible to know what that reality is because if that reality cannot be discerned through the normal understanding of language, how can it be discerned?" ____________________ (from the radio message: "How to Study Your Bible: Interpretation" by John MacArthur on Grace to You broadcast) |
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2 | Scripture - more than one meaning? | Bible general Archive 2 | seaeternity9 | 139952 | ||
I agree that one can "allegorize" the scriptures where the true meanings and events become mere "symbols" or "mysteries", however I believe that one can draw spiritual teachings from an experience told within the scriptures. God can help us understand and come closer to him when the Holy Spirit shows us something higher than the historical meaning. If I can be led by the spirit to gain a higher insight into God's message to me while reading and studying the bible, it's an added gift He has given me. The thing to keep in mind is that this will not always happen, and to read and understand that the events were reality and important to the understanding of our faith and His love for us. But don't say God is all powerful, all knowing, every where all the time, etc, then tell me He can't give me a message from a passage in the scriptures that IS a higher ,personal understanding.....in other words who are we to Limit God's ability? To "put Him in a box"? |
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3 | Scripture - more than one meaning? | Bible general Archive 2 | kalos | 139961 | ||
What does this verse mean to you? ___________________ "We should not view God's word as a well from which we draw whatever feeling, sensation, or opinion that suits us for the time." "It is a mistake to have a group of people look at a Scripture and offer varying opinions on what it means as though God's word means only what it means to us at that time and that we can contradict each other and that's fine. Instead, we should ask ourselves "what does a text say?"" "If we were to say that God's word can mean different things, then the word of God doesn't mean anything at all." "The danger in this is that if taken to its logical extreme, verses could mean anything we wanted them to mean." ____________________ "I was once at a Bible study and the Bible study leader read several verses of Scripture. He then pointed out a particular verse and asked people what they thought it meant. The verse was not particularly ambiguous, and it was not explicitly clear. So, people in the room began to give their opinions on what the verse meant. Some of the opinions contradicted each other. I waited to see what the Bible study leader would do with these contradictions and how he would handle what the verse might actually mean. He simply said that all the opinions sounded good and that we must find out for ourselves what God's word means. Of course, this bothered me. Such relativism is dangerous. "The Bible study leader proceeded to go on to another verse where the same thing was done and other opinions were offered. After a few minutes I could no longer remain silent and I spoke up. Not wanting to dominate the study, I tried to remain polite and cautious as I attempted to correct an error that had just happened in the Bible study. "I carefully pointed out that though there are times when certain scriptures are difficult to understand and that our opinions on these verses might be equally valid, if they contradict each other, they cannot all be valid. Furthermore, I pointed out that we must not subject God's word to our opinions. It is a mistake to have a group of people look at a Scripture and offer varying opinions on what it means as though God's word means only what it means to us at that time and that we can contradict each other and that's fine. Instead, we should ask ourselves "what does a text say?" We should work hard at trying to discover the best single possible meaning to the text is -- if that is applicable. We should not view God's word as a well from which we draw whatever feeling, sensation, or opinion that suits us for the time. Instead, we must do our best to find out what the word actually says to the best of our ability instead of "feeling" our way through the scriptures using relativism as a guide. Otherwise, we would be saying that God did not actually mean anything specific when He inspired the writers of the Bible. If we were to say that God's word can mean different things, then the word of God doesn't mean anything at all. The problem here is that relativism was creeping into the Bible study. "The danger in this is that if taken to its logical extreme, verses could mean anything we wanted them to mean. With no absolutes to draw from, apostasy would begin to creep in. For example, I am reminded of how some major denominations are actually putting millions of dollars into studying the issue of homosexuality to determine to what extent people can be held responsible for this sin... if they determined that it is a sin at all! This, of course, leads down the road apostasy and needs to be stopped. "So I ask you. When you study God's word devotionally, or otherwise, do you hope to find what it actually means so you can subject yourself to what it says, or do you try and find a meaning for Scripture that suits your needs, your feelings, and your desires? I would hope that you do the former. We need to check ourselves. "To test yourself, I suggest that you read Romans 9:9-23. This section of Scripture is often difficult to interpret and can even be controversial. But it is God's word nonetheless. In it, there is a test. As you read the text, see if you find yourself objecting. See if you find yourself complaining the same way Paul did. See if you ask the same basic objections to the arguments that Paul is raising. If you do not, then you are failing to understand the text. If you do raise the same basic objections as you read through the verses, then that means that you understand what it says...not what you hope it means. Then, see what your attitude is towards what the text says. It can be very revealing. "Let our devotion to God be a subjection to his word." _____________________(http://www.carm.org/devotions/verse.htm) Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry |
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4 | Scripture - more than one meaning? | Bible general Archive 2 | diasperio | 139977 | ||
God is very practical, and his word is knowledge[something that can be used by anyone with the same results] therefore it always means the same thing to everyone[based on each persons comprehension of it] . For instants the book of Hosea, itself tells us that it is a comparison of Hosea's marriage to Gomer and Gods dealings with his people. So we see that scripture does contain principles, statutes, degrees,laws, ordinances, precepts, in them . Example the prodical son parable would work on the same principles that God is useing with Gomer. Hosea 6;1-4 and 10:12-13. Also Hosea 4:16 How can the lord pasture stubborn people. gives condition to 23 psalm, based on principle in James 4:10 the Humble wil be exalted. So scripture has one meaning for everyone , but many examples of the same message that God has been giving in it from the book of Genisis to revelations. | ||||||
5 | Scripture - more than one meaning? | Bible general Archive 2 | seaeternity9 | 139981 | ||
thank you, that is what I understand too. | ||||||