Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Gen 1:1; Is 9:6] |
Subject: God's name or a title? |
Bible Note: Misunderstanding . . . . Greetings. Like you, I view the truth as found in the Bible as the highest authority in my life. As you are well aware however, that truth is not always easily discerned among all the religious interpretations. I am interested on your comments pertaining to Paul's ministry and in particular, his teaching technique as I quoted at Acts 17:2,3. My point is that if, like the Jews in Thessalonica, someone does not see why God requires something or acted in certain way, we can appeal to his reason, explain and prove with references the superiority of His ways. Created in his image, we have capacity to stand at awe of his great love, justice and wisdom, and He encourages, even requires, that we imitate these qualities. To do so we must be able to distinguish false from true, good from bad, fine from rotten. (Matt 7:15-20) I conclude such discernment is impossible without our God-given faculties of logic and reason. Of course, humility is a prerequisite to reasonableness - the recognition that our thinking pales in comparison to the one who created all things, including our mental capacities. This will cause us to love his instructions and commands, not viewing them as burdensome, but rather as loving. On the other hand, the liar Satan will deceive us with false reasoning if we do not truly get the sense of the truths contained in God's word. To hate what is bad, one must comprehend why its bad. To appreciate the ransom sacrifice, one must understand why it was necessary. Do you agree? |