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NASB | 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately--behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; |
Subject: Okay to question faith and the Bible? |
Bible Note: Dear parpar, I'll spend a tiny bit more time on this topic, although I've already provided sufficient information by which further discovery is possible for those willing to expend the effort. You wrote, "...it gives me the impression that God is arbitrary..." This morning I posted #200463 on John 8:19 to deal with human impressions. Certainly you can identify any number of passages that assure us that God's eternal purposes are anything but arbitrary. Furthermore, I find no Scripture that tells us that He must give an accounting to us. Remember, a doctrine does not stand or fall based on how it strikes us. Sound doctrine is built on the authority of Scripture alone (see post #155648). You continued with your impression, "...therefore [God seems] despotic..." Basing a conclusion on a faulty premise leads only to further error. However, the logic itself is questionable. Suppose for the sake of argument that God were, indeed, arbitrary. Doesn't He have the perfect right, as the creator of all things, to do with His creation precisely as He sees fit? Well, I suppose that's for another discussion. Anyway, I'm always fascinated by the perfect wisdom of the Holy Spirit when people bring up these sorts of arguments regarding the sovereignty of God. Of course, the reaction to the revelation of divine election isn't something unique to our day and age. God anticipated them, and, frankly, if we don't question them precisely in this way, we've missed the point entirely! Thus, see Romans 9:14-24 (ESV) as follows: "What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. "You will say to me then, 'Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?' But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" Need I say more than than the Holy Spirit has already said on this topic? You concluded, "Your advice on how to reconcile this apparent contradiction will be greatly appreciated." Work on correcting your fundamental presuppositions, to insure they are properly aligned Scripture's revelation (Hebrews 5:12-13). (The Word was never intended to comfort us by bolstering our assumptions. On the contrary, the truth will always be uncomfortable! Nevertheless, if we truly love the Lord, we will truly love the truth, being unwilling to settle for anything less!) How about this: Instead of searching out Scripture to support the teaching of human moral ability, why not focus on knowing the Lord Himself. Do a Bible word study on choose, chosen, elect, election, etc. Deal with your discomfort directly (Job 38:3). In Him, Doc |