I converted to Jehovah's Witnesses

Awesome... I recall my first time standing, first time making it "around the block" hospital hallways with the walker! I cried happy tears. And food! (The removal of feeding tube was weird)

My mantra has been "get stronger of die trying" I have an AMC Gym Pass 25$ a month gets me 4 movies a week. I walk to the mall, take a nap in the reclining seats and darkness and walk 1.7 miles back...it first took me 3 or for rests to get there, now somedays I can make it there and back without stopping (make that rarely but somedays)

Keep on keeping on bud
 
wil said:
Awesome... I recall my first time standing, first time making it "around the block" hospital hallways with the walker! I cried happy tears. And food! (The removal of feeding tube was weird)

My mantra has been "get stronger of die trying" I have an AMC Gym Pass 25$ a month gets me 4 movies a week. I walk to the mall, take a nap in the reclining seats and darkness and walk 1.7 miles back...it first took me 3 or for rests to get there, now somedays I can make it there and back without stopping (make that rarely but somedays)

Keep on keeping on bud
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Thank you so much for your kind words, your experience has given me some hope, I will keep trying to improve on the food that I eat and the exercise and of course my obedience towards God.
 
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I never had a bucketlist...but now I have a bottomless bucket list...not of things I want to do before i die...but things I enjoy doing while still alive...with no ownership of Outcome or even a need to complete!

My new additional mantra (added to "get stronger or die trying" is "I will live life, enjoy life, till I die!"
 
This has nothing to do with the topic on this thread, but I feel it is a interesting reason to believe in God.

Cumulus clouds can carry up to one million pounds of moisture and the clouds move around the earth, and then release the moisture as rain, the earths gravity pulls the rain drops to the earths surface, it all starts with evaporation of water that goes upward and collects and forms clouds.

What if just one thing was missing? 1. evaporation. 2. the ability for clouds to carry a million pounds of moisture when the earths gravity pulls down something as light as rain drops. 3. wind to move the clouds around the earth. 4. if any step was missing all life would die. 5. what if the clouds would keep going upwards and drift into space?

This is one reason I believe in God.
 
updated

Cumulus clouds can carry up to one million pounds of moisture and the clouds move around the earth, and then release the moisture as rain, the earths gravity pulls the rain drops to the earths surface, it all starts with evaporation of water that goes upward and collects and forms clouds.

What if just one thing was missing? 1. Evaporation. 2. The ability for clouds to carry a million pounds of moisture when the earths gravity pulls down something as light as rain drops. 3. Wind to move the clouds around the earth. 4. Condensation. 5. If any step was missing all life would die. 6. What if the clouds would keep going upwards and drift into space? 7. The earth's gravity. 8. Precipitation.

This is one reason I believe in God.
 
walter said:
I don't quite understand why you're asking these kind of questions?
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to discuss the idea of interpretation. everybody interprets everything they read.
walter said:
5. The scriptures are written in English and I speak English, so how hard could it be? -
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The scriptures are translated into English. Some translations are a little different from others. Even people with the same translation sometimes disagree. That is how hard it can be. It's not like scripture is self explanatory. It is often oblique, vague, or symbolic.

Even the simplest books, any books, not just scripture but anything, serious literature for sure, any form of fiction or nonfiction, scientific journal articles, newspaper articles, even procedure manuals etc... people get different things out of them and sometimes have to confer with one another and reread.

And you probably know about the rich and complex tradition of Rabbinical interpretation and study of Torah. It's not just read the plain words.

Do you remember things @Thomas has said about history and interpretation on various threads?
 
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walter said:
I don't quite understand why you're asking these kind of questions?
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Here's something about interpretation, one of my favorite quotes from Shakespeare
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
The author of this article offers his opinion on what the passage means compared to how he thinks people interpret it.

The Real Meaning of Hamlet’s ‘There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio’

In this week’s Dispatches from The Secret Library, Dr Oliver Tearle considers a famous and much-misunderstood quotation from Shakespeare ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than …
interestingliterature.com interestingliterature.com

This is often true of all literary works, and also all scriptures the world over - people often have differing or even controversial interpretations of them - we are all influence by our own history, culture, education, biases, etc, in how we interpret anything and everything we read.
 
TheLightWithin said:
Here's something about interpretation, one of my favorite quotes from Shakespeare
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
The author of this article offers his opinion on what the passage means compared to how he thinks people interpret it.

The Real Meaning of Hamlet’s ‘There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio’

In this week’s Dispatches from The Secret Library, Dr Oliver Tearle considers a famous and much-misunderstood quotation from Shakespeare ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than …
interestingliterature.com interestingliterature.com

This is often true of all literary works, and also all scriptures the world over - people often have differing or even controversial interpretations of them - we are all influence by our own history, culture, education, biases, etc, in how we interpret anything and everything we read.
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I will take everything you have said on this thread in consideration when I decide to believe anything. Thank you for talking with me I appreciate your advice. Peace and Happiness be with you. ♥️
 
You decide, wouldn't all the scriptures be important?

Use any Bible translation you like.

Believe
John 3:16
John 10:27-28
Colossians 1:22-23a
Acts 16:30, 31
1 John 2:2


Knowledge or Know
John 17:3
1 John 5:20
2 Timothy 3:15
1 Timothy 2:3, 4.
Psalm 79:6


Repent
Acts 3:19
Acts 26:20.
Acts 2:38
Matthew 3:2
Matthew 4:17


Get baptized
Matthew 28:19
Acts 2: 38, 40, 41
Acts 8:36-38
1 Peter 3:21
Mark 16:16
Acts 10:47-48


Obey Jesus and God's instructions in the Bible
Hebrews 5:9
Matthew 28:20
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
John 3:36
John 14:15
Luke 8:21
Matthew 7:24
Romans 2:8
Acts 5:29
1 John 5:3
Matthew 19:17
James 1:22


Endure to the end
Mark 13:13
Hebrews 10:36
1 Corinthians 9:27
James 5:11
Romans 8:13
James 1:2-4
 

Justin Martyr’s Dialogue w/ Trypho Ch. 34 “..although the words of the Psalm expressly proclaim that reference is made to the everlasting King, i.e., to Christ. For Christ is King, and Priest, and God, and Lord, and Angel, and man, and captain (Josh. 5:13-15), and stone, and a Son born, and first made subject to suffering, then returning to heaven, and again coming with glory, and He is preached as having the everlasting kingdom: so I prove from all the Scriptures.”

Eusebius’ The Proof of the Gospel Book 4 Ch. 17 From Exodus. How Jesus, the Successor of Moses, called the Angel, and about to be the Leader of the People, is said to bear the Name of Christ. “20. And behold, I send my angel before thy face, that he may keep thee in the way, that he may bring thee into the land which I have prepared for thee. Take heed to thyself and hearken unto him and disobey him not; for he will not give way to thee, for my name is upon him (Exodus 23:20-21).”

Contra Celsum Book 8 Ch. 27 “He who by his piety possesses the favour of the Most High, who has accepted the guidance of Jesus, the Angel of the great counsel, being well contented with the favour of God through Christ Jesus, may say with confidence that he has nothing to suffer from the whole host of demons.”


Justin Martyr lived in the 2nd century AD, from approximately 100–165 AD.

Eusebius of Caesarea lived in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries CE

Contra Celsum was written around the year 248 AD by the Church Father Origen of Alexandria.
 
Just curious – the three you cite in post #450 above all believe that Jesus was the Son of God and God ... but I suppose those texts are interpreted according to JW belief.

I just checked and that's probably the case, so there's no need to answer.
 
Thomas said:
Just curious – the three you cite in post #450 above all believe that Jesus was the Son of God and God ... but I suppose those texts are interpreted according to JW belief.

I just checked and that's probably the case, so there's no need to answer.
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We believe Jesus is king, Mighty God and Really God's Son John 1:1-3 just like God's Myriads of other Sons in heaven (Angels), angels are not born like humans are, but the Bible still calls them Sons of God. But Jesus refers to himself differently in Matthew, which no angel or anyone is called these words.. Jesus refers to himself as God's Only Begotten Son. John 3:16

The Greek word for God has a dual meaning [ God - or a God ] when it is translated into English. The early church fathers writings was originally written in Greek, to call a person God or a God one Greek word is written G2316 θεός ... When translated into English the translator has to determine [ a God or God ] Because there is no indefinite article in the Greek language "a" or "an".

G2316 θεός - Strong's Greek Lexicon Number​


LSJ Gloss
:θεός
God

Dodson:
θεός
God, a god (a) God, (b) a god, generally.

[in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;]
a god or deity, God.

See this link:
 
Translated these different ways into English "a god" "Logos was divine" "like God (God-like)" "[a] god" "God"

John 1:1 " In a beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and a god was the Word.
Diaglott "Emphatic Diaglott New Testament 1864

John 1:1 THE Logos existed in the very beginning, the Logos was with God, the Logos was divine.
Moffatt James Moffatt New Testament First published in 1913

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was like God (God-like).
NSB "New Simplified Bible" Published in 2003

John 1:1 In the beginning, there was the Word,The Word was with The God [Greek: ton theon],And [a] god [Greek: theos] was the Word. 2001translation.org

John 1:1 – Why ‘a god?’ — 2001 Translation of the Bible

(none)
2001translation.org 2001translation.org

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
King James Bible 1611 *Most English translations are translated this way.
 
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Hi Walter –

With regard to John 1:1, the simple truth is, the text is indeterminate – so a translation of John 1:1 alone is not sufficient in itself to prove anything. As the notable scholar David Bentley Hart stated in his Postscript to his translation of the New Testament:
"There may perhaps be no passage in the New Testament more resistant to simple translation into another tongue than the first eighteen verses – the Prologue of the Gospel of John." (Hart, The New Testament, Postscript, p533).

walter said:
The Greek word for God has a dual meaning [ God - or a God ] ...
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Let's clarify. The word θεός means 'god'. Who or what it refers to is dependent on context.

walter said:
... The early church fathers writings was originally written in Greek, to call a person God or a God one Greek word is written...
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That's not quite right.

When speaking of God, that is a particular God, be it the Judeo-Christian God, or Zeus, or any other particular deity, then a definite article 'the' is used (Gk: ὁ [ho]).

Genesis 1:1 (LXX):
ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν
en archē poieō ho theos ho ouranos kai ho gē
In the beginning (the) God (ho theos) created the heaven (ho ouranos) and the earth (ho gē).
We miss out 'the' in reference to God because it's evident which God is being talked about.
 
Thomas said:
Hi Walter –

With regard to John 1:1, the simple truth is, the text is indeterminate – so a translation of John 1:1 alone is not sufficient in itself to prove anything. As the notable scholar David Bentley Hart stated in his Postscript to his translation of the New Testament:
"There may perhaps be no passage in the New Testament more resistant to simple translation into another tongue than the first eighteen verses – the Prologue of the Gospel of John." (Hart, The New Testament, Postscript, p533).


Let's clarify. The word θεός means 'god'. Who or what it refers to is dependent on context.


That's not quite right.

When speaking of God, that is a particular God, be it the Judeo-Christian God, or Zeus, or any other particular deity, then a definite article 'the' is used (Gk: ὁ [ho]).

Genesis 1:1 (LXX):
ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν
en archē poieō ho theos ho ouranos kai ho gē
In the beginning (the) God (ho theos) created the heaven (ho ouranos) and the earth (ho gē).
We miss out 'the' in reference to God because it's evident which God is being talked about.
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I already listed the definition of the Greek word for God translated into English from:

G2316 θεός - Strong's Greek Lexicon​

I see no value to debate this point any further, Thanks for explaining your reasoning, but it does not change the definition of the word God translated into English. You have your reasoning points I have mine, we have both have presented what we believe to be true.

John 1:1 is an example of how Bible translators translate the word "God" in Greek to English, I have posted several different ways In the prior post.

Peace be with you. 🙂
 
A literally precise translation of John 1:1 could be –

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος
En archéi én ho logos, kai ho logos én pros ton theon, kai theos én ho logos
In beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with the God, and god was the Logos.

I have capitalised Logos because it carries the article ὁ (ho, 'the') and God in the second phrase because the article is grammatically implied τὸν θεόν (ton theon, 'the God').

What is left then, is to determine if:
a) The Logos exists 'in beginning', that is, being a reference to Genesis 1:1, the Logos was 'with' God (the Father) before the world was made;
b) The Logos is with God (the Father), but other than God (the Father);
c) god is the Logos, then
d) As the verse references only one God, the God, but clearly implies that the Logos is other than God, but is with God, and is (a) god;
e) Is John proposing some order in binitarianism, or a hierarchical godhead of distinct divinities?
 
walter said:
I already listed the definition of the Greek word for God
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We've cross-posted here.

I have no issue with the term 'God', simply that you have to account for the presence or absence of the article ὁ (ho, 'the').
 
No matter what above all, I think kindness and love is the key.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails... Berean Standard Bible

Peter wrote “Do not pay back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead, repay with a blessing.” (1 Pet. 3:9) Allow intense love to move you to be kind and considerate.
 
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