Anyway, I don't have time to spend on the net like I use to, so I might not be able to respond if anyone actually replies to my post, but I wanted to say some stuff.
1. If the Torah is meant to be taken so literally, why are apparent literal passages interpreted by Jesus and the evangelists as figurative prophecy for the life of Christ?
2. If the Torah and Tanakh are so resistent to liberal interpretation, why does Jesus paraphrase frequently?
3. If one reads the Bible as wholly literal, or without historical context, or without the assumption that fallible men wrote it, don't errors in logic appear? From the mountain from which the entire world can be seen, to the sudden naming of God? If one attempts to reconcile these things, doesn't that lead one to mystical interpretation?
4. If the Bible is perfect, why are books cited that never became part of canon, though they are quoted as scripture? Why did the more anti-semitic Church fathers accuse Jews of changing scripture to blot out mention of Jesus? Why weren't the gospels written by the authors together, or combined by the Apostles rather than Romans, if they were to be whole and perfect?
5. Why do Papists and Prods frequently raise the spectre of 'anti-Christ' and 'devil' to condemn rival Christians when in the gospel Jesus is accused by the apparently pious as devil-possessed and blasphemous? Isn't this tempting fate?
What is taken literally from the OT is that God is all power and can do all the things He did without questioning them with science and men of doubt. Gods logic comes in many different ways that are different from mans logic.
While Jonah was in the belly of the whale 3 days (literal) so was the son of man in the heart of the earth 3 days (literal). It is all about types and shadows for the present day spiritual man and for the perfecting of the saints. The (3) death burial and resurrection of Jesus and how we take part in that.
The parables were not for the old days but for our generation to understand what things would come to pass. There was a change in dispensation called grace, where Jesus brought man back into loving favor with God, through obedience to the cross, if we seek Him through faith and in spirit.
I am not going to answer every question here Mus Zibii , because they are all the same basic answer, but you will most likely only continue to ask more questions (which is good to a point), but they are not about our logical answers when one begins to doubt, they sink into a pit.
Certainly the bible is open for interpretation and understanding the History is a good thing, you can see scripture in many ways. In number 5, it is not tempting fate, but rather things that must come to pass, which you may or may not be aware of. Dont ask me why, ask God why and he might show you in His Word. God works just like that, pulling good out of evil, rescuing the slaves and setting them free. There has been antiChrist since Herod went to slay all the first born at the birth of Jesus- LITERAL, just as Pharao slayed the first born trying to get Moses- LITERAL.
The Word shows us how antiChrist will become more prevelant toward the end, in blaspheming God and Jesus with man exalting and worshipping himself, and that is how we will know them.
It is all first literal (earthly), then second literal (spiritualy).
Maybe you only see what you see in the bible, because you choose to only see it that way and do not realize it.
Naming it a mystery and the other mystical, is two seperate ideas. A mystery has evidence along the way, mysticism can lead into vain imaginations. They are close but not the same. Some things we are never going to fully understand.
For some reason, only certain people can see certain things. Not sure why, but maybe that is part of fate and free will. People choose to see and believe what they want, We cannot outsmart God
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with our own logic.
I am pretty much over this thread too. I see it going nowhere except stuck in the mud. It will make good compost. LOL
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