Can human interpretations of the word of God be in error?

Tayla

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.
 

Ken Rank

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.
Is there no dispute? I am not saying there is... but man is not God, he is man and he is fallen. So not only was he below God from the start, he slipped even lower from sin. Thus we do err, in fact, the 20,000+ denominations and sects of Christianity (divisions in the ONE body) proves to us that man is not capable of reaching conclusions without error. Why? Because either >>ONE<< of those 20,000+ are correct, or >>ALL<< of them have error in their doctrines since all those divisions are divided because of doctrine. Since only Yeshua (Jesus) was perfect in understanding and practice, then I side with the idea that there isn't one group or person that has it all correct.
 
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PeaceJoyLove

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.
I just posted this on another thread yesterday, but aptly fits here as well.

The world of a man is measured as he sees in part, applying that measure to what he sees...which sets a boundary as it relates to perception/dwelling place (as in the question asked in the garden, "Where art thou?")... God gives the spirit without measure...
 
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FireDragon76

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Jesus said we will know them by their fruits. Maybe that is a bit vague but I think it is a good place to start the discussion.

I think its possible for churches with very different doctrines to still be faithful to Jesus. Human language does not circumscribe God.
 
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JackRT

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.

We certainly see different interpretations of the Bible. I believe the reason for this is that the Bible itself is an interpretation on the part of its human authors. Moreover, the creeds and doctrines are mostly fourth century understandings by Greek speaking Gentile Christians whose understandings of the world were shaped by Greek philosophy.
 
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Petros2015

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Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.

One might consider then, investigating the Church that founded those documents. It's still around. Just sayin'. :)
 
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FireDragon76

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One might consider then, investigating the Church that founded those documents. It's still around. Just sayin'. :)

You mean the Lutherans?
 
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FireDragon76

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If you read our fathers in our faith, or some of our own theologians, they reference the documents as if they are their own. The narrative that we "broke away" from the Catholic Church is an outsider perspective we do not share. We got rid of an appendange that turned cancerous.

Technically, we view ourselves as "the one true Church", and we used to not even have open communion. Our Augsburg Confession had the same status as an ecumenical council.

I just use this as an example of how many churches have an ancient patrimony within their self-understanding.
 
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timewerx

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But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

I've seen this too often to think that this problem is real and exists in probably all Christian denominations, including non-denominational, Orthodox, etc.

Many assumes not having this problem until out of the blue, something comes out of the Bible study and no one is agreeing on the same thing. It happens.
 
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SBC

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

This is the common problem ~

God said ~ is Gods Word. Period
I believe Gods Word ~ an Individuals confession. Period

Interpretation is a separate matter.

Interpretation is the UNDERSTANDING of words.

Men have no end of what they (in their individual minds) UNDERSTAND words/phrases, etc. mean.

However God has TWO UNDERSTANDINGS of what words mean ~

1) His OWN Spiritual Understanding, that ONLY HE can GIVE TO an individual.

2) Calling things THAT ARE ACTUALLY Spiritual ~ in terms a man already understands.

In other words, just like humans, as adults talk to little children in terms they can understand, even when what we are saying has a greater meaning.....Our Holy Father does the same with His children.

As humans we hope to expect our little children begin to learn the greater meaning of moon light, which has no light at all, but only appears as light because of the reflection of the sun.

So too, does our Holy Father expect us to seek Him for His greater Spiritual Understanding of the meaning of the Words He has given us.

However it is not news ~ men like games of logic and mind stimulation, and then like to debate with their clever mind.

Dilemma is ~ it is not the MIND that God feeds His Spiritual Understanding to ~ but rather a mans quickened Spiritual spirit, which is in the mans HEART!

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true

If you are trying to FIGURE the UNDERSTANDING of Gods Word, with YOUR MIND, it is a fail.

If you are soaking up Gods Word, by hearing, reading, studying, and then ASKING GOD FOR HIS SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING and receiving it in your HEART, it is then, what you can know is true.

God Bless,
SBC
 
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SBC

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But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

A closer observation would be the most likely collision is between thoughts of MINDS, not thoughts of the HEARTS.

God Bless,
SBC
 
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SBC

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Can human interpretations of the word of God be in error?

Absolutely ~

Humans are not equipped to interpret Gods Word.

However SOME Humans have become equipped to RECEIVE Gods Understanding (interpretation) of His Word.

God Bless,
SBC
 
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Halbhh

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Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with those of others.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that.

By laying aside the (many) superfluous doctrines and following Christ instead.

Even the helpful Apostles' Creed is not a good substitute for listening to His words and keeping them in our minds and doing them. We must follow Him to Life.

Imagine before the gospels were written down.

Those living then who had not seen Him would fall silent as the eye witnesses told things He said. We can imagine it -- how we would get so focused, staining to hear every little bit.
 
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Tayla

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Because either >>ONE<< of those 20,000+ are correct, or >>ALL<< of them have error in their doctrines since all those divisions are divided because of doctrine. Since only Yeshua (Jesus) was perfect in understanding and practice, then I side with the idea that there isn't one group or person that has it all correct.
Thank you. This is my point. People always say the word of God is unchanging and thus can be used to refute science claims. But they leave out the part about interpretation.
 
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JackRT

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Thank you. This is my point. People always say the word of God is unchanging and thus can be used to refute science claims. But they leave out the part about interpretation.

That they do.
 
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Tayla

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We certainly see different interpretations of the Bible. I believe the reason for this is that the Bible itself is an interpretation on the part of its human authors. Moreover, the creeds and doctrines are mostly fourth century understandings by Greek speaking Gentile Christians whose understandings of the world were shaped by Greek philosophy.
Yes thank you. You might enjoy reading Adolph Harnack's "History of Dogma", Volume 1 & 2.
 
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NobleMouse

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Thank you. This is my point. People always say the word of God is unchanging and thus can be used to refute science claims. But they leave out the part about interpretation.
This just shows the thrust of your starting this thread was solely to build a defense to interpret the Bible on the basis of what you and others here to be true regarding mainstream science and that you believe science subverts the Bible as the ultimate authority of truth. 2/3 of the world also doesn't believe in the God of the Christian Bible, maybe we should reinterpret scripture on the basis of what other religions believe too? I am in agreement with @Ken Rank and others here that people can misinsterpret the Bible, but it is also no less true that people can misinterpret evidence. Maybe restating your opening remarks like this would have received more informed responses as the way you phrased it hid your biased agenda:

"Christians commonly say the word of God is true and it never changes. This is true.

But then they espouse their particular doctrines which collide with what is held to be true in mainstream science.

How can we know whether our particular interpretations are true without falling back on the idiotic statement: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".

Certainly the Nicene Creed and the Trinity are true. There is no dispute with that"

"God said it, I believe it, that settles it" is idiotic?? That doesn't sound consistent with how Jesus perceived and responded to those with a child-like faith of God's word. See Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus marveled at the man's faith and said, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith." This seems to be a favorable quality we should all aspire to have... but maybe I'm misinterpreting.
 
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