Is it correct to say, "One aspect of the Bible is that it is like a rule book"?

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There is a big difference between a rule book and a book that contains some recommendations on how one should live. If you wish to call it a rule book when it is far more than that, then expect people to tell you it is not.

I am not saying the Bible is a rule book alone.
But you are incorrect to say this of the Bible:

"There is a big difference between a rule book and a book that contains some recommendations on how one should live."
~ Gordonhooker

The Bible does not have some recommendations, it has many!!!
The Law of Moses has about 613 commands.
The New Covenant or New Testament has even more commands than this. But it does have many rules or commands within it. To say that the Bible is no way like a rule book is false. It is one aspect of the Bible. The Bible has many commands or rules within it. Do you disagree?
 
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SkyWriting

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gordonhooker

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I am not saying the Bible is a rule book alone.
But you are incorrect to say this of the Bible:

"There is a big difference between a rule book and a book that contains some recommendations on how one should live."
~ Gordonhooker

The Bible does not have some recommendations, it has many!!!
The Law of Moses has about 613 commands.
The New Covenant or New Testament has even more commands than this. But it does have many rules or commands within it. To say that the Bible is no way like a rule book is false. It is one aspect of the Bible. The Bible has many commands or rules within it. Do you disagree?


First of all for the record some is an undermined number so your argument above is just plain silly.

The text below is a simplified description of the Bible as per the Anglican Diocese of Southern Queensland website


What is the Bible?
The Bible is a collection of books which Christians accept as God’s word, interpreted by inspired writers at different stages of history. It comprises the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament
The Old Testament contains the writings about God’s will for created order being lived out in ancient civilisations, and is part of a heritage shared with Judaism and Islam. Writings in this section of the Bible look forward to the coming of a Messiah, or saviour for humanity.

The New Testament
This section of the Bible details the revelation of Jesus who is the Messiah (Christ). Writings about the life and work of Jesus, his cross and resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the life of the early church show us God’s will for all people.’

Is not just a rule book as you tied to argue elsewhere.
 
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First of all for the record some is an undermined number so your argument above is just plain silly.

The text below is a simplified description of the Bible as per the Anglican Diocese of Southern Queensland website


What is the Bible?
The Bible is a collection of books which Christians accept as God’s word, interpreted by inspired writers at different stages of history. It comprises the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament
The Old Testament contains the writings about God’s will for created order being lived out in ancient civilisations, and is part of a heritage shared with Judaism and Islam. Writings in this section of the Bible look forward to the coming of a Messiah, or saviour for humanity.

The New Testament
This section of the Bible details the revelation of Jesus who is the Messiah (Christ). Writings about the life and work of Jesus, his cross and resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the life of the early church show us God’s will for all people.’

Is not just a rule book as you tied to argue elsewhere.

I never stated that the Bible is solely a rulebook. But to say that one aspect of the Bible is that it is not like a rulebook is simply incorrect. The Bible has many rules and commands in it. This is an important part of the Bible in our drawing closer to God. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (rules) (See John 14:15).
 
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Originally it was written that way for God to show us that it wouldn't work, with God using the Jews as the example. Since then God has turned all the rule writing and moral authority over to local governments.

John 19:11
Romans 13:1-7
1 Peter 2:13-17
Titus 3:1
Psalm 22:28
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Proverbs 21:1



Not true. There are tons of commands given to the church, with many of them being moral. Matthew 25:31-46 is about helping the poor. According to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, helping the poor is the equivalent of loving your neighbor in Luke 10. In Luke 10:25-28, we learn that loving God (including some details) and loving your neighbor is a part of inheriting eternal life. This still applies. For Paul says that if any man does not agree with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, they are proud and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4).
 
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SkyWriting

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Not true. There are tons of commands given to the church, with many of them being moral.

Those were to specific churches.
I'd say true enough that anything in writing is obsolete :

John 19:11
Romans 13:1-7
1 Peter 2:13-17
Titus 3:1
Psalm 22:28
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Proverbs 21:1

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 9:15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 8:13
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
 
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Those were to specific churches.
I'd say true enough that anything in writing is obsolete :

John 19:11
Romans 13:1-7
1 Peter 2:13-17
Titus 3:1
Psalm 22:28
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Proverbs 21:1

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 9:15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 8:13
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

I have never heard of such a thing before. That is just crazy.
 
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Would it be more accurate to say, "One aspect of the Bible is part of it is a historical rule book"?

Yes, you could say that.
It's also a story book because it tells us God's Story.
 
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gordonhooker

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I never stated that the Bible is solely a rulebook. But to say that one aspect of the Bible is that it is not like a rulebook is simply incorrect. The Bible has many rules and commands in it. This is an important part of the Bible in our drawing closer to God. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (rules) (See John 14:15).

I am not going to bother discussing this with you any further as you were referring to the Bible as a rule book it was the central point you directed to another persons post.

Basically all you seem to be doing is arguing with people for the sake of an argument.
 
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Those were to specific churches.
I'd say true enough that anything in writing is obsolete :

John 19:11
Romans 13:1-7
1 Peter 2:13-17
Titus 3:1
Psalm 22:28
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Proverbs 21:1

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 9:15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 8:13
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The end of the Bible ends with:

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14).

Surely this cannot be just to the churches. It talks about "they" generically who do his commandments and have right to the tree of life. Will you be able to disobey his commandments and have right to the tree of life? Or are you not going to have rights to the tree of life? Is not the tree of life symbolic of eternal life? Is it not the same tree from the Garden in the beginning?

As for Hebrews 8:13. This is highly misunderstood by many. The author of Hebrews is giving us a commentary on what Jesus meant when he said the two words "New Covenant" (New Testament) at the Lord's supper the night before his death. The Old was ready to vanish away at that point because the Old Covenant would officially end with Christ's death upon the cross. The temple veil was torn from top to bottom. This does not mean that all law would disappear. Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed. It does not say that all of God's laws have been abrogated.
 
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I am not going to bother discussing this with you any further as you were referring to the Bible as a rule book it was the central point you directed to another persons post.

Basically all you seem to be doing is arguing with people for the sake of an argument.

I believe you are simply saving face and not willing to admit that you are wrong. Clearly the Bible does not have SOME guidelines but it has many rules or commands within it. If the Bible contains many rules in it and they are very important for us to draw closer to God (John 14:15) (John 14:23), I would say that one aspect of the Bible is that it is a rule book. Do you not agree?
 
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The Bible is a collection of God inspired word given to various people over a period of time. In that word, among many other things that He wishes us to understand, He tells us what is immoral and what is morally upright and what one must do to be part of the nation of Israel. He even sums up the part about morality it up in a sentence, "Love God with all your heart and mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself." . The part about membership in the nation of Israel is surely much like a rule book. "Do this, do not do that" in very specific terms but further it is more like a document of law that imposes specific punishments for specific violations. That being said, I would say a better question to ask would be "Is one purpose ( aspect is a somewhat vague and amorphous word ) of the Bible to be a law book?".
 
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Is it correct to say, "One aspect of the Bible is that it is like a rule book"?
I think that is sort of correct to say. I know you said just one aspect but it is not like a rule book (imo) it is a book which contains rules. That's how I see it.

The word law is used a lot in the bible. Here's a definition of law:

"the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties"
 
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The bible is a guide, which contains rules for success and warnings about failure. Best instruction book for mankind ever written. :bow:

Even unbelievers can profit by it's wisdom.
 
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Is it correct to say, "One aspect of the Bible is that it is like a rule book"?

Psalm 119 NIV

In the American language, our idiom, our connotations, the phrase 'rule book' has the flavor of being...about only rules. But if you read in the psalms you encounter many psalms about the wonderful goodness of God's laws for us (such as long and helpful psalm 119), the way His laws make our lives better, for one, and more, and His law we hear is so much better, so much more than only 'rules'. His law in spirit and in truth is so much better than just regulations (what the pharisees preferred too often). It's something we can't do that well unless we are under that altering on us through Christ, such as we are aided with for instance when we pray the prayer of Matthew 6 with faith. Because the law is about love, summed up with such as 'love your neighbor as yourself'. On our own we'd not do that truly well (as deeply and wonderfully as we should), but if we are on the Vine (John 15), then the Vine delivers into us the power to bear real fruit.
 
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eleos1954

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Is it correct to say, "One aspect of the Bible is that it is like a rule book"?

The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ ... it testifies of Him.

John 5

39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words (the Bible) that testify about Me, 40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

Psalm 19:7-8

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony (the Bible) of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

God Bless.
 
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The Bible is a collection of God inspired word given to various people over a period of time. In that word, among many other things that He wishes us to understand, He tells us what is immoral and what is morally upright and what one must do to be part of the nation of Israel. He even sums up the part about morality it up in a sentence, "Love God with all your heart and mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself." . The part about membership in the nation of Israel is surely much like a rule book. "Do this, do not do that" in very specific terms but further it is more like a document of law that imposes specific punishments for specific violations. That being said, I would say a better question to ask would be "Is one purpose ( aspect is a somewhat vague and amorphous word ) of the Bible to be a law book?".

Well, rules, commands, or laws are the same thing. Even faith is a commandment. For it is called, "the law of faith." (Romans 3:27). Having faith in God is a command (Mark 11:22). Even believing in Jesus is a commandment (1 John 3:23). If we do not obey God, then we miss the Bible in what God wants us to do. If we do not repent (Which is a command - Acts of the Apostles 17:30), if we do not love (Which are commandments - Luke 10:25-28) things will not go well for us. John 5:24 says, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

I would say that if we do not regard one aspect of the Bible as a rule book, then we are not taking seriously God's rules or commands for our life in drawing us closer into a relationship with Him.

People are quick to say that the Bible is about having a relationship, but if are they justifying sin and or thinking it is okay to break God's commands or rules? 1 John 2:4 says that person who says they know the Lord and yet does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in them.
 
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The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ ... it testifies of Him.

John 5

39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words (the Bible) that testify about Me, 40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

Psalm 19:7-8

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony (the Bible) of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

God Bless.

The teachings of Jesus Christ (Which would include His commands) is a part of who Jesus Christ is. Some Christians try to separate the commands or teachings of Jesus Christ from the person of Jesus.
 
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