Continuing to read the bible in eternity

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

a guiding scripture on my thoughts on this matter is Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

But I've heard from some people that they believe we'll continue to read the bible as it is currently written in heaven and even after the restitution of all things in eternity.
It's always stood out as kind of a bizarre thought to me, because in the presence of God we'd be able to hear His words without the filter of human authors who were Inspired. It'd be direct, unfiltered. We'd no longer have to rely on 2000 year old (or older) written and translated scripture that doesn't directly address our questions.

So that makes me think about of what profit a lot of the bible would even still have in the age to come. After all, all prophecy would have been fulfilled. Would we just.. read it as historical books then? All the warnings about sin would no longer be relevant, as there would be no more sin. All the exhortations and commandments to preach the Gospel would no longer be relevant, as everyone in that age would already know and have accepted the Gospel, as those verses of Jeremiah 31 state, there won't be any preaching, because everyone will already know the Lord. The books of the law... we'd already know it all by heart since God will put them all in our inward parts. The book of the Song of Solomon is about a type of love between men and women that would no longer exist, of what relevance would it have to describe a physically intimate relationship that is no longer a thing?

it'd all be history that would not repeat

SeventyOne · Mar 6, 2021

Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

This wouldn't be able to be fulfilled if we are constantly reading about the former things.

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

SeventyOne said:
Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

This wouldn't be able to be fulfilled if we are constantly reading about the former things.

I was thinking about that verse as well.

Freth · Mar 6, 2021

The Bible is for fallen man, so that he can come back to God. We will have direct communion with our creator. There will be no need for a guide book on how to overcome sin and take on righteousness. As SeventyOne has already shown, the former things will pass away and not be remembered. The Bible will not be relevant to a heavenly being, it will be of the former things (sin, the former world).

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
a guiding scripture on my thoughts on this matter is Jeremiah 31:31-34

But I've heard from some people that they believe we'll continue to read the bible as it is currently written in heaven and even after the restitution of all things in eternity.
It's always stood out as kind of a bizarre thought to me, because in the presence of God we'd be able to hear His words without the filter of human authors who were Inspired. It'd be direct, unfiltered. We'd no longer have to rely on 2000 year old (or older) written and translated scripture that doesn't directly address our questions.

So that makes me think about of what profit a lot of the bible would even still have in the age to come. After all, all prophecy would have been fulfilled. Would we just.. read it as historical books then? All the warnings about sin would no longer be relevant, as there would be no more sin. All the exhortations and commandments to preach the Gospel would no longer be relevant, as everyone in that age would already know and have accepted the Gospel, as those verses of Jeremiah 31 state, there won't be any preaching, because everyone will already know the Lord. The books of the law... we'd already know it all by heart since God will put them all in our inward parts. The book of the Song of Solomon is about a type of love between men and women that would no longer exist, of what relevance would it have to describe a physically intimate relationship that is no longer a thing?

it'd all be history that would not repeat

Well said.
This may be a bitter pill to swallow for those who currently worship the book and can't imagine life without it.

When we get to heaven the Bible may be discarded altogether as a book so full of errors that humanity would be embarrassed of it. I recently read an article about the scribal errors in just the genealogy of Jesus. Oops.

From the Library: Luke's Genealogy in NT Manuscripts - CSNTM

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

Saint Steven said:
Well said.
This may be a bitter pill to swallow for those who currently worship the book and can't imagine life without it.

When we get to heaven the Bible may be discarded altogether as a book so full of errors that humanity would be embarrassed of it. I recently read an article about the scribal errors in just the genealogy of Jesus. Oops.

From the Library: Luke's Genealogy in NT Manuscripts - CSNTM

Uh, that's not the basis of why I don't think bible reading will really be a thing in eternity, I mean, maybe for historical reference, but that's about it.
in the genealogy differences between Matthew and Luke it's because 1 was from His mother's side and 1 from Joseph's side, just to show the tie to David.

The bible is the only real thing we can trust as far as how to know God, so it is of paramount importance in this life.
It's just that in eternity most of it will no longer be relevant.

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
The bible is the only real thing we can trust as far as how to know God, so it is of paramount importance in this life.

The only real thing?
How many of those in Hebrews chapter eleven (the faith chapter) had a Bible?

SeventyOne · Mar 6, 2021

Saint Steven said:
The only real thing?
How many of those in Hebrews chapter eleven (the faith chapter) had a Bible?

All of them, at least what had been revealed to them until their current time.

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

Saint Steven said:
The only real thing?
How many of those in Hebrews chapter eleven (the faith chapter) had a Bible?

They had the old testament

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

SeventyOne said:
All of them, at least what had been revealed to them until their current time.

Right, like that is equivalent to having a Bible. (not)

Saint Steven said: ↑
The only real thing?
How many of those in Hebrews chapter eleven (the faith chapter) had a Bible?

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
They had the old testament

Abel and Cain and Enoch and Noah had the OT? (nope)
Abraham, Issac and Jacob had the OT? (nope)

public hermit · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
But I've heard from some people that they believe we'll continue to read the bible as it is currently written in heaven and even after the restitution of all things in eternity.

Wow, I had no idea anyone thought this. I take it as just one more sign that some Christians treat the scriptures in an idolatrous way. Let me guess, the Bible is perfect, and God's eternal words, so of course we'll still read it, smh.

SeventyOne · Mar 6, 2021

Saint Steven said:
Right, like that is equivalent to having a Bible. (not)

Saint Steven said: ↑
The only real thing?
How many of those in Hebrews chapter eleven (the faith chapter) had a Bible?

It's their equivalent, yes. Just as we have a more complete version than even Paul and the other apostles.

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

SeventyOne said:
It's their equivalent, yes. Just as we have a more complete version than even Paul and the other apostles.

I think we may be in agreement. We are just coming at it from two different directions.

I'm trying to make the point that we don't need to have a Bible to have a relationship with God. You seem to be saying that the relationship with God that those before the Bible had was enough for them. So essentially the same idea.

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

public hermit said:
Wow, I had no idea anyone thought this. I take it as just one more sign that some Christians treat the scriptures in an idolatrous way. Let me guess, the Bible is perfect, and God's eternal words, so of course we'll still read it, smh.

Well, I think that the bible is truth, and it is God's eternal words, Jesus promised as much, I just don't think a lot of it will be things that are relevant. I once asked about the purpose of having a mansion since we'd all be bachelors/bachelorettes, and a poster said it'd be a private place to pray and read the bible and it just struck me as so strange that we'd be able to talk face to face with God and he'd still want to pray and read the bible rather than just.. talk to God face to face.

Jamdoc · Mar 6, 2021

SeventyOne said:
It's their equivalent, yes. Just as we have a more complete version than even Paul and the other apostles.

I think what he's talking about now is people that lived before Moses, they didn't have any scripture.
But they had Angels who came and talked to them face to face or in dreams, direct revelation we no longer have.
so their faith was in what was directly revealed, our faith is in what is written.

public hermit · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
I once asked about the purpose of having a mansion since we'd all be bachelors/bachelorettes, and a poster said it'd be a private place to pray and read the bible and it just struck me as so strange that we'd be able to talk face to face with God and he'd still want to pray and read the bible rather than just.. talk to God face to face.

No, I agree with what you're saying. If we are in the divine presence, we don't need to read a book about it. That makes perfect sense to me.

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
Well, I think that the bible is truth, and it is God's eternal words, Jesus promised as much, I just don't think a lot of it will be things that are relevant.

If the Bible is indeed "God's eternal words", then why wouldn't we read it in heaven? Eternal words for eternity, right? (I disagree, but wanted to point out the contradiction in reasoning)

Saint Steven · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
I think what he's talking about now is people that lived before Moses, they didn't have any scripture.
But they had Angels who came and talked to them face to face or in dreams, direct revelation we no longer have.
so their faith was in what was directly revealed, our faith is in what is written.

Ironically, it is not biblical to depend solely on the Bible for hearing from God.

Hmm · Mar 6, 2021

Jamdoc said:
it just struck me as so strange that we'd be able to talk face to face with God and he'd still want to pray and read the bible rather than just.. talk to God face to face.

I agree. It would be like sitting next to your girlfriend and texting her rather than talking to her.

Continuing to read the bible in eternity

Watching and Praying Always

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