Does the Bible need a handbook?

[AgnosticMike]

After numerous discussions and questions I have been amazed at the variety of ideas and interpretations on the Bible. Like the Ethiopian Eneuch who needed someone to explain the meaning of parts of the Jewish Scriptures it seems that the Bible needs a handbook to accompany it.

I know there are many commentaries which could be classed as handbooks and even volumes that are called handboos (namely Haley's Bible Handbook). With so many telling me I should read my Bible to find out (which I have many times) I am still left in a smorgasboard of possibilities as to many of the so called key doctrines.

I am tentative about the answers I will receive as many will claim to have absolute answers. The only question is who can I rely on to have the absolute answers?

 

[AgnosticMike]

Looks like this was a bit too difficult to answer. I was hoping someone may have had some insight.

No worries.

 

[Tavita]

After numerous discussions and questions I have been amazed at the variety of ideas and interpretations on the Bible. Like the Ethiopian Eneuch who needed someone to explain the meaning of parts of the Jewish Scriptures it seems that the Bible needs a handbook to accompany it.

I know there are many commentaries which could be classed as handbooks and even volumes that are called handboos (namely Haley's Bible Handbook). With so many telling me I should read my Bible to find out (which I have many times) I am still left in a smorgasboard of possibilities as to many of the so called key doctrines.

I am tentative about the answers I will receive as many will claim to have absolute answers. The only question is who can I rely on to have the absolute answers?

G'day Mike,

I don't know why there are so many interpretations and ideas, but I think a handbook would be too cut and dried, and knowing what man is like we would end up making it Law, just like the Jews with the Oral Law and their Halacha (legal laws), they kept adding more and more interpretations and adding more laws to THE Law, or the Torah.

We're called to live by the Spirit and not law, and to live by the Spirit is to live by and in, His life. Life is variety, diversity and is creative, and maybe this is why there are so many different ways of looking at the main themes of the bible. I actually like the diversity and the different ways people present God's truth. The Kingdom of God is a living entity, and when you have Holy Spirit the words to the Book become living. A handbook would be a killjoy, IMO.


The only person who has the absolute answers is God Himself. It's the Holy Spirit's role to draw alongside you to teach and show you Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I can only point you in His direction and say, ask Him, Mike.

 

[talitha]

The only question is who can I rely on to have the absolute answers?

The author.

 

[AgnosticMike]

G'day Mike,

I don't know why there are so many interpretations and ideas, but I think a handbook would be too cut and dried, and knowing what man is like we would end up making it Law, just like the Jews with the Oral Law and their Halacha (legal laws), they kept adding more and more interpretations and adding more laws to THE Law, or the Torah.

That part I can answer easily. There are so many interpretations because it is so ambiguous.

We're called to live by the Spirit and not law, and to live by the Spirit is to live by and in, His life. Life is variety, diversity and is creative, and maybe this is why there are so many different ways of looking at the main themes of the bible. I actually like the diversity and the different ways people present God's truth. The Kingdom of God is a living entity, and when you have Holy Spirit the words to the Book become living. A handbook would be a killjoy, IMO.

I'm glad to see you like diversity. Many people don't. For example I talk with other Christians who don't accept Jesus is God, but still accept him as Messiah. Some people condemn these people becasue they don't accept Christian diversity.

The only person who has the absolute answers is God Himself. It's the Holy Spirit's role to draw alongside you to teach and show you Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I can only point you in His direction and say, ask Him, Mike.

Well I have been asking for many, many years. No answer unfortunately, but then I have been told that he may not want to answer because I am not one of the chosen elect. Pity he doesn't have email.

 

[AgnosticMike]

The author.

I have not tryed a seance yet but if you think this is a good way to reach the authors of the Bible it seems a bit complicated. Which ones have you managed to contact?

 

[Tavita]

That part I can answer easily. There are so many interpretations because it is so ambiguous.

Well, it's nice that you can answer it so easily. What do you think of the fact that Christian churches believe in the same fundamentals of the faith, like the Nicene Creed for instance? And that the Catholic and Protestant faiths do hold to the same major doctrines? To my mind it's other smaller beliefs that aren't important to one's salvation that many differ over to make up that diversity.

I'm glad to see you like diversity. Many people don't. For example I talk with other Christians who don't accept Jesus is God, but still accept him as Messiah. Some people condemn these people becasue they don't accept Christian diversity.

I like diversity, but it doesn't mean I agree with it all. At the same time I don't believe we can condemn anyone to hell over our differences.

Well I have been asking for many, many years. No answer unfortunately, but then I have been told that he may not want to answer because I am not one of the chosen elect. Pity he doesn't have email.

Who told you that? It's easy to see you are one of the chosen ones or you wouldn't be so driven to find answers. I have heard of others who searched and struggled for many many years before finally finding the truth. I don't know why He works so differently in people, it must be that diversity thing again. Maybe He's digging in very deeply because you wouldn't have one question to ask Him if He wasn't working in you.

 

[Faulty]

I am tentative about the answers I will receive as many will claim to have absolute answers. The only question is who can I rely on to have the absolute answers?

You're smart to not trust someone elses answers explicitely, but it seems like you may be caught up in the description in 1 Corinthians:

"For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought."

You can't trust the answers of others without testing them against the Word of God. The problem then seems only get larger because the Bible doesn't make any sense to you which is why you are looking for answers from others in the first place. It appears to be a never ending circle.

Many people then try to discern the Bible for themselves but their wisdom is inadequate to understand. God describes the wisdom of this world as foolishness and the reasonings of the wise to be in vain (1 Cor 3).

So if you really want to understand for yourself then how are supposed to do so? You wont take people at their word about it, which is to your credit. But you also don't know how to contact the source.

Here's how, "If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;" (James 1)

Like I said, don't take my word for it. Put God to the test and ask for spiritual wisdom and knowledge. He will do it for you just as he has for millions of others, including myself. If you want true reliable answers, this is the way.

 

[talitha]

There are no Christians who don't accept Jesus as God.

 

[matthewgoh]

Hello Mike,

I am not sure if I can help. I had these similar doubts for many years. I realized a simple theory that seems to answer my doubts and explains the many misteries as well.

The theory is based on Jesus's statement; "no sign will be given to this generation". If I am right, this statement actually shapes the happenings in our world today, it needs to be, because it's the law/condition to receive salvation - believe in Christ by faith.

I used this theory to explain the confusions of the bible and Christian denominations in my post in other thread, quoted below:

In my personal belief, demonitions are there for God's purpose. It's part of the confusions allowed by God. Imagine if we have only 1 single church with over 2 billions followers, all preach the same ideology, then, the remaining 4 billions world population will naturally think that; "this is definitely the God". Easily 1 billion people will follow the sign and "believe in Christ by sign". This is not the purpose Jesus came to this world for, not believe in him by sign, and he says "no sign will be given to this generation" and he came to earth so that man can be saved by believing in him by faith alone.

If I am right, the confusions will continue to increase as the Christian population increases.

I explained it further in another post:

What I mean is all confusions work together to "hide" the existence of God. If Christianity is the only religion with 2 billions believers and 1 solid church. Then, yes, it will influence the thinkings of the remaining 4 billions. But now we have 2 billions Christians (with denominations) and 1 billion Muslim, plus many other religions - so they balance up, God's existence is "hidden".

Now we look at other confusions, the natures and living things (God's creations) seem to hint God's existence, but then there're many problems like disasters, diseases, etc. - so they balance up again, God's existence is "hidden".

Assume that my view above is correct. Since the entire human race are shapping the happenings in our world, so everyone are infact living in fulfilling God's purpose. To be precise, God allows consequences (man's free will) to serve his purpose.

For Christians, we simply live by the Holy Spirit (God's will), and let God guides us and leads us to serve his purpose.

God's purpose is to create man to enjoy the greatness of heaven. But before entering into heaven, man must journey through the earthly life. But unfortunately sins are blocking our entry into heaven. God wants to save as many souls as possible, but at the same time he cannot break the law (condition) to receive the salvation made possible by Christ's crucifixion - believe in Christ by faith. So, our earthly purpose as Christian is to serve God, "help" him to save as many souls as possible.

So, everything is about salvation, even the entire bible is about salvation, the past, the present and the future are about salvation. The entire human history will be wiped out, the ultimate is eternal heaven.

This of course is my personal view which cannot be proven. You do not have to agree with it, but I do hope that you will have this theory in mind (test its validity) in your future studies of Christianity. It might help.

I believe God inspired the bible, and there's no contradiction, but it was written the way it was, to serve God's purpose. The bible is where we build our faith on, we shouldn't allow the confusions to weaken our faith or use them as an excuse to abandon our faith in Christ. We will never know everything.... but God will reveal to us a little at a time.

God bless.

 

[ebia]

The only question is who can I rely on to have the absolute answers?

God. The rest of us are on a journey of discovery.

Christianity is as much about the questions as the answers, as much about the journey as the arrival. Questions are never wrong, only answers.

All through the bible people think they have got the answers worked out, and God comes along and turns the whole thing upside-down.

Looks like this was a bit too difficult to answer. I was hoping someone may have had some insight.

Some of us have other committments on a Sunday morning.

There are so many interpretations because it is so ambiguous.

Yep. Because it's designed to get people to think and to learn, not as a book of facts. To inspire questions and discovery more than to provide the answers. The bible is a teaching resource for a lifetimes learning, not a reference book to look up the answers (nor a giant jigsaw puzzle in the way some try to use it).

I'm glad to see you like diversity. Many people don't. For example I talk with other Christians who don't accept Jesus is God, but still accept him as Messiah. Some people condemn these people becasue they don't accept Christian diversity.

Sadly, some people like to condemn everyone who has a different answer to them. The need to be right become a need to condemn everyone who is "wrong". You can see this in a year 7 maths classroom if you're not careful, so it's hardly surprising that you see it in theology.

There are no Christians who don't accept Jesus as God.

In the same way that No True Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge.

"For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought."

Why do people insist on taking this out of context? It reduces a profound statement about how God's victory is achieved by apparently surrendering into a throw away line that looks like a cop-out.

 

[AgnosticMike]

Well, it's nice that you can answer it so easily. What do you think of the fact that Christian churches believe in the same fundamentals of the faith, like the Nicene Creed for instance? And that the Catholic and Protestant faiths do hold to the same major doctrines? To my mind it's other smaller beliefs that aren't important to one's salvation that many differ over to make up that diversity.

If they held the same fundamentals they wouldn't be divided. So you believe in transsubstantiation and other Catholic doctrines or that you have to talk in tongues to be saved, or you have to be baptised in full immersion water to be saved. There are literally hundreds. Many of the Christians I have spoken to on this site do not agree with parts of the Nicene Creed.

I like diversity, but it doesn't mean I agree with it all. At the same time I don't believe we can condemn anyone to hell over our differences.

Well many do, and that's the reality.

Who told you that? It's easy to see you are one of the chosen ones or you wouldn't be so driven to find answers. I have heard of others who searched and struggled for many many years before finally finding the truth. I don't know why He works so differently in people, it must be that diversity thing again. Maybe He's digging in very deeply because you wouldn't have one question to ask Him if He wasn't working in you.

Many have told me that, and I've even read it in the Bible. Some have told me I can never be saved on the basis of Hebrew 6.

Regards

Mike

 

[AgnosticMike]

...

So if you really want to understand for yourself then how are supposed to do so? You wont take people at their word about it, which is to your credit. But you also don't know how to contact the source.

Here's how, "If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;" (James 1)

Like I said, don't take my word for it. Put God to the test and ask for spiritual wisdom and knowledge. He will do it for you just as he has for millions of others, including myself. If you want true reliable answers, this is the way.

Well I have. For 30 years I've been praying for wisdom and God's guidance. That's a fact. As the years pass I wonder if there is a God that can even hear. Maybe he's not the God we suspected all along.

 

[AgnosticMike]

Hello Mike,

I am not sure if I can help. I had these similar doubts for many years. I realized a simple theory that seems to answer my doubts and explains the many misteries as well.

The theory is based on Jesus's statement; "no sign will be given to this generation". If I am right, this statement actually shapes the happenings in our world today, it needs to be, because it's the law/condition to receive salvation - believe in Christ by faith.

I used this theory to explain the confusions of the bible and Christian denominations in my post in other thread, quoted below:


I explained it further in another post:


This of course is my personal view which cannot be proven. You do not have to agree with it, but I do hope that you will have this theory in mind (test its validity) in your future studies of Christianity. It might help.

I believe God inspired the bible, and there's no contradiction, but it was written the way it was, to serve God's purpose. The bible is where we build our faith on, we shouldn't allow the confusions to weaken our faith or use them as an excuse to abandon our faith in Christ. We will never know everything.... but God will reveal to us a little at a time.

God bless.

Matthew, just a quick question regarding your post. I have heard it said so many times that there are 2 billion Christians. Do you really believe that near enough to 2 billion are really saved? All the brands of mystic Catholics, Pentecostals, Jehovahs Witness, Mormons plus Christian cults. It seems that many Christians use this as a false testimony of the strength of Christianity when the reality for evangelicals is that they believe they are the little flock and small in number.

It is a bit off the topic but this one does bug me at times.

 

[ebia]

If they held the same fundamentals they wouldn't be divided. So you believe in transsubstantiation and other Catholic doctrines or that you have to talk in tongues to be saved, or you have to be baptised in full immersion water to be saved. There are literally hundreds. Many of the Christians I have spoken to on this site do not agree with parts of the Nicene Creed.



Well many do, and that's the reality.



Many have told me that, and I've even read it in the Bible. Some have told me I can never be saved on the basis of Hebrew 6.

Some people seem to have trouble with seeing themselves as special unless that means other people are not special.

Well I have. For 30 years I've been praying for wisdom and God's guidance. That's a fact. As the years pass I wonder if there is a God that can even hear. Maybe he's not the God we suspected all along.

Maybe he's the one giving you the wisdom to ask all the difficult questions.

Matthew, just a quick question regarding your post. I have heard it said so many times that there are 2 billion Christians. Do you really believe that near enough to 2 billion are really saved? All the brands of mystic Catholics, Pentecostals, Jehovahs Witness, Mormons plus Christian cults. It seems that many Christians use this as a false testimony of the strength of Christianity when the reality for evangelicals is that they believe they are the little flock and small in number.

It is a bit off the topic but this one does bug me at times.

It is ironic that the people most likely to use "x billion Christians ... " as evidence are the least likely to accept that all x billion people really are Christian.

 

[matthewgoh]

It is ironic that the people most likely to use "x billion Christians ... " as evidence are the least likely to accept that all x billion people really are Christian.

This statement really draws clear lines between denominations, which I think is what you mean - I have no right to comment. But it sure proves that the "confusions" caused by the bible is very real.

Sorry, I did not use "2 billions" to prove Christianity, I merely used the figures to support my view in my previous post.

If my view is right, the denominations might seem different to you (man's judgement), but then to God, all Christians are the same (his children), provided they are saved by Christ, that's all he wants.

Just my thought.

 

[AgnosticMike]

Some people seem to have trouble with seeing themselves as special unless that means other people are not special.

I'm not sure what you are saying. My point was that I have had many people tell me that a friend of mine is not a Christian becasue she did not believe what they do about Jesus. She was baptised and brought into fellowship in a church and people still say she is going to hell. I can forward the posts if you want.

Maybe he's the one giving you the wisdom to ask all the difficult questions.

Maybe he is but I am yet to have one Christian to tell me that God is the one giving me the questions. Have a look at my web site http://users.tpg.com.au/mlsheen/index.htm and tell me if you think that it is God giving me these questions. There is always a first.

It is ironic that the people most likely to use "x billion Christians ... " as evidence are the least likely to accept that all x billion people really are Christian.

So you agree. That's an odd one isn't it?

Anyway I'm interested in your reply

Regards

Mike

 

[AgnosticMike]

If my view is right, the denominations might seem different to you (man's judgement), but then to God, all Christians are the same (his children), provided they are saved by Christ, that's all he wants.

Just my thought.

G'day Matt

You say all Christians are the same, provided they are saved by Christ. I can't help but thinking that's not the end of the story. So there must be conditions about being saved by Christ. Many tell me that Christ can't save you unless you accept that he was fully God. Their are a buch of other requirements too that many lay down. This forum states that the 40 or more points of the Nicene Creed must be believed as the credientials for being a Christian. I know for a fact their are many Christians in this forum who I have corresponded with who don't accept some points of the creed.

Personally, I think your point is a good one, but feel that you might get shot down in flames for heresy by others.

 

[matthewgoh]

Hello Mike,

The happenings about the criminal who was crucified next to Jesus was a clear example of who will be saved - just acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, regardless of which denomination we are in, and even those with no denomination, take the criminal for example.

A solid message was preached right at the end when Jesus was crucified, and it was demonstrated with live example.

Just my thought.

 

[LilLamb219]

Matthew, just a quick question regarding your post. I have heard it said so many times that there are 2 billion Christians. Do you really believe that near enough to 2 billion are really saved?

Mike, God saves us in spite of any errors that we may believe. HE is the one who gives us the gift of faith. Some have greater faith than others. It's not the amount of faith we have but the fact that we DO have faith. Some people reject faith and reject Christ and the cross. Some people go down the path of false doctrine so far that they start off believing and end up creating a false god of their own and no longer have the faith given to them for eternal life. We can fall away from faith as scripture says. It's God who can bring us back and He does so through His Word.

Why the "handbooks" as you call them? Some of these are confessions of faith for a unity to keep congregations aware when they stray into false doctrine. A little bit of leaven can spoil, you know. Not all these "handbooks" are true expositions of the Bible but Christians must ALWAYS look to the Bible for full truth and test every other thing according to what is written there.