Finished reading the New Testament

[danbuter]

I started reading the New Testament last September/October. I just finished up Revelation last night. I used the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation.

I've read bits and pieces of the entire Bible, but I never sat down and just read a large chunk of it before (years ago I read Genesis and Exodus, but then gave up). I decided to read the New Testament, as it really is the important part of the Bible and there were a number of things I'd either forgotten or have never read before.

In general, I think Jesus' message of love was amazing for everyone. I wish more people followed it, instead of just giving it lip service.

I do wish Paul was not such a misogynist (I really think he hated women, and that became part of his personal theology, which he pushed on others). Reading between the lines, it also felt like Paul was threatening other churches by having thugs come visit, and those churches had better have some money to donate (2 Corinthians 9) ... Of course, then he writes that amazing chapter on love. He's a very complicated person.

Anyways, it was a very enlightening read. I was surprised at just how good Revelation was to read (in the CSB). It was actually very intense.

 

[W2L]

it also felt like Paul was threatening other churches by having thugs come visit, and those churches had better have some money to donate (2 Corinthians 9) ...

No

 

[danbuter]

Did you actually read that part? It certainly seems like something right out of a mafia movie.

 

[W2L]

Did you actually read that part? It certainly seems like something right out of a mafia movie.

Post it.

 

[TuxAme]

I don't think that Saint Paul was a misogynist or Mafia boss. He promoted orthodox teachings and practices and encouraged Christians to help each other (which, if I remember those verses correctly, would have built solidarity between Jewish and Gentile converts).

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

I don't like what St Paul teaches thus I call him names and bash his good name and reputation. Misogynist really? Lol.

Rally elegant move by a OP that clearly lacks cultural as well as historical insights regarding the time Paul wrote his letters...

It boils down to who's word you weigh heaviest, your own fallible mind or that of one of the greatest scholars of the church have ever seen. Not to mention the bible itself.

Hubris, hubris oh dear hubris...

 

[Doug Melven]

I do wish Paul was not such a misogynist (I really think he hated women,

Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Paul the Apostle and women - Wikipedia

I don't think Paul was a mysoginist at all.
I think the Scriptures people use to say he was are misunderstood.

 

[dqhall]

I started reading the New Testament last September/October. I just finished up Revelation last night. I used the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation.

I've read bits and pieces of the entire Bible, but I never sat down and just read a large chunk of it before (years ago I read Genesis and Exodus, but then gave up). I decided to read the New Testament, as it really is the important part of the Bible and there were a number of things I'd either forgotten or have never read before.

In general, I think Jesus' message of love was amazing for everyone. I wish more people followed it, instead of just giving it lip service.

I do wish Paul was not such a misogynist (I really think he hated women, and that became part of his personal theology, which he pushed on others). Reading between the lines, it also felt like Paul was threatening other churches by having thugs come visit, and those churches had better have some money to donate (2 Corinthians 9) ... Of course, then he writes that amazing chapter on love. He's a very complicated person.

Anyways, it was a very enlightening read. I was surprised at just how good Revelation was to read (in the CSB). It was actually very intense.

Paul was living in a time before women were liberated. Genetics required men to be stronger. The world was more militant. I do not think he despised women as a misogynist does. At the end of some of his letters he greeted women who were part of the churches he founded.

As for having thugs visit churches. I disagree. Paul did not use extortion like the mafia does. He did not threaten to injure, kill or destroy property. Paul sent teachers to visit them as workers, if not beggars. Paul asked church groups to defray the Christian missionaries' expenses. It is not unlike pastors or rabbis asking for contributions from their churches or synagogues. Modern Christian missionaries wrote to supporting churches about their needs and accomplishments. Paul was in communication with the apostles and was a multi-lingual scribe trained in the Gospel. The churches he planted must have succeeded as his letters appear in the New Testament along with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Early Christianity did not have much freedom. According to the Christian historian Eusebius, the Roman emperor Nero systematically executed Christians. Paul died during Nero's reign as a martyr, not a thug.

 

[danbuter]

I don't like what St Paul teaches thus I call him names and bash his good name and reputation. Misogynist really? Lol.

Rally elegant move by a OP that clearly lacks cultural as well as historical insights regarding the time Paul wrote his letters...

It boils down to who's word you weigh heaviest, your own fallible mind or that of one of the greatest scholars of the church have ever seen. Not to mention the bible itself.

Hubris, hubris oh dear hubris...

Paul wrote a couple letters. That doesn't qualify him as a scholar. By his own word, he used to hunt down and persecute Christians. He was not a kind, gentle person.

He also said women shouldn't even speak in church, much less preach. Yes, he was a product of his times, but I'd take Luke or John over him, any day.

 

[danbuter]

Post it.

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Corinthians 9 - Christian Standard Bible

This part:
But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
-----
Bolded parts aren't exactly being nice. He's telling them to have money ready.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Anyways, it was a very enlightening read.

Not actually. (not from the rest of the content of your posts)
"Enlightening" means , or rather would mean, that you gained wisdom and knowledge and understanding of Yahweh's Word from Yahweh.

Your posts show much different results , more like you listened to someone else explain Scripture without enlightenment at all.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Paul wrote a couple letters. That doesn't qualify him as a scholar. By his own word, he used to hunt down and persecute Christians. He was not a kind, gentle person.

He also said women shouldn't even speak in church, much less preach. Yes, he was a product of his times, but I'd take Luke or John over him, any day.

Sounds like you're on your way to making your own Canon. Be aware not to stumble into pride wherever scripture challenge your mindset. You are also a product of your time, a time of immense pride and hubris. Be aware not to let your modern lenses keep you away from the Lord.

Christ chose St Paul himself and for good reasons. Hadn't it been for Paul wouldn't we have been Christians to begin with. It would've evolved into a Jewish sect, but God knew what he did when electing Paul.

I'm starting to believe you didn't actually read the New Testament after all. He clearly repented of the sins you keep holding against him. Paul got transformed as he came to know Christ.

I think your contempt for him is something you really have to ask yourself the reasons for. Satan also blinds our eyes of the truth at times.

 

[salt-n-light]

I do wish Paul was not such a misogynist (I really think he hated women, and that became part of his personal theology, which he pushed on others).

Huh? He actually praised the women in the ministry...

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Did you actually read that part? It certainly seems like something right out of a mafia movie.

I've read that part, and I certainly didn't take from it that Paul was a misogynist. I'd like to suggest that you have a heap of studies yet to do in order to understand more clearly what you've successfully read through. With that said, I do commend you for making it completely through the New Testament. Good job!

 

[redleghunter]

Paul wrote a couple letters.

His epistles make up the majority of the NT.

That doesn't qualify him as a scholar.

He was in fact a scholar of what we call now the Old Testament. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ. Was the Acts of the Apostles in your NT reading plan?

By his own word, he used to hunt down and persecute Christians. He was not a kind, gentle person.

Yes before his conversion which you can find in Acts.

He also said women shouldn't even speak in church, much less preach.

He did. As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul set ground rules (as did Peter) on church conduct and roles. It was not a matter of his times but the order God established since the beginning.

 

[redleghunter]

Bolded parts aren't exactly being nice. He's telling them to have money ready.

So it's your interpretation Paul was sending his goons and "bag men" to collect on the Corinthians?

Perhaps you may have watched the Godfather movies a bit much or Goodfellas?

 

[redleghunter]

Sounds like you're on your way to making your own Canon. Be aware not to stumble into pride wherever scripture challenge your mindset. You are also a product of your time, a time of immense pride and hubris. Be aware not to let your modern lenses keep you away from the Lord.

Christ chose St Paul himself and for good reasons. Hadn't it been for Paul wouldn't we have been Christians to begin with. It would've evolved into a Jewish sect, but God knew what he did when electing Paul.

I'm starting to believe you didn't actually read the New Testament after all. He clearly repented of the sins you keep holding against him. Paul got transformed as he came to know Christ.

I think your contempt for him is something you really have to ask yourself the reasons for. Satan also blinds our eyes of the truth at times.

Good post. Also the claim of Paul only writing 2 letters raised questions for me if the reading of the NT was comprehended.

 

[redleghunter]

Huh? He actually praised the women in the ministry...

Those of the post modern egalitarianism within the church only focus on what they want. Instead of approaching the NT from the complimentarian view.

 

[salt-n-light]

Those of the post modern egalitarianism within the church only focus on what they want. Instead of approaching the NT from the complimentarian view.

That's what I've gathered recently, that there is such thing are egalitarianism and complementarianism. I only see the Word as meant to be complementary though.

 

[redleghunter]

That's what I've gathered recently, that there is such thing are egalitarianism and complementarianism. I only see the Word as meant to be complementary though.

When it comes to being in Christ there is no distinction. However here on earth we each have roles which are supposed to compliment to include the Holy Spirit giving differing gifts to differing believers.