Monna
Well-Known Member
Or just maybe we're all missing the point of Genesis 1-3.
Those who insist on literal interpretation of the scriptures often like to quote 2 Tim 3:16 as evidence, and since they are "God breathed" they are literally true. However, this is taking individual statements out of their context.
2 Tim 3: 15-17
...from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible was written as a manual on right living - not as a chronology of world events, a biology text, or as archaeology, cosmology, physics, geology, marine ecology or general science book. It is self delusion to get all worked up trying to make it fit such uses and miss what God is trying to teach us about "seeking his kingdom/kingship and his rigtheousness" - which Jesus told his followers should be their priority.
So one question I have is this: how does a 7 24-hr day creation, or a long process of development under God's guidance, equip anyone for "every good work?" How does either interpretation provide training in "righteousness" - that is right moral living from God's perspective? Or to use another common phrase in the scriptures - "looking after orphans and widows?"
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," (Eph 3:17-18) He goes on to describe the life he hoped they would live "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:1-5)
Those who insist on literal interpretation of the scriptures often like to quote 2 Tim 3:16 as evidence, and since they are "God breathed" they are literally true. However, this is taking individual statements out of their context.
2 Tim 3: 15-17
...from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible was written as a manual on right living - not as a chronology of world events, a biology text, or as archaeology, cosmology, physics, geology, marine ecology or general science book. It is self delusion to get all worked up trying to make it fit such uses and miss what God is trying to teach us about "seeking his kingdom/kingship and his rigtheousness" - which Jesus told his followers should be their priority.
So one question I have is this: how does a 7 24-hr day creation, or a long process of development under God's guidance, equip anyone for "every good work?" How does either interpretation provide training in "righteousness" - that is right moral living from God's perspective? Or to use another common phrase in the scriptures - "looking after orphans and widows?"
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," (Eph 3:17-18) He goes on to describe the life he hoped they would live "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:1-5)
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