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What has the "lying pen" in Jeremiah 8:8 altered?

Der Alte

This is me about 1 yr. old. when FDR was president
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Jeremiah later prophesies in chapter 31 that the days are coming when I will make a new covenant, and I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts so I guess that was one way God did something about it. If you put the law in their minds and write it on their hearts, you don't really need a Bible!
God put it in the minds of that generation. How does it get in the minds of those who have never heard the word of God?
 
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mcarans

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God put it in the minds of that generation. How does it get in the minds of those who have never heard the word of God?
There's no mention of it being just that generation. In fact it says in the next verse "No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord,"
 
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Der Alte

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There's no mention of it being just that generation. In fact it says in the next verse "No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord,"
Still doesn't answer the question how do other generations know the Lord. Maybe you didn't read this part in Jeremiah.
Jer_30:2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.​
God told Jeremiah 5 times to write.
 
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mcarans

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Still doesn't answer the question how do other generations know the Lord. Maybe you didn't read this part in Jeremiah.
Jer_30:2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.​
God told Jeremiah 5 times to write.
The next verse is helpful here:
Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they shall take possession of it
...
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says 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. 34 No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more

The book is for the people of the Old Covenant to know that a New Covenant is coming when they won't need a book anymore (which isn't to say that the Bible serves no purpose just that it isn't a precondition or requirement to know God although it can certainly be helpful). In a way it's a return to how things were eg. Abram didn't get to know God through a book.
 
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Der Alte

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The next verse is helpful here:
Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they shall take possession of it
...
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says 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. 34 No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more

The book is for the people of the Old Covenant to know that a New Covenant is coming when they won't need a book anymore (which isn't to say that the Bible serves no purpose just that it isn't a precondition or requirement to know God although it can certainly be helpful). In a way it's a return to how things were eg. Abram didn't get to know God through a book.
One little problem with that view even now we have people saying "God told me...." JWs, LSD, etc.
 
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mcarans

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One little problem with that view even now we have people saying "God told me...." JWs, LSD, etc.
We have people now saying the Bible means x, y and z, hence the thousands of denominations. The fact you and I are debating here illustrates the problem! Sadly, there is a history of argument and even violent conflict over who understands the Bible right. Humans use the Bible to support their own prejudices and to make themselves the good guys and some other group (including other Christians) the bad guys - history shows us that repeatedly.
I presume that even with the law being within people and written on their hearts, it does not prevent them ignoring it or being misled by persuasive others. They still have a choice. Nevertheless I acknowledge the problem you identify as I do wonder what prevents God communicating openly, clearly, plainly, succinctly and transparently with everyone all the time given God''s apparent wish to be in relationship with us.
 
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Der Alte

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We have people now saying the Bible means x, y and z, hence the thousands of denominations. The fact you and I are debating here illustrates the problem! Sadly, there is a history of argument and even violent conflict over who understands the Bible right. Humans use the Bible to support their own prejudices and to make themselves the good guys and some other group (including other Christians) the bad guys - history shows us that repeatedly.
I presume that even with the law being within people and written on their hearts, it does not prevent them ignoring it or being misled by persuasive others. They still have a choice. Nevertheless I acknowledge the problem you identify as I do wonder what prevents God communicating openly, clearly, plainly, succinctly and transparently with everyone all the time given God''s apparent wish to be in relationship with us.
Your first sentence pretty much mirrors what I said. I attended Sunday school at an early age when FDR was POTUS and even went to church sporadically between the ages of about 7ish to mid-20s when I became a Christian. about 6 months before going to Viet Nam 1st tour. I was not indoctrinated with some version of "We are the right church and all others are lost." I think that largely is the attitude which interferes with "God communicating openly, clearly, plainly, succinctly and transparently with everyone all the time given God''s apparent wish to be in relationship with us."
 
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