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Understanding Scripture:
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Please allow me to preface this teaching by saying: I am not saying that any one individual is going to hell based on their unlearned & unstableness in understanding Paul’s or any of the other Scriptures. What does wrest mean?
streblow strebloo streb-lo'-o
1) to twist, turn awry (crooked, off-center, wrong) ß inference mine.
2) to torture, put to the rack
This refers to the purposeful twisting, wrangling, torturing, butchering or otherwise wrongful interpretations & teachings of The Scriptures. This likewise refers to those who have learned these wrong understandings; accept them, and continue to teach the same without their own personal study of the scriptures for clarity in understanding original intent on the behalf of the writers.
Unlike the debate in any nations’ founding documents; such as those of the Founding Fathers of America: (The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights) there should be not even be a debate about the Scriptures when it comes to understanding them as set, solid and unchangeable. This refers to their original intent; not necessarily the wording we have today. The Bible is not a living, breathing, changing document. The Canon: (standard, rule, principle, law) The Bible; has been closed and is not up for additional verses, declarations and/or prophecies to be added to existing books in scripture; nor are there any new scriptures being written today that should be added as additional books.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Jewish Law, tradition & custom: Gods’ Law was and is clearly that two witnesses are required to validate, authenticate or even vindicate any thing, person, story, belief, etc… Until the coming of Christ; the Law & the Prophets were how God-fearing people (The Jews) learned of God; his ways and his wants for us. The Law & The Prophets were Gods’ witnesses to, of, for or about everything about Him.
Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Many verses exist that show this premise but that true understanding has been diluted, distorted or otherwise destroyed by those who simply do not want it to mean what it says; word for word! Mans’ reasoning is often substituted for Gods’ and as Gods’ by many people, this can not stand in truth. God has clearly set forth that one witness to a crime; event or sin is not nor should be evidence enough to kill that person: this same rule is applied to any/and/or all sin or iniquity performed by one individual and witnessed by one individual. One witness shall not rise up!
Human logic; reasoning and/or rationalization: wrongly, interprets this to mean that anyone can and should get away with anything; provided there are no witnesses. Many lessons can be derived from this such as minding our own business but what this refers to is not that the sin or iniquity does or should go un-noticed or un-punished but that if we were to truly step back and let God have control: He sees all, He knows all. Did He not also say “Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay”?
In addition to the eternal punishment non-believers will suffer; God also provides & performs earthly judgments on humans; while in, on and of the flesh: Not all bad things that happen to bad people are coincidence. (Ananias & Sapphira Acts 5) and yes; they were bad people, at that moment, and it cost them their lives, maybe their souls? Ever had a bad, wrong or immoral thought and got a paper cut? Tripped over nothing? Lost a possession? Again; I’m not stating or implying that all bad things that happen to bad people are orchestrated, controlled or otherwise manipulated by or through Gods’ hand but even if we never had one page of the New Testament; there is enough information and/or stories in the Old Testament to show that God does, has and will get revenge on disobedient man; while in flesh or spirit.
Misinterpreting; Misunderstanding and/or Manipulating Scripture are the most foundational mistakes man makes when reading, studying, sharing, searching or teaching The Bible. I would say these principles (Misinterpreting / Misunderstanding / Manipulating) apply; adhere themselves and corrupt, ruin, damage or destroy everything in life. Rather than hearing, listening or reading what is written or said; we must interpret and add implication and/or inference and these practices go far outside Scripture to nearly any and every aspect of life.
Imagine a man walking up to a woman; placing his hand on her stomach and asking “How far along are you” only; the woman is not pregnant. While there may be numerous possible responses to such a question; thinking today seems to demand this woman take offense and think or act violently towards this man who thought this woman may be carrying a child; a precious bundle of love & joy. Almost never would you run into a situation where the woman would respond with something such as “Oh no; I’m not pregnant” and smile and go on about her day.
Metaphors in the Scriptures require understanding in order to teach their counterparts. What is a metaphor? Merriam Webster says a metaphor is “A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them” An analogy is “resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike: SIMILARITY b: comparison based on such resemblance” A metaphor is a word used to describe something similar: the use of metaphors can be seen as codes if you will. Not unlike keyboard or text shortcuts that are understood by some, and appear as a foreign language to others. (lol, tisnf, bff, omg, etc…)
This Foreign Language or Metaphorical writing; also known as Illustrative, Figurative, Poetic, Parabolic or even Apocalyptic to some is easy to understand: others study and realize eventually but there are those who will never understand certain or specific aspects of it and this unfortunate truth is cause for much of the debate over the scriptures.
Any Questions, Comments, Critiques, Concerns, Suggestions?
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