Hi,
(For me: Post nothing you have not done, if possible.)
In roughly 1990 I started a research project, scientifically. (I did this because it was the most accurate form of knowing there is if you include religion as a part of science. I do that and I know others who have also done this. It is “Scientific Heresy” to include God, in research, but when properly calibrated (He is what He is. He does what He does. He does it this way.) it is a useful tool in science.
Philosophy, but practical philosopy, is also used. I used it to see if I was lazy in thinking anywhere. Philosophy, the idea, used to the extreme, is useless, as it uses, in the extreme, nothing which has been proven, thus it is opinion that is being expresed at that point; not facts.
Now, This particular, home project, was for my wife, my daughter, and for a certain religion, who made certain claims.
(In Romans, Paul says God causes any of us to know Him, and it is really really really… not our own work.)
In the end, The Bible scientifically withstood all tests that are normal to science. The Bible in a proof, proved to be true when subjected to five controlled experiments. More of course would have been done if needed, but, there was no ambiguity in the results, anywhere. (Scientifically.)
The Good News Bible, was extremely supplemental, in this investigation. While being able to give the ideas clearly, it was able to limit the research into what is meant by any group of passages, when added to all the other passages. It made clear what was confusing much of the time. Yet, it is not useful alone. All other Bibles, and of course, all other sources are needed. Some of these Bibles of today conflict. It is necessary to know which, in research, is correct in order to proceed.
Many times only reading the Good News Bible, gave clarity. Sure, Vatican II’s opening paragraphs give information also, which is backed up clearly by the Bible. Vatican II’s opening paragraphs are a “Good News” type of Bible for some of us.
It is always okay to use a simpler, but hopefully deep account of what is true.
(In using the word and idea of deep, I am plagarizing, the man, Saint Pope Pius X’s, view of things. thus because I never used the word deep, he gets the credit, ({And God of course.}), as that idea came from him not me. It’s important to give credit where credit is due (the definition, the Bible definition of the word: Glory) in God’s world.)
When God, causes anyone to know Him, it is simple to them. They understand precisely what God means. If God can make it simple to Peter, just a poor (economically poor) fisherman, then He can make it simple for anyone.
In Paul’s case, he was going against the establishment of the time. He was going against the educated (In University ways.), He was going against governments. He was going against civilians, and God chose a man quite educated, quite part of the government then, to tell others about Him. Paul was a citizen of Rome. He was an educated man in the Jewish Religion of the times. He was quite the tool, chosen by God (Jusus in this case), to talk to people…like…him.
And he did.
Use what works. Make it correct. Test it to see if it is correct, or if blessed, let God let you know it is correct. God has many ways to get to all those, who He wishes to get to.
…Curt…
favorite parts. I believe it is written on about a 3rd grade reading level. (Which means, in today’s world, that it is about the reading level of middle school kids…The teacher’s daughter is trying very hard to contain herslef about the last part).