Misquoting Jesus

[Publisher]

If one ignores everything they’re taught, certainly. Ehrmann’s former classmates have said that he must have been asleep if he’s now saying some of this stuff later took him off guard, as they were talked about in the classes he took before his apostasy (which was based more on an understanding of pain than it was scripture).

Mr. Erhman had more than one reason for dropping his faith than his wrestling with the pain and suffering of humanity. His belief in an “infallible Bible” was lost and he had nothing to replace it with…I’ve read all of his books and have his lecture series on DVD about “Lost Christianities/Scripture”.

Pain and suffering certainly were issues…along with the inconsistancies and contradictions within an “infallibly inspired” Bible.

He “wants to believe” and attends church with his wife…he’s waiting for a faith that “speaks to his condition”.

Perhaps I “relate” to the man in his search for the Eternal.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

There are plenty of men of God and faithful theologians who recognize the different versions of stories and accounts as well as textual variants but have not lost faith (Bruce Metzger and Daniel Wallace being two examples). Ehrmann was an example of many people who, in finding a problem and not understanding what “infallibility” and “inerrancy” really meant in regards to the doctrine of scripture, chooses to simply throw the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[Publisher]

There are plenty of men of God and faithful theologians who recognize the different versions of stories and accounts as well as textual variants but have not lost faith (Bruce Metzger and Daniel Wallace being two examples). Ehrmann was an example of many people who, in finding a problem and not understanding what “infallibility” and “inerrancy” really meant in regards to the doctrine of scripture, chooses to simply throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I have compassion for the man. It is an awesome responsibility to seek the Face of God. I hope he finds what he’s looking for.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

I have compassion as well - and I hope God brings repentance to him that he may return as did the Prodigal Son.

 

[look3467]

Agreed. Most conservative Christians who are taught the Bible is divinely inspired AND without error are shocked…as was Mr. Erhman in his youth…to learn that the gospels give different accounts for the same events

I am one of those conservative Christians who took the word of the bible as gospel being divinely inspired.

And now guess what? I still do.

You see, the new Testament is a workbook for us by which as the bible states, for working out our salvation.Refhi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The important thing to remember in the whole of the bible is not what mankind has done through the history of mankind, but what God has done within the history of mankind that makes all the difference in how we look at things.

God’s work was in creation.
God’s work was in redeeming His creation.

Mankind’s work has no bearing on what God works accomplished.

So, from that perspective we ought to look at the New Testament and see where we can work out our own salvation.

Now,before we can do any work, we must first acquire it spiritually, then make the body physical comply with it, is what is meant by working it out.

We see in the New Testament different issues addressed as they came up for advice and Paul and or the other Apostles meeting their needs.

The question of a rebirth is essential and no other option is available.

Thus, anybody being privy to that information can accept the salvation provided by God in Jesus or reject it to their own peril

The rejection however, is temporal since the wages of sin is death, and those sins are paid in full by death itself…

But the soul, Jesus purchased it so it belongs to God, and at death, that soul shall see who Jesus really is and instantly be converted.

You see, there is no other explanation for the many races and cultural beliefs in the world coming to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ unless, we who are privileged to know, spread the word as commanded.

But not that they are not going to be saved, it is that they just don’t know it, therefore are still considered lost.

For some people the fear of a supposed hell is strong enough to set their ways strait.

But for others, it is the love for God that changes the heart from within, and that is what God prefers.

We are of the same spirit, the Spirit of God who dwells in all of us when we allow Him to and of which when He resides in us all, there are absolutely no differences.

The differences are man made, and thus have to learn to tolerate, adjust and have compassion where there is no understanding.

Evil, of course is not going away, and we still have to deal with it head on, in ourselves and in others.

Blessings, AJ

 

[PaulDupre]

Agreed. Most conservative Christians who are taught the Bible is divinely inspired AND without error are shocked…as was Mr. Erhman in his youth…to learn that the gospels give different accounts for the same events.

Only children, or adults who don’t read more than one newspaper, would be surprised.

I subscribe to the LA Times and the Orange County Register. Why? Because it is a fact that different newspapers report the same story differently. If you don’t know that then you are living in a dream world.

Different gospel authors emphasized different things or had different sources. But the important elements of the episode are consistent from one account to the next.

The fact that the different authors give different accounts testifies to me that the accounts are real.

Paul

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Different gospel authors emphasized different things or had different sources. But the important elements of the episode are consistent from one account to the next.

The fact that the different authors give different accounts testifies to me that the accounts are real.

I believe it was Lee Strobel who pointed out that if two witnesses in a court case gave 100% exact same testimonies, they would be put under charge of collaboration.

 

[look3467]

God uses what exists in humanity to convey His messages to us.
The process He used to convey His message to us, were the prophets, selected individuals, and at the last Jesus, to reveal His true character.

We know humanity is flawed, by that I mean imperfect.

God uses the imperfect, or humanity to speak to humanity.

Much as like if I wanted to speak to the ants, I would become one of them or speak through one of them.

Humanity imperfect as it is, God’s message is perfectly woven, hidden in clues by symbols, numbers, metaphors, images, visions, dreams and at the very last, a perfect replication of the true character of God in Jesus.

So, if one is looking for perfect scribes to have written the bible, well…you can stop right now, for there ain’t any.

Blessings, AJ