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hungry

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If anyone really wants to understand about reading and understanding Scripture there are a few points to keep in mind.
  1. If the Bible makes sense seek no other sense. (Scripture is easily understandable without the aid except for the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher in this age, so it is advisable to honestly pray for guideance before you proceed. Any difficult passages can be understood if you take the time to look up parallel passages, and there are plenty)
  2. When you see an “as” or a “like unto” or any other type of metaphor or simile, then you know there is a symbolism involved.
  3. When Jesus speaks in parables or likens things pertaining to Old Testament practices or passages, you know He is speaking of things He Himself instituted. All of the parables are examples of truths we should look further into and are usually taught in the Old Testament and/or later expounded on by at least one of the writers in the New Testament. All the prophets and apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit; and the prophets were visited by the pre-incarnate Christ and the apostles were witnesses of Him.
  4. All the truths of the Old Testament are in the New Testament; Jesus taught them with the fuller meaning and the apostles reiterated them.
Remeber a good Greek and Hebrew dictionary comes in real handy for understanding the true meaning of what is being said.
 
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hungry:
If anyone really wants to understand about reading and understanding Scripture there are a few points to keep in mind.
  1. If the Bible makes sense seek no other sense. (Scripture is easily understandable without the aid except for the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher in this age, so it is advisable to honestly pray for guideance before you proceed. Any difficult passages can be understood if you take the time to look up parallel passages, and there are plenty)
  2. When you see an “as” or a “like unto” or any other type of metaphor or simile, then you know there is a symbolism involved.
  3. When Jesus speaks in parables or likens things pertaining to Old Testament practices or passages, you know He is speaking of things He Himself instituted. All of the parables are examples of truths we should look further into and are usually taught in the Old Testament and/or later expounded on by at least one of the writers in the New Testament. All the prophets and apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit; and the prophets were visited by the pre-incarnate Christ and the apostles were witnesses of Him.
  4. All the truths of the Old Testament are in the New Testament; Jesus taught them with the fuller meaning and the apostles reiterated them.
Remeber a good Greek and Hebrew dictionary comes in real handy for understanding the true meaning of what is being said.
Click to expand...
It also helps to remember that the Greek Orthodox dogma is virtually identical to Catholic dogma, particularly regarding the Eucharist, Confession, Mary etc.

You must ask yourself, “Do I understand Greek better than the Greek Orthodox Church?”
 
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Dai:
It also helps to remember that the Greek Orthodox dogma is virtually identical to Catholic dogma, particularly regarding the Eucharist, Confession, Mary etc.

You must ask yourself, “Do I understand Greek better than the Greek Orthodox Church?”
Click to expand...
That’s something that has been sort of in the back of my mind and on the tip of my tongue. I just wouldn’t know where to begin looking for an “orthodox” catechism or the equivalent. I like, but am not nearly familiar enough with, the varied emphases that different Catholic, Eastern, and Orthodox churches put on different aspects of the faith.

There is so much beauty and symbolism in the Eastern and Orthodox rites. I like the icons, too. I guess the basic one is of the Virgin and Child.
 
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hungry:
When you see an “as” or a “like unto” or any other type of metaphor or simile, then you know there is a symbolism involved.
Click to expand...
You equate metaphor with simile with symbolism. Sorry, but that just doesn’t cut it. Differentiating ‘figurative’ from ‘literal’ is a bit more tricky than just finding the ‘as’ or the ‘like unto’ in a sentence.
 
hungry said:
1. If the Bible makes sense seek no other sense. (Scripture is easily understandable without the aid except for the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher in this age, so it is advisable to honestly pray for guideance before you proceed.
Click to expand...

While I agree that it is advisable to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, I cannot agree that the Bible is “easily understandable” in and of itself. If that were the case, all we would need would be to pass out bibles to everyone, and everyone would agree on its interpretation and on correct doctrine. But that just doesn’t happen.

Also, by even posting this, you have broken your first rule: if the bible makes sense, we need no other guidance.
 
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