What are the Most Misunderstood Bible Verse(s)

[Nicea325]

Hi Joe. I like to put it in another way: If the name Peter (of course a Greek translation of Cephas/Kephas) was not significant. Why would Paul when he talks about confronting Peter mention his name as Cephas twice. I mean Paul was deeply irritated and upset Yet keeps Peter’s name intact.

MJ

Likewise, one other aspect over looked is the fact Jesus gives him a name not used for Jewish males.

 

[SteveVH]

Just a random thought here. Is it worth considering that Simon’s “confession of faith” was not really a confession of faith at all but a direct revelation from the Father? Jesus says:

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."

He didn’t say: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for your great faith upon which I will build my Church.”

The Father revealed Jesus’ true identity to Peter. Does that constitute faith? I don’t know, but it seems to fall into another category to me, and if I am correct then it was certainly not Peter’s faith that constitutes the “rock”, but rather Peter himself, chosen specifically by the Father.

 

[MartinJordan]

Likewise, one other aspect over looked is the fact Jesus gives him a name not used for Jewish males.

Yes. Alas Im not much of an expert on Judaism, so I’ll take your word for it.

I look at it simply based on the incredible (but not surprising) number of times Peter’s name is mentioned in the NT. Substantially more than any of the rest of the Apostles. If my memory serves correctly ONLY Jesus calls Peter by name as Simon. Anyone else verbally calls him Peter (Cephas/Kephas). (pls correct me if Im er …incorrect on this).

Also keep in mind that it was Andrew who introduced Simon “Peter” to Jesus YET as we note from 2nd week of Lent’s Gospel Peter (name first btw!), James and John were taken by Jesus to the mount to witness the Transfiguration.

If it was Andrew who was initially the first (from the two brothers) believed and seemingly understood that Jesus was the Messiah…if were up to man, I would think Andrew would be better one to take up to the mountain right?

But we’re talking God’s choice!

MJ

 

[CMatt25]

So you are saying that when 2 Christians disagree on a verse we should go to your pastor to have him provide exegesis on that verse?

Or is he proposing that we just go to any pastor to ask for his exegesis?

PRmerger, people of different faiths go to different spiritual advisors and guides. I know in your particular faith you believe in the teachings of your priest and bishop and in the Pope’s infallibility in teaching faith and morals. So you might seek spiritual guidance from your priest or bishop. Someone else OTOH might seek guidance elsewhere. Sure obviously it’s true both Catholics and non Catholics can not be correct on everything. But that’s why they’re called faiths.

 

[CaptBell800]

“For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without ephod, and without theraphim.”

There has always been a lot of controversy over what the teraphim were.

 

[adrift]

“For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without ephod, and without theraphim.”

There has always been a lot of controversy over what the teraphim were.

Hosea 3:4

Thanks for bringing this up.

 

[CaptBell800]

Hosea 3:4

Thanks for bringing this up.

Thanks. From what I understand, the most widely agreed upon idea is that they served some kind of oracular purpose. But even that is highly disputed.

 

[PRmerger]

PRmerger, people of different faiths go to different spiritual advisors and guides. I know in your particular faith you believe in the teachings of your priest and bishop and in the Pope’s infallibility in teaching faith and morals. So you might seek spiritual guidance from your priest or bishop. Someone else OTOH might seek guidance elsewhere. Sure obviously it’s true both Catholics and non Catholics can not be correct on everything. But that’s why they’re called faiths.

I think you may be misunderstanding what faith is, friend.

Our faith proclaims:

Men and women have at their disposal an array of resources for generating greater knowledge of truth so that their lives may be ever more human…

A legitimate plurality of positions has yielded to an undifferentiated pluralism, based upon the assumption that all positions are equally valid,** which is one of today’s most widespread symptoms of the lack of confidence in truth. **Even certain conceptions of life coming from the East betray this lack of confidence, denying truth its exclusive character and assuming that truth reveals itself equally in different doctrines, even if they contradict one another. On this understanding, **everything is reduced to opinion; **and there is a sense of being adrift…

But the gift of wisdom enables judgement according to divine truth.–Originally posted by Pope JPII

 

[PRmerger]

But that’s why they’re called faiths.