"Why are there so many different Christian interpretations? If all Christians have th

[Kay_Cee]

Hi,
Maybe you should approach this with a different word other then discern. Im stuck on this word sorry. One cannot not discern the absolute truth from the bible just by picking it up and reading it. I suppose you can read it and pick out some historical facts and stories absolutely. If you are going to read the bible as the spiritual book that it is then you need the help of the HS to do so.

All right, let’s go back to my second question and change it to this:

Does God, then, provide a method for knowing truth about him?

 

[jmcrae]

I know. The Roman Catholic Church who has the Holy Spirit.

And don’t bother telling me that I’m wrong. I’ve been where you are. You have not been where I am.

The Roman Catholic Church has it.

Not that the Holy Spirit doesn’t work among non-Catholics. He does but the deposit of truth is found fully in the Catholic Church.

I like your answer - very good!!

 

[jmcrae]

Hi,
Maybe you should approach this with a different word other then discern. Im stuck on this word sorry. One cannot not discern the absolute truth from the bible just by picking it up and reading it. I suppose you can read it and pick out some historical facts and stories absolutely. If you are going to read the bible as the spiritual book that it is then you need the help of the HS to do so.

So, what you are saying is that, without the Holy Spirit, the Bible is just another book. We need Someone who is alive to help us understand it correctly.

I’m with you up to here, actually - but I want to take it another step further.

How do I tell for certain whether that little voice in my head that seems like it is helping me understand the Scriptures is, the Holy Spirit, the Evil One, my own personal opinion, or even just my lunch coming back on me?

Notice here that I’m not talking about you, or about some hypothetical person - I’m talking about me.

When I’m sitting there, this morning, reading Matthew 16:18, and I’m thinking, “hey, that reminds me of Father’s homily on Thursday morning about Peter and the Keys,” is that:

a) The Holy Spirit teaching/remnding me about how Peter became our first Pope.

b) The Evil One trying to trick me into thinking that Peter was our first Pope, when really that passage means something completely different.

c) My own personal opinion being repeated back to me through selective memory that Peter was our first Pope, or

d) Too much sugar from my lunch causing the neurons in my brain to fire at random, causing this memory of Father’s homily to just appear by accident - it’s a total coincidence that I remembered that homily about Peter at the same time that I was reading that particular passage of Scripture.

 

[jmcrae]

Just to repeat, in case that message was too long for you to read carefully, the question is:

How do I tell for certain whether that little voice in my head that seems like it is helping me understand the Scriptures is:

1. the Holy Spirit,
2. the Evil One,
3. my own personal opinion, or
4. my lunch coming back on me

 

[ALLFORHIM]

1. the Holy Spirit,

Does it match the bible?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

All right, let’s go back to my second question and change it to this:

Does God, then, provide a method for knowing truth about him?

Im still thinking so I will eventually answer you. Again stuck on the choice of word(method).

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

You know what-- I think my position here can be summed up to you by reading 1 Corinthians chapter 2–all of it.

This chapter says it all:thumbsup: about our discussion anyway

 

[jmcrae]

1. the Holy Spirit,
   Does it match the bible?

Yes. This Scripture clearly states that Jesus is giving Peter “the Keys,” just like in Father’s homily.

1. the Evil One,
   Do you have a feeling that something is not quite right?

No, quite the opposite, actually.

1. my own personal opinion, or

Does it match the bible?

Yes. This Scripture clearly states that Jesus is giving Peter “the Keys,” just like in Father’s homily.

1. my lunch coming back on me

Does it match the bible?

Yes. This Scripture clearly states that Jesus is giving Peter “the Keys,” just like in Father’s homily.

Just curious - of course it “matches the Bible” - the Bible is what I’m trying to interpret. Should it match anything else, or as long as it matches itself, and I have that happy feeling inside of me, along with confirmation from Father’s homily, then I know it’s from the Holy Spirit, and I can rest assured that I have the correct interpretation of Scripture - no one but a heretic would ever disagree with this interpretation. Right?

(So, uh, did we just prove that Peter was our first Pope, and that therefore the Catholic Church is the one that Christ founded? Or will you be wanting to change some of your answers, here, again? )

 

[ALLFORHIM]

(

So, uh, did we just prove that Peter was our first Pope, and that therefore the Catholic Church is the one that Christ founded? Or will you be wanting to change some of your answers, here, again? )

LOL No sorry it is still a misintrepretation on the CC’s part. Of course you will believe it is how you are being taught.

 

[Kay_Cee]

If “method” seems too limiting for you, we can change it to “way.”

Does God provide a way for knowing truth about him?

 

[jmcrae]

LOL No sorry it is still a misintrepretation on the CC’s part. Of course you will believe it is how you are being taught.

But didn’t we just now prove, using your method of discernment, that the Holy Spirit has confirmed that specific interpretation to be The True Interpretation of that particular passage?

After all, this interpretation matches the Bible, and it doesn’t give me any “not right” kind of feelings. (In fact, it gives me such a burnin’ in the bosom that I feel like I want to fly - have you ever had that one?)

Kay Cee is asking, Does God provide a way for knowing truth about him?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

But didn’t we just now prove, using your method of discernment, that the Holy Spirit has confirmed that specific interpretation to be The True Interpretation of that particular passage?

After all, this interpretation matches the Bible, and it doesn’t give me any “not right” kind of feelings. (In fact, it gives me such a burnin’ in the bosom that I feel like I want to fly - have you ever had that one?)

Kay Cee is asking, Does God provide a way for knowing truth about him?

Well, without getting into a debate no the CC’s intrepretation does not match the bible’s.

Yes I suppose way is fine. Yes He does:thumbsup:

 

[jmcrae]

Well, without getting into a debate no the CC’s intrepretation does not match the bible’s.

So, what is the Bible’s interpretation of Matthew 16:18?

Isn’t it the words of Matthew 16:18, which states that Jesus is handing over the Keys to Peter, just like we teach in the Catholic Church?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

So, what is the Bible’s interpretation of Matthew 16:18?

Isn’t it the words of Matthew 16:18, which states that Jesus is handing over the Keys to Peter, just like we teach in the Catholic Church?

I really dont want to get into this because it will derail the thread. There are enough threads already on this issue. You guys know where I stand. If you dont then feel free to go into any of the threads that are arguing the Peter being the Pope.

 

[jmcrae]

I really dont want to get into this because it will derail the thread. There are enough threads already on this issue. You guys know where I stand. If you dont then feel free to go into any of the threads that are arguing the Peter being the Pope.

I’m just stuck on how the Bible’s interpretation is different than what it actually says in the verse, that’s all - but, yes, this is off topic.

Back to the subject, then:

Kay Cee asked you whether God provides us with any way of knowing about God. You answered, “Yes.”

I want to ask you,

Is giving us scripture one of the ways God provides for knowing truth about him? In other words, does it supply information about God?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I’m just stuck on how the Bible’s interpretation is different than what it actually says in the verse, that’s all - but, yes, this is off topic.

Back to the subject, then:

Kay Cee asked you whether God provides us with any way of knowing about God. You answered, “Yes.”

I want to ask you,

Is giving us scripture one of the ways God provides for knowing truth about him? In other words, does it supply information about God?

Yes it does supply info. about God:thumbsup:

 

[jmcrae]

Yes it does supply info. about God:thumbsup:

Good.

So, God wants us to know the truth about Him, God has provided us with a way of knowing about Him, and the Bible contains information about God - it’s one of the ways that God has provided for us to know about Him.

Was it possible for God to grant infallibility (that is, the inability to write/say anything that is not true), even under limited circumstances, to human beings when they wrote scripture?

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Good.

So, God wants us to know the truth about Him, God has provided us with a way of knowing about Him, and the Bible contains information about God - it’s one of the ways that God has provided for us to know about Him.

Was it possible for God to grant infallibility (that is, the inability to write/say anything that is not true), even under limited circumstances, to human beings when they wrote scripture?

Anything is possible from God–However, He does not give the gift of infallibilty anywhere that I can see. Can you find that gift in the bible? I cant.

Im curious, why do catholics think that one has to be speaking with infallibilty when teaching scripture? Where does that belief come from?

I will be logging off very soon. Going to watch a movie with my kids. Ill talk to you tom.

 

[SusanL]

(

LOL No sorry it is still a misintrepretation on the CC’s part. Of course you will believe it is how you are being taught.

ALLFORHIM, I don’t understand. It sounds more like bias than anything else. I’m don’t mean to be insensitive but jmcrae’s post meets all of your criteria. Unless, of course, that feeling of “not quite right” is really based more on an educational bias. You were taught that that is a “misinterpretation on the CC’s part.” If something is ingrained in you, then of course it is going to feel “not quite right.”

In a previous post, I told you a little bit about my objections to the Catholic teachings. They “did not feel quite right” until I prayed to the Holy Spirit to help me. Not until after I prayed to the Holy Spirit.

Then it felt more than quite right. It felt like I fell in love all over again with God. I never thought I would ever feel like that again (after meeting my husband). Absolutely glorious. Brings tears to my eyes.

This brings into question your criteria of “feeling not quite right,” doesn’t it?

btw, ALLFORHIM, it does match the Bible. You’re just refusing to admit what’s in front of you. You can’t just say something and then look for verses in the Bible to back you up. It’s the other way around. What the Bible says, the Bible says.

 

[Kay_Cee]

LOL No sorry it is still a misintrepretation on the CC’s part. Of course you will believe it is how you are being taught.

Strange. That was also my mother’s interpretation, and she was Protestant. It certainly wasn’t how she was taught.