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No offense intended here. While I get what you are saying there comes the next problem.
In what manner do you believe everyone should be in unity? Do you have a certain belief structure that you think everyone should agree with?
What is unity to you? Someone who doesn't question what you believe?
If someone disagrees with your conclusions after you "claim" you rightly divide the word and have the correct context, and "truly" study, what does that mean to you?
Explain please.
There is the view that some christian scholars or bible scholars have in regard to biblical interpretation. It's called hermeneutics. In religious studies hermeneutics is the study of the theory and practice of interpretation. Traditional hermeneutics—which includes Biblical hermeneutics—refers to the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law. Contemporary, or modern, hermeneutics encompasses not only issues involving the written text, but everything in the interpretative process. This includes verbal and nonverbal forms of communication as well as prior aspects that affect communication, such as presuppositions, preunderstandings, the meaning and philosophy of language, and semiotics.
The terms exegesis and hermeneutics are sometimes used interchangeably because exegesis focuses primarily on the written text. Hermeneutics however is a more widely defined discipline of interpretation theory including the entire framework of the interpretive process and, encompassing all forms of communication and expression; written, verbal, artistic, geo-political, physiological, sociological etc.
How do we rightly divide the Word of God? ..... Well we must first know the true character of the Lord God and his perfect will , that every idea in scripture line up whole to His true character.......We must know the perfect plan that Jesus authored thorough His Father in Heaven and stand fast to it thorough our discerning ideas to be whole to the Lord ..... We must know the character of Holy Spirit as we are called to adopt Holy Spirit character for our selves.... Jesus preached on Holy Spirit and His authority on most of scripture, otherwise he would preach of end times .....Also we must understand the wiles of the devil as in Ephesians 6:10-11..... were we can discern the errors that come from doctrines of men and bring lack of Holy Spirit into our lives, were this dark spirit is not given authority were Jesus will not go unless He is redeeming us of it.....To be whole in Christ with no contradiction can be a challenge .....
No religion saves anyone. I know this may be a shock to some of you Christians who believe that by being a member of the JWs, Church of Christ, 7th Day Adventist, Mormon, United Church of God, Catholic church and countless other cult like christian denominations that believe that they are in the truth, and that God is sending them a direct channel of communication that no other religion receives that some how makes them righteous over other Christian organizations that don't agree with your beliefs. That's a tactic of the devil to keep us all divided, and God allows this to happen so that those of us who have been blessed by God to question all beliefs OVER WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY TEACHES ABOUT TOPICS IN CONTEXT can truly study to show ourselves approved unto God, who needth not be ashamed, but RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. 2TIM 2:15.
"Their opinions on God's attitudes on important social issues closely mirror their own beliefs. If their own attitudes change, so do their perceptions of what God thinks. They even use the same parts of their brain when considering God's will and their own opinions."
"The results suggest that similar parts of the brain are involved when we consider our own beliefs and those of God - Epley thinks this is why we end up inferring a deity's attitudes based on those we hold ourselves."
When it's rightly dividing us that we discern that of us which is the flesh and that of us which is God,then we are rightly dividing the word of truth.
When it's rightly dividing us that we discern that of us which is the flesh and that of us which is God,then we are rightly dividing the word of truth.
You certainly know how to get to the heart of the matter.
I'm a former Protestant (non-denom fundamentalist), a Catholic now, and I live in Baptist Land!
I'd like to invite you to check out the Catholic Christians thread, antredd. I, along with several others have been giving the reasons why we converted.
There is the view that some christian scholars or bible scholars have in regard to biblical interpretation. It's called hermeneutics. In religious studies hermeneutics is the study of the theory and practice of interpretation. Traditional hermeneutics—which includes Biblical hermeneutics—refers to the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law. Contemporary, or modern, hermeneutics encompasses not only issues involving the written text, but everything in the interpretative process. This includes verbal and nonverbal forms of communication as well as prior aspects that affect communication, such as presuppositions, preunderstandings, the meaning and philosophy of language, and semiotics.
The terms exegesis and hermeneutics are sometimes used interchangeably because exegesis focuses primarily on the written text. Hermeneutics however is a more widely defined discipline of interpretation theory including the entire framework of the interpretive process and, encompassing all forms of communication and expression; written, verbal, artistic, geo-political, physiological, sociological etc.
Yes, I understand that, however, what has determined that such an approach is rightly dividing the word? Seems all those theories are applied to scripture from outside of the biblical text and therefore shapes an asserted biblical intention. The biblical text is not seen to convey the structure we are often told is the right way, so what has determed it's correctness?
The many different views of this (and other) passages are interesting. Opinions seem to run the gamut from "Whatever feels good must be right" ... to "No division is correct." Yet, ironically, few actually focus on how God's Word itself says it is to be 'rightly divided.' [In some respects, that has happened across the CD Christian forum ... with more threads focused on what people think, rather than what God's Word actually says].
For openers, the entire passage clearly tells us that 'rightly dividing God's Word of Truth' is both important and possible (otherwise, we would not be explicitely instructed to do so). Then, the first part of 2 Tim 2:15 tells us 'How": "study to show ourselves approved of God, workmen that need not be ashamed...". This tells us we are to both Study God's Word and then obey it('workmen') --- to achieve the goal of 'rightly dividing God's Word of Truth'.
We must truly "Seek God where He may be found" -- and understand God's Word by "building precept upon precept," under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This tells us that the focus must be on studying God's Word, praying and obedience, ... not the idle chatter and empty opinions (or polls) of men. 2 Tim 2:16 specifically warns us against the latter, in lieu of studying God's Word itself.
Yes, different denominations and groups 'divide' themselves over doctrinal issues, but, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It pushes people to search the Word of God more deeply for truths that can stand-up to persecution and division (eg; God used this stimulus in Acts, to spread His Gospel beyond Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
"Rightly dividing the Truth" through study and obedience leads to the type of simple understanding that J. Vernon McGee used to talk about ("God puts the cookies on the bottom shelf, so the kids can get to them.") The "unity" that results is not a 'unity of denominations, but a 'unity of understanding God and living in relationship with Him as part of the 'body of Christ on earth.'
"Their opinions on God's attitudes on important social issues closely mirror their own beliefs. If their own attitudes change, so do their perceptions of what God thinks. They even use the same parts of their brain when considering God's will and their own opinions."
"The results suggest that similar parts of the brain are involved when we consider our own beliefs and those of God - Epley thinks this is why we end up inferring a deity's attitudes based on those we hold ourselves."
Interesting!
I agree that we superimpose our attitudes on our image of God.
A church's doctrine may give a list of attributes of God... & we will focus on those that we relate to, or fear most.
That's why I think it's important to question our definitions of God... & let that questioning be ok, even in Theological circles...
Because the heart of spirituality is psychology (the study of the soul).
The many different views of this (and other) passages are interesting. Opinions seem to run the gamut from "Whatever feels good must be right" ... to "No division is correct." Yet, ironically, few actually focus on how God's Word itself says it is to be 'rightly divided.' [In some respects, that has happened across the CD Christian forum ... with more threads focused on what people think, rather than what God's Word actually says].
For openers, the entire passage clearly tells us that 'rightly dividing God's Word of Truth' is both important and possible (otherwise, we would not be explicitely instructed to do so). Then, the first part of 2 Tim 2:15 tells us 'How": "study to show ourselves approved of God, workmen that need not be ashamed...". This tells us we are to both Study God's Word and then obey it('workmen') --- to achieve the goal of 'rightly dividing God's Word of Truth'.
We must truly "Seek God where He may be found" -- and understand God's Word by "building precept upon precept," under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This tells us that the focus must be on studying God's Word, praying and obedience, ... not the idle chatter and empty opinions (or polls) of men. 2 Tim 2:16 specifically warns us against the latter, in lieu of studying God's Word itself.
Yes, different denominations and groups 'divide' themselves over doctrinal issues, but, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It pushes people to search the Word of God more deeply for truths that can stand-up to persecution and division (eg; God used this stimulus in Acts, to spread His Gospel beyond Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
"Rightly dividing the Truth" through study and obedience leads to the type of simple understanding that J. Vernon McGee used to talk about ("God puts the cookies on the bottom shelf, so the kids can get to them.") The "unity" that results is not a 'unity of denominations, but a 'unity of understanding God and living in relationship with Him as part of the 'body of Christ on earth.'
A few problems here. First of all the word "study" does not mean to undertake mental learning as in studying for school. It means to hasten, endeavor. Check it out in the KJV Greek Lexicon.
This makes sense as there was no bible to "study" at the time this was written.
I also must address the division issue as well. Jesus prayed: And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (Jn 17:19-21)
Note that Jesus says this unity will be a visible sign for unbelievers so that the world may believe the Father has sent Him. Also we know without a doubt that the Father answered His Son's prayer. So the question is, where is this union of believers?
Blessings,
augusta
Last edited by Augusta33; 09-15-2011 at 11:49 AM..
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