Are we paying attention? (hell, Revelation, believe, Moses)

[katjonjj]

I see phrases like this all the time:

"Are you paying attention?"

Do you think that perhaps someone hearing that would think... How can you PAY attention?

This is the conundrum I see when people interpret the bible. Phrases that make no sense (slang usually) are treated as literal...

Do we know what "slang" phrases were actually used in the 1st century? How do we know we are correct about what the bible says if we arent familiar with the "slang" of the 1st century?

Not to make this into a UR vs. ET thread (if that can be done ) but an example would be the misunderstanding of the words translated as hell...

To the greeks, the concept of hell was different from the hebrew concept of hell , and the Christian concept of hell is different from both those...

So how do we know what is "slang" and what is literal in the bible considering it was written in a different time and culture than our own?

[RobinD69]

No slang intended Sorry I just had to say that.

If one trully reads the Bible in it entirety I believe they would come to the conclusion that hell in it many facets is simply seperation from God which would leave the torments to ones imaginations and I also believe no one can accuratly fathom hell. Hell for one person, say a satanist (not picking just chosen for an example), would be service to God against ones will knowing they serve but no way to resist. Or a murderer suffering their own murder repeatedly with no way to avoid it. I will stop at that because I have a very graphic imagination and I seek not to offend.

[.sparrow.]

Originally Posted by RobinD69

I have a very graphic imagination and I seek not to offend.

Robin... with all due respect, I think you should ponder that further.
Because it is most definitely from carnal MANKIND's imagination that has created the anti-christ belief that God will torment forever the very human beings he brought into existence.

God is LOVE.
Let's start believing it and trusting Him and remember just what He has told us LOVE is.

Peace...

[RobinD69]

Originally Posted by .sparrow.

Robin... with all due respect, I think you should ponder that further.
Because it is most definitely from carnal MANKIND's imagination that has created the anti-christ belief that God will torment forever the very human beings he brought into existence.

God is LOVE.
Let's start believing it and trusting Him and remember just what He has told us LOVE is.

Peace...

AH but what of Gods imagination. Think of the worst job you have ever had and being stuck doing it for eternity with no possibility of a break and not being able to run away.

God Love us so much He would be willing to give us what we actually wish for so consider your own dark little secret passions and God granting them with no gratification whatsoever for eternity, talk about burning in hell.

[.sparrow.]

Originally Posted by RobinD69

AH but what of Gods imagination. Think of the worst job you have ever had and being stuck doing it for eternity with no possibility of a break and not being able to run away.

God Love us so much He would be willing to give us what we actually wish for so consider your own dark little secret passions and God granting them with no gratification whatsoever for eternity, talk about burning in hell.

My secret passions are for All to finally come to the knowledge of truth, the knowledge of LOVE, and that will happen when HE is ALL in ALL. Just like He says He will be.


Just a few verses that come to mind that make my heart leap for joy, because yes... my secret passion WILL come to fruition. Who else would put that passion in my heart BUT GOD??:

1 Cor 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Phillipians 2:10-11 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.


Peace...

[firstborn888]

Originally Posted by .sparrow.

Because it is most definitely from carnal MANKIND's imagination that has created the anti-christ belief that God will torment forever the very human beings he brought into existence.

Originally Posted by RobinD69

AH but what of Gods imagination.

[Betsey Lane]

Originally Posted by katjonjj

I see phrases like this all the time:

"Are you paying attention?"

Do you think that perhaps someone hearing that would think... How can you PAY attention?

This is the conundrum I see when people interpret the bible. Phrases that make no sense (slang usually) are treated as literal...

Do we know what "slang" phrases were actually used in the 1st century? How do we know we are correct about what the bible says if we arent familiar with the "slang" of the 1st century?

Not to make this into a UR vs. ET thread (if that can be done ) but an example would be the misunderstanding of the words translated as hell...

To the greeks, the concept of hell was different from the hebrew concept of hell , and the Christian concept of hell is different from both those...

So how do we know what is "slang" and what is literal in the bible considering it was written in a different time and culture than our own?

ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? So now this is a "slang" phrase? Is that all you got? I rebuke you Satan in the name of the Lord Jesus! The goal is to draw people to Christ, not confuse...............Amen?

But you have a work to do, carry on.

[Betsey Lane]

Originally Posted by RobinD69

No slang intended Sorry I just had to say that.

If one trully reads the Bible in it entirety I believe they would come to the conclusion that hell in it many facets is simply seperation from God which would leave the torments to ones imaginations and I also believe no one can accuratly fathom hell. Hell for one person, say a satanist (not picking just chosen for an example), would be service to God against ones will knowing they serve but no way to resist. Or a murderer suffering their own murder repeatedly with no way to avoid it. I will stop at that because I have a very graphic imagination and I seek not to offend.

Don't touch this one! I got this! (ooop's, I used a slang). Really?

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by katjonjj

I see phrases like this all the time:

"Are you paying attention?"

Do you think that perhaps someone hearing that would think... How can you PAY attention?

This is the conundrum I see when people interpret the bible. Phrases that make no sense (slang usually) are treated as literal...

Do we know what "slang" phrases were actually used in the 1st century? How do we know we are correct about what the bible says if we arent familiar with the "slang" of the 1st century?

Not to make this into a UR vs. ET thread (if that can be done ) but an example would be the misunderstanding of the words translated as hell...

To the greeks, the concept of hell was different from the hebrew concept of hell , and the Christian concept of hell is different from both those...

So how do we know what is "slang" and what is literal in the bible considering it was written in a different time and culture than our own?

Knowing the meaning of terms is very important in correct interpretation and, as you rightly surmise, many people are not aware of the root meanings of the words and their usages. I'm not sure what this has to do with slang though.

[katjonjj]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

Knowing the meaning of terms is very important in correct interpretation and, as you rightly surmise, many people are not aware of the root meanings of the words and their usages. I'm not sure what this has to do with slang though.

It was just the irony of PAYING attention as if we really do PAY as in give recompense for attention that is slang. The definition of PAY does not necessarily fit with attention...

Just as the hell picture for Christians is not necessarily the picture the writers of the NT had.

How do we know that Greek or Hebrew slang was not used in the bible... in fact, how do we know that we are interpreting the words in the correct manner they were meant to be interpreted. Take the book of revelation for example, there are many parts that are nearly incoherent but if we lived in the 1st century we may have understood. That is why it is important to research the culture of the author so that we have a genuine understanding of what the author was truly trying to communicate, and not just applying what is written to 21st century language.

For example, it is know that the egyptians used a method for traveling at night that included a torch at night and a partial torch (which produced smoke) during the day, yet we see that in the OT that it is said that God was the pillar of fire and the pillar of smoke.... how do we know it was God? Perhaps it was just a torch that Moses used to guide the people but it was attributed to God because it was his will that they fled Egypt...

Just some thoughts.... nothing really solid but I think people should keep an open mind about the words in the bible and not just assume that the 21 st century version is the correct one.