Featured How To scripturally Determine the Mind of God on the Modern Practice of Paraphrasing His Words

I believe the KJV, Mr Piper. I used it to swat a couple flies back in 1994.

 

Well, I am assuming you understand that Jesus Christ is God and the spiritual things of God requires "revelation" to some extent. That is not all that is required, but it is certainly important. I know that from the context of the first four chapters in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. I do not want this to be a long explanation so I will post a couple verses. You should read the context later.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So, what is the real difference between the natural man and the spiritual man? Only one thing.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

That is it deacon. That is the only difference.

But one can have the Spirit and not be a natural man any longer but he can be a carnal man. This is the spiritual man who refuses to study the word of God and grow into maturity, but remains a babe. We have men on this forum like that. In Paul's day when he wrote these chapters these carnal Christians were following various other preachers, while today they are mostly following various translations. Perhaps you are like that, Deacon.

Now, it is my view that Paul was ready in 54 AD, when he wrote this epistle to the Corinthians, to reveal the great mystery of Christ that he later wrote about in Ephesians in 60 AD because of this statement here.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

He was referencing this mystery as the meat;

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

It would probably be a good thread subject to ask for an explanation of the meaning of this mystery. It is among the deep things of God. It is meat.

But thank you Deacon. This was a great question and I think it advances the subject matter and teaches us why we need the pure words of God.

Oh, and before I forget; here is the mind of God;

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

It is actually a veiled accusation that you have no support for anything you said.

 

The OP is ambiguous? Probably, There is a man here who says he cannot get a grip on the English language that is not written in the current style. How simple does it need to be? Should we go all the way back to the words, Wah! Wah! Personally, If I admit that I cannot understand a form of English, I would not brag about understanding Greek. I sure would not want his translation of Greek into English.

Now we want to make the word paraphrase within the context of Bible versions hard to understand.

 

There are two things that doesn't seem to be considered by most people who post on these boards on the subject of the Bible. Number one; the Bible is a spiritual book because it comes from God and claims to be his words and his testimony. Number two; the Bible is a Jewish book. Everything in the book must be understood in the mindset of the Jew. All the customs, the typology, the ceremonies, the covenants, the promises, salvation, everything. The gentile inclusion into the church of Jesus Christ on the principle of the grace of God was because for the first seven years of this age after Jesus was raised from the dead the Jewish apostles were given the authority to grant salvation to the Jews, (the Holy Ghost, the definition of salvation and the new birth), by baptism. This was a national promise and for the collective Son of God, Israel after the flesh, to receive the new birth, it obviously required every one of them to be saved. They are a collective. Think about that. They were to be saved because of the principle of promise. This is a theme during their OT history as a nation. The showdown between the preachers and Israel came at the end of 7 years in Jerusalem in the temple when the Jews violently rejected the Spirit of God and refused God's salvation through Christ and put the preacher to death. Now you will begin to hear the word "remnant" associated with Jewish salvation because only a few were saved. The main group were unbelievers, lost, and judicially blinded by God because of it. If they get saved after this it will be as the gentiles, individually and one by one but with collective salvation being set aside for a season.

One must understand that this offer through the Jews of salvation was a legitimate offer and was rejected. It was at this time that God began the next phase of his commission, the Samaritans. They were quick to receive the word and they are actually the "Israel" in this scenario. They are the 10 tribes. I will quickly move on past them to get to the gentiles. They had no direct promises of salvation from God. He had really intended that his house (family) would be built with the Jews but since they refused, God began to open the door of faith to gentiles in order to fill his house and complete it. This principle through which he saved the gentiles and made us partakers of the blessings of the Jews was by grace. The blessing was spiritual. The forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost. making all who will come a son of God .

Jesus Christ prophesied this exact thing that happened in the Acts after he rose from the dead.

Lu 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Jesus said in John 3 that before anyone can enter his kingdom they must be born again. Jesus had accomplish what it took for them to be born again by dying for their sins and being buried and rising from the dead. He could and would have saved every one of them and then the kingdom. But the rulers refused him. and the kingdom is delayed.

Mt 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are]ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (This was fulfilled by the Romans in 70 AD)
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The inauguration of the kingdom of Christ is the marriage supper of the LAMB. Jesus said it was ready in Acts 2 and the apostles was sent out to Jerusalem and Judaea to let them know it was time to come.

You may think I am not answering your post with these remarks but I think you are a sincere man but are lacking in certain areas of understanding. Maybe this post will help you see and consider some things. One thing you should consider is that one must have the exact words of God in order to see these great truths and be able to put it all together.

 

I am impressed.

 

Commenting on what I have designated as point #1 above.

Every word of the scriptures was written by a member of Abraham's family through Jacob. Moses began writing circa 1500 BC. The earth was formed in circa 4000 BC. All that happened before Moses was a revelation to him from God. Moses had the special priviledge of being a man who spoke face to face with God.

Exodus 33:11
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Deuteronomy 34:10
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

I am making a logical conclusion here based on information from the scriptures that God wanted his whole Bible to have a Jewish flavor.

Acts 7:38
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Lively means living.

Rom 3:2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Rom 15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

Jesus says in John 4 to the Samaritan woman; "Salvation is of the Jews."

I think my position is logical and reasoned.

 

Have you guys ever thought about starting a new thread to discuss it?