Another Approach
2Pe 3:14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
The epistles of the bible are not understood by the world. The Bible itself is not understood, but the epistles are especially misinterpreted. They are not written as narrated events or recordings, but they are written messages. They are explanations and exhortations, correcting the wrong actions of brethren and arguing for righteousness. They are inspired by God, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, but the language and context may be too complex to be used when proving God’s Truth to people in the world. Of course, this is not because other people aren’t smart enough to get it, or we are better than them. Remember I Corinthians 1:26. It is simply that God has not opened their minds.
If, while using the epistles to prove God’s truth, someone uses an argument such as, “Well that’s your interpretation,” or “That’s not what I think it means,” you may have to take an alternate approach. Trying to show what Scripture says through immediate context and reasoning may not get through. A good option is to then focus on what Christ and His Apostles did rather than what they said.
1Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
The inspired word of God says we are to imitate Paul, just as he also imitated Christ. What did Paul do? What did Jesus Christ do? Can their actions clarify the meaning of their words?
--- Someone else take over. It's late and I'm tired.
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
The epistles of the bible are not understood by the world. The Bible itself is not understood, but the epistles are especially misinterpreted. They are not written as narrated events or recordings, but they are written messages. They are explanations and exhortations, correcting the wrong actions of brethren and arguing for righteousness. They are inspired by God, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, but the language and context may be too complex to be used when proving God’s Truth to people in the world. Of course, this is not because other people aren’t smart enough to get it, or we are better than them. Remember I Corinthians 1:26. It is simply that God has not opened their minds.
If, while using the epistles to prove God’s truth, someone uses an argument such as, “Well that’s your interpretation,” or “That’s not what I think it means,” you may have to take an alternate approach. Trying to show what Scripture says through immediate context and reasoning may not get through. A good option is to then focus on what Christ and His Apostles did rather than what they said.
1Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
The inspired word of God says we are to imitate Paul, just as he also imitated Christ. What did Paul do? What did Jesus Christ do? Can their actions clarify the meaning of their words?
--- Someone else take over. It's late and I'm tired.
posted by Josh K at 10:53 PM
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