Doctrine of God

[B Bob]

Is God only an invisible Spirit or is He also flesh (human)?

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 119 by marco]

When Christ said to the repentant thief: "I tell you this day you shall be with me in Paradise," do we insert a comma after day or after you? It makes a big difference.

Not a problem, those experts, the translators, have done it for us!

Those who challenge the choice they made will usually get into hot water on that one.

And yes, it does make a big difference.

Between truth and falsehood. Between eisigesis and exegesis.

[marco]

Your argument insists, literally or figuratively, the resurrected body will still be literally perishable because it will still be flesh and blood.

No it doesn't insist on any such thing. I was initially arguing against your supposition that the body has bone in it and I opposed this notion, because bone and flesh without blood seemed an absurdity. Christ appeared, after the resurrection, in normal form. So I concluded that this was merely the semblance of normality, if he possessed a glorified body, and I said that we cannot possibly discuss what constitutes such a body. My suggestion was that it was spiritual, with corporeal semblance, but that is surmise.

I am choosing a figurative interpretation because it seems appropriate when dealing with such mystical things.

My argument concerning this scripture is in rebuttal to the JW claim Christ cannot be God because He was flesh and blood and still is flesh and blood. If He is not God, come in the flesh, then He cannot be King of King and Lord of Lords.

Then I agree that once the body dies and takes on the incorruptible, we are no longer in the realm of proper flesh and blood. Your preoccupation with bone distracted me.

[B Bob]

[Replying to post 122 by marco]

Ok, I understand what happened. I need to get better at expressing the concept and why I am emphasizing certain things.

I want you to know that I believe in the literal interpretation of the things that happened in the scriptures, but I also understand they are also told as metaphors.

In fact, in my opinion, the literal events that took place in the Old Testament were done for our benefit in providing examples of the spiritual things to come and have come in the age of the New Testament. The hidden or, one could say, secret language of the OT is the type and shadows these stories represent to the spiritual realities of the New Testament

[marco]

[Replying to post 122 by marco]

Ok, I understand what happened. I need to get better at expressing the concept and why I am emphasizing certain things.

I want you to know that I believe in the literal interpretation of the things that happened in the scriptures, but I also understand they are also told as metaphors.

In fact, in my opinion, the literal events that took place in the Old Testament were done for our benefit in providing examples of the spiritual things to come and have come in the age of the New Testament. The hidden or, one could say, secret language of the OT is the type and shadows these stories represent to the spiritual realities of the New Testament

Let us part in agreement on that one particular area.

I suspect we have an entire continent of disagreement, for much of what you accept I don't. But that is the nature of free choice. I send my warm regards.

[B Bob]

[Replying to marco]

I suspect so and agree. I do have one question for you. Do you believe the creation story that took place in six "creation days"?

[marco]

[Replying to marco]

I suspect so and agree. I do have one question for you. Do you believe the creation story that took place in six "creation days"?

When I was a youth I discussed this with a theologian. He agreed the likeliest explanation is that the account is poetic. I know the theories of "days" not being days - a day on Mars is not a day on Earth, for instance.

I know the theology of events in the OT foreshadowing events in the new. It could, of course be that the writers of the NT, knowing what was already predicted, built their stories around these predictions so as to give the idea of fulfilment. I certainly believe this happened with the Christmas story.

[B Bob]

[Replying to post 126 by marco]


Thank you or your forthright answer.