Why would God leave the Bible open to interpretation?

[Justin108]

Very few would disagree on the interpretable nature of the Bible. Often, such as the case with Genesis 1, getting the interpretation wrong is no big deal. It does not harm us in any way to not know what exactly happened in Genesis 1.

But what about texts where a misinterpretation can have dire consequences?
To illustrate; Jehovah's Witnesses believe blood transfusions are against God's law. Other Christians interpret the supporting text for this differently.

Obviously, interpreting this text the wrong way can have dire consequences both ways.
- If Jehovah's Witnesses are right, then other Christians are guilty of disobeying God's laws due to their own misinterpretation of the Bible.
- If Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong, then they are risking the lives of themselves and their family by refusing blood donations.

If misinterpreting the Bible can have such dire consequences, why would God leave the Bible so open to interpretation? Do people who misinterpret the Bible deserve the consequences? Do Jehovah's Witnesses deserve to die if their interpretations are wrong? Do other denomination deserve to be punished by God for if their own interpretations are wrong? Surely, God could have made the Bible clearer in instances like this? Did God not foresee that future generations would misinterpret his message?

[JehovahsWitness]

Of his choosing? So regardless of how hard we try, unless Jesus chose us to understand the text, we cannot unless Jesus chose us?

That is exactly right.

JOHN 15:16
You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. NLT

A secret is a deliberate move to keep information from people, the bible is spoken of as containing "sacred secrets". Those that show a humble, "meek" attitude and a sincere desire to know the Truth will be, as Jesus indicated "granted" bible understanding in God's due time.



Why is the bible open to interpretation?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 682#844682

[ttruscott]

If misinterpreting the Bible can have such dire consequences, why would God leave the Bible so open to interpretation?

The PCE I contend for suggests we have finished with creating our eternal fates by our personal free will decisions. On earth as sinners we have no free will but are enslaved by the addictive quality to evil. Therefore there are no dire consequences for misinterpreting HIS Book...our lives (not our fates) are predestined to fulfill our free will choices made before earthly life.

The plan for our earthly lives is to separate HIS good seed from the people of the evil one by making them holy so the judgement may be instituted and the heavenly state start, the parable of the good seed, Matt 13. The bible is the main source of our understanding of what GOD is up to here with us. But by writing a book, HE has proven two things: 1. that no truth no matter how perfect, true or holy, is safe from being corrupted to the use of the evil ones and 2. no one should trust his own interpretation of the book but should only seek GOD and follow HIM. It is implied that everyone who seeks God/GOD will find the God they are seeking.

The book is open to interpretation because everyone gets to live according to their own interpretation of our reality as they have previously chosen.

[rikuoamero]

[Replying to post 11 by JehovahsWitness]

A secret is a deliberate move to keep information from people, the bible is spoken of as containing "sacred secrets". Those that show a humble, "meek" attitude and a sincere desire to know the Truth will be, as Jesus indicated "granted" bible understanding in God's due time.

You do realise don't you the logical implications of this? That you yourself, and your fellow JWs themselves, are also not privy to these 'sacred secrets'? Why, it could be that everything the JWs preach, what they interpret from the Bible, is not at all anything like what Jesus 'actually' taught?

Can you answer me honestly please? When making that last reply, did it not cross your mind as to how (absurd/elitist?) such a response would sound to other people? It's essentially saying "We the JWs understand for realsies what Jesus taught, it's US that God chose to reveal his wisdom to, and if you don't agree with us...why, it's not because what we the JWs teach is in error anywhere, it's because the Jesus we say only reveals his wisdom to specific people, isn't allowing you to understand".

[Justin108]

Of his choosing? So regardless of how hard we try, unless Jesus chose us to understand the text, we cannot unless Jesus chose us?

That is exactly right.

JOHN 15:16
You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. NLT

A secret is a deliberate move to keep information from people, the bible is spoken of as containing "sacred secrets". Those that show a humble, "meek" attitude and a sincere desire to know the Truth will be, as Jesus indicated "granted" bible understanding in God's due time.



Why is the bible open to interpretation?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 682#844682

Please address the rest of my post. It's considerably longer than the one sentence you addressed

[Justin108]

If misinterpreting the Bible can have such dire consequences, why would God leave the Bible so open to interpretation?

The PCE I contend for suggests we have finished with creating our eternal fates by our personal free will decisions. On earth as sinners we have no free will but are enslaved by the addictive quality to evil. Therefore there are no dire consequences for misinterpreting HIS Book...our lives (not our fates) are predestined to fulfill our free will choices made before earthly life.

The plan for our earthly lives is to separate HIS good seed from the people of the evil one by making them holy so the judgement may be instituted and the heavenly state start, the parable of the good seed, Matt 13. The bible is the main source of our understanding of what GOD is up to here with us. But by writing a book, HE has proven two things: 1. that no truth no matter how perfect, true or holy, is safe from being corrupted to the use of the evil ones and 2. no one should trust his own interpretation of the book but should only seek GOD and follow HIM. It is implied that everyone who seeks God/GOD will find the God they are seeking.

The book is open to interpretation because everyone gets to live according to their own interpretation of our reality as they have previously chosen.

I opened two debates on PCE alone. You could not address the flaws in PCE yet you still preach it

[ttruscott]

I opened two debates on PCE alone. You could not address the flaws in PCE yet you still preach it

I answered every so called flaw. I did not answer questions of which I know nothing which pointed nowhere and had no meaning to the topic.

[1213]

...

If misinterpreting the Bible can have such dire consequences, why would God leave the Bible so open to interpretation? Do people who misinterpret the Bible deserve the consequences? Do Jehovah's Witnesses deserve to die if their interpretations are wrong? Do other denomination deserve to be punished by God for if their own interpretations are wrong? Surely, God could have made the Bible clearer in instances like this? Did God not foresee that future generations would misinterpret his message?

I don’t think misinterpretation is a problem, because the judgment is not about who has the correct interpretation, but about who remains in truth and who is righteous.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."
John 3:19-21

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

On basis of those, mistake is to reject truth. Person who remains in truth, doesn’t make false interpretations, but it is possible that person who remains in truth, doesn’t yet understand everything fully.

"…and the truth will make you free."
John 8:31-32

[Wootah]

I'm still intrigued (by my own post).

Aren't all the interpretations on the Jesus is not God side? Isn't that telling?

[Justin108]

I opened two debates on PCE alone. You could not address the flaws in PCE yet you still preach it

I answered every so called flaw. I did not answer questions of which I know nothing which pointed nowhere and had no meaning to the topic.

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... sc&start=0

Refer to post 7