Why can't everyone understand the Bible?

[2timothy316]

Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is. Why is that? Why didn't God make the Bible easy to understand for everyone? The Bible holds the key to the answer to this question right?

[boatsnguitars]

My statement that "most people agree on what it is that the Bible says the majority of the time" remains true.

Most people aren't Christian. Most people are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.

But, do "most people" agree on the following?:

• Belief in the Trinity: The belief in the Triune God, consisting of Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

• Belief in the Divinity of Jesus: The belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is fully divine.

• Belief in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus: The belief that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and was resurrected, conquering death.

• Belief in Salvation through Grace: The belief that salvation is a result of God's grace and is received through faith in Jesus Christ.

• Belief in the Authority of Scripture: The belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and serves as the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice.

Because:

• Unitarian Universalism: Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious movement that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and instead emphasizes the unity of God. They do not hold to the belief in the divinity of Jesus or the concept of original sin.

• Jehovah's Witnesses: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is the Son of God but do not affirm his full divinity as understood in traditional Christianity. They reject the doctrine of the Trinity and believe that Jesus is a created being. They also do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

• Christadelphians: Christadelphians reject the doctrine of the Trinity and do not believe in the pre-existence or divinity of Jesus. They view Jesus as a fully human being who was empowered by God's Holy Spirit. They also have a different understanding of the nature of salvation and the authority of scripture.

• Oneness Pentecostalism: Oneness Pentecostalism rejects the traditional Trinitarian view and believes in the oneness of God. They deny the separate existence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and instead believe that God manifests Himself in different modes or roles. They also have distinct beliefs on baptism and salvation.

And, might I add, this lack of agreement has been going on since the beginning (or else why are there so many books of the Bible warning against false teachings?)

• Pharisees: The Pharisees were a Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to religious laws and traditions. They were influential in the Jewish community and interacted with early Christians, often being portrayed in the New Testament as opponents of Jesus and his followers.

• Sadducees: The Sadducees were another prominent Jewish sect characterized by their conservative religious views and association with the Temple in Jerusalem. They rejected beliefs in the afterlife, resurrection, and angels, which distinguished them from other Jewish groups and some early Christian beliefs.

• Essenes: The Essenes were a Jewish sect that lived an ascetic lifestyle and believed in communal living. They were known for their strict observance of religious rituals and were associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in the mid-20th century.

• Ebionites: The Ebionites were a Jewish-Christian sect that emphasized adherence to Jewish laws and traditions. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah but did not consider him divine. They held onto Jewish practices such as circumcision and observance of the Sabbath.

• Gnostics: Gnosticism encompassed various groups and beliefs during the early centuries of Christianity. Gnostics held that salvation came through secret knowledge (gnosis) rather than through faith alone. They emphasized the separation of the spiritual realm from the physical world and had diverse views on the nature of Christ and the concept of divine knowledge.

• Marcionites: The Marcionites were followers of Marcion, who developed a distinctive belief system that rejected the Hebrew Bible and its God as a lower deity. They held that Jesus was the true revelation of God and rejected any continuity between the Old and New Testaments.

But, I suppose you might say, "Most people I know..."

[boatsnguitars]

Can you give an example of a time when 98% of people agreed on the meaning of a document, only to find out later that they were all wrong?

The Dresden Codex.
J. Eric S. Thompson (1898-1975) initially interpreted the Dresden Codex as primarily an astronomical and calendrical document. He believed that the codex was mainly concerned with predicting astronomical events and did not delve into other aspects of Maya life. This interpretation influenced the broader understanding of the codex among scholars at the time.

Thompson's expertise and authority in the field of Mayan studies led to a widespread acceptance of his views. His interpretations influenced subsequent research, and many scholars followed his lead in considering the Dresden Codex as a primarily astronomical document.

It wasn't until later (1970's) scholars, such as Linda Schele and David Stuart, challenged Thompson's interpretations and began to explore the deeper symbolism and rich cultural information contained within the codices. Through advancements in decipherment techniques and a broader perspective on the Mayan civilization, these researchers revealed the multi-faceted nature of the codices and their significance in understanding various aspects of Mayan culture.

All explained in the fantastic book: Coe, Michael D. (1992). Breaking the Maya Code. London: Thames & Hudson.

Runner up: Many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Judas, etc.

Also, the Bible (as evidenced by the vast number of denominations, changing doctrines, etc.)

[onewithhim]

Can you give an example of a time when 98% of people agreed on the meaning of a document, only to find out later that they were all wrong?

The Dresden Codex.
J. Eric S. Thompson (1898-1975) initially interpreted the Dresden Codex as primarily an astronomical and calendrical document. He believed that the codex was mainly concerned with predicting astronomical events and did not delve into other aspects of Maya life. This interpretation influenced the broader understanding of the codex among scholars at the time.

Thompson's expertise and authority in the field of Mayan studies led to a widespread acceptance of his views. His interpretations influenced subsequent research, and many scholars followed his lead in considering the Dresden Codex as a primarily astronomical document.

It wasn't until later (1970's) scholars, such as Linda Schele and David Stuart, challenged Thompson's interpretations and began to explore the deeper symbolism and rich cultural information contained within the codices. Through advancements in decipherment techniques and a broader perspective on the Mayan civilization, these researchers revealed the multi-faceted nature of the codices and their significance in understanding various aspects of Mayan culture.

All explained in the fantastic book: Coe, Michael D. (1992). Breaking the Maya Code. London: Thames & Hudson.

Runner up: Many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Judas, etc.

Also, the Bible (as evidenced by the vast number of denominations, changing doctrines, etc.)

As I have said before, we have to go back to the original Hebrew and Greek to get the real meanings, and many versions have not done this, e.g. the KJV. Many versions try to sell their own beliefs by bending a verse here and there and twisting a scripture or two or more.

Speaking of excellent books: Truth in Translation by Jason BeDuhn is awesome.

[myth-one.com]

As I have said before, we have to go back to the original Hebrew and Greek to get the real meanings, . . .

But the words of the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures are sealed until the time of the end:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)

So that wouldn't work.

[onewithhim]

As I have said before, we have to go back to the original Hebrew and Greek to get the real meanings, . . .

But the words of the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures are sealed until the time of the end:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)

So that wouldn't work.

Oh yes it does work. We are living at the time of the end. Many are now running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing.

[myth-one.com]

As I have said before, we have to go back to the original Hebrew and Greek to get the real meanings, . . .

But the words of the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures are sealed until the time of the end:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)

So that wouldn't work.

Oh yes it does work. We are living at the time of the end. Many are now running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing.

The USA inow ranks as about the 27th country in the world in regards to education. This is a drop from sixth in 1990!

And the country is dumbing down to accompany the populace. Highly paid and respected national television news anchors no longer use the word "for" in their speech.

"For" has been replaced by "fer."

Fer sure! Here is another example:

"The president spoke at ..." is no longer correct usage.

It has been replaced by . . . "The president, he spoke at ..."

Duh?

The time of the end is usually associated with the Second Coming. Has the Second Coming occurred without anyone noticing?

[Eddie Ramos]

Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is. Why is that? Why didn't God make the Bible easy to understand for everyone? The Bible holds the key to the answer to this question right?

The answer is because the Word of God was written in parables.

Matthew 13:34–35 (KJV 1900)
All these things spake Jesus (The Word of God) unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

The entire Old Testament is a historical parable, meaning, that it all literally took place as its written, but is using the historical record to conceal his spiritual truth. This is why most Christians think that they agree on what the Bible says, because they can all read and comprehend the historical record (Christian or not). But the doctrines they develop, while thinking they all agree on what the Bible says, could not be further apart, like free will vs election, once saved always saved vs loss of salvation, who Jesus is, the role of women, hell, the tribulation, etc.

God specifically wrote the Bible to cause confusion among those who think they are children of God, yet never were.

Matthew 13:10–16 (KJV 1900)
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

This truth of parables is the most widely neglected truth among "Christians", which is precisely why debates arise from looking at the Bible as a plainly written document. But this was by design.

Proverbs 25:2 (KJV 1900)
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing (a WORD):
But the honour of kings (the true children of God) is to search out a matter(a WORD).

[TheHolyGhost]

Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is. Why is that? Why didn't God make the Bible easy to understand for everyone? The Bible holds the key to the answer to this question right?

Of course it does, that is why everyone will agree with you.