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?

[bjs1]

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?

I disagree with this premise. I have found that most people agree on what it is that the Bible says the majority of the time. There are a variety of tertiary issue – such as the role of women specifically in church leadership – that are murky in the scriptures. People often exaggerate the importance of some texts while suppressing the importance of others in order to come to a disagreement. However, in most areas most people agree on what the Bible teaches.

[1213]

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?

Can you show one example of what is difficult to understand?

[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?

I disagree with this premise. I have found that most people agree on what it is that the Bible says the majority of the time. There are a variety of tertiary issue – such as the role of women specifically in church leadership – that are murky in the scriptures. People often exaggerate the importance of some texts while suppressing the importance of others in order to come to a disagreement. However, in most areas most people agree on what the Bible teaches.

Agreement doesn't mean understanding. During the middle ages it was agreed by many that spontaneous generation was how new animals were made. Leaves in water turned into fish and meat turned into maggots. Just because many agree on something doesn't mean it is understood.

[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?

Can you show one example of what is difficult to understand?

Really....you need examples...? There are countless websites, including the one you're on right now, where people use different scriptures to explain their ideas which then in turn conflict with someone else's ideas and scriptures. Why isn't the Bible clear and easy to understand?

For your examples just take a look at the titles of topics on this and other forums. Take your pick from: the trinity, what happens when we die, are we living in the last days, do we have freewill, what is murder...if the Bible was clear and easy to understand we wouldn't have all these differing opinions. There would be no forums like this one. I wouldn't even have to ask the question. However, this topic is not about singling anyone thing out, its a collective question about why doesn't the Bible clearly address everything.

[WinkyDinky]

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?

It is because they do not
have the anointing within them.

From your own bible.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing which ye
have received of him abideth in you,
and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,
and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you,
ye shall abide in him.

[bjs1]

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?

I disagree with this premise. I have found that most people agree on what it is that the Bible says the majority of the time. There are a variety of tertiary issue – such as the role of women specifically in church leadership – that are murky in the scriptures. People often exaggerate the importance of some texts while suppressing the importance of others in order to come to a disagreement. However, in most areas most people agree on what the Bible teaches.

Agreement doesn't mean understanding. During the middle ages it was agreed by many that spontaneous generation was how new animals were made. Leaves in water turned into fish and meat turned into maggots. Just because many agree on something doesn't mean it is understood.

You started this thread by saying, “Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is.” So your opening argument was that agreement is a sign of understanding.

If agreement doesn’t mean understanding then I don’t know how we determine if people do or do not understand the Bible.

If there is strong agreement about what a passage means then that would be evidence that if someone disagrees then that person is probably incorrect. Obviously there will always be someone out there who will disagree with anything. However, if 100 people study a document and 98 of them come to the same conclusion, then the most likely explanation is that the 2 people who came to a different conclusion did not understand the document. That won’t be true every time, but as a rule when 98% of people agree on the meaning of a Bible passage then that 98% correctly understands the passage and it is the 2% who do not understand the passage.

[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?

I disagree with this premise. I have found that most people agree on what it is that the Bible says the majority of the time. There are a variety of tertiary issue – such as the role of women specifically in church leadership – that are murky in the scriptures. People often exaggerate the importance of some texts while suppressing the importance of others in order to come to a disagreement. However, in most areas most people agree on what the Bible teaches.

Agreement doesn't mean understanding. During the middle ages it was agreed by many that spontaneous generation was how new animals were made. Leaves in water turned into fish and meat turned into maggots. Just because many agree on something doesn't mean it is understood.

You started this thread by saying, “Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is.” So your opening argument was that agreement is a sign of understanding.

If agreement doesn’t mean understanding then I don’t know how we determine if people do or do not understand the Bible.

If there is strong agreement about what a passage means then that would be evidence that if someone disagrees then that person is probably incorrect. Obviously there will always be someone out there who will disagree with anything. However, if 100 people study a document and 98 of them come to the same conclusion, then the most likely explanation is that the 2 people who came to a different conclusion did not understand the document. That won’t be true every time, but as a rule when 98% of people agree on the meaning of a Bible passage then that 98% correctly understands the passage and it is the 2% who do not understand the passage.

Yet this is not what we see in the world is it. There is not a 98% agreement on many things. Also, as I said, does the number people or percentage of a group that agree make something understood correctly? There are more people that think there is life after death, does that make all atheist wrong just because more people agree then disagree? Same goes for the Bible or even a single passage. Why does more in agreement make the other 2 of 100 wrong? What make you so sure that both the 98% and the 2% aren't both wrong? I don't see how numbers make something understood when throughout history there are many examples where this formula doesn't work.

But we are getting off topic. Lets take your %2 that don't understand, remember the OP question, why can't everyone understand the Bible? Why is it 98% and not 100%?

[Miles]

Those that read the Bible, rarely do they agree on what the Bible's message actually is. Why is that?

Could it be because in part Bibles don't always agree on translations, such as Philippians 3:8 where the word "dirt" is also translated as

"dung" 11 times
"refuse" 4 times
"garbage" 10 times
"rubbish" 13 times
"filth" 2 times
"trash" 6 times
"worthless" 2 times
"less than nothing" 3 times
"manure" 1 time
"waste" 1 time
"sewer trash" 1 time.

Or

Psalm 10:5 where "grievous:" is also translated as:

"Firm"
"Prosper"
"Secure"
"Twisted"
"Successful"
"Succeed"
"Prosperous"
"Endure"
"Well"
"Befouled"
"Pain"

Or

John 14:2 where "Mansions" is also translated as:

"Places"
"Dwellings"
"Dwelling places"
"Room"
"Room to spare"
"Rooms"
"Abodes"
"Places-to-stay"
"Homes"

Or

Isaiah 45:7 where "evil" is also translated as

"woe"
"calamity"
"disaster"
"trouble"
"bad times"
"hard times"
"doom"
"sorrow"
"discord"

Sure it could.

Then there are all the differences in the stories themselves.

In the Passion narratives, did Jesus carry his cross or not?

Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, Luke 23:26 - Jesus gets help from Simon of Cyrene
John 19:17 - Jesus carries his cross the whole way


When crucified, Jesus’ cross had an inscription — but what did it say?

Mark 15:26 - The inscription: “The King of the Jews.”
Matthew 27:37 - The inscription: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”
Luke 23:38 - The inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19 - The inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”


Some gospels say Jesus was crucified with two thieves, though the Romans never crucified thieves.

Mark - The two thieves are mentioned, but there is no conversation
Matthew 27:44 - The two thieves taunt Jesus
Luke 23:39-42 - One thief taunts Jesus and is criticized by the other. Jesus promises the 2nd thief that they would be in Paradise that day, though John and Acts say he did not ascend to heaven until 40 days after his resurrection
John - The two men aren’t described as thieves


Jesus is given something to drink while he is on the cross, but what?

Mark 15:23 - Jesus is given wine mixed with myrrh, but he doesn’t drink
Matthew 27:48, Jesus is given vinegar, but he doesn’t drink
Luke 23:36 - Jesus is given vinegar, but he doesn’t drink
John 19:29-30 - Jesus is given vinegar, and he drinks


Romans supposedly witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion, but what did they think?

Mark 15:39 - A centurion is cited as saying: “Truly this man was the son of God!”
Matthew 27:54 - A centurion is cited as saying: “Truly this was the son of God.”
Luke 23:47 - A centurion is cited as saying: “Truly this man was innocent.”
John - No centurions say anything

Why didn't God make the Bible easy to understand for everyone?

Because god has made several self-admitted mistake my guess is incompetence. OR ELSE —— drum roll please —— he wasn't responsible for any of it. The Bible was concocted entirely by humans.

The Bible holds the key to the answer to this question right?

Right. See my reason in the answer above.

.

[1213]

...Take your pick from: the trinity, ...

The word Trinity is not in the Bible, so it is not a Biblical problem.