It seems so daunting, and so contradictory, but I keep studying the Bible. Gradually, lovingly He is opening my mind. The Old Testament is God’s gift, persevere.
Luke 24:45
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
I think our own context for understanding makes it difficult. Of course we can't change that, only God can. And we aren't sure what God wants to reveal to us.
I have a handy key for understanding passages in the bible. Read 3 or 4 chapters at a time. Usually thoughts/precepts are stretched over chapters, not just a few verses. Read a few chapters and then read them again and you will start to see a pattern.
Pre-conceived notions are what makes something "contradictory". When you leave those notions (taught from birth by main stream) out of your reading, things will become much clearer. For example, what does Jesus' name really mean?
Self-inflicted adversity used to bring me back to Scripture from time to time, but I was a shallow recidivist most of my life. Only affliction (adversity out of my control) has harnessed me to Scripture and accelerated spiritual growth. Most of you know well how this works; I was late to the realization but it has been in God's time and such a gift.
I've been reading scripture for 40 years, listened to a lot of teaching and found the site linked below last year. It's a nice, well-rounded commentary (A lot of Spurgeon quotes, among others, included). https://enduringword.com/
Dear Kimosabe, Thank you. I like https://enduringword.com/ It reminds me of small groups at Community Bible Study, reading line by line, and the sense of revelation! I so appreciate you passing on the link.
I think our own context for understanding makes it difficult. Of course we can't change that, only God can. And we aren't sure what God wants to reveal to us.
ReplyDeleteI have a handy key for understanding passages in the bible. Read 3 or 4 chapters at a time. Usually thoughts/precepts are stretched over chapters, not just a few verses. Read a few chapters and then read them again and you will start to see a pattern.
DeletePre-conceived notions are what makes something "contradictory". When you leave those notions (taught from birth by main stream) out of your reading, things will become much clearer. For example, what does Jesus' name really mean?
ReplyDeleteSelf-inflicted adversity used to bring me back to Scripture from time to time, but I was a shallow recidivist most of my life. Only affliction (adversity out of my control) has harnessed me to Scripture and accelerated spiritual growth. Most of you know well how this works; I was late to the realization but it has been in God's time and such a gift.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading scripture for 40 years, listened to a lot of teaching and found the site linked below last year. It's a nice, well-rounded commentary (A lot of Spurgeon quotes, among others, included). https://enduringword.com/
ReplyDeleteDear Kimosabe,
DeleteThank you. I like https://enduringword.com/
It reminds me of small groups at Community Bible Study, reading line by line, and the sense of revelation! I so appreciate you passing on the link.