1OFHIS: Literal Interpretation.
I thank God for the patience & persistence of you and KPSI. However, it makes me wonder if you guys are not beating a dead horse and further, whether some of these people are even saved.
It appears as the Bible states, some have 'a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.' How do they know that the Scripture on which they base their faith is to be taken literally?
In response to this post & your private message, I believe the following verses are evidence (This is of course, if you take these verses 'literally'!) that all of God's Word is to be taken literally if the context allows it:
Mark 7.9,10 - 'Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered.'
Picking & choosing what passages one accepts and rejects is condemned! Doing such gives everyone free license to select what passages of Scripture are 'literal' and manipulate God's Word. We end up with literally (should I use that word?), millions of interpretations and no agreed upon truth.
One must ask oneself: 'Is that what God intended when He handed His Word down to us?'
Mk 13.31 - 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.'
?Which words? All of them or just the ones that a person judges 'literal'?
Lu 16.17 - 'And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.'
This stresses the importance of the entire revelation of God to mankind, not just the ones that fit into our own little paradigm.
II Tim 3.16 - 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:'
?How much of Scripture is 'God-breathed'? Or is this verse one of those that is not to be taken literally?
II Pet 1.20, 21 - 'Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'
Scripture is to be used to interpret Scripture. We must not take a single verse out of context and build a doctrine around it, nor must we continue to have a belief system that is contradicted by many passages of God's Holy Word. When presented w/ overwhelming evidence that God's Word contradicts their beliefs, one avoids the question.
In this case that you are debating, does the Bible say it was Samuel? Of course, God's Word says it, I believe it, and that settles it, not just for me but for all! Well, at least for those of us who choose to believe that 'all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.'
In summary I believe this verse best describes some posters:
I Tim 6.4, 5: 'He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
I have chosen to do the latter.
In His Name,
NJMARK50
"Predictions can be difficult. Especially when they involve the future." - MARK TWAIN.
SIKSIKA
