I believe in and follow the direct teachings of Jesus, as opposed to following or speculating about he himself and his sacrifice because I don’t like a lot of the ideas of original sin or predestination which used to form the core theology of both the RCC and reformed/schismatic churches and protestant congregations. And I don’t consider it a case of being something I don’t like which is none the less true, there are aspects of religion which I would consider that I dislike but have to acknowledge as true but that is not one of them, it seems too much at odds with the bigger picture of God and Jesus in the scriptures or even God in the world and my life.
What do you think about the following scripture?
2 Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is God-breathed..." NIV
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." KJV
I found this article from
Dr. Dan Hayden regarding the correct interpretation of 2 Timothy 3:16:
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The phrase "given by inspiration of God," is one word in the Greek text. It is the word theopneustos, which means "God-breathed." Theopneustos is a compound word, with theo the Greek word for God, attached to the word pneustos which means "wind, or spirit, or breath." We have this word in our English word pneumonia – a disease of the breath, or lungs.
So, this verse literally says that all scripture is "God-breathed." When you think about it, that’s what words are. They are breath resonated over the vocal chords and shaped by the tongue and lips and teeth. When we speak – it is our breath.
Therefore, all Scripture is God’s breath, or God’s spirit. When the human authors like Moses, or David, or Isaiah, or Paul, wrote Scripture – that Scripture was God’s inspired Word. These men were guided in such a way that what they wrote was exactly what God wanted them to write. God actually spoke through them so that the result was a book that was really written by God. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." It is "God-breathed."
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EDIT: For clarification, the reason I posted the above is because it doesn't sound like you believe that everything that's written in the Bible is the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 confirms that everything in the Bible is the word of God.
I tend to believe that the good son who objects to the prodigal son being welcomed back is the archetype of the individuals who believe that others are beyond redemption or undeserving of redemption for some reason, both religious and secular creeds have their versions of that sort of person.
According to the Bible, the only unforgiveable sin is disbelief (aka, blasphemy of Holy Spirit) at the end of one's life, but I also understand once saved, always saved; no matter how far one strays. That's a loving God.
I consider the possibility of an exception where someone suddenly has disbelief, but I don't see where the scriptures support that someone would suddenly disbelieve after they are saved.
Examples...
(Romans 8:38-39) Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Ephesians 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(2 Corinthians 1:22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
(John 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
I don’t know if it will work, depending on where you're accessing it from I guess, but the BBC iPlayer Radio 4 has a programme on Erasmus which I think speaks to this issue and it’s very interesting besides. Erasmus is one of my favourite thinkers.
I will try to locate it. I may follow-up later.