Bible Study

[liberty]

Let’s talk Bible and see how much you all know:

What is prohibited in the Bible?

1. Where does it say in the bible that drinking of alcohol is a sin?
2. Is suicide an unforgivable sin?
3. A man can have only one wife?
4. You will go to hell for gambling?

[Gob]

I know very little about the bible, Lord of the Rings I used to be reasonably hot on, Hound of the Baskervilles I am expert on.

[Gob]

Oh, I'm also pretty clued up on the "Morse" novels of Colin Dexter, all of John Le Carre's works, Reginald Hill's "Dalziel and Pascoe" novels, Ian Rankin's "Rebus" books, M J Trow's "Maxwell" novels, Terry Pratchett's ouvre, all Ian Rowbotham's books


..... I could go on...

[Guinevere]

Oh, I'm also pretty clued up on ... all Ian Rowbotham's books


..... I could go on...

Michael Robotham. But do go on ...

[Gob]

Bummer, me and my spelling..

Peter Robinson I could hold my own I think, the "Frost" novels of R.D. Wingfield, all of the "Merrily Watkins" novels by Phil Rickman, (if you haven't read these yet Guin, go out and buy one now!!) Mike Ripley's "Angel" series, most of John Harvey's works, notably the "Resnick" books......

[liberty]

On my little quiz I will post my opinion of the answers in a while.

I have just about finished this one; it's not bad:

A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS ...
(37 Reviews) Julia Child's passion for French cuisine began when she and her husband, Paul, moved to Paris in 1948. The couple met in Ceylon in 1944 when both were in the Office ...
http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Affair-Jul ... 1439163529

[Gob]

Stuart McBride's "Logan McRae" books, the early Val McDermid books, (before lesbian sex/love became more important than crime,) Barry Maitland's books, P D James's works of course, just developing a taste for Stuart Pawson, who seems to be getting more fluent and original with each book.

But not bible/fairy stories, nope....

[liberty]

Bummer, me and my spelling..

Peter Robinson I could hold my own I think, the "Frost" novels of R.D. Wingfield, all of the "Merrily Watkins" novels by Phil Rickman, (if you haven't read these yet Guin, go out and buy one now!!) Mike Ripley's "Angel" series, most of John Harvey's works, notably the "Resnick" books......

Has the general been around today?

[Gob]

He normally comes on later, around 5.00 pm Aus time.

He works to SA time.

[liberty]

Stuart McBride's "Logan McRae" books, the early Val McDermid books, (before lesbian sex/love became more important than crime,) Barry Maitland's books, P D James's works of course, just developing a taste for Stuart Pawson, who seems to be getting more fluent and original with each book.

But not bible/fairy stories, nope....

I would never dream of trying to impose my belief in God on you Gob. But we can still discuss the Bible.

[Gob]

That's reasonable of you, but I have no desire to discuss the bible as I do not see it of any value.

"A murder of quality', however, is well worth discussing.

[Joe Guy]

Let’s talk Bible and see how much you all know:

What is prohibited in the Bible?

1. Where does it say in the bible that drinking of alcohol is a sin?
2. Is suicide an unforgivable sin?
3. A man can have only one wife?
4. You will go to hell for gambling?

1. Page 6, paragraph 4

2. Sort of. What good is it to forgive a dead person?

3. People divorce & remarry all the time.

4. It depends on whether or not you're gambling on whether or not you're going to hell.

[liberty]

Let’s talk Bible and see how much you all know:

What is prohibited in the Bible?

1. Where does it say in the bible that drinking of alcohol is a sin?
2. Is suicide an unforgivable sin?
3. A man can have only one wife?
4. You will go to hell for gambling?

1. Page 6, paragraph 4 It doesn’t, but drunkenness is prohibited.

2. Sort of. What good is it to forgive a dead person? No, but if I am wrong show me where.

3. People divorce & remarry all the time. My wife and I disagree on this one, but I see no limited in the Bible to the number wives a man can have at the same time. Our society kind a frowns on it; some guys would hog all the women if it was permitted.

4. It depends on whether or not you're

gambling on whether or not you're going to hell. No, if I am wrong show me where it is./quote]

[MajGenl.Meade]

Le Carre should be compulsory in schools (after prayer ); Rankin and Robinson; Minette Walters; Ruth Rendell (ace!); nothing by any Germans; or the French come to think of it; Herman Charles Bosman (also ace).... it's endless really.

1. Agreed. I'm looking forward to the best Corton Charlemagne in heaven (Mk. 14:25) - maybe it'll be a red. However, it's good to pay attention to the instruction not to eat or drink wine at all if by so doing someone else is led into temptation (Rom. 14:21)

2. Agreed. Suicide is a sin (self-murder) but not unforgivable. There is only one unforgivable sin (Matt. 12:31)

3. There is no unarguable prohibition of polygamy which various OT 'heroes' certainly indulged in (Abraham, David and Solomon being prime examples). However, the sense of "a" man being joined to his wife and becoming one flesh is certainly indicative as is Ecclesiastes 9:9. Further, if one believes the scriptures to be "God breathed" then Paul's forthright declaration that elders in the church are to be the husband of "but one wife" (Titus 1:6; 1Tim. 3:2) [μία being translated as 'only one'] indicating that neither divorce nor polygamy is acceptable. It would be perverse to argue that Paul's instructions against drunkeness and violence are valid for all believers but those regarding marriage are only for church leaders. Similarly, it would be foolish to disregard the singular rather than plural forms of Jesus' discussion about divorce. It is also foolish to disregard the opinion of one's wife

4. There is not one biblical suggestion (AFAIK) that a person will go to hell because they gamble - a word that is not even used. Paul even commends Epaphroditus for gambling his entire life in the service of Christ in Phil. 2:30 where παραβουλεύομαι (paraboleuomai) reflects a Greek gambling term related to betting "all in"

Why did you bring up these particular issues?

Meade

[rubato]

A lot of genre fiction.

Easily digested, leaves no residue.


yrs,
rubato

[liberty]

Le Carre should be compulsory in schools (after prayer ); Rankin and Robinson; Minette Walters; Ruth Rendell (ace!); nothing by any Germans; or the French come to think of it; Herman Charles Bosman (also ace).... it's endless really.

3. There is no unarguable prohibition of polygamy which various OT 'heroes' certainly indulged in (Abraham, David and Solomon being prime examples). However, the sense of "a" man being joined to his wife and becoming one flesh is certainly indicative as is Ecclesiastes 9:9. Further, if one believes the scriptures to be "God breathed" then Paul's forthright declaration that elders in the church are to be the husband of "but one wife" (Titus 1:6; 1Tim. 3:2) [μία being translated as 'only one'] indicating that neither divorce nor polygamy is acceptable. It would be perverse to argue that Paul's instructions against drunkeness and violence are valid for all believers but those regarding marriage are only for church leaders. Similarly, it would be foolish to disregard the singular rather than plural forms of Jesus' discussion about divorce. It is also foolish to disregard the opinion of one's wife

The Bible says what it says and doesn’t say what it doesn’t say. The problem is for many of us human that is not good enough. We insist that it say what we want to, but it doesn’t. We also insist that we understand it and that is not always the case either. The
Bible is not a history book or a science book but a book of faith.

4. There is not one biblical suggestion (AFAIK) that a person will go to hell because they gamble - a word that is not even used. Paul even commends Epaphroditus for gambling his entire life in the service of Christ in Phil. 2:30 where παραβουλεύομαι (paraboleuomai) reflects a Greek gambling term related to betting "all in" agree

Why did you bring up these particular issues?


Meade

I thought they may be provocative.

[MajGenl.Meade]

the Bible is not a history book

We can disagree on that then.

We insist that it say what we want to, but it doesn’t. We also insist that we understand it and that is not always the case either.

What it doesn't say is that polygamy is just fine and dandy. You're the one arguing with your wife and apparently you want the Bible not to say (or even suggest) that monogamy is a norm. That is both insisting that you understand it and that it says (or doesn't say) what you want it to say (or not say)

I suggest that sound reading of the New Testament and the words of Jesus indicates that polygamy is not the preferred state in marriage. But you are of course entitled to ignore what it actually does say in order to make an argument from a non-existent silence

Meade

[Sue U]

It is certain that polygamy was common in the ancient Near East, and is therefore common in Old Testament texts. It is neither prohibited nor encouraged by the texts, and is not even remarked on; it's just the way things were. (The story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel leaps to mind as instructive.) By the time of Jesus, however, the Hellenic and Roman conquests had firmly imposed their western values on society in the region, including monogamy, which was the law in both empires.

[MajGenl.Meade]

3. There is no unarguable prohibition of polygamy which various OT 'heroes' certainly indulged in (Abraham, David and Solomon being prime examples).

Kind of what I said.... except for the second part.

[rubato]

It is certain that polygamy was common in the ancient Near East, and is therefore common in Old Testament texts. It is neither prohibited nor encouraged by the texts, and is not even remarked on; it's just the way things were. (The story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel leaps to mind as instructive.) By the time of Jesus, however, the Hellenic and Roman conquests had firmly imposed their western values on society in the region, including monogamy, which was the law in both empires.

And both of their servant girls. Bilhah and Zilpah. All four had his children who became the 12 tribes of Israel.

yrs,
rubato