Interpretation.

[MoreCoffee]

Okay here's a statement
I never said you stole money

What does it mean?

This is Christian theology, if that is not obvious yet it will be later.

 

[visionary]

I never said you slapped your wife across the face either.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I never said you slapped your wife across the face either.

You didn't say what the statement I gave means. That's what I asked for.

 

[visionary]

You didn't say that I was suppose to give the meaning of the statement.

It is all about what you didn't say... not what the subject of your conversation...

 

[MoreCoffee]

Okay here's a statement
I never said you stole money

What does it mean?

This is Christian theology, if that is not obvious yet it will be later.

You didn't say that I was suppose to give the meaning of the statement.

It is all about what you didn't say... not what the subject of your conversation...

I definitely did say what I wanted; specifically i said, "what does it mean?" the "it" being the statement "I never said you stole money"

 

[visionary]

I definitely did say what I wanted; specifically i said, "what does it mean?" the "it" being the statement "I never said you stole money"

It being "I" making or not making a statement.

 

[MoreCoffee]

The point I am makling is that a statement such as I never said you stole money can have several meanings despite its apparent simplicity. It could mean

• I never said you stole money - meaning somebody else did say it.
• I never said you stole money - meaning the words never left my lips but I may have thought you did.
• I never said you stole money - meaning you did't steal it but your friend over there may have
• I never said you stole money - meaning you may have lost it, misplaced it or something accidental resulted in its loss
• I never said you stole money - meaning you stole something other than money

If it is possible that six words in a short statement can be interpreted in five (or more) different ways but none of those ways is indicated as the true meaning of the statement because the six words are written without voice emphasis and body language to help explain their meaning then which do you think will be more likely to legitimately produce cases of at least two (and probably many more than two) different interpretations (1) a short statement of six words or (2) a book of 1,500 pages? The bible is a book of 1,500 or more pages. If you claim the Spirit gives you the right meaning for the bible then what are you going to do when your interlocutor says the same thing about his/her interpretation which differs from yours?

How will you decide what the bible means when there are people with just as good qualifications to interpret it as you have and who nevertheless say it means something different from what you say it means?

 

[Josiah]

The point I am makling is that a statement such as I never said you stole money can have several meanings despite its apparent simplicity. It could mean

• I never said you stole money - meaning somebody else did say it.
• I never said you stole money - meaning the words never left my lips but I may have thought you did.
• I never said you stole money - meaning you did't steal it but your friend over there may have
• I never said you stole money - meaning you may have lost it, misplaced it or something accidental resulted in its loss
• I never said you stole money - meaning you stole something other than money

If it is possible that six words in a short statement can be interpreted in five (or more) different ways but none of those ways is indicated as the true meaning of the statement because the six words are written without voice emphasis and body language to help explain their meaning then which do you think will be more likely to legitimately produce cases of at least two (and probably many more than two) different interpretations (1) a short statement of six words or (2) a book of 1,500 pages? The bible is a book of 1,500 or more pages. If you claim the Spirit gives you the right meaning for the bible then what are you going to do when your interlocutor says the same thing about his/her interpretation which differs from yours?

How will you decide what the bible means when there are people with just as good qualifications to interpret it as you have and who nevertheless say it means something different from what you say it means?

There's always the RC Denomination's response: It itself designates it itself as the sole, exclusive, authoritative, infallible, unaccountable, God-lead interpreter (CCC 85, etc., etc., etc.) and then declares that WHATEVER it itself alone says it MEANS must, ergo, be what it means and then demand that all docilicly submit to such (CCC 87, etc.). Of course, it then denounces, condemns and ridicules any other that does exactly as it itself does. There's the RCC's approach, what do you think of that one, More Coffee?


- Josiah




.

 

[visionary]

The point I am makling is that a statement such as I never said you stole money can have several meanings despite its apparent simplicity. It could mean

• I never said you stole money - meaning somebody else did say it.
• I never said you stole money - meaning the words never left my lips but I may have thought you did.
• I never said you stole money - meaning you did't steal it but your friend over there may have
• I never said you stole money - meaning you may have lost it, misplaced it or something accidental resulted in its loss
• I never said you stole money - meaning you stole something other than money

If it is possible that six words in a short statement can be interpreted in five (or more) different ways but none of those ways is indicated as the true meaning of the statement because the six words are written without voice emphasis and body language to help explain their meaning then which do you think will be more likely to legitimately produce cases of at least two (and probably many more than two) different interpretations (1) a short statement of six words or (2) a book of 1,500 pages? The bible is a book of 1,500 or more pages. If you claim the Spirit gives you the right meaning for the bible then what are you going to do when your interlocutor says the same thing about his/her interpretation which differs from yours?

How will you decide what the bible means when there are people with just as good qualifications to interpret it as you have and who nevertheless say it means something different from what you say it means?

Played that game... already knew where you were going with it..

 

[psalms 91]

Yup and one interpretation is not as good as another since there is only one right one.. I know that each will think it is theirs so I would have to say that you will have to agree to disagree in that area

 

[MoreCoffee]

For those of Jewish background and for those who consider Jewish traditions and practises to be interesting and instructive take some time and watch this.

 

[Cassia]

My belief is that Christianity has progressed past the Levitical rituals into the priesthood of Melchezedec, that which is spiritual. Those who associate with Jusaism (which is what traditions do) will recieve the earthly inheritance along with the Jews. Those who have their treasure in the heavenlies will recieve the spiritual inheritance, which is learnt during the church age.
Biblical history teaches us to trust the prophets for the purpose of drawing near to the Son. Hebrews teaches us that in times past God taught us in diverse ways thru prophets etc. Now the only way to God's teaching is thru the Son in the person of our high priest in heaven.

There was someone on cf that insisted that the robes of the Jews belonged to the Christian priests today. But even the monks in their camel hair robes are merely representatives of the friends of the bridegroom.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I doubt that monks could afford camel hair for robes.

 

[Cassia]

I doubt that monks could afford camel hair for robes.

I thought it was the privelege of the desert dwellers to have access to fine camel hair accessories

 

[MoreCoffee]

I thought it was the privelege of the desert dwellers to have access to fine camel hair accessories

Only a very few monks live in the deserts of North Africa and Arabia where camels are to be found.

As far as I know a monk's habit is made from wool or cotton - nowadays I would not be surprised if synthetic fibres were used.

 

[Lamb]

The point I am makling is that a statement such as I never said you stole money can have several meanings despite its apparent simplicity. It could mean

• I never said you stole money - meaning somebody else did say it.
• I never said you stole money - meaning the words never left my lips but I may have thought you did.
• I never said you stole money - meaning you did't steal it but your friend over there may have
• I never said you stole money - meaning you may have lost it, misplaced it or something accidental resulted in its loss
• I never said you stole money - meaning you stole something other than money

If it is possible that six words in a short statement can be interpreted in five (or more) different ways but none of those ways is indicated as the true meaning of the statement because the six words are written without voice emphasis and body language to help explain their meaning then which do you think will be more likely to legitimately produce cases of at least two (and probably many more than two) different interpretations (1) a short statement of six words or (2) a book of 1,500 pages? The bible is a book of 1,500 or more pages. If you claim the Spirit gives you the right meaning for the bible then what are you going to do when your interlocutor says the same thing about his/her interpretation which differs from yours?

How will you decide what the bible means when there are people with just as good qualifications to interpret it as you have and who nevertheless say it means something different from what you say it means?

Going back to the original language can help interpret a piece. Using other portions of scripture also helps. We CAN look to tradition and know that if we come up with something new and unique then why didn't the ancient Christians ever think of it? Must be wrong.