Is it a sin to read the bible?

[PearlB]

The early Church didn't have bibles but they managed to spread the gospel and teach others about Jesus. Ordinary Christians didn't have bibles until the translators of old made it possible. But still the Church has managed to keep on growing. It is wonderful to be able to read God's word and know that he can speak to us through the scriptures and letters the bible contains but God can speak to us through other means too. I would say we need Jesus, we need God but we don't necessarily need our bibles.

 

[Brother-Paul]

The Holy Spirit will not let the body of Christ disappear or dwindle away, regardless of it's errors.

The reformation came because of errors in the RCC. God intervened to protect the Church and point it back on course. The True Church, would still be live and ticking even if every place of worship was knocked to the ground.

 

[PearlB]

The Holy Spirit will not let the body of Christ disappear or dwindle away, regardless of it's errors.

The reformation came because of errors in the RCC. God intervened to protect the Church and point it back on course. The True Church, would still be live and ticking even if every place of worship was knocked to the ground.

Amen Brother Paul.

 

[Sue D.]

The early Church didn't have bibles but they managed to spread the gospel and teach others about Jesus. Ordinary Christians didn't have bibles until the translators of old made it possible. But still the Church has managed to keep on growing. It is wonderful to be able to read God's word and know that he can speak to us through the scriptures and letters the bible contains but God can speak to us through other means too. I would say we need Jesus, we need God but we don't necessarily need our bibles.

Jesus Christ was Among the people -- He was and still Is The Living Word. And, yes, God Does speak to us through various means -- but those other means Do include God's Word. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God"

We learn Of Jesus Through God's Word. The Bible / as we have it Now / is a collection of all the books that were given to all of us through the inspiration of God and as 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us -- is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. vs 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The invention of the printing press has made it possible for Everyone to have at least one copy of God's Word to read and share with others.

 

[Brother-Paul]

We are so Blessed @Sue D.

As PearlB and yourself have said, they didn't have the Bibles, they relied on the RCC teaching them up until the Reformation. How things have changed since then, even more in recent years. Many people now have several translations in paper form, but with the internet and technology that is increased greater than any of could have envisaged.

My mobile phone has over 2500 books and over 20 Bible translations, which sync back and forth with my laptop, available anytime 24-7-365. Yet it is still a phone, a means for emailing and texting, etc, etc. It is amazing. The important thing I think is, that since the printing press and people being educated, we all can have access to The Truth in The Word. We can all make sure we are not being deceived, or wrongly preached to about scripture.

 

[PearlB]

We are so Blessed @Sue D.

As PearlB and yourself have said, they didn't have the Bibles, they relied on the RCC teaching them up until the Reformation. How things have changed since then, even more in recent years. Many people now have several translations in paper form, but with the internet and technology that is increased greater than any of could have envisaged.

My mobile phone has over 2500 books and over 20 Bible translations, which sync back and forth with my laptop, available anytime 24-7-365. Yet it is still a phone, a means for emailing and texting, etc, etc. It is amazing. The important thing I think is, that since the printing press and people being educated, we all can have access to The Truth in The Word. We can all make sure we are not being deceived, or wrongly preached to about scripture.

i was actually not talking about the teaching of the RCC but of the Good News passed down but word of mouth in the Jewish traditions. And through the letters of those who wrote the epistles in the NT. I don't count the RCC because they got it all twisted and still do to this day.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

The early Church didn't have bibles but they managed to spread the gospel and teach others about Jesus. Ordinary Christians didn't have bibles until the translators of old made it possible. But still the Church has managed to keep on growing. It is wonderful to be able to read God's word and know that he can speak to us through the scriptures and letters the bible contains but God can speak to us through other means too. I would say we need Jesus, we need God but we don't necessarily need our bibles.

In which case you can wind up Dead in South America after drinking the Kool-Aid. Jesus, God, and the Bible are all integral parts of Christian practice.

 

[Brother-Paul]

i was actually not talking about the teaching of the RCC but of the Good News passed down but word of mouth in the Jewish traditions. And through the letters of those who wrote the epistles in the NT. I don't count the RCC because they got it all twisted and still do to this day.

I couldn't agree more PearlB

Bless you

 

[PearlB]

In which case you can wind up Dead in South America after drinking the Kool-Aid. Jesus, God, and the Bible are all integral parts of Christian practice.

Of course they are now. And I'm glad we have the modern translations. But they are not more important than God. If yours is then I should start having a think about your priorities.

I know nothing of Kool-Aid.

 

[Sue D.]

@PearlB -- as has been commented on -- it's through reading God's Word / Bible / that we Learn who God / Jesus Christ / Holy Spirit Are.

The Kool-Aid comment was Probably referring to the group of people that Jim Jones or one of those leaders lured down to a compound ? and talked them into drinking some Kool Aid which was poisened. I"m going to Google that to make sure of my facts. It was the Jonestown Massacre. The cult called Peoples Temple -- after a while, there was concern about their activities -- the people were urged to drink cyonide-laced punch. Around 900 people were found dead. Men, women, children.

I suppose it's Possible that if a person ends up neglecting important things in their life Because they are reading God's Word/ Bible .... then, but the Holy Spirit does a good job of convicting a person About their priorities. A balanced Christian life would include starting the day with Bible and then proceeding with eating balanced meals, working etc. And talking to God which is prayer.

 

[PearlB]

@PearlB -- as has been commented on -- it's through reading God's Word / Bible / that we Learn who God / Jesus Christ / Holy Spirit Are.

Absolutely true, I'm not saying it isn't. But you don't need to read your bible to be a Christian do you? But you do need Jesus. And the very early church - not the Roman travesty of it - had letters which were passed around the different house fellowships; they had word of mouth teachings but they didn't have it all written neatly in a book. But look how they grew and prospered and how the Gospel spread so widely. Eventually the translators made it possible for ordinary folk to read the scriptures for themselves but that was a long time coming and for a while bible were only used in churches. We are blessed to have the translations into all languages that we have today so read my posts again and maybe you will see what I'm saying.

But if we do read it God reveals himself to us; he reveals his love and his character and he speaks personally to us on all sorts of different levels. You can read the bible and not know Jesus personally, you can read your bible without ever discovering the real truth of the Gospel. But if you do have that Spirit filled relationship with Jesus then the Holy Spirit will open up the scriptures to you in a wonderful way. My point though is that to some people their bibles are more important than God. I am not knocking bible reading but you all seem to have missed the point of my posts.

When I was in hospital for a week without my bible - which I thought I would need - I discovered a new closeness to God as I relied upon Him in person rather than through His written word. I needed Him and He was there. I managed without by bible but I couldn't manage without God.

 

[Sue D.]

@PearlB -- as born again believers, we Need to be growing spiritually / in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do That by reading God's Word / the Bible.

While it Is true that Way back in history -- they shared by word of mouth -- they Heard, retained what they heard and then shared it. They Did have the scrolls -- bits and pieces Of God's Word. The Gospel was spreading widely as the result of persecution.

I Do see what you're saying. I'm not entirely Agreeing with you.

The Old Testament people had the prophets -- they either accepted what the prophets said or they rejected.

A person Can have a Bible / God's Word in your home and never pick it up To read it. And that person can be content to go to church and hear a good sermon and then continue living life. But - the pastor Should be encouraging his congregation to read Bible for themselves. A person Can go to church and never go to a Sunday School class. But a lot of blessings are being missed out on.

And there Are people who read the Bible and don't believe a word of it. They read it on an intellectual level but their heart doesn't hear it. I had a grandma who didn't like Christianity -- it was a bloody religion to her and she had no use for it.

God reveals Himself to all of us through His Word. Without Him, we have nothing.

In order To have the Spirit-filled relationships with Jesus , we have to be in God's Word. Upon a person's salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us and then our spiritual eyes are opened so that we Can understand His Word better.

And there Are those who don't read His Word very much Because of it's convicting power.

 

[PloughBoy]

For it was Prophesy in "Jeremiah"
"Behold, the days are coming,declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.…"

And revealed in "Jesus Christ": The Living Word, The WORD that Became Flesh and walked among us. The Living WORD, The Revealed WORD, The Written WORD! BeHold "I come in the VOLUME of THE BOOK" For it is Written of ME"

Jeremiah 31:33
"But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

NASB 1977 (Hebrews 10)
“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

God said: "I will". And he will command you to Read your Bible and You will obey. If you are His Child. for it is the Bread of Life. If you do not eat, you will become weak in this day and age. For God has made it possible to read or hear the unadulterated WORD of Truth Free, almost everywhere through out this world.

 

[PloughBoy]

For it was Prophesy in "Jeremiah"
"Behold, the days are coming,declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.…"

And revealed in "Jesus Christ": The Living Word, The WORD that Became Flesh and walked among us. The Living WORD, The Revealed WORD, The Written WORD! BeHold "I come in the VOLUME of THE BOOK" For it is Written of ME"

Jeremiah 31:33
"But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

NASB 1977 (Hebrews 10)
“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

God said: "I will". And he will command you to Read your Bible and You will obey. If you are His Child. for it is the Bread of Life. If you do not eat, you will become weak in this day and age. For God has made it possible to read or hear the unadulterated WORD of Truth Free, almost everywhere through out this world.

 

[PearlB]

as born again believers, we Need to be growing spiritually / in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do That by reading God's Word / the Bible.

Of course we need to grow spiritually and you're right that our bibles are important tools for this, but you're still not getting the gist of my post so we're going round in circles. And I don't know how to make it any plainer. Blessings <><

 

[Sue D.]

@ PearlB -- the jist of your posts seems to be that we don't really Need God's Word -- that we can know Him without His Word. Is that correct?

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Of course they are now. And I'm glad we have the modern translations. But they are not more important than God.

God's Word (the Bible) is the record of GOD'S DEALINGS, and GOD'S COMMANDMENTS, and GOD'S LAWS. they form a framework by which you can accurately evaluate what your hear and see from "religious Sources" (including the ministry in your Church (if you bother with such things). They'r not mor "Important that God, THEY ARE GOD speaking to us.

I know nothing of Kool-Aid.

I'm wondering if you know of being "Born Again" of the Holy Spirit, since you denigrate God's Word the way you do.

 

[PearlB]

God's Word (the Bible) is the record of GOD'S DEALINGS, and GOD'S COMMANDMENTS, and GOD'S LAWS. they form a framework by which you can accurately evaluate what your hear and see from "religious Sources" (including the ministry in your Church (if you bother with such things). They'r not mor "Important that God, THEY ARE GOD speaking to us.



I'm wondering if you know of being "Born Again" of the Holy Spirit, since you denigrate God's Word the way you do.

I beg your pardon Bob, but I find that remark really offensive. I am not denigrating God's word one iota. I KNOW the Bible is God's word and I am born again and Spirit filled and read my bible. You are another person who either hasn't read all the posts or you have completely misunderstood them. Without God there would be no bible. He is first, He is the PRIORITY. Do you get it now? I suppose not so I'm wasting my energy with this thread.

 

[PearlB]

@ PearlB -- the jist of your posts seems to be that we don't really Need God's Word -- that we can know Him without His Word. Is that correct?

No.

 

[PearlB]

In order to clarify to those who seem to have got hold of the wrong of the stick in my posts can I ask people what they would do if they found themselves without a bible for a week or two.?