wow, I feel like the Lord has let me know it's ok for some folks to read just the gospels.. that perhaps i/we are compelled to study in depth especially the NT.. or telling someone to read the NT to find the truth and God's will.. but we are compelled by God's Spirit to study.. but for some, Jesus said whoever builds - whatever they're building - on the Rock, it will withstand the storms of life and remain standing, but not so the life built on sand.. And "the Rock" He was referring to, I believe was Himself and His words (oh, yah, He says that doesn't He? In the parable, whoever hears and builds on His words). So a follower could actually get by on just the gospels.. And maybe the Psalms! Especially a beginner! Gospels in the morning.. Psalms in the evening.. maybe even a retreat.. peace and tranquility for a spell.. :cloud9: That sort of thing I like to call keeping sabbath..every day the spiritual bread and the wine..
:dontknow: What do you think? Can someone get by nourished primarily only with the gospels? And maybe Psalms. :doh: And Acts! (2nd act I guess, but pretty close to the first one! Especially in Spirit.. even more than in time..
Don't think I mean telling folks to not read and ignore all the rest of the scripture.. maybe for some just at first, to keep it real simple. :dontknow: I guess it was just a passing thought (that could come in handy one day?) but I made a big deal about it. :laughing7:
:Peace2:
Deut 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
That's just about words. Books is likely just fine.... :laugh:
Imo it's totally impossible to fully understand the Bible without having all books.
BUT
Like education, we start at the bottom of the ladder.
So when starting out Gospels are fine.
If only one book was allowed, I would give Acts to a new Christian.
:thumbsup:
our faith is tested :eek:
man shall not live by bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God
I believe God is still speaking by the Holy Spirit by the same Word that was yesterday and today and tomorrow .
As always ........
Before you created the hills or brought the world into being, you were eternally God, and will be God forever.
A thousand years to you are like one day; they are like yesterday, already gone, like a short hour in the night.
Psalm 90:2,4 GNT
I find myself mostly reading and re-reading the gospel of John- its very, very deep I think - I do really enjoy the psalms as well and the letters of John has always been a favorite of mine. I think the Gospels could be enough for some as the Words of Jesus are so very important and cover so much that we should know.
:2c:the redletter words of Jesus...I found the best...hear and walk in them..before you know it..you will be right where you should be.
THIS ISMY SON..in him I am well pleased...HEAR YE HIM.I AM THEWAY,THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT
I myself believe that anyone can fully understand through just the gospels (but I also believe it takes longer if the Old Testament is not studied along side of it). The reason I believe this is because the New Testament books are summaries of what the authors were shown in the Old Testament through the Spirit.
IMO: To say that the Old Testament and the New Testament do not compliment each other is to remain blind to this principle
This is how I have come to understand the Bible as a whole, that the things written in the New Testament ARE FOUND in the Old Testament and that to better understand what the authors of the New were seeing is to go back and read the Old in order to understand how the authors of the New came to their conclusions.
Because I view the New as summaries, the Old is the New in much more detail, we get every little tidbit of detail in the stories in the Old and I also believe that these details can become confusing when we don't listen and hear the teachings of Jesus through His Spirit.
It's like understanding the idea of "a wheel inside a wheel" that the words of Jesus are contained in the gospel of Matthew (or Mark, Luke or John), the words of Jesus are a wheel and the words of each author is a wheel, a life within a life, that the ministry of Jesus was summed up in a part of each of the authors ministries.
But also understanding that through the idea of a chariot, that Christ is the axel that connects the two wheels and knowing this, both wheels turn at the same speed when going in a straight path, but understanding that as a chariot is turning in a curved path, one wheel is turning slower than the other (the direction of the turn determines which wheel moves slower, if the turn is left, the left wheel turns slower, if the turn is right, the right wheel moves slower) and as it straightens out, they again are turning at the same speed.
This is why I believe that we are to keep the path straight, so that both turn at the same speed. And understanding Pauls concept of "looking through a glass darkly" is to look back on the Old Testament and not see the details in the stories, of which are not fully written in the New Testament because they are summaries of what they were shown by/through the Spirit of the details of the Old Testament.
My :2c:
Quote
IMO: To say that the Old Testament and the New Testament do not compliment each other is to remain blind to this principle
Amen , simply put the old is a testimony of the Father about the coming of the Son
The new is a testimony of the Father by the coming of the Son !
Both are witnesses of the truth .
Very well put Rose :dsunny:
thanks for that KISS (Keep It Simple Silly)
Amen.. thanks guys and gals / brothers and sisters.. I have always studied so much since believing.. that it was a totally new thing to think some may not be into studying as much.. as some of us.. thanks.. :girlheart:
It is definitely ideal to study...but if one were shipwrecked on a desert island with no books, one would be fine, owing to the Life of Christ within.
wow you are right Shev :iagree:
Abraham had no bible and it was the substance of faith that was put into action.........
Gods will be done on earth as it is in heaven .
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God
Amen! ..but I'm happy He chose to give us the gift of His logos - "reasoning expressed in words".. One reason being how "the heart is deceitful above all things".. Jeremiah, and how the world bombards all with its truth(s) continually.. But it's His Word that is Truth expressed in words.. The sWord can separate truth from error.. bone from sinew.. its tip separating all true threads from untrue, and vice versa, of this tapestry of life..
Quote from: marie glen on July 06, 2019, 09:31:31 PM
Amen! ..but I'm happy He chose to give us the gift of His logos - "reasoning expressed in words".. One reason being how "the heart is deceitful above all things".. Jeremiah, and how the world bombards all with its truth(s) continually.. But it's His Word that is Truth expressed in words.. The sWord can separate truth from error.. bone from sinew.. its tip separating all true threads from untrue, and vice versa, of this tapestry of life..
YES ! TRUE
I believe the letter of the law kills
But it is the Spirit that gives it life
that to me is the two edged S/WORD
Many become as the [scribes pharisees and hypocrites] religious spirits by self righteous using the Word to destroy lives
Jesus gift of grace is all about forgiveness of sins and showing mercy .
the law Christ exalts , is love God first and foremost & everyone as you do your own selves .
there is no greater commandment[ a divine rule,] than these .
:dsunny:
Amen, Rose! SO true! ..Like using it like some sort of weapon! :faint: ... :Chinscratch: no wonder "it kills".. 'kills' for a time, the Spirit's guiding.. throwing a stumblingstone in another's path! (Sad.. Even goes/has gone to the point of how Jesus said, some would kill thinking they do 'God' service.. (If that's the fruit.. oh dear.. preaching letter of the law, not good! :faint: :mshock: )