Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[Truther]

Actually it was heretics masquerading as Christians who destroyed the truth of God’s word.
The KJV is a dinosaur in today’s world. You have to learn a different language to even try to understand its outdated lingo.

No one seems to mention the foretold apostasy that Jesus and his apostles warned would take over the Christian faith, and turn it into something completely different. It was history repeating……just as satan corrupted Judaism, he did exactly the same to Christianity….there were always corruptible humans to do his bidding.

Christendom is a broken counterfeit of the true faith, but it gives the impression that the apostasy either never happened, or is everyone else’s church but theirs. Paul said it was beginning whilst the apostles were still alive, but ‘restrained’ until the last of the Christians scriptures were penned by John. After he died, the apostasy went ahead unrestrained. This is what the majority have accepted as “Christianity” up to today, when it bears no resemblance.

Is it time to move on to bigger and better translations? Maybe the newest translation that is hot off the shelves? What is your favorite translation that is perfect? If you don’t have one, are you a closet translator?

 

[Aunty Jane]

I am just curious, what is your favorite bad translation? Do you think they all are incorrect? Do you believe in a perfect translation anywhere on earth? Are you just doing your own thing these days?

There are many good translations and a lot of bogus ones, but I believe that God accepts translations, (as the apostles used the Septuagint in their day.) But accuracy is the key. The whole purpose of translation is to gain a correct interpretation of what was written in another language. We have so many resources at our disposal, so we have no excuse for ignorance.

Daniel was used to foretell what was to take place in “the time of the end”. He gives us all the information we need to gain accurate knowledge of the times in which we live. Speaking of the time of the end, he said….
“As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and knowledge will become abundant.”
We are living in “the time of the end” and knowledge has indeed become abundant……we have all the knowledge we could possibly require to make informed choices about our worship, in a world where there are religions and beliefs of every kind….even in what claims to be Christianity.

God then said…
“Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.”

Interesting that this was to be a time of ‘cleansing, whitening and refining’ of God’s worshippers, because God’s spirit was directing his hand in recording these things for our benefit.…we who would be alive at this pivotal time in human history, when Christ was to return to take up his kingship.
Interesting also is the fact that many would not accept the ‘cleansing, whitening and refining’, preferring to stick with the old corrupted teachings and practices…..God calls these ones “wicked”. We see a parallel with Judaism in the first century when Christ came the first time…..the majority who claimed to worship the true God refused to accept the truth that the Messiah taught….and they lost their place in his kingdom…..now he is due to return, and the majority will again stay with what is comfortable, but corrupted lies.

Understanding that not all who claim to be Christians actually are, Jesus said in his prophesy concerning the time of his return, that he would appoint a “faithful and wise slave” to feed their fellow slaves their “food at the proper time”. (Matthew 24:45) So this slave exists, and we have to find “him” and feed at his table, just as the Jewish Christians had to break away from corrupted Judaism and follow the truth taught by God’s son back then.

It is God who draws people to his truth and only they will believe it. (John 6:44, 65) The “wicked“ will not understand a thing….and will perish in their chosen ignorance….rejected by the one they claim as their “Lord”, of whom he says “I never knew you”. (Matt 7:21-23)
“Never” means “not ever”.

 

[quietthinker]

Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?​

I guess I qualify as 'some one'.....definitely not two!.....so here goes; I think those who have a live connection with their Saviour can be called Christians. What comes to mind are those folk in Corinth that Paul spoke to about the resurrected Jesus; those which embraced his message although at a later time he felt compelled to shake a stern wobbly finger at them. Their engagement in behaviours which tarnished their claims it seems to me, is the story of many who have responded to the call of God's Spirit. I mean, there are times in the journey of this brown duck where that wobbly finger needed to be shaken well. Does that make me less of a child of God? I don't think so.
What my sin does do is alienate myself from God even though my mouth will tell you differently, it does not alienate God from me, he continues to woo even the most difficult......yet even through those troughs of error, God has not abandoned me just like he had not abandoned those recalcitrant Corinthians. His Spirit strives and strives in a dozen and more ways in the hope we would see his glory and be transformed by its sheer beauty. God is lonnggggggggg suffering, long after we spit the dummy with others. That spiting makes me ashamed of my own lack.

So, what is a Christian? Ultimately only God knows, however Paul did give even the weakest of us hope in proclaiming 'if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and tell others about him with your mouth, you will be saved' Romans 10:9

 

[atpollard]

I am just curious, what is your favorite bad translation? Do you think they all are incorrect? Do you believe in a perfect translation anywhere on earth? Are you just doing your own thing these days?

Blue Letter Bible (dot) org

”In a multitude of counselors, there is wisdom.” [I prefer to read multiple translations to compare them and then go to the “Interlinear” and the ”Dictionaries” and “Lexicons” when there are significant differences to see for myself WHY there are significant differences. The answer typically comes down to a Greek or Hebrew word that has no direct English equivalent so some of the original thought was lost in the translation process.]

 

[RR144]

In the KJV?

Let's look at John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.​

​

Just about every translation renders it Holy Spirit. The word for Ghost in the King James is Strong's 4151 Pneuma, which means Spirit.

 

[RR144]

On the other hand, almost NOBODY has ever read the 1611 version. If they saw it, they would see how difficult the FONT used is to read and how DIFFERENT the basic shapes of even the letters are (not to mention the spelling). However most of the problems with the First Edition (1611) were obvious typographic errors that were quickly fixed.

I can agree with that. I have a facsimile of the 1611 edition.

The difficulty is the tiny minority that believe that the KJV is some sort of "autograph" (divinely inspired, perfect original, God-breathed, flawless in every word, text). That's just crazy talk.

As they say, "if the King James was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me." ;)

 

[Truther]

There are many good translations and a lot of bogus ones, but I believe that God accepts translations, (as the apostles used the Septuagint in their day.) But accuracy is the key. The whole purpose of translation is to gain a correct interpretation of what was written in another language. We have so many resources at our disposal, so we have no excuse for ignorance.

Daniel was used to foretell what was to take place in “the time of the end”. He gives us all the information we need to gain accurate knowledge of the times in which we live. Speaking of the time of the end, he said….
“As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and knowledge will become abundant.”
We are living in “the time of the end” and knowledge has indeed become abundant……we have all the knowledge we could possibly require to make informed choices about our worship, in a world where there are religions and beliefs of every kind….even in what claims to be Christianity.

God then said…
“Go, Daniel, because the words are to be kept secret and sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined. And the wicked ones will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but those having insight will understand.”

Interesting that this was to be a time of ‘cleansing, whitening and refining’ of God’s worshippers, because God’s spirit was directing his hand in recording these things for our benefit.…we who would be alive at this pivotal time in human history, when Christ was to return to take up his kingship.
Interesting also is the fact that many would not accept the ‘cleansing, whitening and refining’, preferring to stick with the old corrupted teachings and practices…..God calls these ones “wicked”. We see a parallel with Judaism in the first century when Christ came the first time…..the majority who claimed to worship the true God refused to accept the truth that the Messiah taught….and they lost their place in his kingdom…..now he is due to return, and the majority will again stay with what is comfortable, but corrupted lies.

Understanding that not all who claim to be Christians actually are, Jesus said in his prophesy concerning the time of his return, that he would appoint a “faithful and wise slave” to feed their fellow slave their “food at the proper time”. (Matthew 24:45) So this slave exists, and we have to find “him” and feed at his table, just as the Jewish Christians had to break away from corrupted Judaism and follow the truth taught by God’s son back then.

It is God who draws people to his truth and only they will believe it. (John 6:44, 65) The “wicked“ will not understand a thing….and will perish in their chosen ignorance….rejected by the one they claim as their “Lord”, of whom he says “I never knew you”. (Matt 7:21-23)
“Never” means “not ever”.

You did not answer my question. Let me rephrase it. What is your favorite translation of the word of God that is imperfect?

 

[Truther]

Blue Letter Bible (dot) org

”In a multitude of counselors, there is wisdom.” [I prefer to read multiple translations to compare them and then go to the “Interlinear” and the ”Dictionaries” and “Lexicons” when there are significant differences to see for myself WHY there are significant differences. The answer typically comes down to a Greek or Hebrew word that has no direct English equivalent so some of the original thought was lost in the translation process.]

You are truly into modern read definitions. Some people believe anything they read.

 

[Truther]

Let's look at John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.​

​

Just about every translation renders it Holy Spirit. The word for Ghost in the King James is Strong's 4151 Pneuma, which means Spirit.

Of course the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit are synonymous. The question is, are you afraid of ghosts?

 

[Aunty Jane]

Of course the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit are synonymous. The question is, are you afraid of ghosts?

It’s not the word but the connotation that was woven into it centuries ago, that is the problem. The non-biblical idea of an immortal soul, created the idea of “ghosts”, former humans who have shed their outer fleshly selves and transformed into “ghosts” or spirits. There is no teaching of immortal souls in scripture. “Souls” are living, breathing creatures…the word never means a disembodied spirit. The words “soul” and “spirit” are not interchangeable.
God is not a “ghost” he is a “spirit”…..learn the difference.

Through the perpetuation of the devil’s first lie, he has convinced the world that “you surely will not die” ….that some spiritual part of humans lives on…..yet there is no biblical support for that notion as much as people want it to be true. God did not tell Adam anything more than when he died, he would return to the dust. (Gen 3:19) Death is the opposite of life. Rather than immortality of the soul, the Bible teaches “resurrection”, which is a return to life, not a continuation of it.

All the resurrections performed by Jesus and his apostles were back to this life.…the most memorable one being that of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. He did not comment on the fact that Lazarus’ soul had gone anywhere but merely said that he was “sleeping” and that he was going to awaken him. (John 11:11-14)

So genuine Christians do not subscribe to ancient lies as if they were gospel truth. They put in the research to find out if what they have been taught is actually true. Like the first century Jews, they had to separate from a corrupted religious system and take their message of truth to others. (Matt 24:14; Matt 28:19-20)

 

[Truther]

It’s not the word but the connotation that was woven into it centuries ago, that is the problem. The non-biblical idea of an immortal soul, created the idea of “ghosts”, former humans who have shed their outer fleshly selves and transformed into “ghosts” or spirits. There is no teaching of immortal souls in scripture. “Souls” are living, breathing creatures…the word never means a disembodied spirit. The words “soul” and “spirit” are not interchangeable.
God is not a “ghost” he is a “spirit”…..learn the difference.

Through the perpetuation of the devil’s first lie, he has convinced the world that “you surely will not die” ….that some spiritual part of humans lives on…..yet there is no biblical support for that notion as much as people want it to be true. God did not tell Adam anything more than when he died, he would return to the dust. (Gen 3:19) Death is the opposite of life. Rather than immortality of the soul, the Bible teaches “resurrection”, which is a return to life, not a continuation of it.

All the resurrections performed by Jesus and his apostles were back to this life.…the most memorable one being that of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. He did not comment on the fact that Lazarus’ soul had gone anywhere but merely said that he was “sleeping” and that he was going to awaken him. (John 11:11-14)

So genuine Christians do not subscribe to ancient lies as if they were gospel truth. They put in the research to find out if what they have been taught is actually true. Like the first century Jews, they had to separate from a corrupted religious system and take their message of truth to others. (Matt 24:14; Matt 28:19-20)

Terrified of ghosts, I perceive...

How many times is the Holy Ghost used in the Bible?

Around 93 times\


Absolutely terrifying!

 

[Aunty Jane]

You did not answer my question. Let me rephrase it. What is your favorite translation of the word of God that is imperfect?

I have a few favorites and like to compare translations with interlinears and concordances…..I don’t just read the Bible….I study it.
Translations depend largely on the manuscripts used, so you get to know by how a passage is translated, what manuscript they held in common.
Understanding that there were no capital letters or punctuation in the Koine Greek, a misplaced comma can change the whole meaning of a verse or passage.

Case in point…..”truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise” ……this is what Jesus said to the evildoer executed alongside him when he asked to be remembered when Jesus got into his kingdom. (Luke 23:43)
The comma in almost every Bible is placed after the word ”you”…..but when comparing scripture as to when Jesus was going to be in his kingdom, it becomes apparent that he was not going to be there the day he died. Jesus remained on earth for 40 days before ascending to heaven, (Acts 1:3-5) so the comma does not belong where it has been placed. But if you put the comma after the word “today”, it agrees with everything else written concerning the timing of Jesus’ ascension. It was a promise made that day, for Jesus to resurrect this “unrighteousness” man, who had a last minute change of heart. (John 5:28-29)

 

[Aunty Jane]

Terrified of ghosts, I perceive...

How many times is the Holy Ghost used in the Bible?

Around 93 times\


Absolutely terrifying!

Are you for real? There are no “ghosts” in the Bible….holy or otherwise.

 

[quietthinker]

Christendom is a broken counterfeit of the true faith, but it gives the impression that the apostasy either never happened, or is everyone else’s church but theirs. Paul said it was beginning whilst the apostles were still alive, but ‘restrained’ until the last of the Christians scriptures were penned by John. After he died, the apostasy went ahead unrestrained. This is what the majority have accepted as “Christianity” up to today, when it bears no resemblance.

I would say that Christendom is God's broken Church in which resides those who have been misled as well as Satans minions. The letters to the Churches at the beginning of the book of Revelation makes this quiet clear.

Any organisation of believers who claim they have an exclusive right to the title 'Christian' has by is very claim shot itself in the foot.
God's people are from every tribe, nation, and people. 'The Church' surpasses, ethnicity, theology, geography and organisational preference. God's Church is not determined by anything except an intimate knowing of the Saviour.

It is possible and highly likely that many have a reasonably accurate understanding of the scriptures cognitively, but they do not know The Man.
Those outside are often those who consider themselves inside.....the words of, 'I never knew you' will elicit much wailing and gnashing of teeth on that, for them, fateful day.

 

[Truther]

I have a few favorites and like to compare translations with interlinears and concordances…..I don’t just read the Bible….I study it.
Translations depend largely on the manuscripts used, so you get to know by how a passage is translated, what manuscript they held in common.
Understanding that there were no capital letters or punctuation in the Koine Greek, a misplaced comma can change the whole meaning of a verse or passage.

Case in point…..”truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise” ……this is what Jesus said to the evildoer executed alongside him when he asked to be remembered when Jesus got into his kingdom. (Luke 23:43)
The comma in almost every Bible is placed after the word ”you”…..but when comparing scripture as to when Jesus was going to be in his kingdom, it becomes apparent that he was not going to be there the day he died. Jesus remained on earth for 40 days before ascending to heaven, (Acts 1:3-5) so the comma does not belong where it has been placed. But if you put the comma after the word “today”, it agrees with everything else written concerning the timing of Jesus’ ascension. It was a promise made that day, for Jesus to resurrect this “unrighteousness” man, who had a last minute change of heart. (John 5:28-29)

You still did not answer me.

What is your favorite translation of the word of God that has translational problems?

Name it please?

Or, do you translate for yourself and reject them all as the word of God?

 

[Truther]

Are you for real? There are no “ghosts” in the Bible….holy or otherwise.

If the Bible says 93 times "Holy Ghost", you still don't believe in the Ghost?

Did you see something in the dark and are in denial?

No such thing as a Ghost?

Scary stuff, huh?

 

[atpollard]

You are truly into modern read definitions. Some people believe anything they read.

1796 KJV
1833 WEB
1841 Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon
1867 DBY
1881 RSV
1890 Strong’s Definitions
1901 ASV
1960 NASB
1973 NIV
1982 NKJV
1996 NET
1996 NLT
2001 ESV
2017 CSB
2020 NASB20
2021 LSB

 

[atpollard]

Some people believe anything they read.

Some people believe things that are simply not true.

 

[Cassandra]

I can agree with that. I have a facsimile of the 1611 edition.

As they say, "if the King James was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me." ;)

I have a 1611 facsimile too, and I love it. Used to be, I had great problems reading that type (I have other Bibles)but now I think it is very cool. Love the calendar and how to calculate Easter.

 

[Truther]

1796 KJV
1833 WEB
1841 Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon
1867 DBY
1881 RSV
1890 Strong’s Definitions
1901 ASV
1960 NASB
1973 NIV
1982 NKJV
1996 NET
1996 NLT
2001 ESV
2017 CSB
2020 NASB20
2021 LSB

Which one is the pure word of God?