"Is excessive interpretation the root cause of differences in understanding and doctrinal divisions in the Bible?"

soberxp said:

Conclusion:​

Excessive or speculative interpretation can indeed lead to division, but the root cause is often a lack of reliance on the Holy Spirit and a failure to prioritize Scripture over human ideas. Unity comes from focusing on the Bible’s clear teachings and allowing the Spirit to guide understanding.

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Even so, it has been the plan of God to "confuse the language of all the earth" (Genesis 11:9); and only reveal truth "precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28:10); and not to "finish" until "the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound" (Revelation 10:7).

In other words, God has intentionally designed the times of mankind and this world to be under confusion of language (including the scriptures), putting off the finish...until the end.

And what did God tell Daniel to do about all that He had revealed to him? “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). And what did He tell John who had a preview to the "finish" in "a little book" and "was about to write?" “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them" (Revelation 10).

ScottA said:

Even so, it has been the plan of God to "confuse the language of all the earth" (Genesis 11:9); and only reveal truth "precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28:10); and not to "finish" until "the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound" (Revelation 10:7).

In other words, God has intentionally designed the times of mankind and this world to be under confusion of language (including the scriptures), putting off the finish...until the end.

And what did God tell Daniel to do about all that He had revealed to him? “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). And what did He tell John who had a preview to the "finish" in "a little book" and "was about to write?" “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them" (Revelation 10).

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I think that is reading more into the account of the Tower of Babe; than is there. In that account, we are told why God confused the languages:

“And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech."” (Ge 11:6-7 NKJV)

It was specifically to stop them in their aim of staying where they were building their tower, rather than obeying God's command to spread out and fill the earth. To extend that confusion to include God's own word, the bible is going beyond what Scripture says. The work of such organisations as the Wycliffe Bible Translators to translate the bible into languages that do not have it is so important.

Rejecting the literal is the biggest problem. Many just don't like what God said!

DavidLamb said:

I think that is reading more into the account of the Tower of Babe; than is there. In that account, we are told why God confused the languages:

“And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech."” (Ge 11:6-7 NKJV)

It was specifically to stop them in their aim of staying where they were building their tower, rather than obeying God's command to spread out and fill the earth. To extend that confusion to include God's own word, the bible is going beyond what Scripture says. The work of such organisations as the Wycliffe Bible Translators to translate the bible into languages that do not have it is so important.

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No--you are under the wrong impression regarding such historic events. With such an approach, as Jesus said to the Lawyers, "you take away the key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52).

On the contrary, what is written was and is to be "a light unto the gentiles" (all nations and peoples). Scripture is more than history, more than personal--not of any private interpretation, excluding none, but a revelation for all.

soberxp said:

Excessive or speculative interpretation can indeed lead to division, but the root cause is often a lack of reliance on the Holy Spirit and a failure to prioritize Scripture over human ideas. Unity comes from focusing on the Bible’s clear teachings and allowing the Spirit to guide understanding.

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This is a bold statement, but one which many are not able to comply with.

The misconstructions of the theological understandings are now accepted as being the tradition of the "religion" of "Christianity" and many will defend that tradition without a second thought as to the truthfulness of what they actually believe.

Take the word "talent' which is a measured weight of Gold, Silver and Bronze, i.e. a form of monetary currency, used for around six ages or so for trading, but today when we see the word "talent" we see it as having the meaning of "gifted ability" whereas the talents, i.e. money, were given to the man's servants based on their ability to be able to trade with them to bring a return for their master.

In the great commission of Christ to His disciples, money was not even mentioned when He said to them, "go out into all of the world to make disciples" of the people you meet and to encourage them to hand on this mantle to those who become their disciples.

What we are told in the New Testament is that God will give us giftings with which we will be able to achieve His outcome embedded within the Great Commission. Those giftings develop as we are transformed into the essence of being righteous before God. There is a need for God's elect to be humble before Him and not seek a higher reward than any of the other workers who help to bring in the harvest.

Shalom

ScottA said:

No--you are under the wrong impression regarding the such historic events. With such an approach, as Jesus said to the Lawyers, "you take away the key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52).

On the contrary, what is written was and is to be "a light unto the gentiles" (all nations and peoples). Scripture is more than history, more than personal--not of any private interpretation, excluding none, but a revelation for all.

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Sorry, I don't know what you mean. The Old Testament tells us the reason God confused languages at the Tower of Babel, as I said, so how is believing what God's word says about it taking away the key of knowledge?

The light to lighten the Gentiles refers to Jesus Christ. It occurs in elderly Simeon's praise on seeing the infant Jesus:

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man [was] just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to [bring] revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."” (Lu 2:25-32 NKJV)

soberxp said:

"Is excessive interpretation the root cause of differences in understanding and doctrinal divisions in the Bible?"

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Thanks for the topic. I think it is more about focus. Ever notice the difference between a Catholic crucifix and a Christian cross? The symbology reveals a different focus.

The Catholic crucifix depicts Jesus still on the cross to emphasis his sacrifice. The Christian cross does not have Jesus on the cross to emphasize his resurrection.

The same difference in focus is revealed in denominational names. 7th Day Adventists focus on the Sabbath. Baptists focus on the transformation before and after being saved. Calvinists focus on God's foreknowledge. Philadelphians focus on loving one's fellow believer.

Regarding "excessive interpretation," I believe the more precise term is eisegesis, which stands in contrast to exegesis. The reading into text what the text does not say. The example I always use is to develop a doctrine of what day Eve was created. The exegesis of Adam is explicit, the 6th day. What the Bible does NOT say is significant in suggesting what we should and should not focus on. But eisegesis does not see it that way.

There is ambiguity of what day Eve was created. And many people do not like ambiguity. I trust we agree there is no verse that states the day Eve was created. Reading doctrine into text is very common in Christendom, including the forbidden topic of critiquing the trinity (there is no explicit trinity verse). ECT (eternal conscious torment) is not a doctrine as far as I know but many believe sinners burn in hell forever even though no verse states this. Another notion is "immortal soul" that many believe that contradicts the text for Jesus said to fear the one who can destroy your soul.

"Is excessive interpretation the root cause of differences in understanding and doctrinal divisions in the Bible?"​

Jesus is the full revelation of God. We can ask, 'why did God need to be revealed'?......and why? and of course, revealed to who?

Not seeing (understanding, comprehending) Jesus and his implications spawns all manner yada yada fronting as insight.

The Jews refused to see; they locked the door to enlightenment while they held its keys and now their house is left desolate.
Has the cultural phenomena of 'Christianity' done the same thing? It definitely appears that way.

quietthinker said:

the cultural phenomena of 'Christianity'

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This deserves its own thread.

soberxp said:

The story of the Tower of Babel, when understood from a practical perspective, reveals the arrogance of the people at that time. If everyone had lived on the tower reaching to the heavens:

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I find it interesting that we project evil on the efforts in the tower building.
And if the story/legend is true, God took issue... But...

Had God revealed himself to the peoples of the earth with a right way to relate to Him?
It seems that humankind was expelled from the Garden (orchard) and abandoned.

Later they organize to build a tower to learn more about the supernatural and God smites them for it.
Go figure.

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St. SteVen said:

I find it interesting that we project evil on the efforts in the tower building.
And if the story/legend is true, God took issue... But...

Had God revealed himself to the peoples of the earth with a right way to relate to Him?
It seems that humankind was expelled from the Garden (orchard) and abandoned.

Later they organize to build a tower to learn more about the supernatural and God smites them for it.
Go figure.

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Or was it that they centralised when God told them to inhabit the whole earth? Was it also they didn't believe there wouldn't be another global flood so they intended to build higher than the flood waters?

quietthinker said:

Or was it that they centralised when God told them to inhabit the whole earth? Was it also they didn't believe there wouldn't be another global flood so they intended to build higher than the flood waters?

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Interesting.
The confusion of languages did seem to scatter humankind. Mission accomplished?
Babel as a global flood escape route? interesting thought.

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soberxp said:

The story of the Tower of Babel illustrates the conflict between human will and God’s will. We should learn humility and obedience to God’s will from this.

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Well... that's the question. What was God's will for humankind at this point?
It seems to me that humankind was abandoned to their own devices.

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soberxp said:

Maybe you should look at it another way, if people are really abandoned, God won't care what they do, God would not mess up their language so that they could build the Tower of Babel. No matter how bad the consequences of building the Tower of Babel.

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What I am saying is that God decided that he didn't like what they were doing, but...
Did He provide a right way for them to seek Him? Where did all this go wrong?

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