What affect is there on The Fall and The Atonement, if Adam was not the first human?

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Wick Stick

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Yes, some churches consider it (Eucharist) actual spiritual food. (transubstantiation)
Other churches take the elements as symbolic, in remembrance of.
And then there's me, the weirdo who thinks the "body" we are meant to "discern" is composed of the people gathered round the table.
 
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GodsGrace

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Hell is a poor bit of translation, but I'm fairly sure the creed actually means Hades. The idea that Jesus went to Hades, attacked it and defeated death and set the captives there free is pretty well-established in the early church.
Agreed.
(I think I said this).
 
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Wick Stick

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Differing opinions were allowed? Maybe some had differing opinions.
Yes, but more than that, DEBATE was allowed. The early church didn't operate with a single speaker (pastor, preacher) like most do today. Everyone was allowed to engage, though "only 2 or 3 at a time" per Paul's restriction. =)

And as ECFs I only go up to 325AD.
Me too. I read Ante-Nicene Fathers with great interest, but I found little in the later volumes of worth. By the time you get to the 4th century, they've really wandered from the path.
 
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St. SteVen

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Ok, I'll bite...
LOL
Good come back.

Two cannibals were eating a clown.
One turned to the other to ask, "Does this taste funny to you?"

The same two cannibals were eating a jazz musician.
One turned to the other to ask, "Does this taste funky to you?"

[
 
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Windmill Charge

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So, to answer your question, everywhere in the Bible
They take the stories at face value, that they are real.

Pilgrims progress is an entertaining and instructive fictional story.
It is not intended to be thought of as a true historical story.

Unlike the bible stories which are intended to be historical accounts.
 

Windmill Charge

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True" account in what sense? Factually, or in the message

If the creation story is false, what value do the ten commandments have seeing as they say that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.
If God didn't do that the commands while interesting are not authoritative.

Jesus said as Jonah was in the belly of the fish so he would be in the grave.
Why use such a dramatic illustration if it was not true, plus if it was not true then a sinless sa iour is not sinless.
 

RedFan

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If the creation story is false, what value do the ten commandments have seeing as they say that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.
Their "value" lies in their prescriptive pronouncements, not in their historical references. Isn't that obvious?

By the way, I wasn't on the mountain when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, and for all I know they could have been given EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD as Deut.5:6-21 records, with NO reference to the creation of the world. Obviously you don't think so, as you favor the version in Ex. 20:2-17. So be it. But the very existence of two inconsistent versions surely indicates that SOMEBODY doctored at least one of the accounts!
 

St. SteVen

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They take the stories at face value, that they are real.

Pilgrims progress is an entertaining and instructive fictional story.
It is not intended to be thought of as a true historical story.

Unlike the bible stories which are intended to be historical accounts.
Intended?
Intention is with the makers.
We have interpreted these bible stories as historical accounts.
Talking snakes and donkeys, a pair of every animal in Noah's ark, parting waters, falling walls, chariots of fire, etc.
None of that sounds vaguely like myth?

We understand everyone else's holy texts as myth, just not our own. How convenient.

[
 

St. SteVen

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If the creation story is false, what value do the ten commandments have seeing as they say that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.
If God didn't do that the commands while interesting are not authoritative.

Jesus said as Jonah was in the belly of the fish so he would be in the grave.
Why use such a dramatic illustration if it was not true, plus if it was not true then a sinless sa iour is not sinless.
We do it all the time.
Treating the story of The Boy who cried wolf" as if it is real.
And putting out a plate of cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

[ cc: @RedFan
 

St. SteVen

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Their "value" lies in their prescriptive pronouncements, not in their historical references. Isn't that obvious?

By the way, I wasn't on the mountain when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, and for all I know they could have been given EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD as Deut.5:6-21 records, with NO reference to the creation of the world. Obviously you don't think so, as you favor the version in Ex. 20:2-17. So be it. But the very existence of two inconsistent versions surely indicates that SOMEBODY doctored at least one of the accounts!
Good catch. Nothing about the 6 day creation in Deut.5:6-21.

It also occurred to me while reading it, I can't image that full text being engraved in the stone.
Seems more like a commentary on the engraved version.
Furthermore, Moses broke the set that was written by the finger of God. (as the story goes)
The second set was of his own creation. (as the story goes)

If we ever find the Ark of the Covenant... will the Manna still be fresh? Or the scrolls intact?

[
 
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Windmill Charge

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Their "value" lies in their prescriptive pronouncements, not in their historical references. Isn't that obvious?

By the way, I wasn't on the mountain when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, and for all I know they could have been given EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD as Deut.5:6-21 records, with NO reference to t
e creation of the world. Obviously you don't think so, as you favor the version in Ex. 20:2-17. So be it. But the very existence of two inconsistent versions surely indicates that SOMEBODY doctored at least one of the accounts!
A basic knowledge of the bible tells one that Deuteronomy is a repetition of the law, a 2nd reading. So if there are differences it is that the Deuteronomy rendering that has been changed.

If they are not historically true they have no spiritual value.
 

GodsGrace

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Definitely a physical need if someone you love just happens to have cancer.
Sure.
But this brings up the question of what Jesus meant when He said that we could ask ANYTHING in His name and it will be given to us.

Matthew 14:10b - 14
The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do
it.

What does the above mean?
What works did Jesus do?
Can we do those works?
Do you get whatever you ask for? Even in a spiritual sense?

So, yes, you could pray for someone with cancer, but will he be healed?
You might just be told that you don't have enough faith...
but Jesus said we only need the faith of a mustard seed....
so???
 

GodsGrace

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If the creation story is false, what value do the ten commandments have seeing as they say that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.
If God didn't do that the commands while interesting are not authoritative.

Jesus said as Jonah was in the belly of the fish so he would be in the grave.
Why use such a dramatic illustration if it was not true, plus if it was not true then a sinless sa iour is not sinless.
Hi Windmill,
you're one of those Christians I mentioned in a post at the beginning of this thread.

If it is PROVEN that the Genesis account of creation was made up by men...
will that destroy your faith in God?

Does the existence of God require that the bible be absolutely correct 100% in every way, each and every word,
or the whole idea just falls apart?

Is God separate from the bible?
Did He write the bible or did He inspire it?
Is there a difference?

Your faith in God should not depend on words written 4 thousand years ago - or should it?