"There’s going to be a lot of Bible study in Heaven, and I want to be prepared."
I guess I was not aware of how little you know of this issue. Apparently you have not received instruction in this area of apprehending what our Heavenly occupation will be, and how much of our current preparation should be directed toward it. Perhaps it would be a good idea to reserve your opinion on it for a while.
If you wish, that lack of information can be rectified, if you are willing. But even your Post #197 here must be dealt with in segments, and will take some time. Segment 1:
You said . . .:
"Any picture that I'd have would be wrong; if the Scripture is true."
. . . and quoted 1 Corinthians 2:19 from the NIV in support of that statement, . . .
"However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived'- the things God has prepared for those who love him-"
I take it that you meant that living Christians could not or cannot have any inkling of what their celestial future holds. But reviewing a better citation from the KJV:
1 Corinthians 2:9 (AV): "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
Thr trouble is that your personal application of the import of this verse is absolutely contrary to the context and purpose of that whole chapter. Even the next verse contradicts the sense of your "logic" (?):
1 Corinthians 2:10 (AV):
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
Elsie, this example demonstrates the inherent weakness of your NIV, which is not a translation of the Holy Text (as is the AV), but rather an interpretation that taints it with human opinions of what the original writings convey. And in this case, it is brazenly wrong, for it substitutes the words "mind" and "conceive," replacing the words from the Greek "heart" and "enter into," apparently leading you to an erroneous conclusion. (The grammar of the verse also departs from that of the Greek, cousing some other misconceptions for the unwary reader.)
This is just a glimpse into one of the holes in your Biblical education. You are at the point where you ought to discard the NIV as your source of quotations.
Furthermore, it is helpful and proper to use good manners in quoting Scripture by indicating the source version, so others can take that into account and not have to sort through the various Bible sites to find out which one you used.
I'm not preoccupied with finding fault, just answering your supposition and suggesting the reason for its inadequacy. I know you can do better, given the right tools and doctrinal footing.
The heart is where one believes.
Only about 18 inches separate the two doors:
one to Hell, and the other to Heaven.
Did I pontificate?
I merely posted some scripture.
Folks can figger it out what it means on their own.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
Revealed WHAT??
1 Corinthians 2 King James Version (KJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
I'm not quite sure of what your superior translation is trying to say here that is so much better than what the NIV says?
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. KJV
1 Corinthians 2:10 10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. NIV