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To: ShadowAce; RnMomof7
"Wow. You take a reference to a book and pretend I'm referencing an author?

Since your skill at interpreting even mundane text seems to be lacking, I have no idea how to go about discussing text (and context) with you.

Is this how you normally get people to quit pestering you with facts?"

The reference from Paul's letter to Titus, to which I believe you refer, is 2:11, where Paul writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men."

If you read the context carefully rather than beginning with a conclusion (exegesis not eisegesis), you will notice that Paul is explaining that grace is being poured out upon all KINDS of men, causing them to become "saved". Thus, even difficult owners of bondslaves may be believers, not just the downtrodden bondslaves. He is encouraging bondservants to not to behave badly, thinking that owners (like rulers, Pharisees, and other high-ups) could not possibly be believers.

Read several verses previous to 11 and you will notice that Paul's advice is part of a longer list of advice to believers.

But, you did not answer my question about whether my previous response answered your concern about the prodigal son and "free will". Did it help?

72 posted on 07/13/2012 8:54:23 AM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: Dutchboy88; RnMomof7
If you read the context carefully rather than beginning with a conclusion (exegesis not eisegesis), you will notice that Paul is explaining that grace is being poured out upon all KINDS of men, causing them to become "saved".

I read the context. It only reads the way you want it to read after some heavy twisting of the Scripture.

I don't twist Scripture. It's written that way for a reason. The text says all men. A couple versions say 'all people"--not "all peoples". The language clearly indicates all men, as individuals.

The context also clearly instructs believers to behave in a sober and clear-minded way to be a credible witness, and because that is what is right--not because others may also be believers.

Reading it your way strips all meaning out of it--All kinds of slaves should try to please their masters, rather than all slaves. All kinds of young men should be self-controlled, rather than all. See how ridiculous that sounds?

God's grace has appeared to all men. It rains on the godly and un-godly, on the righteous and unrighteous.

But, you did not answer my question about whether my previous response answered your concern about the prodigal son and "free will". Did it help?

Help what? I don't twist Scripture to make it fit my views. You never answered the fact that the Son came to himself and started his journey home by himself. The Father did not come to him to drag him home.

74 posted on 07/13/2012 9:12:49 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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