Posted on 09/02/2015 6:49:23 AM PDT by LearsFool
Some will tell you the Bible can't be understood. Others say you can't understand it without a theology degree, or an ordained teacher, or a special vision/revelation.
I challenge those claims, and invite everyone to read Acts 4 and see whether the following questions are too difficult. And when you're done, you might find you know more than your preacher. :-)
1. What was it in Peter's sermon in ch. 3 that upset the Sadducees so much? (See Mt. 22:23, for instance.)
2. In Mt. 10:17-20, Lk. 21:12-15, Mk. 13:9-11, and elsewhere, Jesus had given to the apostles warnings, instructions, and promises. How are the events of Acts 4 a fulfillment of those?
- 2a. What did Jesus warn would happen? Did it happen?
- 2b. What instructions did Jesus give the apostles for such situations?
- 2c. What promise did He give them? Was it fulfilled?
3. In Peter's speech in this chapter, he once again puts the case in terms of "you vs. God". What had been the Council's verdict against Jesus?
4. How had God overturned their verdict?
5. How does the miraculous healing of the lame man testify to God's verdict (v. 10)?
6. What proofs are offered in this chapter to support the claim of Jesus to be the Messiah?
7. How had the prophecy of Ps. 2 been fulfilled?
8. Who is in charge of all things? (v. 28)
9. What did the apostles ask for in their prayer?
10. In vv. 32-33, we have another of Luke's "snapshot" summaries of the situation. Were the apostles cowered by the Jewish rulers' threats? Did God answer their prayer?
To help you, I've included hyperlinks to referenced passages.
WHy don’t you ask questions about the meaning of the original languages?
SImplicity is not always your friend
I don’t understand your post. Do you want more difficult questions? Questions over the Greek text rather than English translations of the Scriptures?
Simplicity is a beginning point, and will take one far in the knowledge of the truth. There are loads of silly articles posted on the RF which can be easily dismissed with a simple reading of the Scriptures. Theologians and seminary graduates can’t compete with Bible students. :-)
The Bible, being a spiritual book, is locked and cannot be unlocked by the human mind - by itself. I Corin. 2:6 - 16. That is until the Holy Spirit gives light, revelation and understanding. The natural man cannot understand that which is spiritual.
God is spirit (John 4), and only the Holy Spirit reveals Him to fallen man. This is why Paul so often spoke of the need for revelation, e.g., Eph. 1:15 - 17, and how he only came to his understanding of thing by revelation.
This is why for the believer who continues to seek the Lord, the Bible never ceases to give new insights (NOT new “truth”) into who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and all that was done on the cross and the depths of His love for us. We will never know God fully, and it will take all eternity for Him to reveal Himself to us. Yes, when we see Him face-to-face, we will know Him in a fuller sense - but still, as He is God, His depths are infinite.
So even we who know the Lord must always, when reading scripture, approach His word humbly, confessing our need for the Holy Spirit to open the “eyes of our understanding”, depending wholly on the Holy Spirit to teach us and let us see what is hidden from the natural eye and the natural mind.
Much trouble has come in Christendom from men approaching and using scripture with their minds apart from the Holy Spirit - with the most common result being division amongst God’s people......”I have the truth......and you don’t......”, or “I see, and you don’t...” being the attitude. Like that of the Jews & Pharisees in John 9:39 - 41.
Your last statement shows a lack of understanding
You have not addressed the rather important issue of WHICH translation you use....this is as important as which dictionary one selects.
This is why a good concordance is necessary
No, I didn’t mention which translation(s) of the Bible I use, because it’s irrelevant to the questions posed in the OP, as well as to the question of whether or not the Bible can be understood by reading it.
Try it for yourself and see... Read the chapter and the other relevant passages, and see whether you can find the answers. I’ll bet you can!
“because its irrelevant to the questions posed”
Not really
Sounds like you’ve found a translation that doesn’t have the answers.
nonsense
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