There is no objective way to read Scripture. Perhaps, but there are less/more subjective ways to read it. You can start by reading the Hebrew scriptures as they are, rather than reading them through "Jesus spectacles".
I'm amazed how frequently I've talked with Christians who have little if any knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures. Why even keep them in your bible then? You could believe in Jesus as divine savior simply on the testimony of the apostles and the resurrection, without even bringing the Hebrew scriptures into it.
You could believe in Jesus as divine savior simply on the testimony of the apostles and the resurrection, without even bringing the Hebrew scriptures into it.
And, on the other hand, the whole Jesus 'heresy' got started merely by using the 'JEWISH' scriptures, as there WAS no 'Christian' writings at the time!
Heck, ONE guy just had the 'Scroll of Isaiah' and it was enough for him!
(It must take a LOT more 'evidence' now-a-days for people to believe.)
Acts Chapter 8
26. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
27. So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28. and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
29. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
33. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."
34. The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
35. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"
38. And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
39. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
The question remains then, "
Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
NIV Acts 9:20-24
20. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
21. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?"
22. Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23. After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24. but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
NIV Acts 17:2-5
2. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3. explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, " he said.
4. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5. But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
NIV Acts 18:24-28
24. Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
NIV Acts 24:9-16
9. The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.
11. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.
13. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.
14. However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,
15. and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
NIV Acts 25:7
7. When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.