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Thank you so very much for sharing your insights and those beautiful Scriptures, dear sister in Christ!

kosta50: If they all believed one and the same thing, that might have some merit. But Protestant Christians believe all sorts of things.

The question brought to mind the series finale of "Tudors." Henry the VIII had just chewed out the parliament for their various interpretations of Scriptures and the resulting discord among them - and reasserted his benevolence in allowing the Scriptures to be translated and made available in the native tongue - and his authority in the Church of England to interpret them. In response, the Queen privately remarked to her ladies (paraphrased) that it was irrational to give the people the ability to read the Scriptures in their native tongue while at the same time disallowing them to interpret what they were reading.

I found that particularly fascinating considering the anti-Christ attitude of Hollywood we often see in their scripts.

The logic is very compelling in making a case on secular grounds that allowing translation and private reading of Scripture goes hand-in-glove with private comprehension of whatever was read. It is disingenuous to do the former while complaining of the latter.

However, the words of God are spirit and life.

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. – Matt 4:4

Give us this day our daily bread. – Matt 6:11 I am that bread of life. – John 6:48

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

God's words are the one, needful thing.

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:38-42

And again,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27

So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Romans 10:17

The natural man cannot discern Spiritual matters.

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. 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.

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.

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. - I Cor 2:11-13

Indeed, not every man is endowed with the gift of spiritual hearing.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:- Matt 13:14

Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. – John 8:43

And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. - Deuteronomy 29:2-5

And not every man hears with equal clarity what He says to us. But our discernment improves with our spiritual walk in Him.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. – I Corinthians 3:1-7

So I aver that the operative point here is not when man mistranslates or fails to understand the words of God but the words of God themselves because man cannot thwart the will of God.

The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. – Psalms 12:6-7

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11

God's Name is I AM.

Beautiful Alamo-Girl....as always in context and on message.

Further not all Christians are on the same level of learning, which you referenced, so not everyone is at the same level of understanding. God prepares us as we go....Students of Gods word learn the basics then move on as the Lord takes them, and as He has prepared for them. His Spirit is our teacher and knows the pace of learning of each indidvidual.... Just as a sixth grader does not yet comprehend what a twelth grader does...or a Senior in High School comprehend as one with a Masters degree.

So I aver that the operative point here is not when man mistranslates or fails to understand the words of God but the words of God themselves because man cannot thwart the will of God.

AMEN! Thank you for that wonderful Scriptural lesson. Isaiah is exactly correct. God's word accomplishes all He ordains. God's word brings light to the darkness and hope to the despairing. God's word is the sword of the Holy Spirit. It pierces the heart and renews the mind. It is power and strength and truth and victory.

Jesus Christ, the word of God made flesh. What a splendid, comprehensive and exhilarating plan of salvation.

The question brought to mind the series finale of "Tudors." Henry the VIII had just chewed out the parliament for their various interpretations of Scriptures and the resulting discord among them - and reasserted his benevolence in allowing the Scriptures to be translated and made available in the native tongue - and his authority in the Church of England to interpret them. In response, the Queen privately remarked to her ladies (paraphrased) that it was irrational to give the people the ability to read the Scriptures in their native tongue while at the same time disallowing them to interpret what they were reading.

I found that particularly fascinating considering the anti-Christ attitude of Hollywood we often see in their scripts.

Every once in awhile a snippet of gold is slipped in among all the tinsel. "The Book of Eli" and "Places in the Heart" are two good examples. Sadly, 25 years apart. 8~)