TO All: (A) This is a practical application of 2Timothy 2:15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.?? is this MY WAY or is it GOD?s WAY?.And how do you really know????..Summary at end??.. I ask a lot of rhetorical questions that I show from scripture, have already been answered. 2Timothy 3: 16. ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. ??????..We must take all of it!??????? Take all of What????.What is and is not Scripture?????????? Jeremiah 10:23. O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps?????????.. ?.Man doesn?t have a clue????Man needs God to tell him exactly what He wants, Because man is smart enough to read and that is about it! ? If it is not in man then it is not in the reasoning of man! 1 Chorinthians 2: 5. that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ?????..What is the Gospel of Christ? ????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???What Spirit?????? Colossians 1:23. if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. 1 Timothy 4:16. Take heed to yourself and to "the doctrine. Continue in them", for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you????..What Doctrine??.How do we know that that is the right doctrine? 1 Corinthians 4:6. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other?.How do I know if that it is written? ???????.Don?t think beyond what is Written!???????? .......................What is written??............... Galatians1:7?????.but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ????What Gospel????.. For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it? ???????..Everything including scripture is Given to you!????????? I already have it? The point to all these rhetorical questions is this practical application of EITHER MY WAY OR GOD?s WAY you tell me,????. Of "how to understand" or "interpret scripture"?????? Scripture just addressed every single one of those questions and states???. ????.. All of it is important!??????? ?????.it is not in man, ?.(Man doesn?t have a clue)????. ????not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God??? ???? Take heed to yourself and to "the doctrine. Continue in them",???? ?????learn in us NOT TO THINK beyond what is written???? ????.some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ???? ?????.. if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you HAVE RECIVED, let him be accursed????. ????..Everything including scripture is Given to you!????????? ???.It interprets itself, it does not need me! I only need to read and obey, NO interpritaion is need! ?????.If I have strayed from scripture here or taken anything out of context?.. please point it out, if not, then this isn?t MY method of interpretation at all. It is scriptures/ God?s method. And , I have to ask????.. HOW COULD GOD BE ANY CLEARER??????? God gave man the capacity to read and obey ALL.......... Who told man that he could interpret anyway????.????It was not GOD! Allen Daves <allendaves@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: (N) Surely you are not saying that God placed Hitler, Lenin, Pol Pot, Amin, Mugabe, Stalin, Bush, Blair, etc., in power? Do we not need to understand what "the powers that be are ordained of God? means, rather than just take it as it first appears? (A) Surely you are not saying that these governments were less righteous than any of the developing countries whose governments allow the murder of 46 million babies a year,126000 per day in the US alone since 1976??. 40 million. This is just the Abortion murders??Do you really think Hitler or Paul pot were in any less of God?s favor. ??????.Hitler only slaughtered 6 million Jews and he didn?t do all the killing in the war??.How is tolerating them any less Culpable. Most people who use this kind of argument just want to either explain away what they don?t understand ? or Just want to blame God for the evil.. ?. The short answer to your emotional argument is YES!??.Why??.. Romans 8: 28. And we know that ALL THINGS work together FOR THE GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Matthew 13:41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;????.Until then God is not forcing evil from the earth? he is giving everyone the opportunity to make a choice trust him or else, which comes latter????. MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ?..the one that gives me the most comfort 2Corinthians 10: 6. And having in a readiness to REVENGE all disobedience, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED???????????.Romans 13:19. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,'' says the Lord. ?????????? People are so worried about the evil of others?..the speck in Hitters eye while ignoring the plank in our own?.. this argument does not invalidate the plain word of God, who said He ordained them or what ever your translation states??????.It is not our problem to worry about the governments our job is????. Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen????..God is working his plan not mine or yours?? I don?t understand everything but if I did then I would be God. This is not my place, my place is to trust in him and his word. He will take care of Hitter, Paul pot, us and the abortionist too???.in his time, his way, not ours. How is tolerating them any less Culpable. Most people who use this kind of argument just want to either explain away what they don?t understand ? ????.. 2 Peter 2:9. Then the Lord knows how to "deliver the godly" out of temptations and to "reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment," 10. and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11. whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, "speak evil of the things they do not understand," and will utterly perish in their own corruption, ????. ?????????. or Just want to blame God for the evil. (N)How about different translations of the same Scriptures? Do we try and understand them, or do we just read them? When translating from one language to another, it is the meaning that is of the utmost importance, not the direct, word-for-word translation. (A)The scripture says the same thing in your native language as it does in the original?..that is not to say that they all use the same words but the context of all Scripture will yield exactly the same meaning. And if it does not, then it is not the word of God it would then be a product of man??This is only a problem for those who put there trust in man to have preserved his word. Mine is in God, I believe that he has preserved it. Those who try to convince you other wise do not know anything about translations or scripture! Every single verse we have is handed down there are no originals of any scripture or letters anywhere. I challenge anyone to show me one. There are however a lot of people trying to prop them selves up as learned scholarly individuals?saying that well it doesn?t mean that, or it rely means something other than what it plainly states?.?. Who told them that? ??.It was not God, He never told anyone that?. ..That is the pure and vain imagination of men!?... But here is what he did say?..Galatians 1: 8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed ????Now how can you do that if it cannot be understood and he tells you not to think beyond what is written????Only if your faith is in God providence absolutely???.. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and EMPTY DECEIT, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ???? you can find anyone claiming to be Christian who will take any position you want and tell you and mean it that they are following scripture??? God made man gave man language, gave man the ability to read, what he wrote?.. He knows exactly what it means to you and me and only by faith in God can you call ANY scripture anywhere God?s word. I challenge anyone to show me where other than by faith. The ONLY problem is not my interpretation or yours or "how do I read it" ?. Only will you accept what he plainly said or will you chose to adopt some methodology or hermeneutic not even mentioned in scripture, as the "correct way" for understanding? ?????? The Test? Show me where I have not spoken as the oracles of God or where God said that he did not intend it that way. If you can not do so, the problem is not with how to read scripture, it is with men?s willingness to accept ONLY what it says, because all provisions of scripture are/were provide by God. Otherwise who is to say what is and is not scripture? And any interpretation will do, I mean what?s the standard??.. People have it and the standard! Tey chose the "reasoning of men" over plain text. "Dr. Neville Jones" wrote:Allen, I reply as follows to one of your main arguments: (N) ?I certainly do not accept that they are appointed by Him.? (A) Mathew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.& Romans 13: 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ?ordained of God?. Romans 13: 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, ?resisteth the ordinance of God?: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. I?m not sure how anyone can maintain that position. [N] Surely you are not saying that God placed Hitler, Lenin, Pol Pot, Amin, Mugabe, Stalin, Bush, Blair, etc., in power? Do we not need to understand what "the powers that be are ordained of God? means, rather than just take it as it first appears? How about different translations of the same Scriptures? Do we try and understand them, or do we just read them? When translating from one language to another, it is the meaning that is of the utmost importance, not the direct, word-for-word translation. Neville. --------------------------------- How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. Get Yahoo! Photos