Scripture & Evangelism (2 views) Subscribe   
  From:  StevenJn316   2/9/2002 12:07 pm  
To:  ALL   (1 of 11)  
 
  312.1  
 
As one who tries to follow the missionary activities of Christian groups throughout the world, there is one common trait. 
A desire to get the Bible into the hands of people. Most overseas missionaries have that as a chief concern. Not talking people into Christianity, just get the Scriptures into their hands and get them reading for themselves. 

This has been the case since the Reformation. There have been and exist today numerous groups whose sole purpose is the translation and/or distribution of Bibles to people who do not have them. Bible society groups are very common. 

Even in America we often see a desire to hand out Scripture tracts to get people to read in a few verses the ultimate idea of what being a Christian means. The recent post on the meaning of life by another on this forum contained dozens of Scripture references to back up the points the poster was making. In other words, "don't take my word for it, here it is in the Bible". This too is also common with most solid Christian posters - a quoting of Scripture to back up their points. 

So it strikes me that other religions, whether Islam or Mormonism seem to encourage verbal discussion rather than the reading of their books they hold sacred as God's written revelation. A Mormon posted earlier that while we could read their books, the best way to learn about Mormonism is to talk to Mormons. Likewise, I continue to hear people say we should talk to American Muslims to learn about Islam (rather than read the Quran for ourselves). 

Christians not only believe the Bible is God's Word - a written revelation to all humanity, but we believe the Word has power in itself to transform one and lead them to the cross of Jesus Christ. 
This is why we refer to it to back up points about doctrine and what our faith really believes and teaches. I wonder why other faiths do not the same - since they too say they believe their works are also God's revelation. Why the insistence on talking to man, rather than doing our own reading and studying and find out for ourselves what Mohammed or Joseph Smith or whoever actually believed and wants others to believe.
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  123four   2/9/2002 3:10 pm  
To:  StevenJn316   (2 of 11)  
 
  312.2 in reply to 312.1  
 
Very good post and question. If all we 
have to offer anyone is our own ideas, 
then we have nothing at all to offer, 
of substance, because there would be 
no standard. 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Rtartan   2/18/2002 7:07 pm  
To:  StevenJn316   (3 of 11)  
 
  312.3 in reply to 312.1  
 
Great post. 
It is also important to remember that in the Bible, all men were required to write out their OWN Torah scroll, and a KING was required to write a second one. So from the beginning, it was made clear that *ALL* were to have and read the word of God in their own hands. 

Artie
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    2/18/2002 7:56 pm  
To:  Rtartan   (4 of 11)  
 
  312.4 in reply to 312.3  
 

It is also important to remember that in the Bible, all men were required to write out their OWN Torah scroll, and a KING was required to write a second one. So from the beginning, it was made clear that *ALL* were to have and read the word of God in their own hands. 
 

Hmmm?

I vaguely remember something *like* this in the bible, but I am not sure of the exact scripture.

Where exactly is that?



 

            John 6:28,29

Bible Search

Study Tools  


 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Are people always picking on you? If so, the answer might be a simple as  clicking here !
 

See the All New God v6.0 Here!!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heckler Disclaimer 
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Jim (pentitent)    2/19/2002 12:07 am  
To:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    (5 of 11)  
 
  312.5 in reply to 312.4  
 
Deuteronomy 17:18-20  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. 
This one tells of them writing their own copy of the law, but I haven't found anything about the King writing a second. 


May God bless and keep you, my brothers and sisters! 

 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    2/19/2002 4:38 am  
To:  Jim (pentitent)    (6 of 11)  
 
  312.6 in reply to 312.5  
 

This one tells of them writing their own copy of the law, but I haven't found anything about the King writing a second. 
 

Yes, that is one scripture I was referrring to.  And, I do recall something about kings writing a second copy, but the part I do not recall is about *everyone* having to write out their own copy.

I find it pretty hard to believe that *all* Israelites were literate enough to be scribe of the scriptures....

The idea of *all* Israelites being scribes just doesn't seem to go down... :)



 

            John 6:28,29

Bible Search

Study Tools  


 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Are people always picking on you? If so, the answer might be a simple as  clicking here !
 

See the All New God v6.0 Here!!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heckler Disclaimer 
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Jim (pentitent)    2/19/2002 5:01 am  
To:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    (7 of 11)  
 
  312.7 in reply to 312.6  
 
I'd have a hard time believing that all could be this educated too. I think the other part about second copies had something to do with Jehoiakim, King of Judah burning the books of Jeremiah. Still studying it though. I don't believe it tells of the second copies in Jeremiah though, I believe it's in a commentary or Bible dictionary.
May God bless and keep you, my brothers and sisters! 

 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    2/19/2002 5:46 am  
To:  Jim (pentitent)    (8 of 11)  
 
  312.8 in reply to 312.7  
 

Still studying it though. I don't believe it tells of the second copies in Jeremiah though, I believe it's in a commentary or Bible dictionary.
 

That's why I'm waiting for RTARTAN to give me the scripture.

Some things I just wait to see before I go examining what it's all about.

I knew about kings being required to do this...but not every man.



 

            John 6:28,29

Bible Search

Study Tools  


 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Are people always picking on you? If so, the answer might be a simple as  clicking here !
 

See the All New God v6.0 Here!!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heckler Disclaimer 
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Rtartan   2/19/2002 10:07 am  
To:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    (9 of 11)  
 
  312.9 in reply to 312.4  
 
Well, I was just trying to find ther referrence on my lunch break and I can't do it. 
Sorry. 

But if you think about the commandment to write the words of the law on the doorposts of the house and to talk about them all the time, it would suggest that they had scripture handy. 

I'll track down the scripture and post it later. 

Artie
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


  From:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    2/19/2002 11:11 am  
To:  Rtartan   (10 of 11)  
 
  312.10 in reply to 312.9  
 

But if you think about the commandment to write the words of the law on the doorposts of the house and to talk about them all the time, it would suggest that they had scripture handy. 
 

Interesting...

I imagine there was quite a business flourishing doing that.  I doubt seriously that people all did that themselves.  I think more that not so wealthy people which could write did it themselves, but that the more affluent probably hired someone to make it decorative as well as of command.

I really don't recall in any of my readings where everyone had the scriptures. (Jokingly...) Maybe we will find it in one of the newer translations? 



 

            John 6:28,29

Bible Search

Study Tools  


 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Are people always picking on you? If so, the answer might be a simple as  clicking here !
 

See the All New God v6.0 Here!!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heckler Disclaimer 
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit   
Rate 
  
    
 


   From:  Rtartan   2/19/2002 3:37 pm  
To:  Joseph (BLAKSHEEP)    (11 of 11)  
 
  312.11 in reply to 312.10  
 
 But if you think about the commandment to write the words of the law on the doorposts of the house and to talk about them all the time, it would suggest that they had scripture handy. 
 
<<Interesting... 

I imagine there was quite a business flourishing doing that. I doubt seriously that people all did that themselves.>> 

Perhaps that was the exact point, the rule would have been a statutory requirement to enforce literacy, and literacy at a pretty high level. 

<<I think more that not so wealthy people which could write did it themselves, but that the more affluent probably hired someone to make it decorative as well as of command.>> 

LOL. Hiring other people to do it is a later development. 

Besides, in a pastoral culture, leather for scrolls is not quite as expensive as we might tend to think. 

<<I really don't recall in any of my readings where everyone had the scriptures. (Jokingly...) Maybe we will find it in one of the newer translations?>> 

It is in there. Hopefully after supper sometime I will find it and post it. Since I live on Long Island and know many Jewish people so I know that the rule exists and that I actually looked up the referrence to verify it, --so I KNOW that it is in there. 

Again, the whole thrust of the teaching in Moses day was that EVERYBODY was supposed to be soaked in knowledge of the law, then why should we be surprised that this was part of it? For that matter, how is it possible if you DON'T write, or at least buy, your own copy?
 
  
   Options  Reply Delete Edit  
 
