How to Read the Bible (Without Turning Evil) | Holy Mystical Bible Study with Jon Adams

Why do some people read the Bible and find love and goodness, while others read the Bible and find license to do evil?
The hard truth is that how you read the Bible greatly affects what you find in the Bible when you read it.
In this video we'll talk about your Bible reading strategy: the mindset and the expectations that we all bring with us to the Bible, and how they affect the meaning that we make when we read. In fancy theology words, this is called "hermeneutics," and everyone has a hermeneutic whether we admit it or not.
As we talk about Bible reading strategies, we'll also answer questions like:
- Why does the Bible make some people do evil?
- What are the dangers of reading the Bible, and how do I avoid them?
- How can I protect myself from people who misuse the Bible?
- How can I read the Bible for myself and find the true meaning?
As with all things on this channel, my goal is to help you find the confidence to read the Bible for yourself, hear the spiritual message of Scripture, and trust that you can actually hear and understand what God is saying to you through the Bible.
Because it brings you into contact with God, good Bible reading is one of our most important mystical practices.
Thanks for watching!

[@kassd4169]

Nice! I do think that's a good point about being humble while reading it, I do think people should read what it actually says, and not what that they want it to say.

[@tbpat]

I would add a point to the list of "reading in context": be aware that what you are reading is the translation of a translation. Bibles in modern languages are translated mostly from older latin and greek versions, which themselves are translations of old hebraic, aramaic, etc. texts. So do not get to fixated on one particular word or phrase, and allow yourself to be a bit flexible in the meaning you put behind words. This problem seems to be particularly strong in the english speaking world, as, as far as I understand, almost everyone uses the King James translation. There are websites that allow to open the same passage of the bible in different translations side by side. It can be quite illuminating.

[@papabear2262]

Jesus clearly stated: No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit....A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not obey my teachings? Those who read the Bible and promote slavery, genocide, oppression of woman, minorities and other lifestyles are bearing evil fruit, pure and simple. As a former evangelical pastor I can testify that evil and hateful people are oftentimes drawn to religion in an attempt to justify the evil in their hearts. Jesus said to love everyone unconditionally. You can attempt to justify your evil with scripture but it is still evil, especially when done in the name of God.

[@M-i-k-a-e-l]

This is beyond any man to judge. What seems good may be very very false and what seems heretical or evil may be very very good.

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

​@@M-i-k-a-e-l Does it say that? No. You speak false words. This is me: Genesis 49:16 DAN SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE, as one of the tribes of Israel. I Am Dan. I Am Hasatan, The Adversary, The Accuser, The Serpent. We don't make it into the 144,000 because that is the number of jehovah's soul harvest.

[@quantumcontemplative]

Where can I get that warning sticker lol? Its perfect.

[@PerelandraCJ]

love this!

[@JR-pn7xn]

You can find something for everyone in the Bible. Anything can be justified.

[@crystalmiller7867]

Love the message. Definitely agree. It’s all about perspective.

[@London-Lad]

Amazing. Thank you

[@markholmphotography]

Amen, looking foreword to your next video(s).

[@kassd4169]

Yay a new video!!!!

[@byrondickens]

Fantastic! One of the worst things you can do with the Bible is crack it open and start reading through the lenses of a 21st century worldview. Or without being aware of your own presuppositions, biases and interpretative framework. One can not understand it divorced of it's sociohistorical context.

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

So... you don't believe it has the power to address your current concerns? 🤔

[@SSJGaelY0]

@@theurbanthirdhomestead”i like apples” “oh so you hate oranges!?!”

[@London-Lad]

I bought the book 'Centuries of Meditations' by early Anglican Christian Mystic Thomas Traherne. It would (if you want) be nice if you could, or were able to do a book study group on here with your viewers, if you find his work of any value. He wrote his meditations in the 17th century so his works can be found online to use by anyone and they are sold in book form on Amazon. I've been struggling to chew over his work by myself but I see the great value in his meditations and would be of great help to myself I think as well as others.

[@sunnatrae]

I am looking forward. Very interesting video. Thank you Jon

[@SeanPalmerLOFI]

There is an angle that you didn’t mention. There is a philosophy from the eastern mystics that says you read it many times and interact with sage beings and then the passages from any scripture will come to mind, the references will also occur. It is like a listening method. You digest it. It does not come from the will or the “mind”. It is a living word. That is not poetic it’s about consciousness and love of self and other. Reading sacred texts from Christian mystics and other faiths helps us see the very clear and easy examples parallel in our own book. People read it with a stingy nature. They read it intending to argue and debate. My god, your god and where it disagrees. Rather than- this is what I see from over here, what do you see? The buddhists and the vedantists had a 1000 year long dialogue about what each felt was the highest truth and it created extremely refined philosophy. It CREATED something. No one got killed. It can be done. The symbols and allegory in the bible are dense with wisdom but you have to let it sit with you for a long time and hold it up to many experiences. But it is an ingenious and magical book with many hidden secrets, it describes a mystery, existence. You just cannot be too serious about it. It’s also literature. It is meant to uplift, excite and inspire. It’s all very well to say I know how I want to change myself by reading my bible. But if you knew how to change yourself you wouldn’t need a bible. We want to be changed into the version of us God intends, not our own version. That’s why we cracked the dang thing open in the first place. We needed a power greater than us.

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

Well, you found him. The god of this whirled (sic) is very powerful. Fyi, Jesus told us that's not His Father. John 14:7

[@lovegod777]

“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.” - Leviticus 20:6

[@prasenjitghosh5852]

These hermeneutics strategy can be applied while reading any scripture

[@seane.9937]

You know Helena Blavatsky quoted in " hidden mysteries" a bishop that was present at the meetings to decide which books, what changes to be made, and how to translate this KJ bible. Something Nicea? I forgot the name. My point, He wrote that they had hundreds of books on the floor and they said a prayer asking for the books to be in the bible be up on the table the next morning 🌅. Which they were. They will not mention who had the keys. But, this is how those books were chosen. What do you think about that?

[@manncz]

This is completely divorced from historical sources. And is mixing together multiple topic. Long story short - nonsense (and I mean no offence)

[@seane.9937]

@@manncz it's true I found it. John pappus wrote in 1601 strasburg. The difference is that the books were side by side not on the floor. They prayed and the books to be in the cannon were in the desired place the next day. Look it up. It seems crazy to me. But I feel that when people refuse to find God within themselves and rely too heavily on a book that man has polluted over the centuries you get what you have now.

[@daviddorf]

@@seane.9937 Instead of us looking it up can you point us in the right direction? I have to agree with @manncz.

[@seane.9937]

@@daviddorf simple google search. John pappus 1601 council of Nicaea Catholic bishop explained what happened there. He also wrote that they were a bunch of illiterates. The bishops making these decisions that is.

[@seane.9937]

@@daviddorf simple google search: pappus 1601 council of Nicaea It's true my friend. They concluded back then that the choice of the canonized books was due to prayer and a miracle. Helena Blavatsky called it magic but I just find this so interesting.

[@Ravenwing6]

Wonderful video. Your recommendation popped up on my KZbin page and thought why not take a look at it. Btw, what Bible translation are you using? Is it King James?

[@pedrorodriguez464]

Excellent presentation! Agreed with your points and presentation!. I would have included reading the Scriptures through the lens of Jesus, who is the Living Word. The Written Word points to the Living Word, Jesus Christ. - Luke 24:25-27. We need to maintain a Jesus-centric view in how we approach all Scriptures.

[@joshuawilliams9276]

Thank you brother ask the hard questions? I could say much more but due to channel being monitored i thank you keep searching read all the holy books from every culture and remember God is not a respecter of Man An ask God for eyes to see an ears to hear understanding its your relationship with God he said in Jeremiah call upon me and i will show you great and mighty things ye know not

[@ronalda3488]

Hi Jon, what would be the best introductory book of yours that I should start with? Thanks in advance

[@remmik7275]

Your conclusion is a little different than what the Bible teaches (with all due respect). Satan and Jesus both used the Scriptures, one for evil and the other for the kingdom of God. But Jesus was already good before He even wrote a Word of Scripture. Satan had already committed evil, rebelled, and was cast out of heaven before the first Scripture was even written. So the issue wouldn't be how people approach the Bible or read the Bible, the issue would be the state of the person. That's why Jesus emphasized the importance for everyone to be born of God (born again). After being born again by God by being reunited with Him through Jesus, He pours out His love in that person, and then that person continues in His love, being filled and led by God's very own Spirit. If a person does not love, as the Bible says, that person is not born of God. A person will read the Bible in whatever state they are in. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:7-10) "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister." (1 John 3:7-10)

[@Rosiedelaroux]

The bible is truly a great work of fiction- many quite different stories. It always reminds me of Harry Potter - a bit of made up magic - lovely.

[@lovegod777]

The Bible is the Holy, and perfect, word of GOD! It will not make you evil! Please dont practise witchcraft

[@7thheaventruth]

My friend, the deeper you get into scripture the deep you get closer to God a new level means a new devil always keep your armor it a powerful book 📕

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

LIAR!! Reading the book means you are called to defeat the book. It IS a spellbook. Black magic. There are two different gods in there. Read it like that and you will see you've been worshiping the devil. Jesus came to free us from the old covenant. WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL IN IT?! 😱