Why Can't We Agree On What the Bible Means?

Why is everybody always arguing about the Bible? Who’s right? How could we ever know? Is the truth about life, death, and God lost in all the noise?
Gigantic thanks to everyone who supports the channel on Patreon (and a special thanks to Ethan Schaumburg and JMW who got behind this thing in a big way last month). I’m doing more and better stuff because of you.
If you like TMBH and you want to be a patron, you can do that at patreon.com/tmbh. If you like TMBH and you don’t want to support the channel, that’s totally cool too. I’m honored you’re here. If you don’t like TMBH….I like you anyway.

[@RyoriNoTetsujinfan]

It's not because of morbid curiosity, I watch because it helps me to better understand my Christian friends- and because you keep it interesting and fun.

[@ctrlaltshift]

Wow, Matt's mom, that's very nice of you to say.

[@RyoriNoTetsujinfan]

John h What gave me away?!

[@ctrlaltshift]

RyoriNoTetsujinfan We're all Matt's mom! XD

[@EmethMatthew]

Honestly, those are still great reasons!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

That's better than morbid curiosity. Thanks for saying hey.

[@pauljburgess7423]

Totally relate to the discouraging feeling you first mentioned. Glad someone else has felt the same.

[@KethenGoesHam]

That's because it's not supposed to be that way

[@JoyfulNoiseLiving]

“We get to see what it’s like when GOD happens.” -best quote!

[@tiscerano]

I'm so grateful for this channel!! To know that there are other Christians walking through some of the same challenges and thoughts is very encouraging!

[@aimanamenart]

Love your channel! There is a lightness to how you approach important topics; an attempt that comes across as a communication as opposed to an attack. Thank you for that!

[@ExerciseRiderMissE]

This video is awesome! I'm a born and raised Baptist. My Grandad was hurt by the Catholic Church and he left the Catholic Church and became Methodist. Long story short I married a Catholic. Once I started learning about catholism it really opened my eyes to the different expressions of the different ways to worship God

[@nightshade99]

Very important to be in the TRUTH though, remember that.

[@Pastor4all52]

I really love and appreciate your videos. Keep em comin', dude!

[@bennettanderson2700]

Your candid honesty is very inviting which can be a doorway to open discussions

[@alexandreiTF]

man, I can't wait to dive deeper into this with my co-leaders and use this in our middle school ministry setting! you're the man Matt!

[@Rhrdlichka]

Just found your channel due to Paul review. Love listening to your acts videos while I work out.

[@lukewatne380]

This made a lot of sense, Matt! Keep 'em coming!

[@vikemanoc]

I just want to thank you for what you do. I love your sincerity and openness. You seem like a friend. Peace brother.

[@megmomster]

For starters, great lighting set up! Fewer visual distractions help me focus on what you’re saying. Looks cool, too. Also, I think you hit the nail on the head in this video.

[@Yaxim3]

This is true until you see he has a bottle on the desk of something that seems to say 'pooping next to colleagues?' on it for some reason ...

[@jessemoody2218]

You're so right. Just noticed how great the lighting is!

[@Fangtorn]

I'm an atheist, I guess I'm one of those people who checks this channel out of curiosity, though not morbidly and I don't think you're weird, and I was going post some questions or problems I had with some of your points in this video, but every I tried to word one out it lead to a bigger question, and then a bigger question, until ultimately I was questioning faith in the Bible itself, but since that isn't really relevant to this video I just wanted to say I find your videos and perspective very interesting, even if they weren't meant for me.

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Fangtorn those questions are always relevant. You should ask away. I will always make every effort to have a conversation with you and I know Matt has engaged with such things many times.

[@jasonpratt5126]

I _think_ we aren't supposed to have a faith in the Bible, per se, compared to a faith in God. But a lot of Christians would say it's impossible to have any (or any worthwhile) faith in God without a strong (or at least sufficient) faith in the Bible first -- even though the Bible itself has contrary examples about that. So I don't begrudge any atheistic (or other sceptical) reluctance on that point. {g} Personally I recommend working out the philosophical positions first, so far as possible, and then coming back to the Bible later.

[@JoshuaPaulKing]

Jason Pratt my faith story is that I first looked into the historicity of the Christian faith. I believe in Jesus, thus I believe in what Jesus taught about the Bible. --- Also, the Christian doctrine of inspiration is much different from the doctrine of dictation. A lot of Christians think they're the same thing, but they are vastly different. The doctrine of inspiration explains for the historical creation of the Bible and God ispiring it.

[@blacksheep_77]

Fangtorn: Thanks for the honesty...really discouraged lately by the destructive speech on KZbin and beyond that many lower themselves to in the pursuit we are all committed to to know the deeper mysteries of life. Your reaction is a breath of fresh air and your graciousness a testimony to your own character and willingness to listen to another. To me that is a sign of the greatest necessity in the search for answers: humility. Been watching Matt since almost the beginning and have made comments before that he has handled with equal humility and grace. I think you might find him to be available to your questions without the typical condescension.

[@Fangtorn]

Dimes On His Eyes - Thanks, it's just that my questions basically boil down to, if God is an all-powerful, all knowing being, why didn't God write a Bible that eliminated all debate, get everyone in lockstep, _and_ allowed everyone to know him? In essence, why didn't he write the perfect Bible?

[@benjaminbuckmaster3328]

The lighting in this video was so well done that I could not keep my eyes off this gentle (but firmly built) fellow

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thanks Benjamin - I'm drinking milk and doing a dozen push-ups everyday.

[@WillEhrendreich]

Thank you so much Matt! I have been loving every video, you bring a sanity and fair read on everything you touch. We need more of your type of voice in Christianity. Thank you for being faithful to what God has called you to.

[@MarcusSwope]

Your hand passing behind the letters on the left, BUT in front of the yellow highlighting is super trippy

[@cindycoleman2668]

“If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me.” I believe clarity depends on having an honest, humble, obedient heart. If we have preconceived opinions/ideas/beliefs we need to be Honest....“what does it say.” -Not what I always thought, or was always taught... but what does it SAY... “In the beginning was the Word... and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” I have had to change many things that I thought I “knew”...because I was....(ouch)...wrong.

[@LaFedelaIglesia]

Why Can't We Agree On What the Bible Means? It's called "Sola Scriptura" (private interpretation)

[@knealio]

Just love these videos. I’m not, nor have I ever been, a practicing Christian. But I am always curious about how things pertaining to God and Christianity come to be. Why certain things are thought of in a certain way. Thank you for these.

[@00128472]

Very helpful. I've found your videos to be a breath of fresh air.

[@Theugleefish]

Thanks bro. Needed this.

[@thebeast656]

This was actually such a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much for an amazing explanation of the Bible. Especially fact 3. I thought that was so beautiful. He made it that way to learn his heart. I constantly tell people this especially when I share my faith. So many people think the Bible is just a list of rules of do's and don'ts. No it is a beautiful love letter to us to learn his heart and character and will. I love the Bible!

[@jamesparson]

Even the parts where God is telling people to kill other people?

[@myrajackson-rain5483]

Thank you for saying it’s about relationship, & God’s heart, knowing Him, walking in His presence...drawing Him close...thank you, thank you!! Thank you for sharing your perspective with us. I love your way of logical thinking with the heart & mind & soul of a Christ-follower... you’re doing a great job. God bless.

[@stefansynths]

Hey Matt, I really appreciate you. You're awesome.

[@jordansimerly9540]

Excellent channel, keep up the hey here's my perspective and the hey here's the perspective I have heard from athiest/agnostics. Also the clever intros are great. So impressed. Thank you!

[@SalvationsElite]

I love all the topical videos like this

[@Ledcke]

Awesome. Keep doing what you are doing because I love it.

[@blacksheep_77]

Applause for working in a comment about "Willow". Matt, you are definitely my brother...no doubt. You are much more reasoned than me, but you seem to be working out mysteries that I am currently chewing on. I was just this morning contemplating an almost identical thought but had not considered connecting it to another conviction of mine about the relational nature of God. What a synthesizing reality! That the Bible is not written with scientific perfection is obvious. But the reason why is because it was written for every human being not just that one perfect adherent from that one perfect culture or race. AND, as such it is written for the relational heart of man, something that every single human possesses, which then makes it obvious that the mysteries of Him that we can't know become interesting but unsolvable puzzles (which I will never cease talking about because it is enjoyable to consider the unsolvable), and the mysteries that we can know become simple because it is undeniable that every single human being is relational and has a father and mother and seeks friendships and community. And as you have so perfectly explained, God plays to that common interest. That thing everyone finds important, trust and character in relationship. Evil or good, Great or small, powerful or weak, believer or non-believer; God speaks to us all on that level. "This is important to all of you in your earthly lives? It's important to me to and let me show you how I proved my own relational character and trustworthiness in the earth. Powerful and Wonderful revelation. And that without having to go to church... Now I'm wondering why I didn't figure out how to get you to stop in Georgia when you were down here?

[@Getsimpson]

Thank you Matt! Keep doing this

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thanks. I plan to.

[@joshua_wherley]

Thank you for putting a picture of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem in the thumbnail. I enjoyed your video in which you visited a Greek Orthodox cathedral and appreciate your willingness to include us in your spiritual explorations.

[@innocentgreen1338]

❤️🙏☦️

[@MikeW2TB]

love your videos and your spirit Matt. Keep on!

[@meaganbuchalski7036]

Wow, this is exactly what I needed to hear because I have been struggling with this so bad.

[@innocentgreen1338]

When I realized I had a very distorted (Calvinistic) view of God and that God actually LOVED me - and indeed Loves everyone - it shook me to the core; obviously in a good way but in a very humbling way. It was this admission that I bring to bear my own prejudices onto the Bible and onto my view of its meanings that made me start to ask, "So how can I know what's right?" Because if I simply end up stopping where I'm comfortable or with what I think sounds most logical then I have become my own Pope. I am the final authority and so therefore I have put myself above the Scriptures. Somewhere in this I realized that the Bible itself doesn't claim to be the authority. In fact it says The Church is the authority - the pillar and foundation of Truth. It also promises that the Faith delivered once and for all will remain unchanged and united. Not in a "we all believe in Jesus so are part of the invisible church somehow" sort of way but in an actual, definable, historical way. So I started looking to what has been believed about scripture always, everywhere, by everyone. This took me back way before the Restoration movement... way before the Reformation... into the Faith of the Ancient Church. And there I found undisturbed continuity with interpretation of scripture. Admittedly MUCH of what was said was contrary to what I thought or what I liked or what I was comfortable with. But that was exactly why I was there in that place of humility. Was I willing to accept what has always been believed and taught by The Church? Or was I going to continue to say, "No... I understand this but of scripture differently so therefore I must be more wise than all of this historical, and still present, continuity of understanding." In the end I had to submit to the authority the Bible gives as authority... and in doing so I realized I was submitting, maybe finally, to Christ.

[@innocentgreen1338]

By cutting the cords of Holy Tradition, and placing in its stead the doctrine of sola scriptura, the Protestants ensured theological divisiveness and fracture between themselves and their descendants and have only multiplied divisions, theories, and interpretations ad infinitum, with no end in view to this day. We may judge a tree by its fruit. The sola scriptura tree has borne the fruit of division and every conceivable heresy. (Father Josiah Trenham, "Rock and Sand" p. 275)

[@innocentgreen1338]

There are answers in The Orthodox Church. "Come and see!" ❤️🙏

[@BachClarinet]

Nicely done, man! The Lord be with you! Do an episode on the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). (And one on the ELCA just for funsies lol)

[@kwall1464]

Loved this, thanks!

[@TPAAOlson4]

I needed that

[@zelie1155]

What I love about being Roman Catholic-- certainty & clarity.

[@davidronbrothers1764]

Zelie: I think you might be surprised to find two things: 1) even within the history of the Catholic Church there are many different views on a variety of subjects, even between Popes there are differences and maybe even conflicts, and 2) clarity and consistency doesn’t necessarily mean it is true. The cults offer all kinds of clarity and consistency in their message, but that doesn’t determine whether it’s true or not.

[@zelie1155]

@@davidronbrothers1764 Hello, variety in view or opinion is fine. A Pope can have whatever opinion he would like to have, but that doesn't make it dogma, or even doctrine for that matter. Even so, one thing that was unanimously agreed on by the fathers was Jesus and the Eucharist as His flesh and blood-- that only gets me to Orthodox. Further more, from the I am aware of multiple writings confirming the primacy of the Bishop of Rome among the early Church-- really, there are quite a few. Perhaps you can help me with my greatest pickle with Protestantism, salvation. Particularly, the parable of the unforgiving servant. It seems to disprove one saved always saved. Forgiven, and then unforgiven-- saved and then unsaved because of what he did. There are 2 other parables that seem to demonstrate this.

[@Lochlannach661]

@@zelie1155 once saved, always saved isn’t a view held by all Protestants. It’s a Calvinistic doctrine, and Calvin had some opinions that aren’t shared by all Protestants.

[@zelie1155]

@@Lochlannach661 I have been talking to one of my friends whose beliefs are more in line with Martin Luther in regards to salvation. We have very interesting conversations.

[@jannmacdougall1448]

You attitude is contagious...thank you soooo very much...I amazes me how brilliantly and relevently your (God's) information is♥️📖

[@GuydiscipleofJESUS]

Love it bless you BRO

[@BrandonRayClark]

Great video Matt!

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Thanks Brandon!

[@papahajek5383]

"To know God and to make Him known". My joy as a Christian is that it's ok if I misunderstand His word because He knows my heart. He seems to open doors of doubt in my knowledge of Him in order to comfort me while slowly allowing me to understand a love that is willing to endure a moment of separation from the eternal and complete union that is the Holy Trinity. If " Love God, love your neighbor, and tell others why I do" is the trinity and "love your neighbor" was eliminated for even a moment it would affect all of eternity. It has. Thank you. Your videos seem to awaken the Spirit in me.

[@mrhidetf2]

lmao, when u make a comment hoping for an anwser and u get a video essay instead

[@debypoole7079]

Thank you for this video

[@adamgibson6517]

Enjoyed your thought process through this video. I'd imagine if you're a skeptic in any way it would provoke some questions, which is fantastic! Questions, IMO, mean there's an opening and a thought going on... instead of staying stagnant, which gets everyone, nowhere :) The Bible is a living, breathing document. Great work, Matt! as always

[@sjappiyah4071]

Great Explanation

[@dogdayafternoon9551]

Well Said! Really enjoyed your take esp. point #3!

[@RegglarGuy]

There is only one way to interpret the movie “Willow,” sir. All unorthodox interpretations are damnable heresies. ...I love “Willow.”

[@daniele6623]

We base our opinions on our life experience. With such specialized experiences, it makes for different understanding. this is how the words can speak to us differently, the next time we read the same words. We base it on updated life experience.

[@stompthedragon4010]

Really like your channel.

[@peterdusan2540]

dude, I love you!

[@gusgalvanini]

Loved it.

[@jennybroyles4266]

Thank you. Cool!

[@michaelbecker6480]

Wouldn't what you call someone's opinion about the Bible be truth for them and what you call truth about the Bible someone else would call your opinion? Seems like relativism with scripture. With all the varying opinions isn't there one, true, correct, understanding of scripture?

[@colinrobertson7580]

If there is God is a trickster who is doing it for the luls

[@oliverlamie3449]

I recognize I'm watching this a year later, but this reminds me a lot of an article called The Story of Everything by Joel Okamoto. Should look it up.

[@themoelman]

You make some good points - also doctrine divides - there will be divisions and arguments. It's inevitable and we don't argue as we should. Someone inevitably gets offended and goes off mad and starts their own church or view. It's good we understand how to argue - I think yall talked about this on the podcast. Someone doesn't always need to get mad and leave, but people should look for truth and what is right and if both people in a debate agree there is one truth and seek to search for it one person can humbly admit they were wrong at the end (or both). Thanks Matt

[@mrs.garcia6978]

Your aside on politicians 😂😂😂

[@HJKelley47]

Very interesting, and in, some places funny. "God is the INFINITE being, and is PROBABLY good at writing." I am one of those who loves reading & studying the Word of God. It shows me God's heart, reveals His ways and His character, as well as showing God's involvement in the history of His covenant people and His loving purposes for the salvation of mankind. (a run on sentence/forgive). Came to Christ without the benefit/hindrance of a previous Church experience, or presumption about Scripture. In many ways that has kept me open to see without trying to wade through past presuppositions or understandings. My mind felt like a blanket slate, and the Holy Spirit began to write on it. I just discovered your channel in the past few days, and have really been inspired. Your interview with Pastor Daylan Woodall was outstanding. His heart for Christ, the Church--people of God--could be discerned across the airways. He is articulate, and it looked like you could have spent several days with him. I see you sitting through a Sunday service enjoying the soulful choir as they lead the people into worship. The history of that church was very emotionally provoking. To sustain their love for Christ in the midst of that painful history is nothing short of God's love and His miracle working power, which is bigger than man's inhumanity to another human being. I will use this Covid-19 quiet time to watch some of your videos, and prayerfully see the Body of Christ in all of its diversity and uniqueness. Since stepping down from ministry (Assemblies of God & Pentecostal tradition), I have longed to understand other parts of the Body of Christ, and your channel gives me the opportunity to do so. Fascinating to see the range of Christian Church experiences, from the very high church, with bells and smells, to the Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. Thanks Matt!!

[@deaconken3752]

Matthew 18:15-18. The Scriptures are given for our edification. It is written for everyone and can be interpreted and informative for all times. However, for doctrinal differences, Jesus didn't give us the Bible, He gave us the Church. And we are to be one in faith. Early Christians had the same problem with heresy. The Gospel of John was written refute to heresy. But interpretation for doctrinal matters is not left to the individual. St Irenaeus appealed to the universal and historical interpretation held by the Church because the Church is the keeper and bulwark of truth. 1 Tim 3:15.

[@megantheescallion8565]

@Yashaya Yaquab 144 it was given for everyone, we are all his children. Every single one of us.

[@JU-bz1kn]

@Yashaya Yaquab 144 Matthew 28:19,20 - Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Its pretty clear the Gospel is for ALL THE NATIONS.

[@JU-bz1kn]

@Yashaya Yaquab 144 Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the GENTILES, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” It's pretty clear to anybody who read the Bible. Matthew 12:17-18,21 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the GENTILES. ....And in his name the GENTILES will hope.”

[@nachomontiel6254]

​@Yashaya Yaquab 144 15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.

[@wishyouthebest9222]

@@JU-bz1kn Guess that ended his case. I hope he won't go on starting the same 'only israel' conversation whilst knowing the true outcome. God bless

[@Teja_Teja_Teja]

Oh okey 3rd point makes sense to me. I always thought about this but I was not sure whether I was correct or not. Anyways brother thank you very much for this video. God bless you. Blessings from India

[@themoelman]

Look at me, I've stolen a baby!!!!!!!!! -- the movie Willow LOL

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I like you.

[@markpettis2896]

Great video we often forget Jesus told us to love one another not agree with one another that’s not l love. Course we have to stay within the framework of the gospel and not create a false crossbow but all the different denominations should have great love for one another and of course continue in their beliefs. Thank you Matt

[@NB-ky5ol]

I really have to disagree with you on this. In fact I think you’re way off the grid here. If God left the Word open for interpretation then I don’t think He would be judging people in the end because if that’s the case then there’s no right or wrong. We have differing interpretations because we all have different perspectives and sometimes people read the Bible to fit it into their lives’ rather than building their life around the Bible. I think God has clearly defined the Bible but our understanding it lies in our relationship with God. The more we seek Him the more He reveals in His word, and He actually opens us up to understand what His intentions were in Scripture. This is why Christians will notice as they read the Word on a regular basis that Scripture has many layers and continues to be revealed to them each time they go over the passages.

[@briandiehl9257]

The bible is very clear on the most important parts, but some of the more minor parts are hard to be sure of

[@anthonyschu5834]

Brian Diehl that is precisely why an authoritative body is needed to interpret the Bible (I.e. the pope in union with bishops guided by the Holy Spirit)

[@paulrock4816]

@@anthonyschu5834 cop out

[@canddtv221]

Anthony Schudalla u can have the Holy Spirit teach you personally you don’t need the pope to teach you anything

[@canddtv221]

@Parker Beatty holy spirit will teach you all things

[@Creeper308]

Thank you for this perspective. I was in my early 30s when I was saved, and one of the hardest things I had to do was realize that I can't figure out everything; why God did this or didn't do that. It was hard to internalize that I just don't understand but that's okay - God knows what he's doing and some day I WILL understand it all. Trust!

[@printedmarble6985]

I like your message but I do have a problem with your use of the word "saved" as if being saved is a single moment event and less of a process and something that can be lost

[@hybridgeman]

I love this! Praise God! He doesn't want followers as much as he wants people to love Him.

[@michaelm581]

Well said.

[@nathanmayo5700]

well done, Matt.

[@63stratoman]

When you look within the realm of orthodoxy, it is amazing how much we do agree upon! Namely the essential doctrines of the Christian faith (inspiration of Scripture, virgin birth and Deity of Christ, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, literal second coming, etc.) where we May disagree is upon matters of eschatology, ecclesiology, some matters of pneumatology, election versus free will, Lapsarianism, peccability, the filioque, and other things that lead to major brawls in seminaries!

[@stompthedragon4010]

When I first started to get serious about Christianity the wide diversity of opinion was confusing and troubling. A wise Pastor friend advised me that there are certain core principles that all Christian's agree on and alot of the rest is grey area.

[@edwardlucas3575]

How do we KNOW what is an essential Christian belief? Where in the Bible are we told this information?

[@63stratoman]

@@edwardlucas3575 good question. What is an apple and what specific attributes determine that it is an apple and not an orange? For Christianity, it starts with the inspiration of scripture then we examine what is clearly taught about Christ, his ministry, how one becomes a Christian, and so forth. The “essentials” are also referred to as the “fundamentals” and is where the term “fundamentalist” originates. We can also look at various creeds and confessions to understand the historicity of these doctrinal positions. Hope this helps. I’m trying to be brief!😎

[@edwardlucas3575]

@@63stratoman I apologize if this sounds confrontational but there are many different versions of what are "essential" or "fundamental" Christian beliefs and practices. It depends upon what any given Christian group defines. With 30,000+ denominations there seems to be no consensus about what "Jesus clearly taught". As far as the Bible is concerned Christians don't even agree on what books are part of Bible. The Catholic Bible has seven more books than Protestants. Who has the authority to decide which Bible has the correct books? For that matter there are numerous translations (which are actually interpretations) of the Bible. Who has the authority to decide which one of those versions is correct? You said that it begins with the inspiration of scripture. How do we KNOW scripture is inspired when the Bible does not make this claim? Where is the inspired table of contents?

[@63stratoman]

@@edwardlucas3575 I actually appreciate your questions. The problem is I’m not sure the comment section of another person’s KZbin page is the best place to adequately discuss this. This is an issue I am passionate about though and actually have a Facebook page with some roughly done presentations on the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. The page is entitled “Ray Sauter, Unprofitable Servant of the Lord.” I’d be honored if you would check it out and let me know what you think and would be happy to engage you in discussion regarding questions or disagreements you may have.

[@artkoenig9434]

As my pastor once said,"How vast the ocean and how tiny the shell with which we dip".

[@zelie1155]

Haha, sounds like St. Augustine. :)

[@mariopiazza3379]

Search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and you will recieve. He lives, and His desire is to be with men, His desire is so great that He gave His precious life for us. The question we should ask what would we give to be with Him.

[@JoshuaPaulKing]

Just because because people interpret the Constitution differently doesn't mean that the United States of America doesn't exist. Or democracy for that matter.

[@harlanlang6556]

The Founding Fathers also instituted a Supreme Court with the authority to interpret the Constitution. Shouldn't we have the equivalent of the Supreme Court to interpret the Bible?

[@TiberentenTV]

@@harlanlang6556 We do after all have the Church, don't we? At least Catholics do.

[@harlanlang6556]

@@TiberentenTV The Catholic Church makes that claim, but the Mormon Church and Jehovah's Witnesses also make that claim. The fact is that the text of the Bible does not establish an authoritative interpreter. The Constitution does establish an authoritative interpreter which no one can dispute. My understanding of the Catholic claim is that it is based on tradition, not scripture.

[@bastuser0]

The Bible does establish an authoritative interpreter:"Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things so that, if I am delayed, you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. " - 1 Timothy 3:14-15Your understanding of the Catholic claim is not complete. As it is true that it is based on tradition, it is also true that it is based on scripture. As the Church should be:"Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the TRADITION we taught you, whether by speech or by letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:16By Speech or by letter, meaning tradition that was never written and those that are written, which we also refer to as scripture.

[@harlanlang6556]

It really doesn't matter how we as individuals interpret the Constitution. The only interpretation that counts is that of the Supreme Court. This authority of the Supreme Court allows the United States to exist. Citizens don't have a democratic vote on this. The reason Christianity doesn't exist as a united community is the lack of a universally accepted authority for interpretation and guidance. Each denomination may have an institution or creed which holds the community together, but the history of Christianity shows that even at the denominational level this doesn't endure. Denominations tend to split over new issues which arise from time to time.

[@jacquelynwhite500]

One Church has been faithful to their teachings of the Scriptures for 2000 years. Once Sola Scriptura became a thing, people decided they could come up with their own interpretations. Just think, from one Church, there are now 40,000 Protestant churches.

[@logansweet4190]

Except for that Eastern split in like the 11th century, and then they split into other stuff and there is Coptic Christianity and many others. Also people who didnt agree with all the church's teachings at the time. Then you have people that both early Protestants and Catholics persecuted like the Anabaptists. So no while the Catholic Church has always been the biggest body and still is I think it wasnt all sunshine and Catholic Doctrine before the Reformation.

[@namapalsu2364]

@@logansweet4190 The eastern split is simply because an extension of Sola Scriptura. That would be the Orthodox "Sola Scriptura + Sola Tradition." It has the same problem as Sola Scriptura. It needs an infallible authoritative body to interpret them (ie. Scripture and Tradition). Without such body, you could add as much "sola" as you want as source of revelation (just as mormon add "Sola Scriptura" with "Sola Book of Mormon + Sola Book of Pearl of Great Price" etc) but you'd still end up with factions having differing interpretations.

[@elelopezs]

Right before the sola scriptura became "a thing", only those who studied could understand and read latin. Because of this "thing". the Bible starts to be translated in other languages including yours. Because of this "thing" you can read the Bible in your house today.

[@namapalsu2364]

@@elelopezs Before Luther was even born the bible was translated to Arabic, Syrian, Old Slavonic, Armenian, German (yes there were german trnaslation before Luther) etc. Stop believing myth and do some research.

[@jacquelynwhite500]

Logan Sweet my friend, The autonomous Catholic churches in full communion with the Holy See are: Of Alexandrian liturgical tradition: Coptic Catholic Church. Eritrean Catholic Church. Of Antiochian liturgical tradition: Maronite Church, Syrian Catholic Church. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The Orthodox continue to call themselves Catholic, their dispute with Rome is not as great as you may think. The Apostle Andrew founded the Church in Constantinople and the Apostles Peter and Paul founded the Church in Rome. The Eastern (Orthodox) Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church were in communion (recognized the Primacy of Peter and his successor) for over 1000 years before the schism. Recall that Christ tasked Peter with caring for his sheep. Peter was recognized by the Apostles as their Shepherd on earth, the leader of Christ’s flock until His return. Peter received the keys to the kingdom, from Christ. Christ gave Peter the authority to bind and loosen sins on earth, in His place. Peter gave, by laying hands on them, the authority to the other Apostles as he sent the out on their ministries. In turn, as the Church grew, Apostles laid hands on believers within communities, making them Deacons, Priests, and fellow Bishops with the authority to forgive sins in the name of Christ, to teach believers the words of Christ (no New Testament written yet - all teaching was oral tradition). The Apostles knew Christ himself is "continually present at such imposition of hands; thereby transferring the same Spirit, which He had first breathed into His Apostles, upon others successively after them, believers in the word of Christ who would become Shepherds of His flock. The Pope is the Bishop of The City of Rome, but as the successor of Peter, he holds primacy over the other Bishops, he is their Shepherd, too. The Bishop of Constantinople, in 1054, disagreed with the Primacy of another Bishop, and the definition of the origination of the Holy Spirit (Latin rite (Rome) believes the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, whereas the Orthodox believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father), and political differences between the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire contributed to the schism. The schism between Protestants and the Catholic Church are deeper. We pray to God Almighty that one day His Church will be reunited for His Glory.

[@mrs.garcia6978]

It's super cool you have non believers and catholics who follow you!

[@innocentgreen1338]

When I admitted to myself that I bring to bear my own prejudices onto the Bible and onto my view of its meanings that made me start to ask, "So how can I know what's right?" Because if I simply end up stopping where I'm comfortable or with what I think sounds most logical then I have become my own Pope. I am the final authority and so therefore I have put myself above the Scriptures. Somewhere in this I realized that the Bible itself doesn't claim to be the authority. In fact it says The Church is the authority - the pillar and foundation of Truth. It also promises that the Faith delivered once and for all will remain unchanged and united. Not in a "we all believe in Jesus so are part of the invisible church somehow" sort of way but in an actual, definable, historical way. So I started looking to what has been believed about scripture always, everywhere, by everyone. This took me back way before the Restoration movement... way before the Reformation... into the Faith of the Ancient Church. And there I found undisturbed continuity with interpretation of scripture. Admittedly MUCH of what was said was contrary to what I thought or what I liked or what I was comfortable with. But that was exactly why I was there in that place of humility. Was I willing to accept what has always been believed and taught by The Church? Or was I going to continue to say, "No... I understand this but of scripture differently so therefore I must be more wise than all of this historical, and still present, continuity of understanding." In the end I had to submit to the authority the Bible gives as authority... and in doing so I realized I was submitting, maybe finally, to Christ. "By cutting the cords of Holy Tradition, and placing in its stead the doctrine of sola scriptura, the Protestants ensured theological divisiveness and fracture between themselves and their descendants and have only multiplied divisions, theories, and interpretations ad infinitum, with no end in view to this day. We may judge a tree by its fruit. The sola scriptura tree has borne the fruit of division and every conceivable heresy." (Father Josiah Trenham, "Rock and Sand" p. 275)

[@user-dv8bs7tb5c]

I love what you said here... So what kind of church do you attended then? What did you settle on? I feel you make the most sense, close to my thought process but I still am not sure that tradition wasn't tainted by human ego (such as a pope etc that interpretation of scripture to me is a bit... Unclear)

[@cfhedrick]

In addition, there are plenty of opinions generated by illegitimate means. There are people who, knowingly or unknowingly, take things out of context. There are those who dislike and actively ignore sections of Scripture. This video is covers the optimistic reasons, but we cannot ignore the sad fact that many people will take God’s gift and twist it for their own purposes.

[@davidronbrothers1764]

This is probably the best brief description for why there are so many different views of the Bible.

[@ardbegthequestion]

Here's a thought experiment. Setup: I send a pdf to 50 family members and close friends explaining what to do in the case of me passing. In this pdf, are my personal instructions on burial, memorial service desires, a list of where and how my assets should be distributed. Also included is a generalize heartfelt letter explaining what my relationships meant to me and how I would like see the world become and give some words of wisdom from what I have experienced thus far. I leave some poetry I wrote and links to my Dropbox that has music that I wrote. Now all this being said, if people had questions on this before I died? Wouldn't I be the best and seemingly obvious person to come to with questions. And when they did, I would give clarity and more background information, maybe send an updated email when I saw a pattern of questions that didn't seem to be clear or unaddressed? So... What we see now, and I realize this sounds completely blastphamous, analogous to the Bible, I have died and people are left to figure it out on their own... Makes more sense to me that the Bible is just man's way to wrestle with humanity. It's a tool, yes, but seemingly more difficult to be relevant as the decades go by.

[@yiqingwang1437]

Because we are sinners and only the Holy Spirit can reveal us the Truth. Matthew 16 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven."

[@SfAnthonyJones]

I love the movie Willow and will like for you to dedicate a video on that fantastic film! I also love God, so I understand that His word takes precedent, but if you ever find time...

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Christians believe and generally agree on at least 90% of the same thing. The only disagreement comes from a very small but important 10%ish percent.

[@jasonpratt5126]

Of course, one of our disagreements with each other is about how much disagreement we have with each other. {g} I say this with some irony because I was going to type, "I agree but I'd add something like 90% of us generally agree on at least 90% of the same thing etc."

[@IamGrimalkin]

I'd say that's true, but the problem is that "Christianity" is usually defined in terms of its beliefs, so it runs the risk of becoming a tautology. I wouldn't personally say it's quite a tautology because all that's really required to be christian is to say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, and Christians in general tend to agree on a lot more that that. However, it's not as strong a statement as someone might naively think. If you instead switched from "Christians" to "those who believe the bible is authoritative", you could argue including up to 1.8 billion Muslims in that count, as they would tend to believe (some of) the bible is authoritative (in it's original form, which may not in their mind line up with the form we have of it today). The Pentateuch, Gospels and Psalms are talked about in the Qu'ran. Although I don't think many Christians really have much difficulty coming up with explanations to why Muslims don't have the same view of the bible as them. Also, even having said that, there is still a large amount of overlap between what Muslims believe and what Christians believe (e.g. the virgin birth of Jesus, giving to the poor, the second coming of Christ). The thing is that the points of disagreement are also the points that both sides think are the most important (e.g. the status of Muhammad, the deity of Christ, the death and resurrection of Jesus).

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Depending on how you count, Christians agree on an even larger percentage than that. For the most part the rub comes in questions about authority, salvation, rules, and engagement with the world, and even if that's only a very small number of disagreements, they're still disagreements that have great consequences in the minds of many.

[@tichu7]

There is a meta-disagreement as well--Christians disagree on how much their disagreements matter. On one end, some Christians would say all who believe in God are the same. On the other end, only my beliefs are correct, and all others are delusional.

[@Jure-xc4no]

@@MattWhitmanTMBH protestants agree on 90% of things but protestants are not the only heretics that broke away from one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Christians (catholic, protestant, coptic, armenian, eastern churches, gnostic heretics, arian heretics...) dont agree on anything. Christology, bible, thrinity you name it.

[@justindc3124]

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.

[@FanofAslan]

I have that Spanish verb book. A few copies of the Bible too! :)

[@rangsilandrew3542]

OPEN MINDED. THE HEART OF GOD CAN BE FOUND ONLY BY SOMEONE WHO SEEKS

[@theologian1456]

Good points made here

[@RichardVissers]

Thumbs up just for the funny bottle on your desk... My kids and I were laughing about that.

[@Getsimpson]

I am taking way to long to read what it says

[@mikehogan3741]

“The sacred text was never intended to teach doctrine but only to prove it.” We must go to the Church for the creeds and doctrines and then verify with scripture. This is why the importance of the sacred tradition matter so much. I highly recommend John Henry Newman’s work apologia pro vita sua. It traces his conversion into the Catholic Church and his he came to understand the fullness of truth. I really respect your desire for truth and you thinking out loud to an audience. I think you would sincerely love the above book and see a bit of your own journey in it. God bless.

[@antlers163]

Because, even with the Bible, people consistently look for evidence to support what they already believe, and they consistently filter out anything to the contrary.

[@gooser2583]

Precisely. This is the danger of Catholicism and papal infallibility

[@deansantos7470]

Precisely. This is the danger of politics and society

[@BoundyMan]

Interesting thought. So often we tell ourselves that this is how were supposed to believe it or else God will be mad at us. Yet we forget that God didn't create us to be all the same.

[@101out]

I totally agree that it should be expected that opinions differ wildly on the Bible, especially throughout history. For me it would be a bigger detractor if everybody was in total agreement about every word and its interpretation.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Same.

[@tintinismybelgian]

How dare you!?!?!? The movie Willow is very important and worthy of serious debate. Why, for example, does Warwick Davis's character only use two of the three magic acorns he was given? Is it because he actually used one of the acorns in a deleted scene, or was there an attempt at sequel-baiting?

[@educationalporpoises9592]

This recently has been a really big issue for me. I don't have an issue with other Christians disagreeing on some stuff, but there are some Christian sects who have additional requirements on top of what I've understood is meant for a Christian life, and there's just so much history that it's very discouraging. Dietary laws, Sabbath, baptism, works, Catholic vs Protestant, Protestant vs Protestant, I hate all the divisions. I've been pretty liberal with my definition of what a Christian is (within conservative moral views and orthodox views on salvation), but it's hard to maintain that when some Christians claim that such and such a group isn't Christian because they do or do not do something that's not clearly taught as a matter of core belief for Christians in the New Testament.

[@marshallariza7466]

The underlying question is "Is only one interpretation correct, or does God use the same biblical passage to speak to different people in different ways?" Note the Holy Spirit's role in this. John 14:26 says "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." 2 Timothy 3:16 says "All Scripture is God-breathed". And John 10:3-4 talks about the doorkeeper [i.e., Jesus] calling His sheep by name, they know His voice, and they follow Him. Could the reason for differing interpretations be: Jesus uses the written word to individually speak to us, and those interpretations may vary depending on circumstances and our individual relationship with Him? For example, the words "Hey Dude" may be a greeting to one person and be a warning to another depending on the relationship and circumstances. A related question is "What difference does it make?" If there are differing interpretations, does that change our relationship with Him or undermine the basic fundamentals of the faith? If not, it's probably not an issue in the big scheme of things.

[@wallyklw5]

Amen, if the Spirit leads us into truth-why don’t we have the same truth?

[@tatteddragonfly1]

I have come to this conclusion concerning why there are these arguments, and I believe it comes from the individuals heart. People ask why are there so many branches of Christianity, and to be honest, it comes from the founder's heart. God's word does not change because someone does not feel comfortable with what God says, or what Christ says, it still means what it means, and that seems to be the problem. I look at God's word just how it is and if offends me, guess what I need to see within myself why it offends me? God has not changed, mankind wants God to change to their way of thinking and that is not going to happen.

[@sonnybrown4758]

Being from Portland, I have a problem with your shirt. I'm being facetious

[@sonnybrown4758]

3:00 Yo. No more facetiousness. The movie Willow is the GOAT of fantasy adventure from the 80s. Possibly ever.

[@raydowling5061]

One Shepard, one flock, the church is the pillars and foundation of Truth. Subjective truth is not Truth.

[@colinrobertson7580]

Then God did a terrible job inspiring the bible.

[@2Uahoj]

Nice presentation, but you seem to be trying to "shoehorn" the concept of Biblical unclarity into God's plan. To a certain degree this works - for example, with the parables, which Jesus obviously employed in order for us to reflect on the underlying truths he wanted to convey. But more generally, unclarity rarely leads to clarity, just the opposite. Bible scholar Scott Hahn, may have said it best. He remarked that that Bible was a product of the Church, and as such it was subject to authoritative interpretation by the Church. With the Reformation that was partially destroyed and suddenly there were any number of Christian "churches" interpreting scripture in various ways - ways which involved not merely secondary issues, but primary (e.g. sola scriptura, sola fide, etc.). Hahn remarks that removing the Bible from the Church was akin to separating the US Constitution from the interpretive authority of the Supreme Court, then giving every American a copy and sending them off to interpret it as they chose ("and may the spirit of Washington go with you!"). The result - absolute chaos. But one thing we know about God, he is not about chaos, but about order and unity (reference Jesus's dialogues such as John 17: 21-23). So it is with the varying interpretations of the Bible, which simply lead to more varying interpretations and more --- not unity, not clarity.

[@thereaction18]

The constitutions of Liberia and the Soviet Union were modeled closely on the US constitution, but their societies, customs, and institutions were different.

[@nightshade99]

The scriptures were written before organized religion was established.

[@thereaction18]

@@nightshade99 Abraham took his son Isaac to worship on the mountain. That sounds like religion to me. The subjects of the scriptures that are historical occurred before the scriptures were written. Only subjects that fulfill prophecy come after a scripture is written.

[@nightshade99]

@@thereaction18 Let me rephrase that for you then: ORGANIZED religion. I agree with the rest.

[@spaceman884]

Did a Roman Catholic just compare the Holy Spirit with the spirit of Washington? Come on brother

[@newbiegamelover4767]

The problem is that there's such a great disconnect between us and the original writers of the letters that keeps growing with each generation, and even as we try to localize the Scriptures for every society to understand. I think any Japanese Anime fan here (or anybody who's ever dubbed a foreign piece of media) might know what I'm talking about. And it's not just spoken language; there's also the increase of scientific knowledge, cultural lingos, the parts of history that we tend to focus on, the occasional lie that is enforced in our schools, various distractions (which plays into how focused we are as individuals), advancements in technology, the list goes on. It's already hard enough to interpret the meaning of a movie that was created in your own country in your own language as it is, so for an American in 2019 AD to interpret a series of letters that were written so long ago that they had to be re-written time and time again to prevent God's word from being eroded away and wasn't even written in 14th century Arabic (or whatever) is kind of a tall order.

[@blakeclarkson9954]

God wants our minds to be renewed in spiritual thinking. He wants us to see the full truth of what he has done through Christ and how great his love is for us in every way , but he doesn't just download all knowledge and truth into our mind! He instead has placed the desire in us, in the Spirit, to search out his truth, as he teaches us through scripture and things all around us. When we don't fully understand we wrestle with it, we search, we he in the mud and roll around a bit! But in the process we rely and lean on him even more for understanding! This leads us to trust in him even more in our mind, as we do in the spirit. This builds character for one, but also through this we end up not just seeking answers, proof, or to be knowledgeable of scripture, but we end up seeking him! This is a relationship of trust in the person of God and this is very important! Knowing him! Knowing what he has done for us and too us! As we trust in the perfect work of God!