Greetings. Is there any interest in discussion of my studies of the Bible?

[anothen]

I usually spend time in LASO and rarely venture outside
of that forum. However, I am starting to have a desire
to share the Research I have done in the Bible.

It has been several years since I have done much work
but it is of great interest to me and greatly beneficial
to those searching for answers to many of the problems
that exists in our society.

I belong to no particular organized religion or group.
I do not parallel to any one particular Christian
denomination nor do I follow any one persons teachings.
I do however use basic biblical research principles
and refer many times to E.W. Bullingers "How to Enjoy
the bible" and "Figures of Speech".

If this is acceptable in this forum and is of interest
please reply to this thread and I will begin with
" The One Great Subject of the Bible "

Keep in mind though, I refuse to argue, but I will
answer questions to the best of my ability.

My goal is two-fold, one is to quench that burning
to share what I've learned and to help those
searching for answers.

[anothen]

Hello again.

Well, plenty of views and absolutely no replies.
So either no one is interested, or skeptical,
or currently satisfied, or apprehensive or
for some other reason that I am unable to
think of. Or maybe *sigh* there's another
crack-pot.

However, please allow me to propose a few
concepts to ponder.

We are living in some difficult times and it
seems everywhere we turn, there is always
something that will cause grief and sorrow.
Then through the struggle of life, at the
end of the road we die.

We can ask ourselves, is this really all there
is? Is there anymore to life than this?

Even Science struggles to discover how this
life began. How organic compounds with
just the right conditions could ever
weild together and form life. Or a planet
with such a delicate balance to sustain
conditions for life to survive. To even
the best most respected scientists, life
itself is still just a mystery.

Isn't it even remotely possible, that there
is an intellegent life that is active
behind the scenes?

Of all of the societies around the world,
All of them have some sort of religion
recognizing a greater or higher power than
their own. Many of them have a belief
system that is quite successful in enduring
this struggle in life.

What about the Bible? Is it possible that
the Bible has the answers to the struggle
of life?

There are sixty-six books of our modern
classical Bible today. Why is there not
sixty-seven, or sixty-five? For that
matter, why is there not just one?

There are many writers. Among those were
Kings, prophets, a herdsman. Some great,
some quite simple. Some educated with
eloquent vocabulary and some very little.
Rich, some poor. Who is to say that all
of these writings were written by religious
fanatics or men who were just greatly
inspired by their religion?

Or, is it possible that the Bible is of
Divine Design?

If life itself is of Divine Design then
certainlly there must be some evidence.

Take for example a leaf. How many billions
of years could it take through the process
of mixing chemical compounds to produce
a leaf with such perfection and beauty.
Put it under a microscope at 10x and we
see more perfection. 100x and even more
perfection. 1000x and more perfection
and we still are unable to see the
intellegence or life that causes it
to produce such elegence.

What about the Bible? Certainlly if
there is an intellegent life behind
the writings of the Bible, then it too
would contain evidence of this Divine
perfection.

To me, the Bible is the most fascinating
field of study, because this perfection
really does exist within it.

I will never say that I am always right,
nor will I say that I have all of the
answers. However, I will say that the
Bible does have all of the answers
mankind will ever need regarding life.

I have witnessed this perfection and
beauty in the Bible. For no other book
or books written by man can ever fit
together so perfectly.

Somebody please respond.

I have no ulterior motive. I am not
trying to get anyone to follow me
or join my church (of which I do not
have), I don't want any money, I have
nothing tangible to sell. All I want
is to help people find answers, and
not from what I would ever say, but
so that a person can research on their
own and utilize it in this struggle of
life.

Should I continue?

[Sheryl P.]

I am already a Christian and so I don't really feel a buning need to answer that question but please post away.
I would ask a question,if you can answer.
Why did Jesus have facial hair if he was not married?
Also,why was he not allowed to be touched until he was fully transfigured?
Just some questions I have pondered.
Thanks!

[anothen]

Originally Posted by Sheryl P.

I am already a Christian and so I don't really feel a buning need to answer that question but please post away.
I would ask a question,if you can answer.
Why did Jesus have facial hair if he was not married?
Also,why was he not allowed to be touched until he was fully transfigured?
Just some questions I have pondered.
Thanks!

Yes, thankyou for replying.

The first question I don't have an answer for,
but I promise to look into it.

The second is really interesting and I can answer it,
however I need a little time to gather
all of the information.
Do you have some scriptural reference in which
I can work from?
I remember one record where he said "...Touch me not ..."
but this was during the forty days before his
ascension.

The word "transfigured" is really interesting.
It is translated from the Greek: metamorphoo
quite probably where we get the modern
English word "metaphorphisis".

It was used four times in the New Testament
and translated as "transfigured" twice, "transformed"
once and "changed" once. (see Matt 17.2, Mar 9.2,
Rom 12.2, and IICor 3.18)

This in itself is a really interesting study and
quite vital in Spiritual Development and Growth.
But that does not answer the original question.

The phrase "...touch me not..." appears in John 20.17
This caught my attention a number of years ago
because here, he prohibits being touched and
yet there are other records where he allowed
others to touch him. In fact, in verse 27 of the
same chapter he told Thomas to "... reach hither
thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither
thy hand and thrust it into my side..."
Also in Luke 24.39
he encouraged them to "...handle me ...".
I found a note in the Companian Bible which gave
me some hints to study further.
(see John 20.17 Companian Bible Condensed )
In the Mosaic Law, the high priest had many requirements
in order to properly offer sacrifices, one of them
was that he was not to be touched by anything
unclean during this process.
During this time when he said "...touch me not..."
was the exact time when the high priest would
wave a sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest
before the lord. (see Lev 23.11 )
In ICor 15.23
he is referred to as the "First fruits" from the dead.
In Heb 10.21 he is
referred to as the High Priest.

So, it was during this same time when the high
priest was to wave the offering of first fruits,
Jesus, being the ultimate high priest presented
himself as the ultimate sacrifice to God as
first fruits from the dead.

To take just one more step forward, this actually
fulfilled the prophecy of Genesis 3.15 where
the promissed seed would bruise the head of
the serpent. As a result of God raising him
from the dead has dealt a fatal blow to the
head of the enemy.

[Sheryl P.]

Thank you for that answer.
I will be looking forward to whatever you find out about the other question.
I had a few more but they seem to have escaped me at the moment.
I love to learn new things reather than just go over the same things all the time.

[SouthernGyrl]

Anothen if you don't mind, I could try to answer the question to the best of my abilities.

[LeBeau]

SouthernGyrl, please go right ahead.
I am sure noone could possibly consider that highjacking the thread and it's always a good thing to have different perspectives.