/lit/ - Literature

>>20147977
Read Ellul.

Post the Bible you’re currently reading.
For me, it’s picrel

>>20147977
Ok I've done some research on New Reformed Calvanism. If anyone (knowingly) subscribes to these beliefs let me know what I get wrong and please elaborate


New Reformed Theology IE: Reformed Calvanism

New Calvinism is not a new branch of theology or a denomination. Rather, it is a “revival” of sorts—a revival of traditional, “old” Calvinism.

It is popping up in various churches and denominations, including Free Church, Episcopal, Independent, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches.

It is decentralized, and cuts across nationality, race, sex, etc. And is present in seminaries for various denominations now

The Gospel Coalition is a national network for the new calvanist movement. It's site says: "We have become deeply concerned about some movements within traditional evangelicalism that seem to be diminishing the church’s life and leading us away from our historic beliefs and practices. On the one hand, we are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism."
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#preamble

They desire to champion their Gospel "gladly linking hearts with fellow believers across denominational, ethnic, and class lines."

"Our desire is to serve the church we love by inviting all our brothers and sisters to join us in an effort to renew the contemporary church in the ancient gospel of Christ so that we truly speak and live for him in a way that clearly communicates to our age."

Calvanisms beliefs can be summed up with their acronym TULIP (which interestingly they discourage using this acronym but keep the beliefs - "The New Calvinism, in its allegiance to the inerrancy of the Bible, embraces the biblical truths behind the five points (TULIP), while having an aversion to using the acronym or any other systematic packaging, along with a sometimes qualified embrace of limited atonement." https://reformedforum.org/john-pipers-twelve-features-new-calvinism/))

(cont.)

>>20148489
TULIP

T - Total Depravity
Basically sin pervades every aspect of human existence. Mind, body, spirit, etc. to the point that people cannot choose to accept God, God has to choose to save them (which leads to their heavy belief of predestination)

U - unconditional election
Basically God elected who would be saved and who wouldn't be well in advance. They are called the "elect". God picks them based not on their personal character or merit, but out of his kindness and sovereign will. It also means that election for salvation is not based on God's foreknowledge of who would come to faith in the future. Meanwhile those not chosen to be elect are the damned, destined for an eternity in hell, before birth.

L - limited atonement
This means Jesus died only for the elect, not for every single person, past and present. This aspect is not embraced by all Reformed calvanists, though if you believe the first two pints the 3rd would pretty much come as a result so not sure how they bypass this. The Gospel Coalition words it as "In love God commands and implores all people to repent and believe, having set his saving love on those he has chosen and having ordained Christ to be their Redeemer."

I - irresistible grace
God calls his elect to salvation and they cannot say no. The Holy Spirit supplies grace to them until they repent and are born again.

P - Preseverence of the Saints
Basically, salvation cannot be lost because it is from God.

Other beliefs include, a belief that all 66 books of the Bible are the word of God, infallible, divinely inspired etc., the idea that though saved you should work to do as Christ did and live a sin free life, and the thought that they must be counter cultural to both current evangelism and society. They essentially view themselves as a response to the increasing secularism in both society and worldliness in church.

Find it interesting this is popping up in alot of churches. Anyway if you anons go to a church that's not extremely centralized ala catholic/orthodox you may wanna examine if this is becoming part of churches yours is associated with

They seem brush over and hide Predestination and the elect thing. The Gospel Coalition even seems to withdraw from it after saying they believe in it
>He did this so that in him we might become the righteousness of God: on the cross he canceled sin, propitiated God, and, by bearing the full penalty of our sins, reconciled to God all those who believe
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement

Would be interested to see others takes on this as well. Didn't know this was an ongoing thing in alot of churches. Pic unrelated

>>20148470
I have the other version of this with the gilded edges. I really like how dark the print is in this one, too; it's much darker than I've seen from most modern printings of the Bible. If not for the loss of all the translator notes and the other original footnotes (like those indicating textual variants) in favor of the apologetical notes, I'd say this volume is the ultimate edition of this translation and that there would be no reason to get the standard edition. However, those and the fact that it's pretty big mean it's best the get the standard, too, if you want to take it out of the house or have that additional textual information. Just my thoughts.

>>20148489
>>20148517
"New Calvinism" is dying, anon.

To be Reformed is to be confessional which means to hold to one of the Reformed confessions of faith like the Westminster Confession or Belgic Confession. "New Calvinism" churches don't and so they aren't really Reformed. There is a lot more to the Reformed faith than just TULIP and Calvin.

t. Reformed Christian

>>20148649
>There is a lot more to the Reformed faith than just TULIP and Calvin
I figured as much which is why I asked if anyone who believes can elaborate cause I really don't wanna run down rabbitholes for hours more

As I said in previous thread there are churches in my area that are becoming newly Reformed and the practice of predetermined or destination or whatever it is, is mentioned subtley
Down in their beliefs page
>God chose those who would be saved and granted this unearned grace solely based on His sovereign good pleasure.

If you can tell me more about the differences I'd appreciate it but this seems to be a Reformed belief

>>20148588
Which one is it you have, is it the leather bound edition? I couldn’t find that one in stock in the UK sadly.

>>20148709
It is a Reformed belief. It was probably only mentioned briefly because opponents of Calvinism seem to make the doctrine of predestination out to be the leading feature of Calvinism.

It should probably be stated that all Christians believe in some form of predestination to some degree because the word 'predestined' appears several times in the New Testament. Predestination is certainly then a Reformed belief. It is even touched upon in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The dead are not risen.
Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.

>>20148816
Yeah. As always, it's "leather," but that can be remedied down the line.

>>20148924
>It is a Reformed belief. It was probably only mentioned briefly because opponents of Calvinism seem to make the doctrine of predestination out to be the leading feature of Calvinism
I don't disagree with you on that. When Reformed Theology was mentioned this is what the people I spoke to said as their disagreement with it

>It should probably be stated that all Christians believe in some form of predestination to some degree because the word 'predestined' appears several times in the New Testament. Predestination is certainly then a Reformed belief. It is even touched upon in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Indeed but at least based on my reading calvinsts take it to a greater degree than others hence the controversy.

I'm not really versed in Reformed Christianity vs traditional or whatever you wanna call it. What specifically is different besides tulip? I'm trying to understand what is going on at some of the churches in which I live. Only recently started going again after like a decade hiatus (not of faith just church attendance) and had not heard of Reformed Theology till just recently

>>20149007
TULIP are just the basic doctrines that set the Reformed faith apart from the rest.

The main difference between these New Calvinism churches and proper Reformed churches is the confessions of faith. A confessional church is going to be a lot more theologically rigorous compared to all these New Calvinist churches. If I walk into a church that says they hold to the Westminster Standards I know exactly what I'm going to be getting. If a church says they hold to TULIP that just means they are going to at least teach those doctrines but I don't have a clue what else.


Definitely give the Westminster Confession of Faith a read.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/westminster-confession-faith

>>20149100
Also another name for TULIP are "the doctrines of grace".

This is a great video explaining them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQu6Z-iStqE

>>20149100
>>20149120
Thanks anon. I'm beginning to wonder how many of the churches around where I live consider themselves Reformed believers

>>20149136
Likely very few but "Calvinism" comes in and out of style every couple of decades as a broad movement in lots of churches.

There are Reformed churches that have and will always be there. These ones are going to be your Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed churches. For Presbyterian in particular they will be ones like PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) and OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church), "orthodox" simply meaning correct believing, that still hold to the Westminster Standards. Very theologically conservative, highly academic. PCUSA on the other hand abandoned the Westminster Standards a long time ago, that is why they are extremely liberal now.

I have to go to work now but I will hop back on after midnight.

What is the best version of the Vulgate from a Catholic press? There is a DR+Vulgate one which seems to be good, but I want one with just the Vulgate. The only that I could find was from a Spanish press, How is it? About the German Bible Society Vulgate, I might get it if there really isn't another from a Catholic press instead of a Protestant one.

>>20147986
Have you read his take on the book of revelation? I just read that part of the Bible and am thinking about following up with that, since Ellul is great.

Currently reading a King James bible I got for free at the airport

>>20149348
Yes, he makes very clear that God will judge everyone no matter if they are believers, that the good and moral will have no more protection from condemnation than sinners. I recommend reading the Meaning of the City beforehand to understand how it connects with God's new Jerusalem.

>>20149333
I have the German Bible Society Vulgate. It's the standard Vulgate everyone uses, but be aware that it's nevertheless a critical text. As such, things like the Johannine Comma are moved out of the text and into the textual apparatus where manuscripts are cited. It's also definitely not "reader-friendly" due to zero punctuation. Other opinions (like specifically for the Clementine Vulgate) are expensive, multi-volume sets.

>>20149491
I will look into it, thanks

"God chooses who will be saved and only the ones who are saved were chosen to be saved because God chose them which means those unsaved sinners were always destined for Hell meaning God willingly brings people into existence to be damned"

This belief undercuts God in so many ways, it also has no physical impact on reality as the effect on the world remains the same.
People live and die and we don't have any say in the matter.
God may know the choices you are going to make but you are still free to make that choice happen.
Also
>cuts across sex
Don't tell me they're "retvrning to tradition" by implementing female preachers?

>>20149541
>God may know the choices you are going to make but you are still free to make that choice happen.
If God knows every choice you will make, then you are on a railroad of causality, rather than truly having free will.
At least they put in enough variables and complex interactions to keep the illusion alive.

>>20149558
I feel God can know what you're going to do but you still make the choices to end up there.
>oh boy time for allegory
Just because I know an artist at his canvas is going to paint a picture of a tree, doesn't negate the paints, colors, or techniques he chooses to use.
Calvinism (in its most insidious) is the holding of a gun to the artist and saying you shall paint a blue tree in the style of a fourth grader.

>>20149597
My belief is more akin to Emergentism. If there is an omniscient God, then they have absolute knowledge of causality. They can calculate and and understand every interaction, even on the Planck Scale, everywhere happening simultaneously. In a sense, their observation of reality would dissolve the illusion of free will and see us as the ephemeral lumps of ordered chemistry that are.
I look out into the rest of nature surrounding us, and I wonder how a God would even be remotely concerned with the morality of a single species, especially when things like pic related also exist in nature.

>>20148649
>Reformed confessions of faith like the Westminster Confession or Belgic Confession
Why were all the reformed creeds made over 1000 years after the Church began?

>>20149741
Because God is British.

>>20149741
>1000 years
Well at least you admit that the "Church™" didn't begin for a few hundred years after Jesus, when it hijacked His movement. After that it tool a little over 1000 years for the printing press to put Scripture into enough hands to reveal how Satanic the "Church™" was.

>>20149100
>>20149120
>>20149204
Ok I watched a good chunk of the video. So Reformed Christianity includes TULIP or whatever term.

That makes sense as the people I had spoken to were baptists whose old church got a reformed calvinist pastor and beliefs changed (to the point they've renamed the church). Weirdly it and the other church I mentioned that I'd gone to that is new age and also newly Reformed now call themselves "Bible Churches" rather than Baptist or Christian or whatever term others apply.

Is Bible Church a term used amongst those who adopt something like the west minster confession?

>>20149959
Repent.

>>20149741
Satan

>>20150122
Not typically.
Really any church could adopt it and call themselves whatever they want. But typically Westminster Confession is used by Presbyterian churches. There is a modified version from 1689 that a lot of Calvinist baptist churches use called the 2nd London Baptist Confession

>>20149741
Why did the early creeds come in to use over 300 years after Christ?

To fight new heresies.

>It's a "the devil introduces another shard of division between the faithful" episode
I just want to help save people with my brothers in Christ for cryin out loud

>>20150280
Exactly how I feel as well. Assuming Reformed Christianity does continue it is gonna splinter alot of churches, because when you say only some are destined to be saved you are gonna upset alot of people and people are not gonna want to listen anymore
What's more, with Reformed Theology getting into SBC you will have pastors saying people in other churches they fellowship with are not saved.
I see an advantage here then to independent churches, easier to keep track of who you fellowship with

>>20150339
>you are gonna upset alot of people and people are not gonna want to listen anymore

The gospel has always been offensive to the world, nothing new.

>>20150351
Yes anon. My point though is you're gonna make people quit believing
I don't believe that affects whether they're saved or not but it'll cause those who might be saved to wind up rejecting the idea of faith

The serpent did nothing wrong

>>20150358
predestination doesn't work. how do you know you're one of the saved? what if you're not?
Why would God leave people to suffer on purpose?
Romans 10:9-13, and Timothy 2:4 also. along with many other verses, especially Ezekiel 33:11. were they saved or not, and in either case, why was God asking them such, if He already decided it?
and before you quote Romans 9:18, you're reading it wrong. God doesn't harden them, He lets them harden their own hearts. written like that because of how Hebrew works.

>>20150430
Anon I'm not a Reformed believer. I'm this anon>>20148489 whose trying to understand just what they believe because I've been seeing its affects in my community (predestination being the major conflicting point amongst people)

And to go with predestination is their belief of limited atonement, that is Jesus only died for certain people. They claim stuff like John 3:16 is referring to those people in the world who are predestined, not the whole world entirely

>>20150460
oh. well, what did you think of my little paragraph? A proper answer to that hypothetical question?

>>20150469
Those are fantastic verces to reference and I appreciate you citing them
For those who don't wanna look em up but are interested in the responses to Reformed Theology
Romans 10:13
>For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Timthoy 2:3-4
>For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Ezekiel 33:11
>Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Predestination is something that will continue to splinter churches unfortunately though

>>20150495
and as some anons already said, Biblehub is one great site for finding verses and whatnot. that Ezekiel verse is a cross reference i wouldn't have found

>>20150358
Don’t maintain the truth because it offends people?

>>20150562
Limited atonement genuinely seems like heresy to me no matter how you slice it. So telling a lie like that will offend

>>20150588
>"we're gonna take the free will part about God (the entire point of creation) and add some sourceless interpretations about salvation before finally wrapping it under a bow of 'my OC don't steal'"
Its all so tiring

Reminder that without regular reaffirmations that Catholics and "Orthodox™" are crypto Ishtar worshipping Satanic Babylonian pagans, the Bible threads can barely stay afloat and sometimes drop before bump limits. The Holy Bible plainly states that Mary was only a virgin until Jesus was born and that He had (obviously half) brothers and sisters. Pray only to God.

>>20151544
Repent.

this book was hella boring frfr no cap <span class="xae" data-xae="yikes">&#x1F612;[/spoiler]

>>20151618
>frfr no cap
Opinion retarded

>>20151618
kys zoomer <span class="xae" data-xae="yikes">&#x1F612;[/spoiler]

Who was the coolest judge

>>20151962
Gideon because he left us a jug with his nickname, which was completely unique to him, that was found last year proving he actually existed.

I haven't gone to church in months. I think it's just not for me. I went with my best enthusiasm and I have done everything sincerely but it just didn't work out and I do not think it ever will. I just can't believe in the supernatural.
I don't know how exactly to leave, although probably nobody would notice if I just dropped out of the groups etc. since I've been silent for a while. Still read the Bible because of scholarly interest and I still pray but it's become like meditation, stuff I do to relax.
Feeling very sad about this but I can't pretend forever <img class="xae" data-xae width="30" height="29" src="https://s.4cdn.org/image/emotes/59b6bba6_FeelsBadMan.png">

>>20152976
It's only pretend if it's untrue, but rather than lecture (something I am not qualified to do!), what components of faith are you most struggling with right now?
If you cease going to Church because you stop believing then that is of course, your choice.
But I know many fence-sitters who go because they enjoy the sense of community and hope a revelation may yet be found.
For what it's worth Anon, I'm sorry that you are afflicted with doubt and sadness. I pray that all those who are unable to hear God may yet come into grace...mustard seed and all that.

>>20152976
Do you not like the church you had been going to?

>>20153097
>what components of faith are you most struggling with right now?
As I said,
>I just can't believe in the supernatural.
That's it. The mental gymnastics required to justify why things would actually be any different than what is painfully obvious are simply too much. Yes the "sense of community" in church is nice and all, but I can't pretend to believe for the sake of fellowship obviously.
>>20153109
No I loved it, I can't find a fault in the church. It was warm and welcoming.

>>20152976
What are your specific issues with the supernatural?

Is it worth it to get a 'study bible' for a first time reader? I'm going to get the KJV and it would be nice to have detailed annotations, but IDK if I need all the extra shit I'm seeing in some of them. Any recs?

>>20153135
I am also a first time reader, and luckily I have more experienced brothers in Christ to help me along. They say with wholly good intention that a study Bible is a double edged sword, as some people are prone to getting lost in the incredible depth that some of them go to, but for others, the extra context and connections help them parse the Word into more...palatable levels.
I think they said the McArthur Study Bible worked well for them, but I have been told to be wary of various translations, so while I am confident in the King James Version, the NewKJV paired with the McArthur may or may not be a faithful translation in that way.

Hopefully another wiser Anon can type up some more info / correct anything I've said that is wrong.

>>20153132
>What are your specific issues with the supernatural?
I cannot justify believing in the supernatural when there are mundane explanations for everything that are much more coherent with the general behavior of nature, which you can test and verify even on your own.
Specifically in Christianity, I don't understand how is the Devil so powerful and capable of interfering with and seducing people on the daily, while God refuses to present signs in the modern era to remind anyone that any of this is real. Obviously people will do whatever the Devil says, and the Devil doesn't really have to do very much beyond suggesting, if God reliably acts as if he didn't exist. In the OT and the NT there are miracles everywhere, angels coming down from the sky, and so on. All right, those were the prophets, they were special people. Then Jesus made miracles to show people a sign of what was to come in Heaven. All right, Jesus was the son of God. Then after the death of Jesus, people were administered the Holy Spirit (if you are Catholic or Orthodox) and they could sort of do this by proxy. All right those were Saints. But then why? Obviously the point of St. This or St. That restoring someone's withered hand or curing the blind or surviving a beheading is not that God gives you superpowers but to show people to have faith. That's why Jesus did it, that's why God did it. Have faith, look, this is irrefutable. How has this all disappeared completely as technology and scientific method became commonplace? Why does this happen in every single religion? How is one religion more special than the other if they all get debunked the same way?
I just can't force myself like this, it feels like I'm trying to go schizo on purpose. I wasn't raised in a religious family. I think I was just looking for meaning but my nihilism is incurable.

>>20152976
>I just can't believe in the supernatural.
For what it's worth, this convinced me to believe. I don't know if it's a common path, but it did it for me.

>>20153278
have you ever stopped to think that it's ok to to be hung up on the supernatural hump and still be religious? like it's totally ok. you can reconcile not fully believing that stuff and still being a good christian by practicing the tenants of jesus. i think the supernatural thing gets to everyone.

<span class="xae" data-xae="flex">&#x1F4AA;[/spoiler]

>>20153135
If you have budget issues, the ESV SB is like $6 in e-book format, you can use it next to your reading Bible for those passages that aren't clear. It leans Reformed but I think it's valuable nonetheless for understanding things.
>>20153282
I'll read it. I haven't closed the door completely yet.

>>20153296
I don't think it's totally ok, the point of Christianity is the next life, not this one. Everything you do is not to improve your life on Earth but to get a life after this one. If you mean trying to be a moral person? Yeah of course, sure, I agree with Christian ethics. It doesn't mean much though. Without truth, it's just some kind of opinion and it objectively doesn't stand when someone says "lol why do you still have morals in 2022?"

>>20153296
If you don't believe in Christ and his resurrection, you're not a Christian as far as I know.

>>20153325
>Everything you do is not to improve your life on Earth but to get a life after this one.
Won't God forgive everyone anyway?

>>20153325
obviously the gift of eternal life is the carrot dangling on the stick, which is the very problem i had with religion most of my adult life. i didn't like the idea that bribery to be a good person was a thing. i've since grown up and looked past that. the point of christianity, to me, is to save people lost along the way by living as jesus did. the interesting thing to me is that you can do this without even ever mentioning religion. addressing false idols, promiscuity and coveting are the things i mostly come across when talking to people. living for the betterment of mankind, all that. that's christianity to me.

>>20153339
that's between god and i to sort out when i pass. i've prayed often and have asked forgiveness for my doubts.

>>20153360
NTA, but does this mean you don't believe in the afterlife? This sounds like secular humanism or "cultural Christianity" rather than anything to do with faith or religion.

To all spanish speaker anons: I'm looking for a study Bible with the OT translated from the masoretes, the NT from the septuagint, both in spanish, Catholic and as transliteral as possible. Is there such a Bible? If not, which one comes close?

>>20153370
no i certainly believe there is a life beyond this one.

>>20153298
Youtube has 'Mere Christianity' by CS Lewis in audiobook form as well. He outlines some fantastic philosophical pillars for the faith, and honestly it's just a good listen even while working.

>>20153325
I have accepted Christ as my savior and in doing so through sincerity guaranteed my place in the next world. Every additional action I take now is to properly learn His word and teachings that I may bring others into His grace, and to honor my father and my Father.
There is no necessity in what I do, but rather a sense of duty to my brethren that compels me.

I do not wish to get bogged down into the numbing nitpicking, but I see science as a confirmation of God's existence rather than a condemnation. The beautiful intricacies of creation are beyond cosmic chance, the sheer number of things that were required to make us happen according to evolution is mathematically less likely than (as Science(TM) would say) magic sky daddy.

But even more than that, one ought not to look for science as a transfusion for faith. Just as a blind man cannot see colors, and a hungry peasant from a thousand years ago did not know about "nutrition" both of these things existed even if said existence was unknowable at the time.

>>20153379
>in doing so through sincerity guaranteed my place in the next world.
Is it not prideful to believe this?

>>20153383
To an extent, but it is a faith rooted in the promise and teachings of Christ rather than my own ability.
I trust in Him absolutely when He tells me how to find salvation.
Of course, I could very well lose this is I were to blaspheme and curse his name, but I would sooner die than betray the second chance God has granted me.

>>20153391
Why second chance? What happened?

>>20153399
I was at my lowest point, even lower than when I lost my last grandfather and both my father and uncle to a horrible genetic disease that stripped my hero, my teacher...my Dad of all dignity and strength.
I had been to more funerals by the time I was 18 than most people would see in 50 years, my cousins as well lost one parent to Leukemia and another to his heart exploding when he was getting the paper.
My grandmothers died of lung cancer and a stroke, respectively, that crippled her for the last 15 years of her life, and that grandfather died of Alzheimer's.

The weight of these things and the futility of life began to settle upon me, and for the first time in 25 years I felt abandoned, I could endure all that pain with God but to suddenly lose Him? I was not prepared for that anguish.
I made a deal with myself, either I would find Christ again through reading His word and building my faith up again from nothing...or I did not know. I know at the time it wasn't pretty.

So I read. And I read. And kept reading. And praying. And asking for just a sliver of hope.
I still don't have that miracle that cements God as a physical reality, I haven't had some impossible event where all was revealed and my fears extinguished. He knows that would be sufficient and thus withholds it, for my faith had to be tempered, not treated.

But each time I felt like I was about to drown, the Lord and his teachings would give me just enough breath to keep swimming. I decided that God had not abandoned me, but that I had not been worthy of Him.

And slowly, my fears began to fade, and I could know the confidence of Christ again in my heart.
It was a gentle thing, not brazen or sudden, but one day I woke up and just knew.

>>20153135
If you're reading for the first time and kjv in particular yeah it might not be a bad idea. Some of the language can be tough especially if you aren't used to it and notes can help clarify as well as connect stuff from NT to old such as cultural norms, laws, etc. And maps are extremely helpful when verses will mention places like Edom, children of ammon, etc. so you'll actually know where these people that are mentioned are

You need to keep in mind though, all study bibles have issues. The people generating notes will make mistakes, insert their beliefs which you may not agree with, leave stuff out by mistake, etc. which is why it's important to pay attention and not assume everything is correct. Pray when reading the Bible and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Also be sure to do research on who makes the study bible you use. It will inform you on what you'll be reading if you use it
Recently I've been using a Holman (Southern Baptist Conventions Publishing arm) Christian Study Bible KJV. Notes in it aren't exclusively by Southern Baptists but they certainly have their angle in it. That works for me cause I'm Baptist but that may not be what you want.

As another example the macarthur bible >>20153174 this anon mentioned was done by a Reformed calvanist pastor who follows beliefs mentioned earlier in this thread (IE: tulip). If you agree with that or want to learn more about it that might be a way to go. If you disagree with it, then it might not be the way to go.

There's also the Scofield bible, written by someone who believed and tried to spread the idea of dispensationalism (idea that time is divided up into different administrations by God, and that Israel and the Church are separate things)

If you're interested in orthodoxy there is an orthodox study bible that gets mentioned here regularly

There also is of course non denominational and secular study Bibles like the Oxford Annotated Bible.

Or if you decide you don't like what's available there is E-Sword, a program that allows you to select your Bible translation and commentaries to go with it like Matthew Henry's. I've never used E sword but those that I know that have love it.

Anyway, yeah study bibles are helpful but as with all things they have problems. Be sure you pray about what Bible to get as well as before reading, and do research to be sure you know what you're getting into and be watchful when reading. Hope this helps anon.

>>20153459
God bless

>>20153480
Blessed open minded anon making multiple recommendations.

>KJV
Imagine not listening to god in pic related.

>>20152976
If it helps, I see the supernatural as emergent from the natural, rather than being a background function of the universe. Kind of like how wetness is emergent from water's interaction with other materials, the supernatural is emergent from our consciousness's incomplete perception of reality and its need to fill in the blanks.

>In Christian theology, universal reconciliation (also called universal salvation, Christian universalism, or in context simply universalism) is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will ultimately be reconciled to God.
So why have faith? <span class="xae" data-xae="smile">&#x1F642;[/spoiler] Afterlife will be the same for everyone, and the main selling point of Christianity is the aferlife.

>>20153371
Bump for this

>>20153593
Universalism is heresy and not orthodox doctrine for any mainline church.
The concept is also incompatible with the idea of God granting humanity free will.

>>20153278
here we go.
>why is the devil so strong
because we're sinful beings, and it's much easier to give into the flesh than kill its vices.
>God refuses to show signs
He doesn't. but He expects faith before anything.
>if you're these denoms
just a sidenote, it isn't just them.
>how has this all disappeared
it didn't. people just convinced themselves of lies and fooled others.
Take evolution for example. It is simply a belief, which has been denounced by a few biologists and botanists, and for which there are proper mental gymnastics even (like the theory the changes went too fast to be saved in fossils). how can you realize what i'm talking about? After you've read this, you're thinking i'm some kind of wacko, because the idea of it being absolute truth has been forced into your head.
>they can all be debunked
people debunk their strawman of Christianity. it's easy to poke holes when you've prepared them.
there's a proper refutation for all criticism. And that's one of the many things that sets Christianity apart from all of those lies.

Lastly,
>prayer calms me down/relaxes me
ever wondered why? your own little proof of it all.

>>20153593
>doesn’t expect a trial
He will come like a thief in the night.

>>20154015
Why?

>>20153459
BLESSED

L

E

S

S

E

D

>>20154105
The Bible says that some will go to eternal life, and some to eternal fire. Some will rise to glory, some to everlasting shame and condemnation. It has been condemned at multiple ecumenical councils as well, along with other vestiges of Origenism. No amount ot coping can get around this. On the other side, God has granted us free will, even to reject us for eternity. We will never be forced into heaven and forced to love God

>>20154105
Take a look at these articles, from Orthodox Christian writers. You might disagree, but they offer a different perspective on Hell and salvation than the 'traditional' fire-and-brimstone place-of-punishment view.
https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/the-river-of-fire-kalomiros/
https://www.oca.org/reflections/fr.-lawrence-farley/what-in-the-world-can-be-done-with-magda

>>20148649
>Reformed Christian
Reformed from what exactly?

>>20154544
They claimed to be Reformed from armenienism among other things per video in >>20149120

>>20154544
>>20154562
Reformed Christianity aka Calvinism is one of the four branches of Protestantism that came out of the Reformation.

There was Lutheranism, Anglicanism, the Reformed faith (mainly in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scotland, and parts of Hungary), and the Anabaptists (in the modern day they are the Amish and Mennonites).

Test. Christ is King.

>>20154573
And now "Reformed Christianity" is crossing denominational lines in protestantism

>>20154544
From Catholic and "Orthodox™" Satanic Babylonian bullshit.

Are there any recent historical discoveries that have Biblical context?
A few threads ago some anon posted about Exodus being in 1300 BC I think? Was really cool!

>>20154802
https://aleteia.org/2022/03/13/archaeologists-find-3100-year-old-pottery-bearing-the-name-of-biblical-judge/

https://scitechdaily.com/sodom-and-gomorrah-evidence-that-a-cosmic-impact-destroyed-a-biblical-city-in-the-jordan-valley/

>>20154802
some anon talked about them finding Gideon's jug.
Also i follow an archaeologist fellow, and they have been finding new places; first was a synagogue where Jesus possibly taught, in Magdala (based on Luke 4, likely the one He went to coming up from Nazareth; it's on top of a hill, of which the valley leads to Nazareth.)
And two other things i haven't watched yet; the palace of king David, and new things on the Dead Sea scrolls

There's this part of the crucifixion of Jesus that I can't stop thinking about ever since I read it. It relates to this.
In this quote he's up on the cross already shortly before dying. Matthew 27:46 "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)."
When Jesus was put through his suffering, even this God given human form thought he was forgotten. He lost his faith for a moment.
It's very distressing what to think about what that means for us normal humans. That the suffering of life was too great for even the God himself in flesh.
Now I don't want to disparage from what Jesus went through, his suffering is unique in a way no one can know for real.
But what can a normal human do about something that makes even God himself despair?
I don't know. It's scary to think about. Humans are so powerless.

>>20154896
watched the first one, and there's more stuff: a slab where enemies(from Damascus if i got it right) have written down battles and whatnot against the house of David(as in descendants); seals of a public archive -in that same temple- (scrolls burned when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, clay seals survived), and on said archive they found the names of two enemies of Jeremiah(Jeremiah 38; Gedalaiah and Jehukal) and a broken one, bearing Isaiah and a part of the word for "prophet". Along with all that, a piece of a column, the style of which was only used there(same one that is shown in a five shekel coin)

a little curiosity, André Lemaire had read a slab containing the phrase "house of David" and history being told very closely to the Biblical account a long time ago, and almost lost his place at Sorbonne because of the backlash. in 2019 they, with equipment, certified he was right. So that's two certifiable historical references to King David.

>>20154980
Jesus Christ is God, first off.
From what i understand, He felt the pain and suffering of death before Him (just death, being away from the Father).
With His sacrifice, we no longer go through that, but are saved through Him.
we no longer die, for Christ has conquered death.
Revelation 1:18
>[Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,] and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and hades.

>>20155154
(i bracketed a part of verse 17)

>>20154980
He was quoting Psalm 22, give it a read and see what you think.

>>20155225
the Psalm was prophesying it, not the other way around.

>>20155225
>>20155249
and, just to be sure, let us know what verse 16 is like in your Bible. I wonder which versions try to change it.

>>20155273
Not him but kjv says
>For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.
There a huge difference between this and other translations?

<img class="xae" data-xae width="28" height="27" src="https://s.4cdn.org/image/emotes/ad2977e6_FeelsWeirdMan.png"> Calvinism is already dying again.

>>20155367
Sauce?

>>20155353
some try to change "they pierced my hands and feet" in bad faith because it pretty much flat out says it's talking about Jesus Christ, and said translators try to deny Him.

>>20155353
>>20155372
adding to that, they obviously try to do it in an underhanded way, saying the Hebrew means something else (aka, their lies).

>>20155154
what about all the people who died before the arrival of jesus?

>>20155368
Just an observation. The boomers in charge of New Calvinism are utterly failing at attracting Gen Zers. All the popular and up-and-coming Christian YouTube channels, for example, and evangelical or Anabaptist.

>>20155402
Matthew 27:52-53
>The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

If you died in Christ (a true believer of God) you'll be brought up to Heaven when the Lord comes. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

>>20155273
Just read essentially "all" of them yourself.
https://biblehub.com/psalms/22-16.htm

>>20154802
>A few threads ago some anon posted about Exodus being in 1300 BC I think? Was really cool!
Around 1250 BC to be more exact. More and more Exodus evidence is piling up in that time frame, and thus "early date" proponents (1400 BC and earlier) are grasping at straws when they're not getting btfo.
There's a recent "discovery" at Mt. Ebal by the Associates for Biblical Research (who are shady people who constantly go to the press instead of going through the peer-review process, thus making their claims very suspect), but the way they're being cryptic about it, it's likely more ABR bullshit. See this video for details:
https://youtu.be/Judv-llIoIA
The Sodom and Gomorrah story >>20154850 has also largely been dismissed, again due to super shady practices and apparently BSing much of the paper.

There are actual discoveries that are supporting the Biblical accounts, but a lot of evangelical types who are less interested in archeology and more interested in confirming their own presuppositions really do damage to our credibility, which sucks when we have actual discoveries that are backing up the Biblical accounts. Simply put, be critical of these discoveries and let the evidence show itself. If they go to the press instead of the peer-review process, be VERY skeptical of their motives and their credibility. New evidence is precisely why the "Biblical maximalist" position in Egyptology, while still a minority position, has actually grown in recent decades.

>>20155368
Mr. Boomer Calvinism himself, James White, was exposed for having a fake doctorate, and his recent debates against Trent Horn and William Lane Craig have not gone well, causing his followers to start doubting him and his brand of Calvinism. And since he's one of the oldest and best-known Calvinists online, his own missteps are doing damage to the rest of his teachings.
Otherwise, >>20155497 is pretty right on the Protestant side of Gen Z turning more evangelical. Catholic and Orthodox Christians have also started to eclipse White's audience with their own channels. All in all, the Calvinism of the 80s and 90s is finally dying out.

>>20154573
>>20154599
My understanding was that Reformed Christians were reformed Protestants who fell away from God, but it sounds like the "Reformists" were a lot earlier and have to do with reforming the original Catholic Christianity.

Christianity is the reformation (or perfection) of Judaism. Man cannot reform Christianity. Christianity is already reformed and only God can make it better and reform it further.

What did Jesus mean when he said, "If thine eye be single, thy body will be full of light"? <span class="xae" data-xae="eyes">👀[/spoiler]

This has both an exoteric <img class="xae" data-xae width="32" height="32" src="https://s.4cdn.org/image/emotes/51ca59c2_BOOMER.png"> and an esoteric (mystical) <img class="xae" data-xae width="27" height="28" src="https://s.4cdn.org/image/emotes/6476e57d_weSmart.png"> meaning.

The esoteric meaning refers to the third eye. When you meditate and merge your vision, concentrating on the center of your forehead, you are penetrating the omnipresence of God. :flex:

>>20155497
YouTube channels? So the jewtube is promoting arminianism. Not surprising considering jews subverted evangelicalism with dispensationalism over 100yrs ago...

>>20156192
Reminder that the Scofield Reference Bible has probably done more damage to evangelicalism than anything in 200 years.

>>20153528
>will
whatdidhemeanbythis.jpg

>>20156227
>prophetic of the state of Israel decades before
>it's no good, discard it

>>20156192
>dispensationalism
Red pill me on it. When I try to read about it I cannot seem to get a real answer

>>20147977
My first was OP's pic. I used a 1599 Geneva Bible from ages 12-18, since I was an autist, then the Scofield Study Bible until I was 21. I bought the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture for $$$ when I was in (Protestant) seminary and I mostly use that as my reference now with my Augustine Bible (ESV-CE).

>>20156250
>calling some Confederate American dude a prophet
Okay, Joseph Smith.

Guys, can you recommend me a good volume about early christian history and worship?

>>20156342
>I bought the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture for $$$
Wow, dude, I'm actually pretty jelly. The ACC set is forever on my "want" list because of the price. Same for the Aquinas Institute's Latin-English polyglots.
>I mostly use that as my reference now with my Augustine Bible (ESV-CE).
I've never been a fan of many of the ESV's choices, but when Cambridge puts out their calfskin ESV-CE, I might get it as another reference.

>>20156356
Book of Acts and the epistles.

>>20156356
The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations by Michael W. Holmes

>>20149385
hell yeah

>>20156356
"The Early Christian Fathers: A Selection from the Writings of the Fathers from St. Clement of Rome to St. Athanasius" by Henry Bettenson is a decent place to dip your toes into patristics and for history Meier's translation of Eusebius' Church History (literally the first work of its kind, dating to the 4th Century) is hard to beat. Two other accessable works are Henry Chadwick's "The Early Church" and "Ancient Christian Worship: Early Church Practices in Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective" by McGowan, which are by a Catholic and Protestant respectively and bring a nice balance when read in tandem.

>>20156368
>The ACC set is forever on my "want" list because of the price.
I was a spoiled missionary kid and my dad had connections to a Christian bookstore in the states so I got it at a decent discount.

>I've never been a fan of many of the ESV's choices
Other than KJV it was the main Bible translation I grew up reading so I was very familiar and comfy with it already. I know the Catholic editors made some minor touchups (that ironically brought it closer to KJV) and included the Deuterocanonicals so it was a natural transition when I became Catholic, especially since so much was changing in my life as a result of that.

>>20156401
Based, the fantastic little green hardback edition?

I want to read the Bible I have no idea where to start or what a good quality one would be. I’m thinking King James Version

>>20156452
The KJB is God's perfectly preserved word in the English language. Obviously God knew English would become the most widely spoken language in the history of the planet, so in his providence he made sure his word was accurately translated into it.

>>20156452
The language is antiquated, dating to 1789, so if you already feel well-versed in the english language of that century, go for it. You might consider having a modern translation to compare with for clarity - the Modern English Version (MEV) is on Bible Gateway or you can buy a cheap copy online.

>>20156446
>Based, the fantastic little green hardback edition?
You know it.

>>20156452
Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, John, Epistles, Revelation, OT in order.
there's the M'Cheyne reading plan too, which i've heard people talk about well here.

>>20156446
>I know the Catholic editors made some minor touchups (that ironically brought it closer to KJV) and included the Deuterocanonicals so it was a natural transition when I became Catholic, especially since so much was changing in my life as a result of that.
Makes sense. Basically everyone I've heard of who uses the ESV-CE is a convert from Protestantism who was used to using the ESV anyway and didn't want too radical of a change to their personal Bible.
These videos I've seen just don't show the ESV as the most appealing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoPkw6pocH4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjzl-YjImrk
It feels a little stiff, neutered the language a bit too much, etc. But if you like it, and you read it, then that's what actually matters at the end of the day.

>>20156452
Also basically anything besides stuff like the message translation.
give the NIV a look, i get it when looking for verses online and it is nice. KJV will need a lot of comparison, old english and some words changed meaning.

>>20156576
Footnote for Psalm 22:16
>Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me,
like a lion
>most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text
Good thing we have the proper translation (and the DSS to really solidify truth)

>>20156585
>>20156576

Oops, didn't mean to reply there

>>20156468
>B and not """V"""
+ the rest, blessed.

>>20156446
>>20156401
Thanks bros!

<span class="xae" data-xae="pray">🙏[/spoiler]

>>20156561
is the apocrypha something i should consider when picking a bible as well?

>>20156860
Not really in a place to say, mine doesn't have it.
in my failable opinion, i think you should get one without it. surely there's a reason they're debated over being canonical or not, and i think you're more likely to get confused than anything.

>>20156860
Yes, it's wise to have a complete Bible and not an incomplete Bible.

>>20156911
Most books of the bible had debates over their validity, but you can say that only prots see those seven books as apocrypha.
I trust the historical acceptence of those books over the opinion of some 1500s people who couldn't fit the "apocrypha" into their newly discovered theology.

>>20157065
I've only had a look at Sirach, and it sounds good. it gets weird because people can slip in other (actually wrong) things along though. i think 'not now' would be a better answer; when you have proper Biblical knowledge you can judge if things are correct.

>>20156860
The apocrypha are not in the canon code hidden in Isaiah so they are not Holy Scripture.

>>20156860
Yes, you should read the books in the Bible.

The Book of J was most likely written by a woman. I am reading that instead of the Bible. The reason being is that I am trying to discover myself by reading texts closest to a pure meaning. I find that you often cannot find that in later texts, but that does not mean that I will not read those too eventually.

Why do Roman Catholics hate Pastor Jim?

>>20157728
"Pastor" Jim has no Apostolic succession.

>>20147977
God please listen to my prayers.

>>20157757
Says who?

The more I pray and read the scriptures, the clearer my own sins become and the more I regret most of my life. I tried an heroing a few years ago but chickened out and looking back I would have avoided some serious sins if I went through with it. Sometimes I honestly wish I hadn't been born.
I recognize this attitude is unhealthy and it's detrimental to my faith but I keep having nagging thoughts along these lines that I can't get rid of.

>>20157766
Be strong Anon, I will pray for you as well.

>>20157801
The beautiful thing is my friend, that you are completely forgiven by God, and it is yourself you must learn to forgive now.
We have all fallen short of our Fathers expectations, but there is no better time than now to learn to love yourself, even as wretched as you think you are.
Christ knew you would be worth redeeming, and for what it's worth, I believe in you too.

>>20156342
>I used a 1599 Geneva Bible from ages 12-18
Wew, that sounds interesting. It'd be like meeting someone today whose primary translation was the Great Bible or the Bishops' Bible.

>Here then, is the land thou art to invade and conquer. To make room for thee in this land, the Lord thy God means to dispossess a multitude of nations at thy onslaught, Hethite, Gergesite, Amorrhite, Chanaanite, Pherezite, Hevite and Jebusite; seven nations thou art no match for, in number or in strength, but the Lord thy God will give thee victory over them. Thy part is, to exterminate them, never parleying with them, never pitying them.

>>20154073
>Take evolution for example. It is simply a belief
No... it's obvious that we have evolved to our current state and complex beings on this planet have a similar genetic makeup. There are surely discrepancies in the scientific "truth" we have achieved, by all means, but you can verify these things very easily. They are splicing DNA and doing actual shit that bears results based on these discoveries. It's not just beliefs, there is definitely truth to this. On the other hand unless you decide to be a young earth creationist, the mental gymnastics around Biblical genesis immediately ramp up to something ludicrous. You can't really say it's all a metaphor. But honestly creationism and science aren't my biggest hangups when it comes to the supernatural. It's just that it's painfully obvious that life is what it is. It's very depressing and I wish it was not, but I think there really isn't anything other than the flesh. All signs point to the fact that there's no supervising entity. The Devil doesn't need to push anyone because these Devilish instincts are just what other animals act like. People are animals, they demonstrate this every day. You can manipulate, condition them like animals and this is happening every day. And soon enough they'll just give injections to people that will erase all suffering and emotions and human beings will be emptied out of all the questions about life that accompanied the rise and fall of civilizations.
There's nothing divine in mankind. I think my biggest hangup is this, there's nothing divine in people, not in Jews nor in anyone else. Not a little spark of it, everyone's just intelligent monkeys.

>>20158076
Anyway I don't want to get on this argument in the Bible thread, I'm sorry. I don't want to attack anything, I just have these hangups and no matter what I can't really beat them. As I said, I was raised rather anti-religious and I have these hard obstacles between me and any true belief, and by that I mean belief in Christ as son of God, the existence of the supernatural, and so on. As much as I like the morality and message, I simply think I've chosen death, whereas people who abandoned this obsolete thinking chose life, adaptability, and so on. It's culture vs. nature, nature wins.

what i like about the OT so far, not sure if it changes later on, is that when God speaks of reward and punishment to the Israelites what he offers and threatens is very comprehensible: if you're good: fertile crops, fertile women, lots of livestock, vast swathes of land... if you're bad, i'm going to kill you! and wipe out your people!

some Rashi kino
on Deuteronmy 7:1, "never showing them favor"
>One must literally not "show them favor". It is forbidden to say, "What a fine-looking man this gentile is!"
this goes doubly for those who simp for latinas
7:4, "He will turn your son away from Me"
>the child born to your son by a gentile women is not "your" child but hers.

>>20150254
Reformed reject those creeds though

How do I overcome doubt when reading lives of saints? St Benedict could repair a broken sieve by just praying or lift heavy boulders, and nowadays we get healings of people who could've been saved with medicine anyway.

Christianity is just.. like... God solving problems that he caused himself in the first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnwan2IvU0Q
Hidden Gem

>>20158350
hi margaret

>>20158357
Nah, Australian and I put inverted commas to enhance internet searches - I also search by new.

>>20158076
>it's obvious that we evolved here
It isn't. to mangle the quotes of the gentlemen i mentioned: "i can make a plum sweeter, but not make it the size of a grape, nor of an orange" aka evolution as a change does exist, but it has a limit, and cannot change something so much as to ancestor species being posited. Even Darwin pointed out that trouble. There's a proper explanation a few threads back, that another anon posted; about 10 replies long.

>evil is instinct
Why do people feel bad for doing it then?
John 3:3
>Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
John 3:6
>That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
We have to change too.
Galatians 5:24
>Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

>nothing divine in mankind
yes. all good comes from God. we're just wretched sinners.

You need to have faith anon. You say you see nothing, but have you actually looked for it?
did you think about my prayer question? You could ask for faith.

>>20158969
oop, John 3:6 reads
>That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
didn't copy it properly.

>>20158350
A true songbird.
Thanks for sharing Margaret.

just found this around.
brief skim doesn't look half bad, do let me know what you guys think
https://pastelink.net/2w1ne

>>20156860
Apocrypha is not in protestant Bibles because it was not viewed as divinely inspired.
When reading them it's easy to see why they got left out. It's either a LARP like Enoch or it's just documents from the inter testamental period

That said even some protestants find value in these, be it historical or even spiritual. My Bible does not have them but I have read parts of some of them since they are on the web. If all else fails you can go that route if you don't want a catholic or orthodox Bible

>>20153480
>Anyway, yeah study bibles are helpful but as with all things they have problems.
Guess an update on this and an example of an error, at least in regards to my beliefs and many Baptists. Was reading Romans. My Holman Bible has a Reformed Calvanist note to go with romans 8, saying the predestination verses mean God elected those he loved in advance. Thankfully God has had the Reformed Theology stuff on my mind recently so I noticed it.

This is of course just another example of conflictions that can arise when using a study Bible. The Bible is the gospel not the notes.
Also it again proves Reformed Theology is in the SBC

>>20159398
>When reading them it's easy to see why they got left out. It's either a LARP like Enoch or it's just documents from the inter testamental period
“Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions;
he reproaches us for sins against the law,
and accuses us of sins against our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a child of the Lord.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts;
the very sight of him is a burden to us,
because his manner of life is unlike that of others,
and his ways are strange.
We are considered by him as something base,
and he avoids our ways as unclean;
he calls the last end of the righteous happy,
and boasts that God is his father.
Let us see if his words are true,
and let us test what will happen at the end of his life;
for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him,
and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.
Let us test him with insult and torture,
so that we may find out how gentle he is,
and make trial of his forbearance.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death,
for, according to what he says, he will be protected.”

>>20159416
>he doesn't cite it

>>20156860
Apocrypha is a meme term coined by protestants to deter you from reading the whole Bible

>>20159447
>Apocrypha is a meme term coined by protestants to deter you from reading the whole Bible
Based retard.
The first to call those books 'apocrypha' was Jerome, lmao.

>>20157801
Having your sin be made so clear to yourself is an excellent foundation for authentic repentance. This puts you quite far ahead of most. You are like a perfectly ripe fruit for God.

>>20158076
>there's nothing divine in people, not in Jews nor in anyone else. Not a little spark of it, everyone's just intelligent monkeys
You have obviously never experienced insights that go far beyond anything an "intelligent monkey" could ever participate in. If you walk as a natural man then that is what you will be. If you walk in faith, you will witness and experience things which absolutely transcend even the most intelligent possible monkey and cannot be denied.

>>20158309
>leaning unto thine own understanding

>>20159551
>If you walk in faith
So I cannot have faith because I have been raised non-religious all my life, and even though I want to believe, I want to have faith, I just can't because the mental gymnastics to rationally believe in it are impossible. So people tell me "well it's God that gives you faith actually" and assuming that this is true, God must simply have decided that I shouldn't have faith. It was all written in the stars or something, then what's the point of banging my head against it forever? It's been two years.
>>20158969
>Why do people feel bad for doing it then?
If people are not exposed to some sort of social standard of morality, they don't feel bad about it. Nobody feels bad about having casual sex anymore. Nobody feels bad about overeating, getting drunk, swearing, even stealing. Feeling bad about it is all conditioning, there is nothing innate.
>You say you see nothing, but have you actually looked for it?
Yes I've put a lot of effort into it. I have asked for faith. All I can do is just leave this door open and see if I can come back in the future. I understand also that I can't go to church looking for fellowship, that's just wrong. I am supposed to find faith first and then fellowship, not the other way around. But faith is just something I seem to be incapable of organically.

>>20159781
>even though I want to believe, I want to have faith, I just can't because the mental gymnastics to rationally believe in it are impossible
It doesn't have to be rationally justifiable, certainly not at first. If you really want to have faith, start living like you already do, pray that God will help you to believe and to trust Him. This is the leap of faith, deciding to live out a relationship with God even if you can't make it make sense to your rational mind.

>>20159459
Who later acknowledged them as Scripture, just like the rest of the Christian Church.

>>20157766
>having the hubris to demand the Almighty change his plans for you
Just a reminder that your suffering is all part of the His will. You are worthless without Him. Submitting to his will is the only way you'll ever have worth.

>>20159781
>social standard
And where did said standard come from?
also, how are you so sure? Can you see their feelings? guess why someone deep into sin goes deeper. to hide something with even worse things.
It is innate, and you know who put it in us.

https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/4-32.htm

>All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

>Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"),sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

>Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

>Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God."

>When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

I'm reading the bible and I had no idea Christianity was basically ancient communism. Based.

>>20154073
>because we're sinful beings
Who created us like that?
>but He expects faith before anything
Don't question the "dude trust me" narrative
>Take evolution for example. It is simply a belief
lmao. If it were "simply a belief," we wouldn't have modern medicine or agriculture based around it being accurate.
>like the theory the changes went too fast to be saved in fossils
Not everything managed to be fossilized, given there are plenty of biomes where fossilization was near impossible. And a short timescale of existence means a smaller chance of being fossilized, which in itself requires extremely specific conditions.
>there's a proper refutation for all criticism
Reminder that the backbone of your beliefs is "Faith."
>ever wondered why?
Because prayer is a ritual where one organizes their thoughts and goals while imagining someone, that cares for them and wants them to succeed, listening to them. Doesn't matter if it's true or not, you'll get the calming feeling anyways.

>>20159906
Nah anon stop please, I don't want to spark this sort of thing ITT. I'm >>20159781 I think it's improper to open this discussion here. I don't want to tip the fedora I just feel very tired and burned out. It's pretty much all decided by whether or not you have faith and faith is abstract and you can't rationalize it, so discussion is pointless anyway. I'll take a break from the threads.

>>20158076
>It's very depressing and I wish it was not, but I think there really isn't anything other than the flesh.
It doesn't have to be depressing. And there is something emergent from the flesh, imagination. Simple things come together to create greater, more complex things. Our imaginations are the products of billions of years of life's fight against entropy, culminating in self-aware creatures that not only bend reality to our will, but create alternate realities to give our will greater control.

I bought this

>>20159849
I was pointing out that he first used the word to describe them. Anon said Protestants came up with it lul.

>>20158969
> "i can make a plum sweeter, but not make it the size of a grape, nor of an orange"
With modern genetic engineering you can.
>evolution as a change does exist, but it has a limit
true
>and cannot change something so much as to ancestor species being posited
false. I don't think you understand how drastic simple mutations can be, nor the vast timescales that went into the evolution of life.
>Why do people feel bad for doing it then?
Conflicting instincts. We've evolved to be social creatures and are internally discouraged from doing things that may lead to social isolation, but still have to contend with our own selfish instincts.
>That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
I'd argue the spirit is born of the flesh.
>yes. all good comes from God. we're just wretched sinners.
Did we not come from God, according to your beliefs? Why punish creatures for acting in the capacity you gave them?

>>20159916
Even falsehoods can be rationalized, anon. Some of the greatest monsters in history had faith that their ideas were justified. Belief is a malleable thing.

>>20159925
Why are neets so obsessed with orthodox Christianity?

>>20159977
They've got foot fetishes

>>20159983
this is Old Believer stuff, not Orthodox

>>20159956
>said mental gymnastics with no proof at all
>scientist can't replicate anything with extremely radical artificial selection either

>did we not come from God
yes, but we've fallen. original sin and all that.

Matthew 5:39
>But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Luke 6:29
>Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.

How are you supposed to stop evil then? Should we just let communists destroy everything? What kind of teaching is this where you do nothing to protect your people?

>>20159985
So this is what Dugin is into

>>20159985
>Old Believer
Their beliefs are older so they are better. True tradition.

>>20159985
So they're more traditional and accurate?

>>20159999
Personal insults should be forgiven, not crimes against God and the planet

>>20159999
Jesus also orders them to sell their cloaks and buy swords.
you're supposed to turn the other cheek, not your back.

>>20159993
Here's a species of plum the size of grapes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_maritima
>yes, but we've fallen. original sin and all that.
Sounds like a copypasta of the Prometheus myth.

>>20160020
>>20160022
Any verses where it's encouraged to fight them?

>>20160020
Well, it plainly says
>do not resist an evil person
Are you saying he meant "don't resist one evil person but resist many"? It's a awkward reading.

>>20160009
>>20160012
>>20160015
Why are you making insincere arguments? I have no horse in this race, but saying that the Orthodox do something and posting something that a weird sect that is in complete schism with Ortodoxy does, is just insincere. Don't be slimes. please, leave that to the agents of nihilism and entropy.

>>20160043
the verse makes the context clear that it's referring to personal assaults

>>20160047
He posts it in every thread, so it's probably some form of autism. It's also done with ill will, so he's probably not Christian.

>>20160047
>no true scotsman
Who are you to say their beliefs are less orthodox, anon? They've got the foot water
>leave that to the agents of nihilism and entropy
If there is one thing that is absolutely true, it's that the universe points in the direction of entropy. It's so ingrained in your psyche that it lets you instantly recognize whether or not footage is time-reversed. You can't fight it forever, anon. You can cope with hopes a divine being will capture your consciousness and archive it in his eternal paradise, but that won't stop the universe from eventually tearing apart everything you were, to be repurposed into other entities.

So when Miriam dies in Zin, was it because of natural causes or was it because she was stuck leprous by God? The book seems to imply that she was spared and only cut off for a week. nobully ;_;

this is a bible thread, and you're all here with ill intent, and no desire to convert or hear truth.
why?

>>20160076
bumping because haven't read the OT yet and this sounds like a good question

>>20160081
I want truth

>>20160075
>a divine being will capture your consciousness and archive it in his eternal paradise
We believe in bodily resurrection around here, thanks.

>>20160091
then listen to it.

>>20160099
I don't think that would always be a good thing

>>20160075
So if someone posts a video of gay TikTok priests and says "this is what Protestants do LOL" you think this is fair even if you belong to a conservative denomination?

>>20160105
Only because your idea of "God" is some kind of really big and strong bearded man who had an origin, has an end, is dependent, and who is unable to overcome natural laws. Maybe Mormonism is more your speed.

Are you going to church tomorrow?

>>20160108
They are literally church officials, regardless of their faggotry
>>20160114
My idea of God is essentially a tulpa that went mainstream.

>>20149333
https://www.churchlatin.com/

>>20160144
ok

>>20159398
>It's either a LARP like Enoch
Directly referenced by Christ, who called it scripture in the same sentence.

>>20160075
>>no true scotsman
Doesn't apply, because Old Believers are in schism with the Church. It's like pointing at an Irishman and calling it a Scotsman.

>>20159983
It's a holy relic. No one will ever think your stupid foot is holy. Seethe.

>>20160144
>false teachings and all that stuff
"b-but he's still a church official"
in his heretic mind maybe.

>>20160165
where does He quote it? asking in earnest

For me it's the ESV Study Bible.

>>20160176
>in his heretic mind maybe
Aren't they operating on Faith, anon? Why is his "dude trust me" interpretation more valid than your "dude trust me" interpretation?

>>20160133
I’m not I didn’t in a while, and I should call ahead before coming but I haven’t. I’m going to man up and take the kingdom of heaven with violence next week.

>>20160186
What is the Bible for 400 please
>ummm but his interpretation is accurate because he thinks so lol!!!
No

>>20160186
It seems very difficult to defend sodomy as an acceptable practice given the numerous scriptural passages calling it an abomination and a serious sin in both the OT and NT.

>>20160186
1 Corinthians 6
if you are here to just cause strife, please leave.

>>20160047
And yet no one takes a similar stance to yours for Protestantism whenever tik tok videos from some weird rando fag church get posted.

>>20160144
Oh, but those Orthodox foot water priests aren't church officials?

>>20160204
>And yet no one takes a similar stance to yours for Protestantism
I literally just did this in >>20160108 I would never tell someone from another Protestant denomination that retarded non-denominationals, methodists or whatever it is that make gay TikTok videos represent him somehow. It's just shitty and disingenuous.

>>20160204
I don't think most Catholics are idolaters
I don't think most Prots are fag enablers
I don't think most Orthodox are bizarre ritualists
I don't think most Baptists are illiterate

I do think people who spend their weekends arguing for something beneath them that they totally don't believe in haha lol on a thread specifically for the thing they don't believe in are lying about how terrified they are of death and secretly hoping to find Salvation through osmosis because they're envious of Salvation but are too proud to admit they have a Christ shaped hole in their heart

>>20160227
based

>>20160199
I bet you've eaten shellfish and worn mixed fabrics. Bible is pretty clear on those too.
>>20160194
You accept the Bible out of faith, not reason. To any non-christian, it's just a neat bit of literature. Paul is just an author, rather than some guy with the Creator whispering in his ear.

>>20160227
BTFO

>>20160207
My point is that faith is subjective to whatever someone chooses to believe in. When you base your belief around the concept of faith, you have no footing against others that would claim their own faith.

>>20160244
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

>>20160254
So how do you rationalize this story with your view of reality? God just decided to go back on his prior restrictions?

>>20160244
>shellfish and worn mixed fabrics
rules specifically for the people that were being freed from captivity in egypt in exchange for representing god to all the earth. they agreed to do everything god said for that.

>>20160265
>rules specifically for the people that were being freed from captivity in egypt in exchange for representing god to all the earth. they agreed to do everything god said for that.
Why? What does any of these rules have to do with escaping Egypt or spreading the divine word?

>>20160227
This poster is reasonable, he is not like us and he needs to leave the thread NOW!

>>20160185
I prefer the archaeology ESV.

>>20160252
Technically correct, but when you begin to espouse the "true version" of a pre-existing faith, you must contend with the main body of said faith to prove yours vs theirs.

If I were to allege this newly revealed version of Christianity that I were solely practicing were the true version, and everything about it was lifted off exactly as pre-existing doctrines, but I decided that Jesus isn't the savior (this sect exists) then I would need to prove my position against explicit Biblical verses and indeed, entire chapters that challenge that fundamentally.

I would not profess to be the new heir to Taoism and expect any intellectually sincere tolerance.

Thoughts on the debate in >>>/x/31450804?

>>20160276
I always thought 'mixed fabrics' was a way of saying fancy clothes, basically telling them to dress modestly.

>>20160276
god doesnt have to explain he was right there with them and took them through the red sea he has his reasons for whatever he says

>>20160321
>god doesnt have to explain
With that retarded logic, it's no wonder nobody cares to listen to him.
>>20160301
First the guy doesn't want them to wear anything, then nitpicks their aesthetics. Why do people worship such a being?

>>20160288
>but when you begin to espouse the "true version" of a pre-existing faith, you must contend with the main body of said faith to prove yours vs theirs
Essentially the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.
Regardless, they all subscribe to magical thinking, which is at odds with our more precise observations of reality. At least things, like electromagnetism or fluid dynamics, don't require faith or supernatural mumbo jumbo.

trannies to the left of me, jews to the right

>>20160366
when you were a toddler your parents had rules that you couldnt understand retard god knows things you cant even get started on with your little brain.

>>20160418
And (You), the chudcel, to complete the Cringe Trinity

>>20160451
As I grew up, I challenged those rules and was often convinced why they were put in place. Sometimes those rules turned out to be unnecessary and were removed or updated with changing circumstances.
Humanity is reaching adulthood and is moving away from God to forge our own paths forward. It's past time we start reconsidering the arbitrary rules put forward.
That being said, anyone claiming any of those rules came from God is full of shit. It was just men making those rules the entire time and any belief otherwise is pure delusion

>>20160502
Humanity is worse than it has ever been, you're a fool if you think anything is coming up in America except another civil war.
Europe is in similar straights.

>>20160502
>Humanity is reaching adulthood
Lol, lmao even

>thread is full of atheist fedoras again

>>20160502
>Humanity is reaching adulthood
HOLY FUCK!!!
GET A LOAD OF THIS RETARD!!!

>>20160502
>Humanity is reaching adulthood and is moving away from God to forge our own paths forward.
Have you ever looked outside?

>>20160549
Despite their behaviors I cannot help but pray for them.
I was such a wretch and for Christ to save me is nothing short of divine, so I hope they can come to know God too.

>>20160633
glad Christ found you, and that you accepted Him anon.

>>20160633
How did Christ save you?

>>20160502
>moving away from God to forge our own paths forward
>t. Nimrod

>>20160300
They’re all wrong

>>20160502

>numbers 26

>>20160526
>>20160528
>>20160572
>>20160588
It's a damn shame you lads will never truly grasp how far we've come.
>>20160549
I enjoy biblical mythology, but I'm not gonna base my life around it.
>>20160633
>I was such a wretch and for Christ to save me is nothing short of divine
You don't need to believe in the divinity of Christ in order to forgive yourself, anon. Regardless, it's still important to do so, so it's good you found a way to accomplish it.
>>20160751
>Legendary hunter and king
>Organizes early humanity so efficiently they can construct a big-ass tower to the heavens
>God has to use console commands in order to super-speed several millennia of language evolution in an instant in order to stop this absolute mad lad
I appreciate the compliment, anon

>>20160803
The only two left were the faithful scouts who trusted God's word.
gives me goosebumps.

>>20153371
Can't answer your question, but technically there is no NT Septuagint; the Septuagint is specifically a translation of the OT into Greek. The NT was in Greek from the beginning.

Judas was the most loyal disciple of Christ, without his betrayal our sins wouldn't be saved. In fact he made a bigger sacrifice than Jesus because he gave up his ability to go to heaven. Any idiot can sacrifice their life for their ideals, you have to be a true believer to give up the ability to call yourself a good person.

>>20160925
You may be interested in pic related.

>>20160925
>betraying the Son of God was a good thing
literally more heretical than everyone else in this thread.
God merely made use of an evil man to fulfill prophecy.
Matthew 26:24
>The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.

>>20160930
Can you give me an overview of what it says?

>>20147986
That book better be about Protestants, anon.

>>20148470
based Didache enjoyer, I'm reading pic related.

>>20161074
What are you reading? I can't see it

>>20161074
Nice gat, papist

>>20161029
The first part delves into the human side of Judas' betrayal, attempting to puzzle out a deeper reason for it than simple greed for money. This part is mostly conjecture based on what little information the Gospels record about Judas, but it's an interesting line of thought nonetheless.
Bulgakov sees that Judas was the only disciple from a city rather than from the countryside, and posits that he may have been more ideologically-minded, more anxious to see the Kingdom of God replace the Empire of Rome than the rest of the Twelve. In Jesus, Judas saw the Messiah finally come to overthrow the unjust rulers of the time, who would use his divine power to conquer - and yet, frustratingly, this same Jesus hides himself away, refuses to let the witnesses of His miracles speak of him, and, disturbingly, speaks of a coming day when He would die at the hands of sinners. To Judas, this is impossible to make sense of. How could Jesus prophecy His own death? Why was He waiting so long to establish the Kingdom on Earth? Judas, in Bulgakov's estimation, loved Jesus more possessively than the rest of the Twelve. Driven to the ends of his sanity by the contradiction in Jesus, Judas resolves to force Jesus into action, to betray Him in such a way that He would be forced to reveal Himself as the Son of God for all to see and from there to begin the conquest of the fallen world of man. Then, finally, the absurd talk of Jesus dying would end, and the Kingdom would finally come.
The second part is more theological in nature and is quite dense in comparison to the first, going into subjects like man being created supratemporally and the relationship between God and creation which allows free will to exist.
The whole thing is a pretty short read, all things considered. You should check it out, it's very interesting even if you don't agree with Bulgakov's reconstruction of Judas' personality or his more out-there theological ideas.

>>20161074
Were you ever in the military, anon?

>>20161123
it's an interesting theory.
well, that's basically how it is; for some reason or other, he did it.

you don't agree with the other anon on the betrayal having any merit, right?

>>20161123
>>20161143
on that also, it might have just been greed too. There's the account of Judas lamenting Christ being anointed because the oil could've been sold (and he could've stolen the money).
all we have is conjecture though. Not really sure that kind of man would've had those goals the book seems to theorize.

>>20161143
As in the betrayal being a 'good act? No.
The interesting question that the story of Judas raises is whether the actions of Judas, which were objectively wrong but were used as an instrument in enacting the Atonement, would still damn him, and if he was fully responsible for his actions. Regardless of whether you see him as a crude lover of money or a figure of revolutionary zeal attempting to force the divine to work for him, it's worth contemplating the story of Judas and examining it in light of the concept of free will which you hold, rather than hurriedly passing it over as a distasteful episode that coincidentally allowed Christ to rise from the dead.

>>20161074
It's fine to lay a gun or other random objects like a NIV on top of a NRSV but never do that to a Bible.

>>20161194
can't tell if ESL or KJVonlyist

>>20161174
As i see it, he was damned.
Not only because of the betrayal, but because he also couldn't bring himself to face God (and try to repent, for what that would've been worth) out of shame, instead killing himself.
God merely used an evil action to fulfill prophecy, and Judas did it of his own will. The sinner has no merit; were that the case you could make the same point for the unbelievers that crucified Christ.

>>20161204
It's always both.

>>20161174
>>20161211
For this argument I am viewing Judas in a sympathetic light, rather than the critical one (though I admit I do not know which to be accurate) but consider that even though Judas betrayed Christ, if he had fallen to his feet and repented of his sins, I expect Jesus would have forgiven him, assuming he did what he did on the assumption of expediting Heaven, and not according to a foul heart.
We can certainly condemn such foolishness now, but it may have been very different during the time when the actual Messiah walked around with actual miraculous power.
It's interesting to an extent, I could see a book of Judas in the Bible being a lamentation and eventual redemption.

Of course if this is supremely heretical or explicitly condemned I apologize I'm still learning and offering an opinion in good faith only.

>>20162032
That's how I see it as well. Betraying Christ was a very heavy sin, but committing suicide out of despair was what truly damned him, I think. Christ called Judas 'friend' even at the moment of His betrayal in the garden, and never once expressed anger at the event, only sorrow for Judas' fate. I think it's interesting that Peter also betrays Christ the same night by denying Him thrice, and that Christ foretold both events.
Another interesting idea that Bulgakov put forward was that Judas may have encountered Christ again during the Harrowing of Hell. There's obviously no way to know such a thing, but one wonders what such a meeting would look like.

>>20161108
you're not so bad yourself

>>20161142
yeah

While I'm surely not the first to ponder this, it is interesting to me that in the case of both God and Jesus it was a prideful, sinful man that transgressed each of them, and in both cases they only desired to give us mercy and peace, yet were met with treachery.

>I sinned
Why?
>Because a part of me wanted to
Why I want to?
>Because... I wanted to...
How do I break this cycle and achieve dominion over my mind

>>20162533
Porn?

>>20162533
>I sinned
According to who?
>Because a part of me wanted to
Maybe you should indulge, so long as you mind moderation

>>20162571
Lust generally and autoeroticism specifically, even without porn.
It is not better than sex, but less worse, for while masturbation destroys one life, fornication destroys two.
>>20162591
>According to who?
Jesus Christ.
>moderation
There is no such thing: yes or no, all else leads to the evil one.

>>20162627
Man I can relate...I don't drink, I don't smoke or swear too much and I keep myself clean in all the ways but got exposed to porn at a young age by "friends" and it's a bitter battle...
I'm trying to tell myself I deserve better and I have reduced how often but even once is too often for God, and me to be honest.
A thread on pol about self improvement mentioned the easypeasy method or something, gonna look into that later and install some blockers to keep the filth out as much as I can.

Stay strong brother, and if you're anything like me be thankful all sin is washed away, elsewise we'd be screwed.

>>20162591
Feel free to start your own "I am Satan AMA" over at /x/, faggot.

I wonder if this is even better than the nrsv?

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Language-Parallel-Testament-English/dp/B00H0AOBXA
>Not KJV
Bummer...
>>20162660
Cheers.
Easy Peasy can work, but you've got to keep it in rote memory.
I'm just ashamed knowing how long I've lasted before and now it's the opposite.
I tried to do no internet for Lent, but temptation got the better of me. Also, blockers don't work - there's enough 'educational material' on Wikipedia to last for years. The only thing that might work which just came to mind now is a complete internet White List, where only a few sites work aren't blocked, but you'd best forget the password or have someone you trust be the only one to know it.
For me, it's knowing I let down all the people who sincerely pray for my soul, and I say this as an optimist.

>>20162761
Nah. The NRSV itself sucks, but the NRSV footnotes are actually worth having on their own, if only for the DSS stuff.

>>20162918
Maybe this has even better footnotes.

>>20162533
>>20162627
>>20162660
Think how far falling into it drives you away from God. how subhuman giving into sin makes you.
Pray when urges appear.
I like a preacher's example: the flesh and the spirit are in a constant battle, the one you feed wins. stop seeing anything that might even arouse you, and don't beat yourself too much over falling. the important part is getting up, repenting, and keeping that feeling of how disgusted at it you were fresh in mind.

Anyone in the thread? I wanna chat

Made a new thread bros because we're past the bump limit at page 9 >>20163843

>>20159890
>All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
>
>>Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"),sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
>
>>Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
>
>>Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God."

In every case
where esoteric science offers all, it demands all in return. One must pay all.
It is impossible to reach the True by the path of lies or hypocritical games,
because in this case we seek to be, rather than to appear to be. It is at this
level of ideas that one must search for the underlying meaning of the fearful
story of Ananias and Saphira that St Luke told in the Acts of the Apostles.

>>20162627
>Jesus Christ
What passage did Jesus tell you not to choke your chicken? And what authority does a dead man have to tell someone to not jack off?

>>20162692
You're the one worshiping a tulpa, anon.

>>20164003
>>20164011
>le epic reddit atheist has arrived

>>20164015
>no refutation whatsoever
Shit bro, even le epic reddit atheist gets to feel like shooting fish in a barrel.
So tell me, what's your big-brained reasoning to not beat one's meat? God even gets to be an audience