Introduction / need help

[Bible Student]

Re: Introduction / need help

Dear,

please let me send you warm greetings from Germany!

I came to this forum to seek your advice on a delicate matter. However, first of all, I want to introduce myself: My name is Friedmann K., I am married to my dear wife Miriam, and we have two little children, Michael and Rebekka. I work as a teacher (Religion and German) at a public primary school.

As for my favourite Bible verses, I had a hard time to decide between two passages... so I decided to post both of them:

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. (1 Cor 4:4)

I consider this to be one of the - if not the - core insight that has to be the prerequisite for not living a life in sin: True Belief does not mean to hold true that which I do not know for sure, it means to hold true that which I know more surely than anything else.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:5-8)

This second passage links well to the first: Kenosis, being "empty" to receive the will of the Lord, just as Jesus Christ did, builds the fundament for a truly Christian attitude, an attitude of sacrifice and the constant readiness to bear one's cross.

So much for myself... please feel free to ask me further questions about me. I'll gladly answer them if I can. Now for the sad part of my post, and for the matter in which I seek your advice:

A few years ago, I decided to delve deeper into Bible studies, and to get my PhD in evangelical theology. Three months ago, I concluded my thesis and handed it in... only to get notified that it didn't meet the academic standards due to its insights being not in line with the mainstream teachings of our national church.

Now, you have to know that my thesis is an exegetic work. My driving goal was to prove that the Bible is indeed the Word of God (which most of the mainline churches in my country unfortunately deny) and thus infallible. In order to prove this, I collected every instance of the Old Testament mentioning direct speech in connection to the Lord ("Thus spoke the Lord..." etc.) and pointed out that the whole Bible would be entirely meaningless if one were to rebuke each of those passages.

At least in my humble opinion, this makes it very clear that you either accept that the Bible contains the direct Word of God - because it claims so for itself -, and given that God is infallible, so is the Bible; or you have to refuse not only the Bible's infallability, but the Bible as a whole - because without these claims and the corresponding passages, it is completely empty. However, my professor does not seem to share this opinion (not that he would have made any concrete argument against it), and I see myself unable to convince him.

When I researched on other approaches, I stumbled upon your website. I can relate to your core principles very well, and I take it that you and I hold the same views on many topics. To be perfectly honest, I do not share each and every view of your community (for example, I feel able to teach the Word to my students in German, even though Germany is probably not one of the chosen countries (see WW2 etc.)). Therefore, I hope that you can help me with my current problem, that we can have a good exchange on those topics on which we are in agreement, and fruitful discussions on those that we have different views on.

Best wishes,
Friedmann

We know the 1611 King James Bible is God-breathed. It is however not infallible. Not only does it state so in the 1611 King James Bible Preface (and did you never wonder about the marginal notes?) but the proof is all around us. Were it infallible, no one would get anything in it wrong.

No matter how many times I've read the Bible, I've never seen a passage where Jesus uses the word 'exegetic' nor hermeneutics for that matter. Why is it that modern theology students seem to need words like that which their future flock will never understand anyway? By the way, your professors were correct, you should not be interpreting the bible which is what exegesis means. You should accept the Words of God exactly as they have been written in God's favorite language, American.

[Zechariah Smyth]

Re: Introduction / need help

What's your favorite beer, friend?

Yours in Christ,

Z. Smyth
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Introduction / need help

In any case, I won't post such private information on an public forum in the internet... not even my own address, much less that of my professor. Even if I have faith in the honored members of this community, who could guarantee this information not getting abused by some sick cyber-predator browsing for his next victim?

That's certainly understandable, Herr Friedmann.

I've encountered more than one stalker as a result of having my personal information available! Usually homosexual men, wanting to "knock me up", whatever that is supposed to mean. Sounds unsavory.

Anyway, back to you.

Why not post your paper for us to review? Your English is quite good, so I'm sure you could provide an English translation. Maybe we could find an error in your logic or your research method.

The subject sounds very basic, so I'm really not sure how much of a "paper" one would get out of "the Bible is God's Word, so if you disregard part of it, you disregard it all". Honestly, it sounds like it should be written as a philosophical paper rather than a research paper.

I'd be very interested to see what form it took.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: Introduction / need help

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

QED. Why spend any longer on such a basic matter?

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Introduction / need help

I assure you, friend, the good work that James Hutchins does is no joke! It's my understanding that, in order to address this problem of people in Germany not being able to understand the Bible, Mr. Hutchins is personally bringing them a plane load of English language Bibles!

[Friedmann K.]

Re: Introduction / need help

Welcome aboard, Fledermaus K! Can you provide me with your professor's name and address so that I might rebuke him in person? I believe James Hutchins' private jet has an emergency shipment of Bibles it's taking to Dusseldorf, and I figure I could probably hitch a ride.

Dear,

Fledermaus K? Well... I assure you, I'm not the Batman.

I guess I have to take the rest of your post in jest as well? If not, please understand that "rebuking" my professor will probably not fix my problem - it might even be seen as harassment, and that's certainly not what I was going for: I want to convince him, and I want to get my academic degree for the work I put into my study.

In any case, I won't post such private information on an public forum in the internet... not even my own address, much less that of my professor. Even if I have faith in the honored members of this community, who could guarantee this information not getting abused by some sick cyber-predator browsing for his next victim?

However, if you're really coming to Germany, we should meet. (I'm still unsure whether this is a joke or not, and, by the way, I fail to see the benefit of an "emergency shipment of Bibles" to Germany, as the problem over here is not that people don't have a Bible, but that they don't read and comprehend it.) But then we should find a more private means of communication for an exchange of contact information.

Best regards,
Friedmann

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Introduction / need help

Welcome aboard, Fledermaus K! Can you provide me with your professor's name and address so that I might rebuke him in person? I believe James Hutchins' private jet has an emergency shipment of Bibles it's taking to Dusseldorf, and I figure I could probably hitch a ride.

[Friedmann K.]

Re: Introduction / need help

Well that's a relief!

What church do you attend? What did your father do during the war? Tell us about yourself and your relationship with Jesus, Herr Friedmann. That's what this "introduction" section is for.

If you'd like to find out more about Landover Baptist Church, please read THIS thread created especially for new posters.

If you have a question, use the "search" function before posting it. Most likely it is being discussed somewhere on this Godly forum. Please don't waste God's precious bandwidth.

You will keep a respectful tongue in your head whenever addressing your betters, which includes all True Christians™. Failure to do so, or any attempt at inciting debate or mockery of God's Divine Plan, can and will result in the suspension of your posting privileges.

Your rights on this forum are listed HERE. If you feel that any of these rights have been violated, please don't hesitate to contact a Pastor at once.

Dear Pastor,

thank you very much for the warm welcome! To answer your initial questions:

I still attend the church of my father; it is called Adventgemeinde (advent's community). However, as I wrote in my first post, at the moment I am a little dissatisfied with the weakness of their belief.

My father was born in 1948, after the war was over.

Everything I hold dear, I do because of my love for Jesus Christ: I love my wife because she is a good Christian. I do my job as a teacher because I believe that every child needs to feel the love of Jesus Christ. In short, my whole world would be an empty void, had Jesus Christ not decided to humble himself.

Best regards,
Friedmann

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Introduction / need help

Well that's a relief!

What church do you attend? What did your father do during the war? Tell us about yourself and your relationship with Jesus, Herr Friedmann. That's what this "introduction" section is for.

If you'd like to find out more about Landover Baptist Church, please read THIS thread created especially for new posters.

If you have a question, use the "search" function before posting it. Most likely it is being discussed somewhere on this Godly forum. Please don't waste God's precious bandwidth.

You will keep a respectful tongue in your head whenever addressing your betters, which includes all True Christians™. Failure to do so, or any attempt at inciting debate or mockery of God's Divine Plan, can and will result in the suspension of your posting privileges.

Your rights on this forum are listed HERE. If you feel that any of these rights have been violated, please don't hesitate to contact a Pastor at once.

[Friedmann K.]

Re: Introduction / need help

tl;dr


Are you a joo, Mr. Finkelstein?

Dear,

no, I am a Christian. My mother is a protestant, and my father is a reformist pastor.

Best regards,
Friedmann

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Introduction / need help

tl;dr


Are you a joo, Mr. Finkelstein?

[Friedmann K.]

Dear,

please let me send you warm greetings from Germany!

I came to this forum to seek your advice on a delicate matter. However, first of all, I want to introduce myself: My name is Friedmann K., I am married to my dear wife Miriam, and we have two little children, Michael and Rebekka. I work as a teacher (Religion and German) at a public primary school.

As for my favourite Bible verses, I had a hard time to decide between two passages... so I decided to post both of them:

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. (1 Cor 4:4)

I consider this to be one of the - if not the - core insight that has to be the prerequisite for not living a life in sin: True Belief does not mean to hold true that which I do not know for sure, it means to hold true that which I know more surely than anything else.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:5-8)

This second passage links well to the first: Kenosis, being "empty" to receive the will of the Lord, just as Jesus Christ did, builds the fundament for a truly Christian attitude, an attitude of sacrifice and the constant readiness to bear one's cross.

So much for myself... please feel free to ask me further questions about me. I'll gladly answer them if I can. Now for the sad part of my post, and for the matter in which I seek your advice:

A few years ago, I decided to delve deeper into Bible studies, and to get my PhD in evangelical theology. Three months ago, I concluded my thesis and handed it in... only to get notified that it didn't meet the academic standards due to its insights being not in line with the mainstream teachings of our national church.

Now, you have to know that my thesis is an exegetic work. My driving goal was to prove that the Bible is indeed the Word of God (which most of the mainline churches in my country unfortunately deny) and thus infallible. In order to prove this, I collected every instance of the Old Testament mentioning direct speech in connection to the Lord ("Thus spoke the Lord..." etc.) and pointed out that the whole Bible would be entirely meaningless if one were to rebuke each of those passages.

At least in my humble opinion, this makes it very clear that you either accept that the Bible contains the direct Word of God - because it claims so for itself -, and given that God is infallible, so is the Bible; or you have to refuse not only the Bible's infallability, but the Bible as a whole - because without these claims and the corresponding passages, it is completely empty. However, my professor does not seem to share this opinion (not that he would have made any concrete argument against it), and I see myself unable to convince him.

When I researched on other approaches, I stumbled upon your website. I can relate to your core principles very well, and I take it that you and I hold the same views on many topics. To be perfectly honest, I do not share each and every view of your community (for example, I feel able to teach the Word to my students in German, even though Germany is probably not one of the chosen countries (see WW2 etc.)). Therefore, I hope that you can help me with my current problem, that we can have a good exchange on those topics on which we are in agreement, and fruitful discussions on those that we have different views on.

Best wishes,
Friedmann