[Y]our writings about this issue [Christianity] have an academic texture. Judging from your analysis, you have read the Word of God academically, hoping that human “reasoning” has the power to get the Truth from the Word. Of course it hasn’t.
The reader-of-the-Word-as-a-newspaper — proclaiming, decreeing and exalting himself a scientific, empirical, logical and reasoning genius — has performed the unscientific, unempirical, illogical and unreasoning trick of precluding himself from seeing what he says he doesn’t see and what he says he wants not to see:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202:14;&version=9;
No Science, nor empiricism, nor human reasoning, nor human logic, nor the wishes of humans can interpret the Word of God.
God’s Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom are not subject to what humans can pipe-dream up in an academic reading:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201:20-21;&version=9;
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Jn%202:27;&version=9;
Only the Holy Spirit interprets Scripture:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:16-17;&version=9;
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2028:10&version=9;
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2032:8&version=9;
Therefore, the Holy Spirit testifies of those who are born again:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%201:6;&version=9;
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010:15;&version=9;
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:12;&version=9;
The academic approach of private interpretation has never worked on What requires Holy Spirit interpretation. The academic tries to apply human understanding and standards. He tries to discern the Word of God using human reasoning which is imperfect, inadequate and ineffectual.
Unless you know the Word of Truth through the Holy Spirit, everything is trial and error, with extreme emphasis on error.
The academic reader of the Word is error-filled cuz he is stuck in himself with the academic standard, and he thinks that this standard will solve the Mysteries of God, give him the warm feeling of “understanding.” It doesn’t, and that’s the way the Devil likes it.
There’s more to God’s Word than words on a page. It takes more than merely passing your eyes across pages in academic exercise, a spiritual dyslexic, reading and not understanding:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204:2;&version=9;
Having been warmed by the pride of his own strength, the academic reader tries to engage us in conversation about his “findings.”
Eve, in the Garden, tempted by Satan, privately interpreted the Word of God and acted on HER interperpretation, as suggested by Satan in their conversation. Lookit what happened to her.
Jesus, though, gave us the Example of how not to engage in that kind of “filthy conversation” Eve had and the scoffer wants:
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204:1-11;&version=9;
Thus, He did not converse with the Devil; rather, He meditated the Word to Himself, putting Himself in remembrance of God’s protection…
POINT OF LIGHT: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%202:7;&version=9;
…guarding the gate of His Mind against inroads of Satan’s suggestions. Those who are truly born again are familiar with this working Method.
misc. course stuff 
With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we may see that the Bible is perfectly clear in all respects, with no need of interpretation–and therefore without disputed interpretations–no difficult or disputed translations, and no contradictions. All those who truly are possessed by the Holy Spirit can see that this is so.
Do I understand you correctly?
==With the aid of the Holy Spirit…==
I’m sure the Word doesn’t say, “with the ‘help’ of” the Holy Spirit. After all, 2 Corinthians 6 says that those who are born again are workers together with Him.
==…we may see that the Bible is perfectly clear in all respects, with no need of interpretation…==
There IS need of interpretation, just not private interpretation which is of unrighteousness.
==…–and therefore without disputed interpretations–no difficult or disputed translations, and no contradictions.==
Ultimately and ideally, there would be no dispute among those who know and understand/comprehend. All should be on the same page though, maybe, on different points along the same Way in the wilderness. The question is whether those hiking this wilderness are using THE GPS — God Positioning System — or a phoney, cheap, worthless knock-off model, the kind the Devil gave to Eve.
==All those who truly are possessed by the Holy Spirit can see that this is so.
Do I understand you correctly?==
I guess. [I can see am attempted “gotcha” coming.]
“There IS need of interpretation, just not private interpretation which is of unrighteousness… The question is whether those hiking this wilderness are using THE GPS — God Positioning System — or a phoney, cheap, worthless knock-off model, the kind the Devil gave to Eve.”
Okay, but then the key question becomes: How to tell the difference between private/un-righteous interpretation vs. “correct” interpretation?
An example. You can have two groups of Bible-believing Christians, one defending slavery, the other arguing for abolition of slavery.
They both swear up and down that the Holy Spirit inspires their interpretation of Scripture. (Of course, this is precisely what happened on that issue 150 years ago.)
If you insist that we cannot use reason or evidence, or other “academic” tools, then how do we judge these competing views?
If you answer, “Divine guidance” or “the Holy Spirit”, I am afraid that does not help, because both sides claim their views come straight from the Holy Spirit.
We can’t have a Divine solution to the problem of Scriptural interpretation, because the problem itself is that we disagree on what God is telling us about how to interpret Scripture.
==…the key question becomes: How to tell the difference between private/un-righteous interpretation vs. “correct” interpretation?==
That’s why He had the Word written. Everybody can check.
Many, f’rinstance, go right to Matthew 7:1 for their ammo: “Judge not!” they say.
And, yet, they don’t bother to quote the following verses that explain that He was talking about the unrighteous, not the Righteous whom He told to judge Righteously — that is, according to the Word of God. In other word, Scripture upon Scripture involves Holy Spirit interpretation.
==You can have two groups of Bible-believing Christians, one defending slavery, the other arguing for abolition of slavery. They both swear up and down that the Holy Spirit inspires their interpretation of Scripture.==
Then it will be backed by a Scripture upon Scripture check, along with concordance and investigation of the language in order to make sure we have a correct understanding of the words.
==If you insist that we cannot use reason or evidence, or other “academic” tools, then how do we judge these competing views? ==
By going to the Word of God to cross check. Human reasoning is inadequate and, in fact, can put words into God’s mouth.
==We can’t have a Divine solution to the problem of Scriptural interpretation, because the problem itself is that we disagree on what God is telling us about how to interpret Scripture.==
That disagreement is based, in too many cases, on private interpretation for whatever agenda reasons. I don’t have an agenda, except God’s. You, on the other hand, argue in favor of men’s agendas, not God’s, that they can “figure out,” by hook, or crook, of the imagination, what God wants.
I s’pose we’ll just have to wait until Judgment Day to see who’s correct.
==How to tell the difference between private/un-righteous interpretation vs. “correct” interpretation?==
God told Adam and Eve, “Don’t eat of THAT Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil!” That’s the Word of God.
Then, having been accosted by the Devil who suggested to Eve that she CAN eat of THAT damned Tree, Eve considered, in her own might/imagination, that she COULD eat from THAT Tree, and, so, she ate. She acted not on God’s Word, but her own. All she had to do is REMEMBER [Jonah 2:7], go back to the Word [Matthew 4:1-11]. James 4 tells us to submit to God, THEN, resist the Devil. Even didn’t submit to God. So, she couldn’t, of her own might, resist the Devil. Thus, the impact of imperfect human “reason” to figure it all out.
Today, we have more than just one imperative from God, and all we gotta do is go back to it and check verse against verse to find out whether a person who quotes one verse is more correct than one who backs up his quote of one verse with a line of scriptural though based on Scripture upon Scripture.
==We can’t have a Divine solution to the problem of Scriptural interpretation…==
Not what God says. It’s what men say. I’ll go with God, thanks, anyway. He knows a lot more than men, and has demonstrated it.
==How to tell the difference between private/un-righteous interpretation vs. “correct” interpretation?
…If you insist that we cannot use reason or evidence, or other “academic” tools, then how do we judge these competing views?
…If you answer, “Divine guidance” or “the Holy Spirit”, I am afraid that does not help, because both sides claim their views come straight from the Holy Spirit.
…We can’t have a Divine solution to the problem of Scriptural interpretation, because the problem itself is that we disagree on what God is telling us about how to interpret Scripture.==
Translation: “Hath God said…?”
==…If you insist that we cannot use reason or evidence, or other “academic” tools, then how do we judge these competing views?==
(Mat 11:3) And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
So, is Jesus the One, or do we look for another in our own minds? You suggest that we hunt another down in our own minds, and THAT’s what the Devil persuaded Eve to do.
Y’see, that’s the trouble you get into when you lock God outta the equation and try to use the human mind to figure out what is of God.
Mr. I,
Your claims of Divine guidance in interpreting Scripture are hardly unusual.
In fact, you can’t swing a longish stick without hitting some crackpot who says he knows that God supports his views.
From those who defended slavery as Biblical, to Warren Jeffs (the guy who wants multiple pre-pubescent wives) to those who think Revelations tells them that Obama is the anti-Christ. (Also, let’s not forget the guy on Broadway near me who hears His voice.) All of you “know the Word of Truth through the Holy Spirit.” All of you have “no agenda, except God’s.”
There are also those in the NT who are convinced they are speaking for God, know God’s ways and God’s will, and know with certainty what is good and what is not. They are the scribes and the Pharisees, and Jesus shows their false certainties about God’s Will to be foolish, misleading and arrogant.
==Your claims of Divine guidance in interpreting Scripture are hardly unusual. ==
I know:
(2Ti 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…
==In fact, you can’t swing a longish stick without hitting some crackpot who says he knows that God supports his views.==
That doesn’t defeat the fact that all Scripture is given by Inspiratin of God — that is, by the Holy Spirit.
==From those who defended slavery as Biblical, to Warren Jeffs (the guy who wants multiple pre-pubescent wives) to those who think Revelations tells them that Obama is the anti-Christ.==
Those are faulty men. If a particular model car is used in a heinous crime, that won’t stop you from buying that model car, will it?
== (Also, let’s not forget the guy on Broadway near me who hears His voice.)==
(Joh 10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
(Joh 18:37) Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
(Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
== All of you “know the Word of Truth through the Holy Spirit.”==
Not all, fiven that Jesus said that only a few will find the gate.
== All of you have “no agenda, except God’s.” ==
All of us who are born again want to please God:
(Rom 8:8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(1Th 4:1) Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
==There are also those in the NT who are convinced they are speaking for God…==
They and we speak for God, as called to do. We don’t put words in God’s mouth, however. He knows more than we.
==…know God’s ways and God’s will…==
(Isa 41:26) Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
(Amo 4:13) For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
He gave us His Word so that we would know.
==…and know with certainty what is good and what is not.==
He told us in His Word. I believe Him.
==… They are the scribes and the Pharisees..==
If you knew the Word, you’d know that’s not true.
==…and Jesus shows their false certainties about God’s Will…==
Except that He came to show us that we CAN know His Will.
==… to be foolish, misleading and arrogant.==
Except that Jesus brought the Message so that we might know. Those who are arrogant refuse that Message and choose to rely on the Law to save them. We rely on His Grace.
By the way, the Devil is the one who tells us that we can’t know. I don’t listen to him, either.
==…you can’t swing a longish stick without hitting some crackpot who says he knows that God supports his views.==
In other words, in matters pertaining to God and His Word, you are more influenced by what men say than what God says. We get it now.
However, with the Inspiration of God — the Holy Spirit — it’s easy to check out what somebody says about the Word, to see whether what he says IS correctly the Word. The scoffer can’t do that. the mysteries of God are withheld from him for his disobedience.
On the other hand, if you want to submit another long comment, I’ll post it separately again. This thread is getting a ton of hits.
Is this about resolving the issue, or is it about bragging about “hits”?