Thread by @chango_martinez

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is a great starting place for examining the evidence we have about the cultures that existed when both the OT and NT were actually written. We are so far removed in time, we tend to think that we know how to read the Bible(as some perfect

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer ...incorruptible, divine revelation to prove God) but that's not how the Bible should be viewed. The Bible is a library composed of stories written about God from the perspectives of many different people who struggled with seeking truth and wisdom. The words are not always...

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer ...perfect and the styles of writing are insanely variable and all done with different intent, but that doesn't mean the people weren't real. The next step after reading the stories and seeing that they are from the perspective of imperfect men seeking truth who over time became

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer ... included in the canons honored by traditions popping up throughout time. They became honored not for their ability to prove God, but for their stories ability to reveal a truth or paradox or mystery or prior-to-ununderstood concept about what God is(the Creator, the one who.

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer .. is outside time and space, the one who is called I am who am). So each story is about a man's working through the truths of this world(truths we recognize) and happening either unknowingly or revelatorily to reveal a greater truth about God..

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer So the very helpful and interesting and different thing about these stories. The thing that separates them so far from the stories of other polytheistic religions of the surrounding cultures of the day, is the great relatability and truth found in them as humans.. when you try to

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer ..understand how it could be possible that the God described in OT is that different in all the right ways(more merciful,more present, more intervening), well it's hard. Because it doesn't really make sense, like your not understanding why taking a knee could outwardly express

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer .. your inward humility. In the same way we don't understand why the Creator God would have cared about the Jews. But then we get to the NT, and the actual stories that have provable historicity. And we get an even more relatable story that's not about a human interacting with Go

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer ..d, but about a God who would become Human, a God who would humble himself to intervene in the world to truly make a difference in our lives.. what that difference is varies from person to person, but there is no doubt that the 1 historical Jesus made an impact on this world.

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer Then you learn, that Jesus was himself a Jew, and was himself studied on all the stories that make up the OT, and that he believed in them and taught and spoke them, but in ways that were even more revelatory than anyone had spoken before. And you begin to piece together a puzzle

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer .. that you didnt even realize ever needed pieced together, because the churches have always said that the bible is perfect and clear and if you don't believe their way then hit the highway to hell. But you see now, that the only way that all of the pieces could fit so clearly

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer .. as you begin to see some of the historical truths, is if the stories weren't written by mere men, but were written by men with a faith in a holy spirit that empowered them and now empowers us to see deeper than surface level "good wisdom" and understand truer concepts like..

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer "God is love". "Love is service". "God is too big for our small minds"

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer @threadreaderapp unroll please

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer Ooh and my favorite concept, the Trinity!

Which teaches that God(Creator), Son(Jesus/CreationBearer), and Holy Spirit(revealing and flowing sevenfold Spirit of God) are the 3 persons who are the Godhead.

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer Sevenfold spirit? Wait what, yup

Gods spirit is a person made up of seven spirits that are not persons but concepts that guide a perfect life, the seven eyes that the lamb of sacrifice has in the Book of Revelation.

@davidscottjaffe @ZakaGamer Spirit of YHWH(Hebrew for I am who am)
Spirit of Wisdom
Spirit of Understanding
Spirit of Counsel
Spirit of Might
Spirit of the knowledge of YHWH
Spirit of Reverential Fear of YHWH, which leads to unforced obedience