How can one understand the bible better?

Understanding the Bible

In this article, I would like to help you see the Bible from a fresh perspective. Let's try to look at the Bible as though you have never seen it before.

Imagine that we are good friends. One day we are talking:

Me: Wow, you will not believe this new book I've been reading!

You: What's it about?

Me: It is a manual for living a better life. It is also a guide to creating a better society for ourselves and our children. It has changed my life!

You: That sounds like an important book. Who wrote it?

Me: The author is supposed to be the smartest person in the universe.

You: That's amazing -- if the author is the smartest person in the universe, the book must be absolutely brilliant. I can't wait to see it. Do you have a copy with you?

Me: Absolutely! I carry it with me everywhere I go! Here, have a look for yourself...

You open the book to a random page, and you find this:

Any of the people of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who give any of their offspring to Molech shall be put to death; the people of the land shall stone them to death. I myself will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people, because they have given of their offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name. And if the people of the land should ever close their eyes to them, when they give of their offspring to Molech, and do not put them to death, I myself will set my face against them and against their family, and will cut them off from among their people, them and all who follow them in prostituting themselves to Molech.

If any turn to mediums and wizards, prostituting themselves to them, I will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes, and observe them; I am the Lord; I sanctify you. All who curse father or mother shall be put to death; having cursed father or mother, their blood is upon them.

If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. The man who lies with his father閳ユ獨 wife has uncovered his father閳ユ獨 nakedness; both of them shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. [Leviticus, chapter 20]

You are not quite sure what to say. You look at me for a moment.

You: I thought you said that this is written by the most intelligent person in the universe. If we are going to follow what this author says, we have to kill half the people in America. We are supposed to kill everyone who has cursed his father or mother, everyone who has committed adultery, and every homosexual.

Me: Well, that's in the old testament, you see. The book is really two books, and the "old" part of the book doesn't really apply.

You: Are you saying that the smartest person in the universe once wanted us to kill every adulterer and homosexual, but then changed his mind? That somehow makes it better? If the "old part" no longer applies, then why did you hand it to me when I asked to see the book?

Me: Well, parts of it do apply.

You: Didn't you just tell me that it doesn't apply?

You open the book to another random page and you find this:

When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master閳ユ獨 and he shall go out alone. But if the slave declares, 閳ユキ love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person閳? then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed; he shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt unfairly with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife. And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out without debt, without payment of money.

Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death. If it was not premeditated, but came about by an act of God, then I will appoint for you a place to which the killer may flee. But if someone wilfully attacks and kills another by treachery, you shall take the killer from my altar for execution.

Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death.

Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death. Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.

When individuals quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or fist so that the injured party, though not dead, is confined to bed, but recovers and walks around outside with the help of a staff, then the assailant shall be free of liability, except to pay for the loss of time, and to arrange for full recovery.

When a slave-owner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished. But if the slave survives for a day or two, there is no punishment; for the slave is the owner閳ユ獨 property. [Exodus, chapter 21]

Again, you are dumfounded. Here the author of the book is advocating slavery, the branding of slaves, and the wholesale beating of slaves. You are not quite sure what to say. You look at me for a moment.

You: You have to be kidding me. Here the "smartest person in the universe" is telling us that slavery is OK and that we are free to beat our slaves.

You open the book to another random page and you find this:

I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument; also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. [1 Timothy, chapter 2]

You are nearly speechless. But you manage to find your voice.

You: Is this some kind of joke? "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man." That is totally sexist! In America, there are millions of female teachers and we have women throughout our corporate and govenment hierarchies. No intelligent person believes that women should be silenced.

As you page through the book further you find that it is totally sexist from beginning to end.

You keep opening the book to random pages, and nearly everything you find is utter nonsense. Either it is meaningless, completely irrelevant, disgusting or downright wrong.

If you are a scientist it is even worse, and it starts with the very first line:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...

That's not true. In the beginning a natural event created the universe as we know it, and the earth did not form until billions of years later. The creation story in Genesis is completely wrong. Simply read Genesis and you can see it. For example, the Bible says that light and darkness are created after the water but before the sun. Everyone knows that the sun came first, then the planet and its rotation (which is what causes light and darkness to occur on a daily basis) and then the water, and this all happened over million of years. There are many other problems with the Bible:

Man did not come from a handful of dust through some mythological being. Man evolved from other species like every other living thing has for hundreds of millions of years.

The Bible talks about a world-wide flood that covered earth in 5.5 miles of water and killed everything, yet we know it never happened. That is clear from the archeolgical record.

There was no tower of Babble.

The list goes on and on. The Bible is nonsense in a thousand different scientific ways.

Ask yourself this simple question: Why, when you read the Bible, are you not left in awe? Why doesn't a book written by an omniscient being leave you with a sense of wonder and amazement? If you are reading a book written by the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving creator of the universe, wouldn't you expect to be stunned by the brilliance, the clarity and the wisdom of the author? Would you not expect each new page to intoxicate you with its incredible prose and its spectacular insight? Wouldn't you expect the author to tell us things that scientists have not been able to discover yet?

Yet, when we open the Bible and actually read it, we find it is nothing like that at all. Instead of leaving us in awe, it leaves us dumbfounded by all of the nonsense and backwardness that it contains. If you would look at the Bible fresh, and read what it actually says, you find that the Bible is ridiculous. The examples shown above barely scratch the surface of the Bible's numerous problems. If we are honest with ourselves, it is obvious that an "all-knowing" God had absolutely nothing to do with this book.

The Bible is a book written thousands of years ago by primitive men. A book that advocates senseless murder, slavery and the oppression of women has no place in our society today. It is time for us to recognize this simple fact.

How can one understand the bible better?

I understand what you mean.

When I being to read a book, I keep an open mind to find the things I like or things that make sense. I usually end up reading the whole book if I like what I read or that there is something difficult but interesting to figure out.

Perhaps you might have better luck at it, that's all the "pro-bible" things I could say.

How can one understand the bible better?

Thanks. Now check this out...

Didn't you read the subtext of the bible on Adam %26amp; Eve?

"God" didn't separate them on remote islands but exiled them together instead...

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How can one understand the bible better?

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How can one understand the bible better?

What the hell is all this?

How can one understand the bible better?

I'm glad you realized that God didn't write the Bible. Now you need to realize what you are put on this earth for. You're name is either in the book of life or it isn't since before the foundations of the world.

Read, in your Bible, Ephesians 4:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

If you were chosen of him, it was long before the earth was even placed in the starry heavens. If not it was also long before the stars were placed in the heavens.

How can one understand the bible better?

You demonstrate the truth of the proverb that says that there is little hope for people who are wise in their own eyes. Right off you are mistaken when you say about the Bible "It is a manual for living a better life. It is also a guide to creating a better society for ourselves and our children. It has changed my life!"

The Bible is about rebellious sinners who decided to live their lives according to their own "wisdom" and the patient love of God who would redeem them from their lost state so that they might enjoy eternal life with Him once again.

While the Bible was written long ago by men who lived in primitive conditions the human race hasn't changed one bit. There are still callous murderers and adulterers and perverts and liars and thieves and greedy rulers looking to oppress them all. Just because we have cell phones and computers and drive cars doesn't make us any better than the people who went before us.

I hope that one day God will reveal Himself to you and take away the deceptive veil of post modernistic philosophy that somehow thinks that mankind can save themselves if they just get sophisticated enough and develop technology that will supply all of our needs. It hasn't happened in 6 thousand years and a daily look at the world news will prove that it isn't happening today either.

How can one understand the bible better?

When you're ready to know the truth, the truth will be there, in the bible, waiting for you. I don't mean to offend, but that's just the way it is.

http://www.christianbook.com

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http://www.joelosteen.com - I've just begun listening to Joel..

I certainly don't have all the answers. Especially not the answers that would have someone turn from their ways, or their so called truths, to find the truth of our Lord. I've strayed, I've backslid, I went with open eyes down the wrong path.. but then something happened, and I finally returned to God. Each time was more and more difficult.. each time I was more ashamed..

I found this bible to rally help me:

iworship daily devotional bible - integrity - nlt

I see that there are more daily devotionals out there, with notes and study guides, by people that have walked with our Lord..

May your journey take you to the truth.. and may you have the courage to accept it.

How can one understand the bible better?

I HEAR YOU ON THIS. PERHAPS HOME BIBLE STUDY WILL ASSIST TO PUT INTO BETTER PERSPECTIVE. IT DID FOR ME. READ ON:

Is the Bible relevant today? For the answer to be yes, surely this age-old book would have to offer its readers guidance on topics of current interest and relevance. Does the Bible provide beneficial counsel on subjects that are of real importance in today's world?

Let us take a look at two current issues. In doing so, we will examine what the Bible says about these matters.

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

In view of the conditions in the world today, one of the most commonly asked questions is: Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? This question is justified, since more and more people are being affected by violent crime, corruption, genocide, personal tragedy, and so forth.

For example, in June 1998 an express train crashed into a bridge in northern Germany, killing more than a hundred passengers. Even experienced medics and firemen who attended to the injured and the dead were upset by the carnage. A bishop of the Evangelical Church asked: "Dear God, Why did this have to happen?" The bishop himself gave no answer.

Experience shows that when innocent people suffer evil without getting an explanation about the cause, they sometimes become embittered. Here is where the Bible can help, for it explains why innocent people are subjected to wickedness and suffering.

Do you know why God allows the innocent to suffer?

When Jehovah God created the earth and everything on it, he did not intend that humankind be troubled by wickedness and suffering. How can we be sure? Because upon completing his creation, "God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) Ask yourself, 'If I were to observe something wicked, would I pronounce it "very good"?' Of course not! In the same way, when God pronounced everything "very good," there was no trace of wickedness on earth. So when and how did wickedness start?

Shortly after the creation of our first parents, Adam and Eve, a powerful spirit creature approached the woman and challenged Jehovah's truthfulness and the rightfulness of his sovereignty. (Genesis 3:1-5) This creature, Satan the Devil, later alleged that humans would not stay loyal to God under adversity. (Job 2:1-5) How did Jehovah react to this situation? He allowed for the passing of time so that it would become evident that humans cannot successfully direct their steps independent of him. (Jeremiah 10:23) When creatures act contrary to God's laws and principles, the result is sin, which produces injurious conditions. (Ecclesiastes 8:9; 1 John 3:4) Despite these adverse circumstances, however, Jehovah knew that some humans would maintain integrity to him.

Since that woeful rebellion in Eden, some 6,000 years have elapsed. Is that too long? Jehovah could have destroyed Satan and his supporters centuries ago. But has it not been better to wait until every conceivable doubt about the rightness of Jehovah's sovereignty and the integrity of humans to him is dispelled? Is it not true of present judicial systems that a court case to prove who is right and who is wrong may take years?

In view of the importance of the issues facing Jehovah and mankind閳ユ敆niversal sovereignty and the integrity of humans閳ユ攬ow wise it was of God to allow for time to pass! Now we see clearly what happens when humans ignore God's laws and take charge of their own affairs. The result is widespread evil. And that is why so many innocent people suffer today.

Happily, though, God's Word indicates that wickedness will not last forever. In fact, Jehovah will soon put an end to evil and to those who cause it. "As regards the wicked," says Proverbs 2:22, "they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it." On the other hand, those faithful to God can look forward to a time, now near at hand, when "death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore."閳ユ摫evelation 21:4.

So, then, the Bible clearly explains why the innocent suffer. It also assures us that evil and suffering will soon end. As we experience life's present hardships, however, we need the answer to another vital question.

What Is the Purpose of Life?

You can enjoy a purposeful life

Perhaps now more than at any other time in mankind's history, people are trying to find out what life is all about. Many ask themselves, 'Why am I living? How can I find meaning in my life?' Various circumstances prompt them to raise these questions.

An individual's life may be shattered by a personal tragedy. For instance, early in 1998 a 12-year-old girl living in Bavaria, Germany, was kidnapped and murdered. One year later, her mother admitted that she spends each day searching for a purpose in life閳ユ敄o no avail. Some young people are moved to wonder about the meaning of life. They search for security, fulfillment, and a sense of belonging, only to despair at the widespread hypocrisy and corruption. Other individuals build their lives around a career, but they discover that power, prestige, and possessions fail to satisfy the inner yearning to find a reason for their existence.

Whatever moves a person to inquire about the purpose of life, this question warrants a serious and satisfying answer. Once again, the Bible can be of great benefit. It identifies Jehovah as a God of purpose, one who has sound reasons for everything he does. We ask, Would you construct a house without having a reason? Likely not, since building a house requires a huge investment of money and can take months or years. You build a house so that you or someone else can live in it. The same logic can be applied to Jehovah. He did not go to all the trouble of creating the earth and the living things upon it without having a reason, a purpose. (Compare Hebrews 3:4.) What is his purpose for the earth?

The prophecy of Isaiah identifies Jehovah as "the true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it." Indeed, he is "the One who firmly established [the earth], who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45:18) Yes, ever since the earth was created, it has been Jehovah's purpose to have it inhabited. Says Psalm 115:16: "As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men." Thus the Bible shows that Jehovah created the earth to be inhabited by obedient humans, who would take care of it.閳ユ摜enesis 1:27, 28.

Did the rebellion of Adam and Eve cause Jehovah to change his purpose? No. How can we be so sure? Well, consider this point: The Bible was written thousands of years after the rebellion in Eden. If God had abandoned his original purpose, why is that not mentioned in the Bible? The obvious conclusion is that his purpose for the earth and mankind remains unchanged.

Moreover, Jehovah's purpose never fails. Through Isaiah, God provides this assurance: "Just as the pouring rain descends, and the snow, from the heavens and does not return to that place, unless it actually saturates the earth and makes it produce and sprout, and seed is actually given to the sower and bread to the eater, so my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it."閳ユ摠saiah 55:10, 11.

What God Expects of Us

Clearly, then, we can have confidence in the fulfillment of God's purpose to have the earth inhabited forever by obedient humans. If we are to be among those privileged to live permanently on earth, we must do what wise King Solomon said: "Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man."閳ユ摗cclesiastes 12:13; John 17:3.

Living in harmony with Jehovah's purpose for mankind means getting to know the true God and conforming to his requirements as set out in the Holy Scriptures. If we do this now, we can entertain the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth, in which we will never cease to learn new things about God and his wonderful creation. (Luke 23:43) What a thrilling prospect!

Many who search for a purpose in life turn to the Bible and find great happiness right now. For instance, a young man named Alfred could find no meaning in life. The involvement of religion in war disgusted him, and he was upset at the hypocrisy and corruption in politics. Alfred visited Indians of North America in the hope of gaining enlightenment about life's purpose, only to return to Europe disappointed. In despair, he turned to drugs and wild music. However, a regular and careful examination of the Bible later helped Alfred to recognize the true purpose of life and to find contentment.

A Dependable Light to Our Roadway

What, then, can we conclude about the Bible? Is it relevant today? It is, indeed, because it offers guidance on current issues. The Bible explains that wickedness is not of God's making and helps us to find a satisfying purpose in life. Furthermore, the Bible has much to say on other matters that are of great interest today. Such topics as marriage, child rearing, human relations, and hope for the dead are dealt with in God's Word.

If you have not done so already, please take a close look at the contents of the Bible. Once you discover the true value of its guidelines for life, you may well feel as did the psalmist who looked to Jehovah God for guidance and sang: "Your word is a lamp to my foot, and a light to my roadway."閳ユ摨salm 119:105.

Faith and Reason閳ユ摐re They Compatible?

Search for God With Your Heart and Mind

True Christianity encourages the use of both the heart and the mind in building faith that pleases God.

IN FACT, Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ, taught that we must love God with our "whole mind," or intellect, in addition to our "whole heart" and "whole soul." (Matthew 22:37) Yes, our mental faculties must play a key role in our worship.

When inviting his listeners to reflect on his teaching, Jesus often said: "What do you think?" (Matthew 17:25; 18:12; 21:28; 22:42) In like manner, the apostle Peter wrote to fellow believers in order to 'arouse their clear thinking faculties.' (2 Peter 3:1) The most widely traveled early missionary, the apostle Paul, exhorted Christians to use their "power of reason" and to "prove to [themselves] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1, 2) Only by such a thorough, careful approach to their beliefs can Christians build faith that is pleasing to God and is equal to the tests that arise in life.閳ユ摟ebrews 11:1, 6.

To help others build such faith, early Christian evangelizers "reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving by references" the things taught. (Acts 17:1-3) Such a reasonable approach elicited a fine response from honesthearted ones. For example, a number of people in the Macedonian city of Beroea "received the word [of God] with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things [explained by Paul and his companions] were so." (Acts 17:11) Two things are worth noting here. First, the Beroeans were eager to listen to God's Word; second, they did not blindly assume that what they heard was correct, but they referred back to the Scriptures. The Christian missionary Luke humbly commended the Beroeans for this, calling them "noble-minded." Do you reflect such a noble mind in your approach to spiritual matters?

Mind and Heart Cooperate

As mentioned earlier, true worship involves both the mind and the heart. (Mark 12:30) Think back to the illustration in the preceding article of the hired painter who used the wrong colors when painting a house. If he had listened carefully to his employer's instructions, he could have put his heart and soul into his work and had confidence that his work would have the owner's approval. The same applies to our worship.

"The true worshipers," Jesus said, "will worship the Father with spirit and truth." (John 4:23) Hence, the apostle Paul wrote: "That is also why we . . . have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him." (Colossians 1:9, 10) Such "accurate knowledge" enables sincere individuals to put their heart and soul into their worship with full confidence because they "worship what [they] know."閳ユ摡ohn 4:22.

For these reasons, Jehovah's Witnesses do not baptize infants or newly interested people who have not carefully studied the Scriptures. Jesus commissioned his followers: "Make disciples of people of all the nations, . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19, 20) Only after having gained an accurate knowledge of God's will can sincere Bible students make an informed decision about the matter of worship. Are you striving to gain such an accurate knowledge?

Do you grasp

the meaning of Jesus' model prayer? Understanding the Lord's Prayer

To see the difference between having an accurate knowledge of the Bible and having a passing acquaintance with what it says, let us consider what is commonly called the Our Father, or the Lord's Prayer, recorded at Matthew 6:9-13.

Millions regularly recite Jesus' model prayer in church. But how many have been taught its meaning, especially the first part of the prayer dealing with God's name and Kingdom? These subjects are so important that Jesus placed them first in the prayer.

It begins: "Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified," meaning hallowed, or made holy. Note that Jesus said to pray for God's name to be sanctified. To many people, that raises at least two questions. First, what is God's name? And second, why does it need to be sanctified?

"Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified . . ." The answer to the first question can be found in over 7,000 places in the Bible in its original languages. One is at Psalm 83:18: "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." Concerning the divine name, Jehovah, Exodus 3:15 says: "This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation."* But why does the name of God, which is the very epitome of purity and holiness, need to be sanctified? Because it has been reproached and maligned from the very beginning of human history.

In Eden, God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 2:17) Satan brazenly contradicted God, saying to Eve: "You positively will not die." Hence, Satan accused God of lying. Yet, he did not rest there. He heaped still more reproach on God's name, telling Eve that God was unjustly withholding valuable knowledge from her. "For God knows that in the very day of your eating from [the tree of the knowledge of good and bad] your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad." What slander!閳ユ摜enesis 3:4, 5.

By partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve took their stand with Satan. Most humans since then, knowingly or not, have added to that original reproach by rejecting God's righteous standards. (1 John 5:19) People still malign God by blaming him for their suffering閳ユ攨ven though it may be due to their own bad ways. "A man's own folly wrecks his life, and then he bears a grudge against the Lord," says Proverbs 19:3. (The New English Bible) Can you see why Jesus, who truly loved his Father, prayed that His name be sanctified?

"Let your [Messianic] kingdom come . . ." "Let Your Kingdom Come"

After praying for God's name to be sanctified, Jesus said: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." (Matthew 6:10) Concerning that passage, we may ask: 'What is God's Kingdom? And what does its coming have to do with God's will being done on earth?'

In the Bible, the word "kingdom" basically means a "rulership by a king." Logically, then, God's Kingdom would refer to a rulership, or government, by God, with a king of his choosing. This King is none other than the resurrected Jesus Christ閳ユ敄he "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:16; Daniel 7:13, 14) Concerning God's Messianic Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ, the prophet Daniel wrote: "In the days of those kings [human governments now ruling] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite," that is, forever.閳ユ摖aniel 2:44.

Yes, God's Kingdom will take complete control of the earth, ridding it of all the wicked and ruling "to times indefinite," that is, forever. In this way, God's Kingdom is the means by which Jehovah sanctifies his name, clearing it of all the lying reproach of Satan and wicked humans.閳ユ摗zekiel 36:23.

Like all governments, God's Kingdom has subjects. Who are these? The Bible answers: "The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11) Similarly, Jesus said: "Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth." Of course, these ones have accurate knowledge of God, which is a requirement for life.閳ユ摤atthew 5:5; John 17:3.

"Let your will take place,

as in heaven, also upon earth"

Can you imagine the whole earth filled with meek, mild-tempered people who truly love God and love one another? (1 John 4:7, 8) That is what Jesus prayed for when he said: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." Do you appreciate why Jesus taught his followers to pray that way? More important, do you see how that prayer's fulfillment may affect you personally?

Millions Are Now Reasoning on the Scriptures

Jesus foretold a global campaign of spiritual education that would announce God's incoming Kingdom. He said: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end [of the present world, or system] will come."閳ユ摤atthew 24:14.

Around the world some six million of Jehovah's Witnesses are sharing that good news with their neighbors. They invite you to learn more about God and his Kingdom by "carefully examining the Scriptures," using your power of reason. Doing so will fortify your faith and make your eyes glow with the hope of life on a paradise earth, which will be "filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea."閳ユ摠saiah 11:6-9.

* Some scholars prefer the rendering "Yahweh" instead of "Jehovah." However, most modern Bible translators have erased God's name from their versions in any form, replacing it with the generic titles "Lord" or "God." For an in-depth discussion of God's name, please see the brochure The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Knowledge of the Truth Dispels Fear

Consider, for example, the case of Eugenia. She was reared in a strict Catholic household. Her father was one of the organizers of the papal visit to Mexico in 1979. While visiting friends, Eugenia came in contact with Jehovah's Witnesses. With their help she began to analyze more closely what the Bible says. She recalls: "At first, fear began to well up. I had found the truth! But this meant that most of my prior beliefs were wrong. My family, my friends, people whom I loved閳ユ敄hey were all wrong. I was nervous. I kept asking myself how my family would react to what I had newly discovered. As time passed and with Jehovah's help, I began to adjust to this overwhelming experience. One day I decided to confide in a family friend, a professor of theology. I told him all about my desire to find the truth. Then he noted, 'If you want to know the truth, look for Jehovah's Witnesses.'"

As Eugenia had feared, her family put her out of the house. The Witnesses, however, continued to give her spiritual help. She comments: "I was strengthened to take a stand for the truth. I realized that it was something worth fighting for. The welcome I received from Jehovah's Witnesses was so important. I felt loved within the Christian congregation. Getting close to God's organization helped me to overcome the fear of having to stand alone."

Consider another example. Sabrina grew up accustomed to having regular family discussions about the Bible. In fact, they developed a form of 'family religion.' She made it a practice to associate with members of various religions to expose their errors. When one of Jehovah's Witnesses offered her a Bible study, she readily accepted with the intention of disproving their beliefs. She recalls: "After studying for more than a year, I became afraid of losing 'my truth.' I had found it easy to expose the deceit of the many religions that I had been involved with, but it was not so easy this time."

Sabrina's fear made her discontinue her study of the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. But then she felt spiritually empty. She decided to resume the study and eventually came to accept this newfound truth. Sabrina progressed to the point of wanting to share with others what she was learning. She even requested to accompany the Witnesses in their house-to-house ministry. Sabrina explains: "Before receiving approval to preach with Jehovah's Witnesses, I was asked: 'Do you really want to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses?' 'No!' I answered. Fear welled up in me again." Finally, after continuing to attend all the meetings and observing God's people and how they apply Bible principles, Sabrina came to the conclusion that it was really the truth. She was baptized and is now a full-time evangelizer.

Why So Different?

Someone might ask, 'Why are the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses so different from other religions?' A brief look at what the Witnesses believe will help you to see that they are sincere Christians, conscientious students of the Bible. We encourage you to look up in your own Bible the texts in the summary of their basic beliefs shown above.

By taking a closer look at what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and how they adhere to what the Bible teaches, you can be blessed with the freedom that the truth provides. (John 17:17) There is no reason to fear the truth. Remember Jesus' promise: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."閳ユ摡ohn 8:32.

Some Basic Beliefs Of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah is the almighty God. His personal name appears more than 7,000 times in the earliest manuscripts of the Bible.閳ユ摨salm 83:18.

Jesus Christ is God's Son, who came to earth to give his life for humankind. (John 3:16, 17) Jehovah's Witnesses follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as they are found in the Gospels.

The name Jehovah's Witnesses is based on Isaiah 43:10, which says: "'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah."

The Kingdom that people pray for in the "Our Father" prayer is a heavenly government that will soon take away all the suffering and pain in the world to make room for the Paradise that the Bible promises.閳ユ摠saiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:3, 4.

Everyone who does the will of God has the opportunity to enjoy the Kingdom blessings eternally.閳ユ摡ohn 17:3; 1 John 2:17.

Christians must mold their behavior by what the Bible says. They must endeavor to be honest, to live a clean, moral life, and to show love to their neighbor.閳ユ摤atthew 22:39; John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

How You Can Find Out What God Requires

What important information is contained in the Bible? (1)

Who is the Bible's author? (2)

Why should you study the Bible? (3)

1. The Bible is a precious gift from God. It is like a letter from a loving father to his children. It tells us the truth about God閳ユ敋ho he is and what he stands for. It explains how to cope with problems and how to find true happiness. The Bible alone tells us what we must do to please God.閳ユ摨salm 1:1-3; Isaiah 48:17, 18.

2. The Bible was written by some 40 different men over a period of 1,600 years, beginning in 1513 B.C.E. It is made up of 66 little books. Those who wrote the Bible were inspired by God. They wrote his thoughts, not their own. So God in heaven, not any human on earth, is the Author of the Bible.閳? Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21.

3. God made sure that the Bible was accurately copied and preserved. More Bibles have been printed than any other book. Not everyone will be happy to see you studying the Bible, but do not let that stop you. Your eternal future depends on your getting to know God and doing his will despite any opposition.閳ユ摤atthew 5:10-12; John 17:3.

How can one understand the bible better?

i simply can't top rosettaro....so i have to pass on this one

How can one understand the bible better?

Sweet girl, I'm the guy who asked about Christians having done TM whose story you loved and you thought I was terrific.

Yes there are parts of the Bible that seem to make no sense at first but I'm sure they're all there for a reason and teach Truth one way or another - literally, metaphorically, poetically. God didn't write the Bible, but men (and a couple of women) did by His inspiration.

First, the creation story. The Hebrew word translated as "day" means "time period" in fact. Like I can say "We have the internet today" or "we didn't have it in my day". So God created everything in six time periods. You will find these correspond exactly with the scientific order of creation.

Second, Moloch was a false god who people sacrificed children to by burning in fire. Wouldn't you condemn such a practice? The main point to remember throughout the difficult parts of the Mosaic Law, in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, is that the Israelites had just been rescued from slavery in Egypt by the one true God by means of miraculous deeds, which they were supposed to remember and be grateful for. He didn't want them corrupted by the practices of the neighbouring tribes and went to some length to tell them so. Punishment by death was preferable to the whole nation going astray and being lost to the devil, since God had a very special plan for them, culminating in them providing the Messiah.

Beating slaves etc. must be understood in the context of the culture of the times; the laws were meant to prevent injustice and cruelty and show respect for all people, a concept not readily understood in those days (or by many today). Our attitude to what is right and wrong has shifted very much in recent years in our western culture - we think it's obvious that slavery and discrimination against women are wrong, yet fornication and sexual perversion are just fine. Bribery is wrong, but a corrupt voting system and needing millions of dollars to get elected is fine. We should take another look at real absolute values of right and wrong, which never change. It's summed up best by Jesus when He says "Love the lord your God with all your..." and "Love your neighbour as yourself".

As for Paul and his admonition that women should be quiet in church, my understanding of that is that they may prophesy, speak in tongues, give words of knowledge and wisdom and interpret tongues, but not teach or lead. You may think this is misogynistic and outdated, but I think maybe he was right. Women do tend to blather on a lot (so do male preachers unfortunately) and I think women are easily tempted to go the way of over-tolerance of sin rather than aiming for holiness. Yeah, men can be the other way and be over-condemnatory, but I do think (controversially) that women shouldn't be spiritual leaders over men.

Having said that, remember what I said about Karen Dunham in my question? She calls herself a pastor and she did me more good than anyone else, so it's a difficult issue.

Don't give up on the Bible, Sweet Girl, read John, Acts, Galatians, Ephesians, 1 John. I pray you'll find the true love of God. Then you'll be willing to humbly admit you don't understand everything about Him.