Statement: The bible is a puzzle book in need of solving. A puzzle of literal, moral, analogical, and allegorical approaches. There are no right or wrong answers in solving the puzzles. Why so serious?
Resolving conflicting bible verses is a question of a static doctrine vs a dynamic doctrine. The Dodgy Doctrine Of Tin Who is a dynamic doctrine view of bible verses. Whether you feel that is correct is actually part of its dynamic doctrine philosophy. Generally there is a accepted view to interpret the bible you use four different approaches of literal, moral, anagogical, or allegorical approach. What is correct? Let us look at the Bible for just a moment to help you understand what I am getting at.
To the question, The Bible is the perfect word of God with no contradictions? What would be your answer, yes or no? I think the answer is it does not matter if the Bible is perfect because humans are not perfect. Your interpretations of perfect scripture will never be perfect. Your path will be filled with errors. So you will always end up at different branches and understandings. So the path to take for the question was not yes or no, but third a option of understanding. Nobody is right and consider what it might mean when it says. Psalms 37:9-11(Kjv) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Christianity can be taxonomically divided into six main groups: the Church of the East, Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Restorationism. Protestantism includes many groups which do not share any ecclesiastical governance and have widely diverging beliefs and practices.
Christianity has denominational families (or movements) and also has individual denominations (or communions). The difference between a denomination and a denominational family is sometimes unclear to outsiders. Some denominational families can be considered major branches. Groups that are members of a branch, while sharing historical ties and similar doctrines, are not necessarily in communion with one another.
So how did we end up on a path for a third option? Simply put, it is a question of attitude. A type of heart knowledge versus head knowledge, if you will. You could say that is moral but the issue always remains of trying to impose the same moral standard across the board in all situations at all times. Like with the heart. Logic is a logic gate of either yes or no. Jesus gives us a couple of examples of getting past a yes or no type logic gate. The story in John 8 and the question of whether should you give money/tax to Caesar.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
The paths can be situational and everybody can be on a different journey. You are not using scripture to interrupt scripture. You are using scripture to learn the attitude for the interpretation that might be needed for a situation. That does not mean a consensus in the room. It might just mean you get to state your case with God why you did what you did. It might also help explain the reason as to why the meek inherit the earth. They don’t do yes or no but are humble in their interpretation on scripture. Realizing that it might of happened out of an opinion or their imagination.
NIV Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” 3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
An attitude might get you past this. In the New Testament, we find an equivalent where everything is meaningless/nothing without love.
ASV 1 Corinthians 13 : 1-8 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For me and my journey, I tend to prefer to approach things from a perspective of act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God. Others might approach things with a love of others as you love yourself.
So how do I get past everything is meaningless says the Teacher. I might go to Job
ASV Job 38 : 1-7 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
From Job I get that I have zero understanding of anything. So then for me, everything becomes meaningless. Zero understanding equals meaningless. Which means I have zero understanding of why I need to listen to the teacher in the first place. I know it is circular logic but…
Static doctrines can be a yes or no approach to themes in the bible. Are you saved by grace, by works, or by every word that comes from the Father. (Man does not live by bread alone)
ASV Psalm 119 : 98-99 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.
Here are two conflicting bible verses right beside each other in the scripture. Which one to choose or not? Sometimes it is not about them. It is about responsibility. For destiny has a certain responsibility(Selah). The scriptures you got past you might need for another day. Circumstances change as we do life.
Proverbs 26 : 4 – 5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Do not answer a fool, but then answer a fool. Remember and consider how Jesus got past the law in John 8.
KJV John 8:4-7 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Pass the law? You might need to do a search on stumbling blocks in the bible to put that a bit more in perspective.