Posts by Brother Apostate

51

Bible scholars/researchers: What is your favorite version of the Bible?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

i only have the nwt.

i went to the bookstore and picked up the scofield study bible iii version of the niv.

i have 2 weeks to return or exchange it.

Brother Apostate

What a nice thread for this site.

Thomas and Steven, et al have made many good recommendations.

I would add that the best way to determine which hardcopy Bible Translation(s) for your research would be to use online versions to get a "feel".

While Biblegateway.com has been mentioned already(and I use it almost daily), biblecc.com is another great comparitive site, which allows you to compare numerous translations on a verse by verse basis. On both of these sites, you will find concordances, study guides, cross references, parallel commentaries, etc.

As far as hard copies go, I will not list all those I own here, as it is a very long list, but I would say that the NIV you purchased is wonderful (with the exception of the notes, as others have mentioned), the New Jerusalem, (ditto), the New Living (a paraphrase, with all the draw backs thereof), and the Douay-Rheims (my personal favorite for the Psalms).

Enjoy, God Bless!

BA

61

I agree with Jehovah's Witnesses!

by UnDisfellowshipped in

i agree with jehovah's witnesses!.

(i bet reniaa will be shocked to see this thread!).

to jehovah's witnesses: i commend your zeal for god, your desire for accurate knowledge and truth of the bible, your goals of drawing close to jehovah, and following and obeying christ's teachings, and your time spent studying the bible.

Brother Apostate

Hi! You said it all when you said this:

"Once again, Watchtower publications have changed on this teaching over the years. I am going with the very latest publications from the last year"

I would choose to comment on the following: Read 1 Corinthians 15:28, read the whole chapter for context.

27:) God and Jesus are the sole Judges, and only they will determine who to save and who to destroy. (Watchtower publications have changed on this teaching over the years. I am going with the very latest publications from the last year)

"Watchtower Publications" mean diddly-squat. Wrong on your prefererred teaching, read Revelation 20:4.

28:) It is very, very important for Christians to have accurate knowledge and to know the truth. In fact, knowing the truth about God and Jesus' identity and nature means your everlasting life or death.

"Accurate Knowledge" is relative. Romans 3:4- You are a liar, so am I. All humans are.

Blessings.

BA

37

Two Posers For You

by Farkel in

jw
friends

here are two ethical posers:.

i. would you rather your children grow up to be successful or happy?

explain your answer.. ii.

Brother Apostate

Here are two ethical posers:

I believe you meant "posits".

I. Would you rather your children grow up to be successful or happy? Explain your answer.

Happiness is success. Do I really need to explain?

II. If you knew your child could cheat on a test and in doing so, get admitted to a prestigious University which would advance the child much further in life, would you prefer the child to:

First- " advance" means absolutely nothing.

1) Cheat, get the education and be much further ahead in life, or (this presupposes way too many things, for example: cheating will merely abet the intelligent whilst exposing the ignorant over time. )

2) Not cheat, get a far lesser education and miss out on the opportunities which would be available in choice #1. (if the subject in question is ignorant, they willl be exposed; if they are intelligent, they most likely will get away with it.l)

Explain your answer. (Do I really need to explain?

These were generationally directed questions, and you might be surprised at the divergence in answers from parents who are only separated by two generations. (I would not be surprised at all, experience comes with age.)

What say you?

Farkel

277

Some people don't teach their children manners. Grrr.

by FlyingHighNow in

jw
friends

i had an hour to kill before picking julian up at a birthday party, last friday.

so, i decided to go relax at the library.

"when i was a child, we gave up our chairs for adults.

Brother Apostate

You should be happy to sit on the floor, seriously.

If you had to survive, would this really make a hill of beans difference?

You are spoiled by a life of luxury, as is the family you described in your OP.

Learn from such experiences.

Blessings,

BA

76

Oldest bible being put online - what will that mean for WTS teachings?

by Simon in

(and of course for christianity as a whole).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7651105.stm.

the problem is ... the oldest bible shows that it's been changed significantly so all the claims about it being gods word are clearly bogus.

Brother Apostate

Fortunately, I have learned by experience not to pre-judge anything before I have seen it.

Some leave the JWs but never leave their prejudice, as in: "I've heard one side of the story, it must then be the true story."

I believe slugs have more common sense than those who stake a claim to knowledge of a subject based on a news story.

As Bugs Bunny would characteristically say of such individuals: "Sheesh, what a maroon!"

Good Day!

BA

18

If no organized religion existed, would Bible principles work for you?

by The Berean in

none, a few, most, nearly all?.

examples ....

Brother Apostate

With or without organized religion, Bible principles work for me.

Bible principles are the only solid, uneroded rock in the shifting sands, conflicts, and opinions of time.

God bless,

BA

16

Confusion on what to believe, also guilt.

by izzysma in

jw
friends

i was raised a witness up until i was 16, never was baptized, and now that i have my own child now i am having a really hard time with wanting her to know what religion is.

as i have gotten older, wiser i am doubting the truth even more...actually i never doubted it until just a few years ago.

being a witness is the only religion i know so i still have that sense of loyalty to it even though it's not what i choose to be.

Brother Apostate

Forget "Religion", the organized, man-made misuse of God's Word the Bible.

Instead, Pray to God in sincerety to show you the way by His Holy Spirit.

Then, make it your habit to, after praying, read the Bible and ponder deeply what you read.

Put into practice what you learn, continuously.

Share with others what you have learned, primarily by deeds, secondarily by words.

Then your gulit will be absolved by His sacrifice, and your confusion cleared by His enlightenment.

Cheers,

BA

25

Why would ALMIGHTY god need a Flood?

by wobble in

leaving out all the obvious problems with a global flood,why would almighty god need a flood at all,with its attendant problems of gathering animals and building arks etc.when he obviously had the power just to destroy the "wicked" and just leave noah and family alive.. after all he destroyed just the first born in egypt (what had they done to offend him?

) so why not just snuff out who he wants to,why a flood?.

come on fundies tell me!.

Brother Apostate

Leaving out all the obvious problems with a Global flood,

Not that there are any "problems" with it, obvious or not, but since you asked, I'll leave it out.

why would Almighty God need a flood at all,with its attendant problems of gathering animals and building arks etc.when He obviously had the power just to destroy the "wicked" and just leave Noah and family alive.

Those "problems served to demonstrate His love, His Power, His ability to do anything to save those who do what is right, those who put Faith in Him.

After all he destroyed JUST the first born in Egypt (what had they done to offend him?)

That was for an entirely different reason, it was Pharoah's decree (Exodus 1:15-16), who proclaimed Himself to be a God, that caused those deaths by his own utterance. God even offered a chance for this not to occur but Pharah hardened his heart (Exodus 4:22-23)

so why not just snuff out who he wants to,why a flood?

Why fire and sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, same reason- ALL those killed were incorrigably wicked, beyond salvation, despising what is good. Just like those who perished in the Great Flood.

Matthew 24:36-39 (NIV) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

BA- That's why.

PS- Version 2.0, with fire, not flood, coming soon.

163

Lets have some fun...one last music thread...your absolute favorite!

by restrangled in

i can't, once again, get our stereo to work... too many remotes, to many machines....so what i would like to hear tonight is your absolute favorite before this site closes.. any type of music...just what represents you!...and happy new year by the way!.

r,.

Brother Apostate

Forgot about Humble Pie.

Yeah, so here is their other famous song which rocks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZMmV6xXYFw

BA

31

Why I suspect most people do not really believe in god

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

growing up as a jw i never really believed in god.

i thought everyone else didn't really believe either.

when some sort of religious activity or speak was going on i was just pretending and i thought everyone else was pretending too.

Brother Apostate

Bible in Basic English
"And that we may be made free from foolish and evil men; for not all have faith." - 2 Thessalonians 3:2

Geneva Study Bible

And that we may be delivered from {a} unreasonable and wicked men: {2} for all men have not faith.

(a) Who do not do or care about their duty.

(2) It is no wonder that the Gospel is hated by so many, seeing that faith is a rare gift of God. Nonetheless, the Church will never be destroyed by the multitude of the wicked, because it is grounded and stayed upon the faithful promise of God.

BA- Tellin' it like it is.