If the bible was breathed by God, why is there more nonsense (ie stoning disobedient kids, women cannot teach a man, slavery) than there is brilliance (fixing disobedient kids, respecting the wisdom of women, accepting responsibility for your own stuff)? And how do you decide which nonsense to ignore and which brilliance to follow. Does it boil down to how you "feel" about a particular verse?

It has nothing to do with how you feel about it nor is there any nonsense in the bible.
Those who do not enter into the Grace of God will find themselves judged under the Law and the sentence is always the same- death.
We live in a day were one never need live under the Law but is free to know God as Father through Jesus Christ. Judgment belongs to Him so let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

First off, I'd question your assertion that there is more nonsense than brilliance. Having said that, there are teachings in the Bible that I find very difficult to accept, and some that are downright unacceptable today - stoning disobedient children for example. And given that it is there, we have to deal with it.

There is a whole heap of scholarship and varying views about what in the Bible is culturally bound, what were instructions for a single circumstance, and what is divinely binding as God's will for all time.

My benchmark is the person of Jesus Christ. He is God made man, and is the most complete picture of God that we have.

So, where there seems to be a variety of views in the Bible about an issue - Paul forbids women to take a position of authority in one letter and send greetings to prominent women in the church in another - I test each against Jesus' words and actions.

In the case of the role of women, Jesus clearly showed women great respect, and encouraged women to break out of the servile roles that society had ordained for them.

Luke 10:38
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

That hasn't answered your question in full, I know. But then it was a pretty sweeping question.

Let us not forget that a woman, was the first to carry the gospel, the first to deliver the gospel, and the first to proclaim the Risen Christ.

If children were still being stoned for disobedience, there would be children with a lot more respect for their parents.
If God made honoring your parents a commandment, and we are the children of God, we should have something click inside of us as to how important that relationship is. Proverbs teaches that if you do not correct your child, (spare the rod, spoil the child) they will become a shame to you, and well, look around, undisciplined children rule the world and grow up to be self centered self indulgent disrespectful people. Even more so without them being taught to put God first.

As strange as some of the things seem in the bible, you can always find something about it to work to good in your life.

My first concern is where you are coming from in seeing the negative before the positive in the Bible, Foal Mom. I, like most of us here, owe my salvation to my faith in God's word and without it I would have been lost for all eternity. That fact alone far outweighs everything else I don't understand in the Bible.



When reading the Bible you must consider the context within which it was written. Language and culture for instance. And just as we have seen dramatic changes in these things in the western world, so to, they have changed in the land where our Bible originated. Don't forget, there was 400 years between the old and new testaments. Quite a time for any culture to develop into its present state.


The old testament or old Covenant God we read about in the Bible is one of observing the Law, which as well as the ten commandments He handed down to Moses, also includes the first five books of the Bible, which the Jews call their Torah.


When God's son Jesus Christ ushered in the new covenant as we can read in the new testament, He came to fulfil the law (Matthew 5:17) In other words, He came to observe it completely, because God knew we couldn't, and therefore He was able to be our atoning sacrifice. Jesus was sinless.

The new testament or covenant is all about 'Grace'. In (Matthew 5:38) Jesus spells out the changes in the new covenant.


'You have heard it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other.'

So, there aren't contradictions in the Bible. Only a shift from one covenant to another. A better one (Hebrews 8:6).


I am saddened, even ashamed, to read that some believe a child should still be stoned or caned for their wrong doing. When a child is disobedient there are a number of factors that must be considered. Parental responsibility is at the top of my list. In old testament times and within the Hebrew culture 'Family' always came first and the parents made it their responsibility to to raise their children in the ways of God. The family home is the first place where children learn how they should behave. 'Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it' (Proverbs 22:6). And as we know, in the days we live in, far too many parents evade their responsibilty to their children. For sure, the threat of a spanking should be enough to disuade a child from being naughty, however, I feel much more is achieved if the parents sit down with their children and discuss any issues with them. There are so many factors in our material, wealth, and celebrity centred world today than there ever was in Biblical times. Who would be a parent these days!

As for women preachers or teachers, one of the wisest teachers I have heard is Joyce Meyer. The apostle Paul wrote 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ' (Galatians 3:28).


My final word on this is, dare we the created question how our Creator God chooses to do things? We do well to remember that God's ways are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).

There is no "nonsense" in the Bible, past human sin - which you are accountable for too just like the characters in the Bible.

I changed this thread's absurd title from "Bible nonsense" to Bible Questions. Respect the Bible. If you disagree, gives you no right to call things nonsense. That's not respectful of GOD nor others' beliefs in the Bible.

I certainly did not mean to offend anyone. Ever. I would like to apologize if I hurt any person.

That being said, it causes me great frustration when the bible asks me to stone children and kill people that work on Sunday (ack...that's me.) It makes no sense to me.

Why are there so many different interpretations of things. Certain religions obey certain laws. Shouldn't there be some continuity to it? Which laws should I obey?

Again, I mean no disrespect by questioning things. I want to understand it, that is why I ask.

FoalMom, I hate to see you badgered for questioning some things in the bible, I see that you are trying to seek the face of the Lord, and regardless of what anyone says to you, remember; the Lord understands what questions you have in your heart.

Reading some of the Old Testament before understanding the personality of Christ does seem rather harsh at times. I would suggest you read the New Testament first, if you have a red letter edition, pay close attention to what Jesus had to say. Sometimes Big Christians forget not to trip babies when they are learning to crawl and toddle.

The Lord understands every situation you are in, so put your hope in the living God, and He will direct you into all truth. Hang in there girl.

Dear Foal Mom, Please be assured you have not offended me in any way whatsoever. I can see from your post that you are seeking to understand what you are reading, and that's a good thing to be encouraged.

It appears to me from your repeated confusion that you are stuck in the old testament. Re-read my post that explains why there are different regulations between the old and new covenants.

Stop worrying about observing the laws that you read in the old testament. Read through the apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians and you will, with prayer, gain a better understanding of where you stand as a child of God. Key thought: We are no longer under the Law but under Grace.

The only two commandments you need concern yourself about are 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. And to love your neighbour as yourself.' (Matthew 27:37).

With all due respect and Christian love, FoalMom, I would recommend you talk things over with a Pastor of the church you attend. I am sure he will clarify matters for you.

I think my hangup is more on the "God-breathed" part. The God that I know is love, totally and completely. I think that He would be appalled at the thought of killing/stoning anyone. So, therefore, either a.) the bible could not be "God-breathed" or b.) I have a twisted view of God. Is He that cruel?

The tenor of the bible does not match the personalilty of God as I know him.