Sunday, February 12, 2012

Do people twist the words of the Bible to make it please their way of thinking?

Back to my story of Jephthah and his daughter. Let me show you what the vow Jephtah made actually says and you tell me what it means...



30--And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands..31--Then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering". ... Do you know what it means to offer up a burnt offering in Israeli terms? You have to have a blood sacrifice for the burnt offereing. The only people in Jephthah's house was his wife and his daughter. What do you think this vow means now?Do people twist the words of the Bible to make it please their way of thinking?
Not one Christian has stepped up to the plate to answer your question. I would offer my interpretation but since it corresponds with your own, it would be pointless.



Okay, finally someone attempted to answer using cut and paste twisting. There are SO many other things about these verses that are problematic. The most obvious is that Jephtah clearly believes God to be a capricious entity, willing to help whomever it is that offers him the most. If he believed that God was a purposeful entity, he would simply pray, "God, if it is your will, deliver the Ammonites into my hands."



The second is that the wife and daughter are viewed as his PROPERTY, to be "sacrificed", whatever you take that word to mean. I suspect that given the conditions of the day, it was a merciful act to deny his daughter sexual relations with a man. I mean, if the men were all brutes like her father, why would she want to have anything to do with them?
Burnt offering could be bull, lamb, dove, grain, wine, or incense depending on the purpose. sin, thankfulness,etc. Those who followed God did not sacrifice people. A child could be given to serve god in the temples. I really can't remember this particular king but there were a long line of kings who did not follow God yet made a big show of asking for his protection and power. Like Manasseh who really did not return to God until old age but always asked for his help in battle, which he never got by the way. He also did sacrifice a son to another idol.Do people twist the words of the Bible to make it please their way of thinking?
Cherry pickers is what I call them. Man made stories that is all.
You seem to be concentrating on the Old Testament.



Jesus fulfilled Old Testament Law (Mosaic Law) and gave us a New Covenant. We live under Grace now, not Law.



So please stop taking things out of context to suit YOURSELF and accept the Bible in it's entirety.Do people twist the words of the Bible to make it please their way of thinking?
yes.
I know I don't...God gives us enough in the word to satisfy me,,He has made me an Overcomer,Conquer and I can do all things in Christ who gives me strenght,Yep I think I am well pleased with that..
Not what you're thinking, that's for sure.







The story of Jephthah recorded in Judges 11:29-40 has caused difficulty for Bible students. Jephthah, under God’s direction, was about to wage a major battle against the Ammonites. Before going to battle, Jephthah vowed to God that if he was victorious, when he returned, he would offer as a burnt offering the first thing that greeted him from the door of his house. Jephthah didn’t give enough thought to his vow. He had no control over who or what would come through his door. In a sense, he left to chance what he would offer to God. Some scholars state that the word translated "whatever" in Judges 11:31 is actually more properly translated "whoever." Hence, there is a strong indication that Jephthah expected to offer a person to the Lord as a burnt offering.



Herein lies a point of confusion. We know that God despises human sacrifices. Sacrificing children to idols was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:1-5). In Jeremiah 7:31-32, God said that not only did He not command, but also that He never thought of asking for, such sacrifices. "When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deuteronomy 12:29-32)



Why would God, after Jephthah vowed to offer Him a human being, allow him to win the battle? Why is Jephthah listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32? Even if we argue that Jephthah didn’t expect a person to come through his door, it was still possible that an unsuitable animal, such as a dog, would be first to exit his house? How could Jephthah predict that an unblemished cow, goat, or lamb would be first to greet him?



Old-Testament Sacrifices. The Mosaic Law involved a variety of offerings (Leviticus 7:37).



* A person who unintentionally sinned offered a sin offering (Leviticus 4).

* When a person sinned unintentionally, but there existed the possibility that he could make restitution for his sin, he offered a guilt (or trespass) offering (Leviticus 5:1; 6:7).

* The grain offering’s purpose is never directly stated, but it appears to have been used to express thankfulness to God (Leviticus 2; 6:14-23). It was offered at first harvest and in combination with other sacrifices, perhaps to show thankfulness for forgiveness of sins.

* Peace offerings were to show fellowship between the worshiper and God (Leviticus 3). When combined with other sacrifices, the peace offering was always offered last, as there must be atonement for sin before fellowship with God can exist.

* Burnt offerings related to the sin and guilt offerings (Leviticus 1). They were offered to atone for sin (Leviticus 1:4), but the one making the offering could choose what to offer. All the offerings involved burning portions, but the burnt offering was given entirely to God (Deuteronomy 33:10). Only the animals’ skins were kept (Leviticus 7:8).

* Dedication offerings occurred when articles of the tabernacle or temple were put into service, or when a person became a priest.



Burnt and grain offerings were made daily for the nation. The sin, guilt, and dedication offerings were made, as needed, for individuals. The burnt, grain, and peace offerings were offered by individuals at appointed occasions, such as feasts, to fulfill vows, or as freewill offerings (Numbers 16:3; 29:39).



An individual who offered a burnt, grain, or peace offering was permitted to choose, within certain guidelines, what to offer. For example, money and goods were given as freewill offerings (Ezra 1:4-6; 8:28); however, money gained through prostitution was unacceptable as fulfillment of a vowed offering (Deuteronomy 23:18). Even words of praise were considered to be freewill offerings (Psalms 119:108). Obviously, items that were not sacrificial animals were not burnt, in whole or in part. Instead, they were used in God's service. 2 Chronicles 31:14 speaks of a man appointed to oversee the usage of freewill offerings.



Jesus’ death on the cross, as described, could be viewed as a combination of offerings. His death is called a sin offering (Hebrews 9:24-10:3; 13:10-14). If we recall that burnt offerings were said to bring a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 1:17; 2:2; 3:16), we can see that the Lord's death was also a "burnt offering," even though he was not burnt (Ephesians 5:2). This is true because Jesus, to appease God's wrath, gave himself wholly over to God. In the same way, Christians are expected to be whole (or burnt) offerings to God by dedicating our lives in His service (Romans 12:1-2).



Special Rules for Vowed Sacrifices. Peace offerings, grain offerings, and burnt offerings could be vowed to God. Fulfilling the vow involved making the offering (Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Ecclesiastes 5:1-4). A person could vow to God almost anything that belonged to him: people (Leviticus 27:2-8), livestock (Leviticus 27:9-13), homes (Leviticus 27:14,15), or property (Leviticus 27:16-25) are given as examples.



Most vowed offerings could be redeemed, or bought back, and most of Leviticus 27 deals with how to determine the redemption price. However, certain things could not be redeemed: sacrificial animals (Leviticus 27:9-10); firstborn clean animals, because they already belonged to the Lord (Leviticus 27:26); or anything, whether man, animal, or property, that a man set apart for destruction (Leviticus 27:28). Anyone whom the Lord had set apart for destruction could not be redeemed, as they were under a death sentence (Leviticus 27:29). By implication, firstborn children also could not be redeemed, if they were vowed, because they already belonged to God (Exodus 13:2, 12-15). In addition, anything vowed once and redeemed could not be redeemed if it was vowed a second time.



Obviously, anything vowed as a burnt offering was vowed for destruction. It could not be redeemed. If it were a sacrificial animal, it would be offered up to God. Everything else became most holy and belonged to God (Leviticus 27:28). For example, property that was vowed for destruction, whether on purpose, or by selling it before it was redeemed, became the property of the priests (Leviticus 27:20-21). Other things would be put into service for God.



This is how Samuel, the firstborn son of an Ephraimite (1 Samuel 1:1), came to serve the Lord (1 Samuel 3:1) and was allowed to offer sacrifices (1 Samuel 7:9). His mother made a vow that if the Lord gave her a child, she would give that child to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:11). Although Leviticus 27 allows vowed children to be redeemed, a firstborn child already belonged to God and hence, could not be redeemed.



What Happened to Jephthah's Daughter. When Jephthah returned from the battle victorious, the first person to greet him from his house was his only child. Because she was his first child, he was unable to redeem her. Because he vowed her for destruction as a burnt offering, not only could she not be redeemed, but she was also marked as being most holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27:28). Both Jephthah and his daughter realized that Jephthah's vow bound his daughter to be a virgin for the rest of her life. For Jephthah, that meant the end of his lineage.



Jephthah’s daughter rightly encouraged her father to keep his vow. She requested only one thing--two months to bewail her virginity (Judges 11:38).



Notice that Jephthah’s daughter did not grieve over her short life, because her life wasn't ending. In Judges 11:39, we read: “he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man.” In other words, she never had sexual relations with a man. There is no mention of her losing her life because of her father's vow; nor is there any need to make such an assumption. Only sacrificial animals could be placed on the altar. Everything else was either redeemed or placed into God’s service.



What would Jephthah's daughter do in service to God? I'm sure the Levite women did many jobs that Jephthah's daughter could have joined them in doing. Two verses (Exodus 38:8; 1 Samuel 2:22) mention women who served at the door of the tabernacle. From John 18:16-17, and other ancient sources, it appears that women were frequently employed as doorkeepers. Some believe that women who were vowed to God became the source of these workers. There is also mention of the widow Anna who stayed at the temple and served the Lord with fasting and prayers (Luke 2:36-37), as did those mentioned in Psalm 134.





There is also this explanation: http://www.ucgstp.org/bible/brp/jud11.ht…
The bible is written in a poetic form. it's subject to many interpretations.



Christians tell me the Bible is ‘absolutely true’. Well it hard to believe a book can be so in light of the following:

1) What we now call the bible was cobbled together by many people—actually committees--well after Christ and the apostles died.

2) The completed bible underwent many translations from Greek to Latin to the modern languages of the world. Much was changed in the translation. (Read: ”Who Changed the Bible and Why”)

3) There are many versions of the bible that exists today. Such as the Vulgate of St. Jerome; the Roman Catholic—Douay; Coptic, etc.

4) There are many individual interpretations of any one version of the bibles that exist today. Especially among Protestants.
Yes and yes



You cant beat the bible in an arguement because of its vague contents it can be, and is, twisted and manipulated into meaning absolutely anything.



The creator of evan almighty translated the story of noahs ark, where it says "and everything with breath was killed" as a story of compassion.



Now thats ignorant.
Definitely. Everyone does it, Christians to support their personal a la carte version of Christianity, non-christians do it too.





What I find amazing is that a book that says so many different things, even taken in the context of the passage, is so contradictory and can be used to support almost any view point, can be described as the words of a perfect God.



IMHO, theologically the entire thing is a bad joke.
Churches,preachers, people ,counties,governments all twist religion and the bible to fit their particular situation or belief.

No matter what it is some one, some where will find a text to cover it,and then they can justify their actions and let them selves off the hook and feel good about it
thy should not commit adultery.
Yes. Yes they do.
what's scarier than people twisting the words of religious texts to suit their agenda...is them ignoring that they are doing that.

Some people need to see proctologists to find their head
How am I twisting the words of the bible?

The bible is PLAIN SICK, and if you do not see it , you are deluded.



Ezekiel 23:20

There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.



Ezek. 4:12 says, "Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement as fuel."



2 Kings 18:27 (King James Version) 27But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?



GOD DEMANDED 16,000 VIRGINS BE GIVEN TO SOLDIERS AS WAR PLUNDER AND 32 BE SET ASIDE FOR HIMSELF

Num. 31:31-40 says, "Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.... And the half, the portion of those who had gone out to war, was....16,000 people, of which the tribute for the Lord was 32."



Women rank right up there with cattle, donkeys, and sheep. And they have to be virgins, at that! Imagine a righteous and perfect God wanting 32 virgins to be set aside for himself!



GOD DEMANDS CANNIBALISM IN THE BIBLE.

Lev. 26:29 says, "Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughter shall ye eat." Jer. 19:9 says, "I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another's flesh during the stress of the siege imposed on them by the enemies who seek their lives." Ezek. 5:10 says, "In your midst fathers will eat their children, and children will eat their fathers. I will inflict punishment on you and will scatter all your survivors to the winds." Isaiah 49:26 says, "I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine...." And in John 6:53-54 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Some people will or would twist the words of the Bible, the Gospel and the Quran and the Veda and whatever Holy scripture to suite their own agendas and/or lust for power.

Some other people will not believe or will not realize that those words have been twisted or could be interpreted in other ways.

the results are under our eyes every single day.
People will use the available tools in order to be effective in convincing other people....it is up to you to detect whether someone is using propaganda methods on you or simply telling you the truth....remember there are many versions of the truth....
The only thing worse than twisting the words in the bible is actually following what they say.
Very often this occurs because of personal interpretation. St Peter warned against this. The result is a further degradation of the Word of God and the multitude of Christian sects. They rip and tear at the seamless truth and eventually the whole of it begins to unravel
.... ummm



does a bear **** in the woods?
YES, they add and take away to their own destruction,but that will not stand on the Judgement Day.
To place a meaning into scripture that isn't there is called eisegesis. It happens. Especially with the pentecostalish types you find on T.V.

To correctly draw the meanings out of scripture is exegesis.

Sadly, in many parts, rarely found anymore. Too many liberal "ministers"
Yes. Trinitarians twist the Bible all the time. They use terms like God the Son and God the holy spirit and pretend those terms are in the Bible.



They also say that God is composed of 3 co-equal, co-eternal persons, even though they can't find one scripture in the Bible to support their claims.



Even the KJB has been twisted to support the trinity. The three biggest twists occur at Acts 7:59, 1 Tim. 3:16 and 1 John 5:7. Fortunately, those twists were discovered and corrected in modern Bibles.



You have the wrong impression of Jephthah's vow. Let me explain. Some critics and scholars have condemned Jephthah for his vow, having the view that Jephthah followed the practice of other nations, offering up his daughter by fire as a human burnt offering. But this is not the case. It would be an insult to Jehovah, a disgusting thing in violation of his law, to make a literal human sacrifice. He strictly commanded Israel: “You must not learn to do according to the detestable things of those nations. There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire .?.?. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable things Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you.” (De 18:9-12) Jehovah would curse, not bless, such a person. The very ones Jephthah was fighting, the Ammonites, practiced human sacrifice to their god Molech. See 2Ki 17:17.



When Jephthah said: “It must also occur that the one coming out, who comes out of the doors of my house to meet me .?.?. must also become Jehovah’s,” he had reference to a person and not an animal, since animals suitable for sacrifice were not likely kept in Israelite homes, to have free run there. Besides, the offering of an animal would not show extraordinary devotion to God. Jephthah knew that it might well be his daughter who would come out to meet him. It must be borne in mind that Jehovah’s spirit was on Jephthah at the time; this would prevent any rash vow on Jephthah’s part. How, then, would the person coming out to meet Jephthah to congratulate him on his victory “become Jehovah’s” and be offered up “as a burnt offering”? Jg 11:31.



When Jephthah brought his daughter to the sanctuary, which was in Shiloh at that time, he undoubtedly accompanied his presentation of her with an animal burnt offering. According to the Law, a burnt offering was slaughtered, skinned, and cut up; the intestines and shanks were washed; and its body, head and all, was burned on the altar. (Le 1:3-9) The wholeness of such offering represented full, unqualified, wholehearted dedication to Jehovah, and when it accompanied another offering (as, for example, when the burnt offering followed the sin offering on the Day of Atonement), it constituted an appeal to Jehovah to accept that other offering.—Le 16:3, 5, 6, 11, 15,?24.
Yes, people do take things out of context or twist them up a bit to try to prove their point.



Personally, I don't think Jephthah was thinking when he said that. He was desperate, and probably figured that a sheep or goat or cow was going to come running out of his house.

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