Jesus commentary

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

Finally, I have started to read the Bible, not just passages I find inspiring. In any case, I started with John and am at Chapter 2 and Jesus is talking with Nicodemus. I have a couple questions:

1. What I dont understand is that in verse 16-18 he speaks of Gods son, yet he is God's son. Is this 3rd person commentary a reflection of the Trinity?

2. I apologize for this one, as the answer may be very obvious. I have always thought that many of the Bible verses I have read over the years were directed towards the reader. As I have been reading through JOhn, I finally and *shamefully* fingured out that many of these verses are dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. Thus, are Jesus's disciples used as metaphores for anyone who follows Christ? That is, can we assume that when he speaks to his disciples, he is talking to us?


Thanks!

[Adam Knowlden]

That's awesome GLV!

I will get back to you soon, great questions!

PS How do you like your new title. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

[ QUOTE ]
That's awesome GLV!

I will get back to you soon, great questions!

PS How do you like your new title. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Great! Cant wait to read them. Yes, I love the new title, thanks! LOL.

[William Ustav]

[ QUOTE ]

1. What I dont understand is that in verse 16-18 he speaks of Gods son, yet he is God's son. Is this 3rd person commentary a reflection of the Trinity?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'll let OS deal with that one since I'm just about to head off to sleep /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]

2. I apologize for this one, as the answer may be very obvious. I have always thought that many of the Bible verses I have read over the years were directed towards the reader. As I have been reading through JOhn, I finally and *shamefully* fingured out that many of these verses are dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. Thus, are Jesus's disciples used as metaphores for anyone who follows Christ? That is, can we assume that when he speaks to his disciples, he is talking to us?


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't apologize! It's a good question! It would be wrong of me to say that Jesus' disciples are always metaphors for followers of Christ, because it's a very concrete statement. Mostly, what Jesus says to His disciples is pretty universal, so there should be no problem there.

And we must also not forget that God is the real author of the Bible, so technically everything in it is said by Him.

But of course, there are parts that need to be put into a historical and/or geographical context.

It would be best if you could pick out one specific example of a passage like this that is unclear to you /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1. What I dont understand is that in verse 16-18 he speaks of Gods son, yet he is God's son. Is this 3rd person commentary a reflection of the Trinity?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'll let OS deal with that one since I'm just about to head off to sleep /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]

2. I apologize for this one, as the answer may be very obvious. I have always thought that many of the Bible verses I have read over the years were directed towards the reader. As I have been reading through JOhn, I finally and *shamefully* fingured out that many of these verses are dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. Thus, are Jesus's disciples used as metaphores for anyone who follows Christ? That is, can we assume that when he speaks to his disciples, he is talking to us?


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't apologize! It's a good question! It would be wrong of me to say that Jesus' disciples are always metaphors for followers of Christ, because it's a very concrete statement. Mostly, what Jesus says to His disciples is pretty universal, so there should be no problem there.

And we must also not forget that God is the real author of the Bible, so technically everything in it is said by Him.

But of course, there are parts that need to be put into a historical and/or geographical context.

It would be best if you could pick out one specific example of a passage like this that is unclear to you /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


I guess one passage would be the one in my signature taken from "Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial". Jesus says:

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another"

In context, he is telling this to his disciples so all men will know they are his disciples. Even though I was not there when the Bible was written, what I take out of this is a way to live your life...through love. Can I make this assumption? That is, can I assume that Jesus's comments to his desciples translate to myself, Leafy Green Vegetables?

[chuckr]

GOOD MORNING, ALL!!

I believe that it is a relatively safe assumption that Jesus's comments to His disciples also apply to us. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything that Jesus told His disciples that wouldn't also be directed to me as one of God's children, other than His telling Peter to step out of the boat...

Just my thoughts...

[William Ustav]

That verse is definitely directed towards all mankind /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif In the full Biblical context, that's the only conceivable interpretation.

[rickck48]

When Jesus died and Rose he did it for all, and I read his word as a statement for all, the PRIME example of the way man is to live now because he fulfilled the Old Testament and made a new covenant with man in the New Testament. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[newbuilder]

Yes, these are good questions. I have read the Bible through about two times in about four years, and each time I read it, at first its like I am staring at a wall for a long time because I read, but it doesn't bring me any real understanding or insight. Then at other times I get a little bit of it and it is amazing. And then if it advises to do something, I do it and it never leads me wrong.
I have been told that the Bible is a very subtle book, and I have found that there are the greatest treasures in the world inside of those pages.
Pray for understanding before you read.
Best wishes! and God Bless!

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, these are good questions. I have read the Bible through about two times in about four years, and each time I read it, at first its like I am staring at a wall for a long time because I read, but it doesn't bring me any real understanding or insight. Then at other times I get a little bit of it and it is amazing. And then if it advises to do something, I do it and it never leads me wrong.
I have been told that the Bible is a very subtle book, and I have found that there are the greatest treasures in the world inside of those pages.
Pray for understanding before you read.
Best wishes! and God Bless!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks NB! So far I have read John and Matthew. I am hooked on this Bible reading like crack. It is good stuff. I am reading a study Bible, which makes it even more interesting with the cross references, archeological findings, maps, etc. Its awesome.

[Adam Knowlden]

Yes, the teachings of the disciples are for us as well.

The commandments of Christ are for all generations.

Christ commanded the disciples to pass His commandment down to other believers:

The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Psalm 33:11
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Paul covers all of Christ's teachings (and even some the disciples dont' mention in the gospels) in his letters which were directed to either other disciples or the church.

For example,

Acts 20:35
35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

This is a commandment Jesus' Preached that was revealed exclusively by Paul, never taught in the gospels.

We are His disciples as well. He commanded the disciples to teach everything He taught them.

Once they received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit would bring all things Christ taught them to their rememberance.

26"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

If you look too, the disciples were not "great men", they had tons of faults and little faith. Yet God used them mightly. It gives us hope and reassures us that God uses ordinary people to Glorify Himself. You don't have to be Billy Graham to do great things for God. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Does that help bro? Keep us updated on your findings! and feel free to ask anything GLV! /forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif