A question about the bible?

Question

I’m curious.

There are many things in the bible that have been decided were appropriate at the time but not now (i.e. slavery, beating servants and children and eye for an eye – not to mention hair length for women, etc.) based on the culture or issues at the time.
(I understand the eye for an eye was surpassed by turning the cheek, but slavery is now accepted as WRONG even though Jesus still accepted it.)

The question is, as we progress as a species and civilizations realize the inhumanity of certain things, at what point is the bible literally what god wants vs. a base for us to grow upon which then makes it open to interpretation? And who gets to decide? (aside from Catholics who have the Pope).

In other words, are all the Christians and Muslims out there without slaves solely because it is illegal or because it is wrong? If it is because it is wrong, who gets to say what else has been said to be ok or wrong but is now wrong or ok (respectively)? And at some point, do we then grow beyond the literal and accept it as a message of what is intended?

I don’t mean to offend, and feel free to leave the typical “believe and be saved” or “the bible is bogus”, but this is a question I have been curious about for a long time and would appreciate honest answers if there are any.

OK people, slavery was just ONE example. Do women still have to keep their hair long so as not to be taken as a pagan prostitute?
I guess no one really wants to educate, just preach to eh?

I am not saying the Pope tells people what to believe, the Pope is the one who sets the laws of faith for Catholics. I am looking for others who can explain the bible's role in TODAY'S society with the changes that have taken place so far.
(and Jesus did NOT free anyone from the OT, are you then saying it WASN'T God's word? or that God's word changes depending upon the time and culture?????

THIS IS NOT ABOUT SLAVERY!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I completely agree with you and will wait patiently for a proper answer from a Christian or Muslim, whereby they have read the question properly and answered it fully. . . .

Answer 2

you b@stard, i've been trying to ask this question for so long and all i ever came up with is what bible verse did jesus reverse the rules on slavery and all i ever got was jesus fulfilled the law and we live under grace and jesus was the slave or whatever apologetic nonsense they had

i blogged last night on leviticus 25:45, which in the king james uses the word children but in the NIV uses the words "temporary travelors" or visitors or whatever, not children.

You have asked this question masterfully, that is, its Bible legal to own slaves, who said that this was wrong and made it acceptable, and what else do we change and why,

The NIV was written between 1965 and 1973, or rather, "translated".

But essentially this has been my point for a few weeks and last night in my blog/360; that is, why is Christianity revising its message.

The thing of interest, 1 Corinthians 6:9 - still says the homosexual won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.

So, even thou the wording changes in the old testement lev 18:22 from it being an abomination to the NIV's detestable - St. Paul is still permitted to say "gays go to hell".

Blessed Sammy had a great comment on my 360, that is - that the Bible was written by the people for the people.

For me, I agree

Answer 3

I think you have to read and soak in the word for yourself. Then you must ask God how it applies to you. Slavery today is wrong because it has been declared wrong through legal process involving morality.However, that only applies in the us. There are still places where slavery is espoused. The only person who could say something in the bible is wrong would be GOD. I do not believe any man can say all is truth or lie when it is open to intepretation. Indivdual interpretation at that. I mean, let's be serious, just because a man is deemed holy does not put him on the same plane as God and make him infallible. The pope is just as susceptible to sin and misinterpretation as the rest of us. Although when they make mistakes they simply rewrite something in their doctrine to cover it and make it so. Which I wonder how that makes God feel?

Answer 4

Yours is a thoughtful question. I really don't remember Jesus accepting slavery anywhere in the Bible. The old testament is the law reveled to the Jews. The New Testament is the recounting of the ministry of Jesus. Both describe the conditions of the time but do not command that these conditions continue. When asked about paying taxes, Jesus said; "Render that which is Cesar's unto Cesar and that which is God's unto God." In other words we must obey the laws of society or be punished by the laws of that society, and Gods laws are higher laws not conforming to the customs of society.

Answer 5

Galatians 3:26-29) "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." I think that sums up the slave part. I'm catholic and the pope does not make all the decisions, he consults a board before he just puts something out there. You have to listen to what Jesus said in the bible. Peter(pbuh) was against women alot in the church. Paul is a good one to listen to you. If the words the saints say go along with the teachings of Jesus then go with it. Cannon Law doesn't go against anything in the bible. That's why it's ok. Your laws shouldn't conflict with the bible but should be based off of them. Anything that is mean or evil cannot be excused like murder and terrorism. Do not kill people in Gods name. It is a verse in the bible I think it is in Matthew(pbuh) where Jesus says there will be a time when people will kill people and think that they are doing God a favor. That hits terrorism on the head. The Old testament was a different time. Jesus came and reconfirmed things that people may have been mislead about. That is why the old testament is like night and day compared to the New testament. It says nothing like that in the New Testament. Nor did Jesus say anything like that.

Answer 6

Slavery has been around forever and only in recent history has it become passe. The Bible never condones slavery by the way but rather tells slaves to be obedient to their masters as an example of their faith. Your question is typical of those who neither know the Bible nor have taken the time to study contextually what a certain message/topic means.

Answer 7

Well as far as slavery goes, I can understand it's acceptence in a time when there just weren't many jobs and either you were already rich, some kind of craftsmen or your family would starve. And as far as that goes, we are never commanded TO beat our slaves but if someone DID beat them, they werent punished if they didn't beat them badly but the same was if you beat any other person, there was just no sepperate punishment. I know that sounds horrible but we live in a society now where you just arent allowed to beat anyone. It probably wouldn't sound nearly as bad if we were allowed to fight eachother and just not kill eachother. But in both cases, Old and New Testement it was much better to treat slaves as well as anyone with respect. I wouldn't have a slave now, for more reasons than it's illegal but because it's not nessisary. And I think the term "slave" just can't be seen in a positive light anymore. Had I lived back in those times and I was among the wealthy, I would have slaves. I wouldn't beat them or mistreat them, I'd give them and their families fair wages in exchange for their work for me. If the slave owner wasn't abusive to slaves (which not all were... Jacob was a slave and his master cared about him so much he took him in as family) it wasn't a whole lot different than modern day employment.

Answer 8

Christ Jesus didn't necessarily BELIEVE in slavery. He just wasn't big on "personal comments" and made none about most stuff. Hence no comments on gays, slavery, and many, many other items. Also, Christ was big on 2 things. #1 Obey the laws of the land where they don't contradict Gods laws (which is almost all). So, in the case of slavery, since IT WAS ALREADY LEGAL, do your slave "brothers in christ" a service by being their brother and treating them like a brother. Love them and treat them as family. Christ wasn't saying he "believed in slavery" just that since it was law, do what you can UNDER the law to ease your brothers burden and allow him to live his Christian life. #2. Render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser's (or the government what belongs to it). Such as taxes (even Christ made a "showing" of paying his taxes). So, Christ wants all Christians to do what is right within the confines of the law, don't cheat the worldly governments of what is theirs. You represent Christ in this world (Christian = Christ Like) and why would you want to embarrass his name? Obey the speed limits when not an emergency, return lost wallets, be kind to lost animals, etc. Be Christ like.

How could we ever outgrow such rules as these?

Answer 9

I don't think Muslims follow the Bible firstly. The New Testament part of the Bible is for modern life too as Jesus had come to set us free from the bondage of the law through forgiveness and grace. This doesn't mean we're supposed to keep sinning because we know we'll always be forgiven. A true faith walk should be one of freedom and not religious bondage.

Answer 10

Each person and each faith starts with a premise. And they choose to keep or discards parts of that premise, based on the world and the culture they live within.

Some people choose to follow ancient texts (or modern ones) literally. And others choose to find the core concepts, and allow the stories to be mere allegories, fables or examples of behavior.

It all comes down to how each person chooses to interpret what they have heard, whether the entire message or just the soundbites.

Answer 11

I, for one, use it as a guide. It is neither wholly good or totally bad. It can answer questions and it can cause more to be asked. Where you got that about the Pope is beyond me. Who ever said he decides what people will believe. More disinformation. Times change morals change. The Bible condemns many things but tells you how to treat your slaves. It tells what not to eat and it was good advice before modern science cured trichinosis and worms. But to believe it is a static unchanging dictum is unrealistic. Thank you for a good legitimate question. Not one aimed at demeaning something the majority of us have believed all of our lives.