Any Christians Out There? Could you Help me please?

Question

i am studying Religious Studies at College and i have been set a homework....

How would a religious beleiver explain changes in the bible?

( such as in the old testament, there were rules on only being allowed to eat kosha food and male children had to be circumcised but in the new testement they no longer have to do that)

Thanks to anyone who answers this... i couldnt ask anybody else because all my family and friends are atheists, so i was never christened, and therefore couldnt go to a religious leader and/or religious beleiver,

thank you!!!

Answer 1

that's a great question. kosher foods and having to be circumcised were required in the old testament but after Christ came and died for our sins, He made a new covenant with us, so certain things that were required of us before to show "cleanliness" are no longer required. here's an interesting web site:

Answer 2

Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses. They where set to help the Jewish community to live a life that is pleaseing to God. Not just the food issue, keeping the Sabbath, an so on. The problem was that if you read all the Laws they are diffivcult to understand and people couldn't keep them. But Jesus lived a perfect life and He kept all the laws.
The Old Testament and the New Testament are not at all different they are the same. What looks different is that Jesus in the New Testamnet fulfilled what was impossible for everyone to do. He was perfect, where we are inperfect. He kept the Laws where as we couldn't.
It is a difficult question that you have been set. But believe me the answer lies with Jesus and the fact that he died on the cross.

I want to tell you something. You are obviously young. I know that you are from an athiestic family, but I don't believe you are.
I believe you believe in God. I'm a Christian but I'm never been christened. Not many Christians have to be honest.
What i'm going to tell you now is fact. The same God of the Old Testament and the New testament Loves you very much. Hre created you in His image. he sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for you and wants you to know him as a friend.
If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

God's blessing to you

Answer 3

Most things in the old testament are literal representations of things in the new testament, which are mostly spiritual. eg: in the story of moses, before the Israelites (god's people) could be saved from Egypt, one of the last things they had to do was smear the blood of a lamb on all their door posts. The lamb was sacrificed so that they would not have to die, but could go on the the promised land.

In the new testament, Jesus is called the lamb and he was sacrificed so that all people would not have to die but live on after death. The promised land (Canan) in the old testament, is like heaven in the new testament.

In the old testament, before Jesus came, the people had not other ways of getting their sins cleansed, so they had to do specific things, like not eat certain things or making sacrifices. However, when Jesus came and was crucified, this automatically took away the sins of everyone who believes he is the son of God, so the other methods were not needed.


My personal opinion about God telling the people they were not allowed to eat certain meat , such as pork was not only for religious reasons. In those days, pigs roamed free and ate anything and came in contact with a lot of diseases, so if humans were to eat the pigs, they would get those diseases. But because God understands all this, and in those times, not much was known about medicine and microorganisms, God protected the people by giving them certain rules to live by, such as the one about not eating pork.

Isn't God smart? lol

Hope i could help!

Answer 4

In the old testament was a set of rule and regulations like eating kosher food for better hearth of God's people and circumcision on boys to be set apart ( God's covenant with the Jewish people ). Salvation in the Exodus, in pass over with the blood of a lamb.

In the new testament all this laws, rules and regulation were abolish in Jesus. The old testament was a foreshadow of what was to come. Salvation on the believe in Jesus, that he was and is the same lamb of the Exodus for the salvation not only the Jews but for all mankind.

Answer 5

I am assuming that by "changes in the Bible" you mean the historical changes and revisions that have occurred over the past 1700 years or so, and not shifts of viewpoint from one book to another.

That being said, there are two general ways that historical changes are explained by believers. The first way is that they view the Bible as a living document containing many truths and wisdom, but that can be reviewed and changed as new understandings are gained by humanity. This, they view, is watched over by God, so that the message stays consistant with the times and cultures that the Bible is presented in.

This view makes it a relatively simple thing to correct errors in translation, cultural misunderstandings of events in the ancient past, and new scholarship that unveils new truths about what really happened back in those days that could be very important to our understanding of the Divine.

The second general way that "religious believers" explain changes in the Bible is that of "pretend they never happened." This view is, of course, patently absurd, as we have extensive historical documentation, including different versions of the bible from different time periods, that prove such changes unequivocably. This way is prevalent in such extreme right-wing denominations, primarily of protestant Christianity, who espouse the idea of "Biblical Inerrancy".

Biblical Inerrancy is the belief that the Bible is the Literal and Exact word of God.. that the entire book was directly dictated by the Divine, and that every word in it is 100% literal, correct, infallible, and unchanging. Such persons who hold this belief will swear to you against all evidence, logic, or reason that "The Bible" has always been one document, unchanged in the slightest from 2000+ years ago, and cannot be questioned, interpreted, or altered.

This has not a small segment of believers, either. As evidence, I submit the following. The Southern Baptist Convention, which is the largest organized body of Christians in the USA with over 16 million members, holds elections within the church for their President.. And for the last 20 years or so, every winning candidate has run upon a platform of "Biblical Inerrancy".

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

The Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures is among other things a record of the early history of the Israelites/Jews. It documents dietry, sanitry and other regulations given to them by God {the Mosaic Law contained not just ten but in fact over three hundred laws}.The Jews as Gods {then} chosen people had to abide by these laws to enjoy His favour.

The New Testement or Christian Greek Scriptures is a record of the history of the early Christian congregation. The Apostle Paul stated at Romans 7:6,7 "Now we have been discharged from the Law". Christians, both Jews and Gentiles were not under obligation to observe the Law, as they were now separate and distinct from {religious} Jews.

Answer 7

The difference betweeen the Old Testament and the New Testament is Jesus Christ. Christ has always been----he is the second member of the Trinity. Read Romans chapter 8, particularly verse 3. Jesus Christ brought us a better way than the law in order to achieve salvation. He has done all the work for us at the cross---he died for our sins once and for all and for all time. When he died for you he died for me and for all those that will come after us. All we have to do is believe on his completed work at the cross. The Old Testament was salvation by works and adherence to the law. God was never satisfied with this. The law paved the way for the coming of Christ. The law is still the law---God has never rescinded the law, for whatever God puts in place is permenant. God never changes his truth, but through Jesus God provided a better way. Jesus is the final step in God's plan for the salvation of humankind---this will never change. Even during the time of the great tribulation when the church will have been taken away from the earth, Jesus will still be the way to everlasting life. The key to your answer is that the Old Testament prepared the way for the coming of Christ. It is through Jesus that the law and the prophets are fulfilled. He is the Son of God and the Son of man, 100% God and 100% man. No one can called themselves saved unless they believe this. God bless you and I pray in the name of Jesus for success in your homework assignment. Feel free to address this forum anytime that you need help.

Answer 8

The Israelites were under the Mosaic Law Covenant. They agreed to obey the set laws for morals, religion, hygiene and government. Their sins were atoned for with the blood of animals, which was a temporary cover.

When Jesus died, as the curse for Israel, since they were cursed, because it was impossible for them to keep the Law Covenant perfectly,..that day the law covenant ended, and an outward display of that, was when the curtain to the Most Holy was ripped in the Temple, by divine means.

Jesus blood, now became the validation for the Kingdom Covenant.

When there was a problem with the Christians, over whether or not to continue circumcision for them, the Apostles and Older men met in Jerusalem. Upon much discussion, disputing and prayer, the holy spirit directed them to only keep four debatable laws from the Jewish Law Covenant,

Acts 15:20 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourself from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. (read whole chapter)

Now, circumcision was no longer required for God's approval, and the eating of all foods including fat was allowed.

The Law for the Israelites also included government laws, whereas Christians are subject to the Laws of their countries, as long as they do not overrule God's Laws. Romans 13:1-7

Answer 9

Not being christened should not hinder you from going to a minister or priest for advice here. Or, better a professor of religion.

My opinion is that the NT is a made up addition to the bible, that was written to get followers, not to give them objections to joining. The writers wrote to please possible converts, not scare them away. It is a fabrication, I think. This went on throughout all of the translations, and mistranslations of the Bible.

Then, I do not accept what you call the NT. It is not part of the Holy Scriptures.

Answer 10

Jesus cut a New Covenant with us with His blood. We are no more under the the Old Testament (law) but under the New Testament (grace).

In the bible, it is written that when there is a change in the High Priest there is a change in law. Jesus is now our High Priest. Now and forevermore.