Bible Trivia?? From an Atheist?

Question

Ok here is an easy one Jesus says in Matthew 13:31
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field,Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Which of the Following is a True statement
A.) Jesus being the son of god should know that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world...He probably shoulda asked his dad about that one.
B.) The Smallest Seed is infact the epiphytic Orchid seed.
C.) Jesus wasn't really the son of god so he naturally could make a mistake
D.) Mustard seeds don't make trees
E.) All of the Above

hey California Chick....your response makes me smile....Read my profile, I Don't hold your angry answer against you. I forgive you.

Hey dansweaza, Good points but I have researched it and the original translation in hebrew and greek is infact the Smallest. Least means smallest in thoes days. But at least you thought logically about your answers

Reynolds C. Jones, uhhhh good answer...I guess...but G was no an option. kinda backs up my theory that Christians Create things if they don't fit their set of beliefs.

Answer 1

E, Ha-ha!

Answer 2

That's a good question but I think you're getting caught up on the words and missing the application. Jesus used parables as one pointers to explain a point to people.

Heaven is like: The Mustard seed (something very small) but becomes something very great (a tree)

I have never heard of the epiphytic orchid seed, and the people Jesus was talking too may not have either, or the epiphytic orchid seed may not have turned into something great like a tree, so it might not have fit into the parable, but its the meaning of the parable that is important.

I think its great that you are seeking some answers, the bible says "Seek and you shall find", keep searching, its worth the effort to find the truth. Jesus has provided the way for all to have an opportunity to get to Heaven by dieing on the cross for their sins, accepting that free gift is the only way to get to Heaven. I'm scared for so many people that will reject Christ and spend an eternity burning in Hell. I hope that you will find the answer in time because one day it will be to late.

Answer 3

A.) "least" doesn't = "smallest." Check into that one.
B.) See above (or assume he was talking within the context of the known world)
C.) Possible. But, this is hardly the "mistake" you claim it is.
D.) "tree" doesn't = a massive oak with trunk, branches, and roots. (Or assume He was speaking colloquially to make a point).
E. None of the above.

EDIT @ OP:

I do not doubt your intelligence or credentials. However, I am also seminary trained and understand the Greek and Hebrew (and Aramaic in a few spots, no?) The word translated "least" does not have to mean smallest in the "size" sense of the word, but can also mean "least" in the sense of "value."

One understanding would be that Jesus was saying that mustard seeds are a dime a dozen (least) but cultivating them into mature and useful plants makes them much, much more valuable in arid desert climate (greatest).

Even failing this, Jesus was again speaking of the known world. Why would Jesus bother to teach about the epiphytic orchid seed if He had only three years to apprentice his followers?

Answer 4

G. The Bible is not the Word of God -- and did not exist in any recognizable form until the Council of Carthage approved a motion from the Synod of Hippo, and was not approved by the Pope until approaching 400 AD. The books of the Bible were selected by a vote of bishops -- in an attempt to "support" the doctrines of the Council of Nicea, many years before.

Christianity, despite the mindless murmurings of the fundamentalists did NOT start with the Bible, there are no autographs thereof. It started as a Eucharistic faith centered around belief in a probably (though not necessarily) historic figure, the figure of Jesus Christ.

Faith in Christ and Eucharist were what made a Christian in 65 AD (the earliest fragments of the Eucharistic prayer than we have found date to 65). Faith in Christ and Eucharist are what make a Christian in 2007.

Loving one another without judgment also helps.

Kind regards,

Reynolds C. Jones
http://www.rebuff.org
[e-mail]

Gladiator -- Yes, actually in EVERY SINGLE FRAGMENT we have of the original, the words used DO mean least -- which translates to smallest. The modern language transliterations that use phrases like "the smallest of the seeds you use" are inserting words that CANNOT be supported by ANY fragment we possess -- they are quite literally, lying, to try to make the Bible infallible when in fact, it is not. I recommend to you Dr. Bart Ehrman's book "Misquoting Jesus: Who changed the Bible and why" From Harper Collins.

PPS Response to your response to me -- I am a tenured professional member of faculty with teaching responsibilities at a major University, my terminal degree is focused on the effects of technology on society (Futurism) and is a Master's degree -- there being no doctorate in the field at the time I was finishing (I'm not sure there is one now); I am presently working on an additional terminal degree in Educational Technology (an Ed.D with dissertation this time). That I say by way of background, so that you understand the pedagogical perspective I am coming from.

I would expect, that if I were to include a question on a multiple choice test -- that a student who saw an additional answer -- one that I had not thought of, but which, regardless of my personal views, was supportable from the actual available facts, and who entered that answer by hand -- as he did not agree that it was less valid, and perhaps thought it was more valid that the ones that I had entered, would find me proud of his ability to think critically, of his initiative, and of his willingness to challenge my authority and think freely for himself.

Note that I did not say that I would react that way, nor should a student expect me to -- if said student departs from a defensible thesis.

I did not depart from a defensible thesis. Everything I said can easily be established as fact. I did depart from the particular views you wanted considered -- but I did not go outside the facts.

I did not even assert that indeed there was a god that you had to believe in. I follow the gospel of inclusion, not the gospel of exclusion. I do not think anyone is lost, whether they believe in God or not, so I have no need to do such things. I in fact did nothing to offend you - I just left the script, which was really, I suspect, that all Christians had to be offended by things like the example you gave, and attempt to defend the myths from the Bible as fact.

Quite literally, I again, suspect, I gave you a new perspective which included knowledge that you did not have (most main-liners don't proselytize, so why would you have it?)

Why then did you, while acknowledging that my answer was reasonable, feel compelled to try to slam me in some way? Do you not want people to think critically and come to their own conclusions? I certainly do.

It is an interesting thought experiment, I would hope that you will consider it further. My life partner (who is a biochemist by training, though not by actual vocation - he ended up in a different medically related field) used to be an atheist (he is now Wiccan, from an organized temple nearby who have a building and all) has always said that some atheists are nearly as narrow as fundamentalists. If you are one of them, I particularly hope you think about what I've said, and what your reaction was.

Peace.

Answer 5

The Answer is actually F:

Jesus really, really like mustard, and kept trying to find ways to incorporate it into his ministry.

Sometimes, he was more successful at it than others, but he really wanted to get the whole mustard seed as parable thing going.

Answer 6

Whistle ears - the passage does not claim that the mustard seed is the smallest - you claimed it - one with brain size if epiphytic Orchid seed.

You cannot comprehend the passage you typed out.

Your feet hot? They will be!

Answer 7

E!! Anyone with a brain knows that! Hey Gummy....Guess what your name rymes with?

Answer 8

F.) None of the above

Answer 9

ok, fisrt of all god is god and created the world so who are you to make fun of what he created. if you only believeed and got saved you would know!

Answer 10

E.)

Do I win??

CRAP!! Someone won before me. I suck....