Pauline Letters to the church.

[DeistPaladin]

The Pauline epistles were letters to the church from Paul telling them what to do on orders from god.

Weren't the church members praying already? Wasn't god already talking to them?

It does seem strange that the churches needed such advice considering that, only several years prior, god-incarnate was walking the earth telling everyone what's what. However, it does seem like the early Christians split off into numerous and radically different factions with varying theological ideas so diverse as to make modern Christian vs. Islam seem like petty nit-picking.

Echoes of this early struggle are found in the Bible itself.

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

It is believed that John was addressing the issue of the Docetic Christians, those who believed that Jesus was but an apparition. Apparently, Jesus didn't make much clear to his followers and needed Paul to clean up after him.

[Brakeman]

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

It is believed that John was addressing the issue of the Docetic Christians, those who believed that Jesus was but an apparition. Apparently, Jesus didn't make much clear to his followers and needed Paul to clean up after him.

So jesus was imperfect in that he could not foresee and then speak on all topics that would be relevant to the church. Jesus left a lot of things out that had to be covered later by "inspired" anonymous authors.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Again that is what the bible is for. To help one to discern God's word/Expressed will from the expressed will/word of any other source.

You miss my point, I think. Scripture says that God intentionally deceives people. That being case, how is one to know the source of communication - it could be Satan, or it could be God forcing you to believe something that is false.

Boru

[Minimalist]

I suspect ole saul.paul is as much a literary creation as fucking jesus.

[Drich]

A) By what means (through which medium) does satan mimic the holy spirit?

He pretends to be an angel of Light. As with Joey and Mo-ham.

B) Do you have evidence that satan deluded your two aforementioned 'prophets'?

The fact that their doctrine differs from the Doctrine established in the bible. Think about it before you appeal to the knee jerk atheist argument here.

---

Again that is what the bible is for. To help one to discern God's word/Expressed will from the expressed will/word of any other source.

You miss my point, I think. Scripture says that God intentionally deceives people. That being case, how is one to know the source of communication - it could be Satan, or it could be God forcing you to believe something that is false.

Boru

show me the scripture in which you speak and let's put in into it's proper context.

[Esquilax]

The fact that their doctrine differs from the Doctrine established in the bible. Think about it before you appeal to the knee jerk atheist argument here.

And how do you know the reverse isn't true?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

show me the scripture in which you speak and let's put in into it's proper context.

2 Thessalonians 2:11:

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

The context is that people who don't love the truth will be further deceived by God in order that they shall never, EVER be saved: no redemption, no chance to make atonement for sins committed - God deludes them specifically to prevent any chance of salvation. This strikes me as pretty odd behavior for a God who wants ALL people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, in case you were wondering).

But I digress. Given the above, how can you determine if your religious beliefs are what God actually wants you to believe, or if God is making you believe a lie for the express purpose of damning you?

Boru

[Godscreated]

show me the scripture in which you speak and let's put in into it's proper context.

2 Thessalonians 2:11:

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

The context is that people who don't love the truth will be further deceived by God in order that they shall never, EVER be saved: no redemption, no chance to make atonement for sins committed - God deludes them specifically to prevent any chance of salvation. This strikes me as pretty odd behavior for a God who wants ALL people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, in case you were wondering).

But I digress. Given the above, how can you determine if your religious beliefs are what God actually wants you to believe, or if God is making you believe a lie for the express purpose of damning you?

Boru

Satan lies to destroy the church or individuals, God causing one to believe a lie is to protect the church and He would not delude someone He knows later would have accepted Christ as savior. Deceiving someone is not always a bad thing, such as the case of protecting the church, the ones who will be in heaven, or to give others the opportunity to come to salvation through Christ.

GC

[Esquilax]

Satan lies to destroy the church or individuals, God causing one to believe a lie is to protect the church and He would not delude someone He knows later would have accepted Christ as savior. Deceiving someone is not always a bad thing, such as the case of protecting the church, the ones who will be in heaven, or to give others the opportunity to come to salvation through Christ.

GC

Good to know that you'll lie in service to your religion, GC.

[freedomfromforum]