A Couple Of Questions For Christians, But Anyone Can Answer?
1. Jesus say that there is only One God
Christians say Jesus is also God, so Jesus was born, was circumcised, ate, slept, cried, grew etc,
so was God born to a human woman, was circumcised, ate slept, cried, grew etc?
2. Jesus had 4 brothers and un-named sisters in the bible, so how exactly was Mary a perpetual virgin?
3. Why did Jesus call his mother “woman” (John 2:4) in the same manner he addresses a prostitute in John 8:10? Doesn’t the ten commandments say “honour thy mother and thy father”?
4. Why was Jesus ignorant of the seasons (Mark 11:13)?
5. Why does the bible literally portray God as a Barber? (Isaiah 7:20)
6. Why does the bible say God uses cherubs i.e. small angels as transport? (2 Samuel 22:11)
7. What is exactly is the bread and wine ritual, because a friend told me it is Jesus’s literal body that they eat and blood that they drink, I just thought that sounded a little like vampirism or something but out of respect didn’t say anything about it, so could you please explain?
Thanks in Advance, I am just trying to understand it, so any answers to these questions will be much appreciated
Tags: Answer, Anyone, Christians, couple, Questions
May 12th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
The answers are yes.
4. Jesus was yelling curses at the fig tree, not realizing it wasn’t yet time for figs. Why, because he wasn’t paying attention, and he had a problem with anger management.
7. God’s son wants you to symbolically eat his flesh. It was supposed to be symbolic only, but some people took it to extremes.
May 12th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
There re those that say they do and have the audacity to say god speaks to them but nobody understands the bible. The elder of a church told me we weren’t supposed to.
May 12th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Looking forward to some of the excuses that are gonna come flooding in
May 13th, 2011 at 1:24 am
I do not have a reference to look up verses at this time, so I will answer the ones that I can for now:
1. Jesus was a manifestation of God as a member of the Godhead. He humbled himself to come among us as a man – but the primary nature of God is spirit, not human.
2. Mary was not a perpetual virgin. She was only a virgin until after Jesus was born, at which point she and her husband lived as man and wife, having other children.
3. How exactly did he address her like a prostitute? The term “woman” does not have that automatic connotation.
6. Cherubs in the Bible are not small angels, as they are portrayed in popular culture. Biblical cherubs are strong, beautiful, and majestic winged creatures. (Side note – Satan was a cherub by the name of Lucifer before his fall. His duties included covering/guarding over the throne of God and leading the other angelic beings in worship of God. Not jobs for a tiny cupid-like being.)
7. It is not his literal body and blood – that is a false doctrine. He was explaining an important theological concept using the bread and wine symbolically as his flesh and blood. The bread and wine were and always are bread and wine.
May 13th, 2011 at 4:45 am
1) Yes, God became human. It’s rather the point. Mind you, this is not uncommon in religious mythologies.
2) Mostly, by fiat of the Romans, who found her to be a useful substitute for the Goddess Diana. They just ignored or censored the rest of the family. Think of poor Joseph.
3) The idea is that Jesus could ignore the rules, being sinless. He’s pretty violent in John, which was written last of all the gospels chosen for inclusion in the Bible.
4) In theory, to make a point. What that point is varies depending on religious tradition.
5) Well, he does know the number of hairs on your head.
6) It’s an entourage. All the Kings had them, so it’s only natural that the authors would conclude that God had them, too.
7. Two words: Ritual Cannibalism. This is also a common thing in ancient religious mythology. Blood is considered to be the source of power, consuming the blood transfers that power to the consumer. Whether communion is actual or symbolic depends upon your sect.
May 13th, 2011 at 5:14 am
1. Jesus say that there is only One God
Christians say Jesus is also God, so Jesus was born, was circumcised, ate, slept, cried, grew etc,
so was God born to a human woman, was circumcised, ate slept, cried, grew etc?
There is one God in 3 persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary by child of the Holy Spirit
2. Jesus had 4 brothers and un-named sisters in the bible, so how exactly was Mary a perpetual virgin?
Mary was a virgin prior to the birth of Jesus – the Bible says that Mary had other children after the birth of Jesus. But Mary will always be referred to as the Virgin Mary – the Mother of Christ
3. Why did Jesus call his mother “woman” (John 2:4) in the same manner he addresses a prostitute in John 8:10? Doesn’t the ten commandments say “honour thy mother and thy father”?
This probably has a lot to do with culture ‘
4. Why was Jesus ignorant of the seasons (Mark 11:13)?
He most likely was not ignorant of the seasons at all – it is obvious from Scripture that
Jesus was all seeing and all knowing – that he knew everything
5. Why does the bible literally portray God as a Barber? (Isaiah 7:20)
I don’t know
6. Why does the bible say God uses cherubs i.e. small angels as transport? (2 Samuel 22:11)
I don’t know exactly why – but this word picture is used many times in Scripture
7. What is exactly is the bread and wine ritual, because a friend told me it is Jesus’s literal body that they eat and blood that they drink, I just thought that sounded a little like vampirism or something but out of respect didn’t say anything about it, so could you please explain?
Different churches interpret this differently and it is important for you to know exactly what this means before you take communion. I would challenge you to ask different pastors what this means – a Catholic priest may give you a different answer than a Baptist minister.
Thanks in Advance, I am just trying to understand it, so any answers to these questions will be much appreciated
May 13th, 2011 at 10:10 am
1. Yes, true dat
2. Virgin means young girl.. who cares if she wanted to be called young girl all her life. Women get cosmetic surgery all the time .
3. Honoring your momma doesn’t mean you kiss her bottom all the time. It means you make sure she has food. You don’t leave her in a flat to starve or kick her around. The bible says to honor your father and mother that the days of your life may be long on this earth quoting the Old Testament. If your mother says don’t step in front of that camel, obey her or you will be dead. This is common sense. Jesus made sure his mother was cared for and gave her care to one of his disciples when he was crucified. That is treating her honorably.
4.Jesus wasn’t ignorant of the seasons. Why do atheists think the Bible is the same as God talking ?
We know the first compilation of the Bible was many years after Jesus so how did Christians manage without the Bible to tell them what to think? They heard the voice of God . Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and will not heed the voice of the strange shepherd. They will be hearing other voices , too.
5. Barbering is an honorable profession and so is being a carpenter. At least he is not a politician.
6. Because they get really low mileage and need no mechanical upgrades.
7. Twilight and the vampire legends are all influenced by the taking of communion. Yes, some people believe the wine is becomes the actual blood of Jesus and the bread becomes the actual body of Jesus. Some do not . What does it actually matter? Some people think we are actual vines and branches and use fertilizer on us , too.
I don’t think God cares about doctrine . He said the most important commandment is the one that says to love God and your neighbor with all your heart , soul and might and in doing so you fulfill all the commandments. You can’t go wrong with that and the rest is just debating the details and everyone knows the devil is in the details.
May 13th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
It seems like you have found a list of issues attempting discredit Christians belief in the bible.
Most of these questions are irrelevant to mainstream Christian’s beliefs about the bible. They presume a very literal interpretation of the bible in order for them to be problematic.
I’m a mainstream Christian, BTW, so I will answer them based on that perspective.
>> 1. Jesus say that there is only One God Christians say Jesus is also God, so Jesus was born, was circumcised, ate, slept, cried, grew etc, so was God born to a human woman, was circumcised, ate slept, cried, grew etc?
We believe that Jesus was _both_ human and God. So, he did all the stuff humans do.
>> 2. Jesus had 4 brothers and un-named sisters in the bible, so how exactly was Mary a perpetual virgin?
I think that’s a Catholic teaching. I’m a Protestant, so I don’t even believe it.
>> 3. Why did Jesus call his mother “woman” (John 2:4) in the same manner he addresses a prostitute in John 8:10? Doesn’t the ten commandments say “honour thy mother and thy father”?
Without digging out my Greek bible, I don’t think the term “woman” has a prostitute connotation about it. He was short with his mother, in that passage but that’s not dis-honor in how I read it.
>> 4. Why was Jesus ignorant of the seasons (Mark 11:13)?
Jesus did not come to teach science. So, he made no attempt to challenge and correct the 1st Century understanding of the weather, the shape of the Earth, etc.
>> 5. Why does the bible literally portray God as a Barber? (Isaiah 7:20)
Clearly it’s not literal. It’s prophetic speech, which uses lots of metaphors.
>> 6. Why does the bible say God uses cherubs i.e. small angels as transport? (2 Samuel 22:11)
The ancient people’s had a very physical view of the heavens. As I understand it, they believed that the inner rings of heavens started at about the cloud level. That’s why the people of Babel thought they could build a tower to get there! Or a ladder in the case of Jacob. They also believed that the angels could travel between the various rings of heaven.
>> 7. What is exactly is the bread and wine ritual, because a friend told me it is Jesus’s literal body that they eat and blood that they drink, I just thought that sounded a little like vampirism or something but out of respect didn’t say anything about it, so could you please explain?
Again, this is more of a Catholic teaching. We Protestants view it as symbolic.
I also think, in practice, most Catholics take communion symbolically as well.
What is it? We use the term “communion” because we believe the ritual ties together the church, which is often called “The body of Christ.”
May 13th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
The understanding of the trinity is this; God is the one who gives the command, Jesus is the one who performs it and the Holy Spirit is the one who brings the power. Three different parts working in tandem.
2. Catholics actually worship Mary as a virgin, she didn’t remain a virgin and wasn’t holy just a normal human being.
3. Jesus wasn’t being disrespectful, this was how women were addressed in that community. Calling her this also distanced Himself from the world in order for Him to carry out the purpose for which He was sent to earth.
4. What He did was a lesson to show the disciples that they had the power to do anything. He wasn’t being ignorant.
5. It’s a prophecy so not literal though it means that He will take away what the people hold dear to them .
6. A cherub to God is not a baby like how it is in the myths. Its a Cherubim angel the heavenly guards with distinct features who serve God.
7. The bread and wine ceremony (not ritual) again is a symbol. It isn’t literal blood and literal body parts. Its bread and wine (or grape juice) it’s supposed to remind us of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Its not supposed to be cannibalistic just a symbol.
May 14th, 2011 at 2:12 am
1. yes – Jesus had two natures one divine and the other human- Jesus was fully God and fully man.
2. She was not- that is a DOCTRINE of the Catholic church and it is not scriptural.
3. You have to understand the culture of that day- in those times to call a female “woman” was a very high praise. Jesus was showing both honor when he did that.
4. Jesus knew the seasons he was making a point. A tree is known by its fruits if a tree is not bearing fruit – how does anyone know it? Think about this or I will start preaching!
5. This was a symbol of humiliation. Hired refers to Ahaz’s foolish idea of paying Assyria to save him from the from the alliance of Syria and Israel.
6. look at this in context with vs 7-25 – this describes active intervention inn terms reminiscent of His appearance to Moses at Mt Sinai.
7.That is Holy Communion or the Lords Supper or the Eucharist. Your friend is Catholic and that belief is called transubstantiation. The protestant belief is that the bread symbolizes Jesus body and the juice or wine ( some churches use grape juice) is symbolic of Jesus blood. The point is it is a remembrance of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. And that is what is important.
The Protestant view is called Consubstantiation.
May 14th, 2011 at 5:02 am
1. Jesus was God in human form to experience all temptation, avoid sin and provide Himself as the perfect sacrifice to put away the sins of the world for all time.
2. She wasn’t. That is a Catholic doctrine and has no historical basis.
3. To God, all women are His friends and He honors them with truth. Mary was more than Jesus’ mother, she was a daughter of God, and Jesus addressed her as not just a mother of flesh, but a woman/sister in Spirit. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons (and daughters) of God, even to them that believe on His name:”—John 1:12, KJV
4. The fig tree was a symbol of Israel. It was God’s expectation that the godly be instant in and OUT of season. The expectation of fruit was not even there on the tree (pre-fig bud) so this particular tree was barren, not just out of season.(Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 9:10, 16; Nahum 3:12 & Luke 13:6-9)
5. Metaphor for razing the ground of Israel—as they and their wealth are taken into captivity by Babylon.
6. You don’t wonder about smoke and blazing coals coming from God’s nostrils but you scratch your head on His riding on winged creatures? It’s all vision and metaphor.
7. For Catholics, it is the literal body and blood. For Protestants, it is a remembrance of His life, death and sacrifice for our sins. Partake of the last supper in remembrance of Him. Jesus made the bread and wine a metaphor for the blood He would shed, and the body that would be broken hours later on the cross. Why the Catholics turn it into some occult ritual is beyond my ability to reason. Nothing against Catholics, I just think Popes are a tired facsimile of the High Priest (Jesus) who is my advocate before the Father.
May 14th, 2011 at 9:08 am
1. Jesus was human and God, he became flesh through the holy spirit and his Gold nature was hidden. He did miricle through the holy spirit not because he is God. It is after he rose from the dead that he revealed his God nature. Then he was called Jesus Christ.
2. Mary was still a virgin when he gave birth to Jesus. She wasn’t forever virgin.
3. Well, because Mary is using him for her benifit. Do remember that Jesus treated everyone equally, that includes his mother.
4.because he is not of this world. (you can google it for the answer)
5. It is a metaphor!
6. Why are you taking the bible literally??
7. Jesus would die for them so he showed the disciple to remember him by taking the communion. There are alot more spiritual meaning in it such as Jesus becoming aprat of youu and so on but you won’t understand that yet.
May 14th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
For question number 1, I would like to quote a scripture at John 17:3. In this verse, Jesus is speaking and he says: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God (whose name is Jehovah) and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” So we see that
Jehovah is God and Jesus is his son. They are not a part of a trinity because at Psalms 83:18 is says: “That people may know that you, whose name is JEHOVAH, you alone are the most high over all the earth”. Note that only Jehovah God holds this position as most high king…Jesus name is not mentioned.
I also wanted to address your question about the virgin Mary. Please take note that Mary was a virgin before she met Joseph, who was an Israelite or Jew. After she married Joseph and had children she was NO LONGER the virgin Mary….
May 14th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Christians have the wrong idea of God and bad translations of texts have skewed concepts out of context. It’s why you’ll find difference in various bibles and none compare to the actual scripts held in the Vatican.
Jesus had no blood brothers or sisters Joseph and Mary had families and it’s from these that we get the claims. But again it’s obscure in Christianity what the relationship really was if there was one. Calling someone brother, father or sister was a sign of respect in those days.
“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” (John 2:4) The term woman here does not signify reproof and unless you have an understanding of other languages (like me) you wouldn’t know what is actually being said. Today it would be translated as “Ack go away and leave me alone.”
However, in John 8-10 it’s a different context. (Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”) It would be translated today as “No one is throwing stones or baying for your blood so your free to go, what are you waiting for?” and this confirmed in the next verse “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Your forgetting that grammar is different in old languages.
Mark11:13 you’ve got to read before and after the verse to understand what is going on. Jesus comes to Jerusalem to the temple and walks around and sees all the stuff going on. Without waiting he goes out to Bethany, then out from Bethany hungry.
So basically Jesus hasn’t eaten and slept for a day and a half and has been travelling too. So seeing a fig tree, hunger and tiredness will naturally make you forgetful and he does curse the tree in the next verse. Then he goes to Jerusalem to have a go at the people in the temple.
There is also a school of thought that this isn’t actually happening but is symbolism. The fig tree is a Jewish symbol and Jesus finding it barren and fruitless like the Jews then is why he takes the steps he takes.
In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River–the king of Assyria–to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. (Isaiah 7:20)
This is symbolism and again if you don’t know Semitic languages or analogies you’ll make mistakes. Having your beard shaved against your will is a sign of disgrace. So it’s a fancy way of saying God will bring mercenaries (from the king of Assyria) to defeat you.
2 Samuel 22:11 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. Again it’s a poetic figure of speech for how fast
The bread and wine is not really that significant. But to make Jesus divine it has been made too much out of. In fact what Jesus was speaking about is the actual ritual of remembering God and keeping together. The bread and wine are just the reason to get together.
I’m a former Christian by the way.