Recent activity from MrsSpooner§↻

Are you working your way through Mark's gospel, MrsSpooner?

Yep, trying too, it is being preached through at church atm! Am enjoying it so far, and using a commentary to help understanding and context.

I like Mark a lot. It intrigues me that although Mark's is a much shorter account, he often gives more details than Matthew. (For example, compare Mark 5:1-20 to Matthew 8:28-34). Far more details are given by Mark.

Of course, it's incumbent on me to point out, that Mark refers to only one man, and Matthew to two. I say with all my heart, however, that I consider this to be the infallible Word of God. I make every effort to receive it in that manner. I believe that it is presented to me in the manner in which God has determined and ordained.

Matthew was actually one of Jesus' disciples; so for him, this is an eye-witness account. In Mark's case, according to early church tradition, he was an associate of Peter, and so, perhaps, he got his information second-hand via Peter.

I guess it comes down to what you mean by infallible. Some people, unfortunately, believe that the Bible is without mistake (i.e., inerrancy). Even a casual foray into biblical interpretation will show that there are many, many scribal errors and post-biblical corrections in the ancient manuscripts. Indeed, given the writing conditions for many of these manuscripts, it is not unsurprising that there are over 200,000 spelling and word errors alone (F.F. Bruce addresses many of these in his books, most notably in "The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?"). The true definition of infallibility is that the Bible is useful for all matters of Christian faith and practice. A document can have errors in it and still overall be trustworthy. Every historical document has errors in it (especially if it has ever been copied) but we still trust their historical narratives today. [As a side note for those concerned with the above revelation, none of these errors or additions add or remove doctrines that do not already exist in the Bible. One can (and should) trust that the text of the Bible we read today is within 98% accurate to the oldest copies of the manuscripts known to exist.]

Frankly, the fact that there are differing opinions about this story points to the fact that the story actually occurred. In other words, if the early Church made up the gospels as some people surmise, one would expect these annoying little differences to be adjusted in the final product. The presence of these differences shows that real people wrote these accounts, but they just happened to remember them differently. Given that the first gospels began to show up 20-30 years after the events described, this is also not unsurprising.

Joosep, your determination about first hand vs. second hand accounts is probably the cause of this discrepancy. Or perhaps the two authors just remembered the details differently. The brain has a way of changing the little details we remember over time. I saw a documentary about people who had experienced 9/11 in the same house as it was happening live on TV. They brought them together years later, and the producers found that people in the same room watching the same broadcasts had widely different remembrances of the events that occurred. None of them, however, disputed that 9/11 happened. Perhaps it is the same thing here.

When I said "infallible" I mean that it has come to us precisely as our Heavenly Father determined and ordained. I'm deliberately choosing to exercise a child-like faith here.

I'm referring to the infallibility of God. He, in His own wisdom, permitted Matthew to refer to two individuals while Mark referred to one individual. He permitted that to take place, and it is my trust and faith that His choice in doing so was and is infallible.

I've also had a similar thought in the past, onfire, that seeming discrepancies do help confirm the fact that these events actually happened and that the accounts written by each author were greatly valued.

It's also worth considering that the actual event was not an orderly sane and sanitized sequence as we might imagine it. If you put the two accounts together, Jesus got out of the boat. He was immediately met by either one or two insane men. These men were "so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way" according to Matthew. This man (or these men) had the habit of "screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones", according to Mark. He (or they) ran up to Jesus and bowed down to Him and shouted "with a loud voice", according to Mark. It was a whirlwind and frightening event. To me it's quite believable indeed that two witnesses would remember something so intensely emotional and frightening with different details, i.e., Matthew says two men, Mark says one.

Thanks for your input, onfire!

I erred here, Mark of course was most likely not a witness at all, but he did get his information from someone who was a witness, quite possibly Peter.

Your continued dedication is an inspiration for us all. Congrats!

That's wonderful. It's such a good feeling to see those verses get finished.

Fantastic. 90 gems in your heart.

It's a great tool isn't it. I agree. Well done on remembering all those verses PeterP

Congratulations onfire247, great to see this milestone after such dedicated learning.

Absolutely 👍

Great work onfire247- feeling very pleased for you!

Fantastic work 💪

👍

Thank you. Your encouragement is wonderful

Well done, MrsSpooner! You are equipping yourself well with the armor of God.

Yes, God bless you as you wield the sword of the Spirit to His glory!

Agree! Lots of time in the word is a glorious thing!

Thank you. Your encouragement is wonderful

That's awesome, MrsSpooner! Thanks for sticking around with us!

Thank you

Wonderful to have so many verses come to that stage. Rejoicing with you.

Very nice! You're getting there and God is blessed by how you turn your attention to Him.

Wow, what an accomplishment!

So happy for you, MrsSpooner! Bravo!

Thank you

Absolutely, I'm learning kjv, so will probably have to make my own mnemonics.

Enjoy Romans 5- I still find this particular chapter very hard to remember!

Well done joosep such faithful scripture learning! You remain a great example and encouragement to us all.
May God bless you in your commitment and with the verses of the bible learnt.

Fantastic achievement

Welcome

Great work onfire247- keep going!!!

How interesting folks, I can share your frustration sometimes onfire247, in fact the more verses I learn, the less well I know each of them! I feel like my fingers have learnt them to type, but not to say.. which is a shame.
Personally benefits include... (after 18 months)some structure to my quiet bible times ( often I will follow up on verses I have learnt in a bid to understand the context more)
Better bible knowledge for discussion with others in church, I find it easier to discuss Christ and the cross, Christ is quicker to my thoughts and lips in everyday conversations.
Peace as joosep says.
On a good day when I am muttering verses to myself it feels like the scripture is part of me, flowing through me.
My children watch and sometimes help me remember verses.
Many more I'm sure......

Amazing - glad it's going well

Well done Heidi.

Absolutely Joosep, can't beat reading the bible every day. The very best habit!

Fantastic.. its a great feeling isn't it after all that learning. Be blessed.

😁

Incredible!!! Fantastic- be blessed by these verses and your hard work.

Thanks, will try it!

Really helpful.. Good to know its not just me that struggles sometimes.. and some new ideas to try.👍

Yes, that's a really good point actually. I struggle with the out of context verses, and often opt to test all verses in a passage.

Thanks joosep.. I may try this. Sounds very time consuming, but worthwhile.

I find the same TheMoviegoer...

I've just finished (well not fully learned) Mark 1- enjoy....

Strong start Bholton, well done.

Brilliant onfire247- your hard work is paying off, I pray each verse is a blessing to you.

Congratulations 👏

Thank you Symota, love my learn scripture brothers and sisters in Christ

Thanks 😊

Thank you for your support!

Oh... sweet! 70 gems Awesome. Singing praises and jumping with great JOY!

It takes a lot of patience. Praise the Lord, and keep moving forward.

Thank you for your support!

That's awesome, MrsSpooner! Keep knocking those verses out!

Thanks 😊

Congratulations, MrsSpooner! Perseverance reaps many blessings. 👏🏽

Thank you Symota, love my learn scripture brothers and sisters in Christ

Welcome Caleb. Many blessings as your learn bible verses.