Let's conduct a hypothetical experiment. Suppose we gather together 50 people all wearing wristwatches and we ask each of them, "What time is it?" More than likely we will get 50 different answers. One might say it is 8:08 and 16 seconds. Another might say it is 8:04 and 32 seconds. Yet another might say it is 8:12 and 42 seconds. Well, you get the picture. Is there any way to know exactly what time it is? Must we be satisfied with mass confusion on this subject? The answer is that there is one correct time and we can know exactly what the time is. Let me explain.

There is a place across the Atlantic Ocean called Greenwich, England. There is the home of the Royal Observatory Greenwich which defines both time and place for the entire world. All time in the world is measured relative to "Greenwich Mean Time" (GMT). Therefore, if a person wants to know exactly what time it really is, they need to refer to this authority on time. Someone else's perception of what time it is does not matter. No matter what time you or I say that it is, unless it matches with the time from Greenwich, it is not the correct time.

A system of belief arose in the mid-to late 20th century called postmodernism. Those who ascribe to this belief claim that there is no real knowledge and that there are no facts, only interpretations. In other words they do not believe in absolute truth. These people believe that a person could search from now until the end of the ages and never arrive at the one and only truth on any subject. Sadly enough, many people try to mix this theory with Christianity, and it simply will not work.

God's word is crystal clear on religious truth - what it is, and where it is. In Psalms 119:160, the Bible says "The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth forever." (ASV). In verse 142 of the same chapter we read, "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." (KJV) In John 17:17 Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth".

If a person believes in God, and believes that the Bible is the word of God, then they must believe that there is a way to arrive at the truth on any religious matter. It is called studying and meditating on what God said on every subject that the Bible addresses. That is why the word of God says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).

The Bible is the only authority on all religious matters. True Christians do not have any need for humanly devised creed books, catechisms, disciplines, or church bylaws. All they need to be guided home to heaven are the Holy Scriptures (2 Peter 1:3), which are the absolute true words of God.

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Brother Jason Holladay

Everything that I write is completely scriptural and will be shown/proven.

Congratulations on your passion/zeal for "absolute"/objective truth.

Having a passion for objective truth is a very special part of true devotion for a Godly person (and, sadly, has always been more uncommon than most people on earth would like to admit).

Having a passion for objective truth seems never to have been a requirement for the Christian understanding of scripture.

The status quo (accepted norm) is that each person can have their own "interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20) is why we (Christianity) have always had the "strong delusion". Ezekiel 14:4-8 KJV explains that the doctrines of the heart are our stumbling block.

Nothing in scripture is happenstance (of random occurence). God made sure that all events would happen as they should and the statements also would be recorded so that we could learn from them someday (if we pay close attention and truly have genuine "passion").

Pilate wasn't a philosopher, but he made reference to humanity's preference for 'subjective' truth (and rejection of 'objective'/absolute truth) when he said to Jesus "What is truth?". Even more strange is that there was no verbal answer or any reply, but who was Pilate speaking to (John 14:6)? This is a perfect illustration of how important absolute truth is in a strong/proper devotion, but, admittedly, this illustration requires uncommon insight, so The Lord also put it in plain black and white in 2 Thessalonians 2:10, "...because they refused to love the [objective] truth AND SO BE SAVED".

This is why the traditional (organized/institutional) "church" (the only true church is the body of all true worshippers, John 4:23) has always been under the strong delusion that could deceive EVEN the elect (the puffed up belief that it is a FUTURE event was always convenient and comfortable).

Anytime a person says something that is contrary to the status quo, they will likely be resented by the other person because the status quo validates the other person (gives them identity and approval), or ignored (because objective truth is non-negotiable), or 'replied to' (an 'answer' is a 'solution' to a question) with puffed up and extensive intellectual/scholarly double talk/analysis (instead of simple ACCEPTANCE,...will not endure sound doctrine).

The bible is the "word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 1:13, John 14:6), the introductory doctrine of Jesus (Hebrews 6:1).

The word of God that we should live by and presently proceeds from God's mouth so that we "HEAR His voice" (John 10:27) is the "sword of the spirit" (Ephesians 6:17) if we are to "enter by the door" (John 10:1) and also have our conscience purified (Hebrews 9:14). This is necessary so we can recieve the guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Ephesians 1:14) and receive living water baptism (John 7:38, Revelation 7:16, it also flowed from Christ's side at the cross) so that we "neither thirst" and can have a "more excellent" devotion (1 Corinthians 12:31).

The 'sin laws' were abolished (Ephesians 2:15) so we could live under the law of liberty (James 1:25 and 2:12) with "Abba Father" (dear Father, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6) instead of 'master'/taskmaster and be His "friend" (instead of 'slave/servant', James 2:23).

We should do the works of God by simply trusting that He has done it all FOR US (John 6:28 and 29) so that we could REST in Him because we have already been justified in Him (Galatians 2:16 and 17). We have a "faith for faith", Romans 1:17.

True Christianuty is a LOVE, not simply a faith ("the greatest of these", 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Agape, philos, eros, and storge are love RELATIONSHIPS, not love itself (God is love, "God is ONE", Galatians 3:20). The WHOLE fullness of God is in Jesus (Colossians 2:9). OUR wisdom is not 'parables' (Matthew 13:13 and 19), we should 'understand', not "interpret" (Ephesians 5:17) and we need to know the "depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

That God is opening our eyes to objective truth is an indication that time is short. He said...

..."in the last days"

...."I will POUR (that we may drink) my SPIRIT" (Acts 2:17).

All verses are from the RSV.

Keeping 2Peter 1:20 in context, Peter is explaining that no prophecy of scripture is of our own interpretation, it is from God.

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

It actually says the opposite of the "status quo" or "accepted norm".

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In Christ,
brother Sonnie

Maybe I expressed it wrong, but I was agreeing that the habit of "interpreting" (choosing a biased meaning) is, by it's definition/nature/process, misleading. There can be only one singular true meaning. The Lord addresses this habit of "interpretation" in Ephesians 5:17, and in Proverbs we are encouraged to "get UNDERSTANDING".

The Lord doesn't hand us wisdom on a silver platter, but He does make it available to us in scripture if we look for it. We have to be aware that words have specific meanings and refer differently to concepts also. I actually enjoy the insight He provides into human nature, He is very explicit.

Dreams can be "interpreted" (inexact meanings welcome confusion), so can tongues (because not everyone has the ability). It is inaccurate to say that foreign languages (either verbal speech or text) are "interpreted" (they unavoidably are according to each 'TRANSLATOR'S' habits of speech,...upbringing, training, etc.), but "interpretations" are fabricated/tailored to each person's experiences in life (iniquitous or not) and have always been handed down from generation to generation as being the universal/absolute meaning/truth.

Would it make sense to "interpret" a cooking recipe? It should be UNDERSTOOD, not INTERPRETED (in order to perceive it's truth).

God is a cosmic reality (very real), would it make sense that He speaks to His children in codes so that scripture can only be 'navigated'/conquered like a crossword puzzle so that we are required to be sly or skillful to 'meet the challenge'? (He GIVES graciously, there is no labyrinth to navigate).

Scripture is filled with wise counsel (good advice and insight), but we are trained to only think that He COMMANDS us like a taskmaster, but "Abba Father" is the 'dad' (parent) of the human race and we each should be a "friend of God". The principles that we can learn from His wise counsel (Hebrews 5:12) might 'apply' DIFFERENTLY in my life experience than they apply to another person's situation at any given time, yet they are 'universally valid'.

Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers (historically true, but we should also perceive a principle here). The money based devotion was the status quo/structure of the time, and, no doubt many "interpretations" were formed to bolster that system (what will happen as the current economic crisis worsens?).

The Lord emphasized that "understanding" should take the place of our habit of "interpretation" because He foresaw the folly/foolishness of human nature ("natural limitations", Romans 6:19).

Jesus overturned the money tables because they were using the Lord's house for something that was not intended...if you really wish to connect that to today's economic problems...there are many denomination for you to join.

Too bad many do not wish the UNDERSTAND the Bible. Which bring to mind...1 Cor. 14:33 and remember how simple God's Word is...just obey with what is given and stop trying to put the "what I think" in it!

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Romans 16:16 1 Thess. 5:17 1 Thess. 5:22 1 Tim. 6:12 2 Tim 2:15