How many meaning can a biblical passage have?

Elaborate... Please

I can give you an example... "Thou Shalt Not Steal"... one meaning.. don't take anything that doesn't belong to you.

The right and the wrong meaning, so two

It all depends on interpretation.

There are some passages that are clear, like the one that Kit pointed out. Other passages seem to be open to many different interpretations, a lot of it depends on who is reading it and what they want to get out of it.

That's why there are so many arguments when people discuss the bible. Everyone thinks their interpretation is right.

Do you have a passage in mind?

I agree with Altenweg. I grew up with one very definite interpretation, and when I looked at other interpretations they seemed pretty good too. If there was only one definite meaning of everything, God sure made it hard to find. But the Bible is a spiritual book which means that it guides every sincere reader into the same spiritual direction. By trying to understand it something internal takes place. There is only one Spirit of the Bible and that is righteousness through a relationship with God. The Bible never contradicts the Spirit. Everything else is just details to keep nosy people occupied. :)

VERY well said, deepinthough!

That one spirit is what we call Sanatana Dharma. The one thing that makes ALL religions the same, is loving service to God. I choose to call him by His Sanskrit name of Krishna, Christians speak His name in Hebrew. One God, One Dharma.

Namaste.

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!

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You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

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Hi Joe,

Depends on if you are a realist or an idealist.

Regards

Tut

The Bible is true. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments they were meant for everyone.

When Jesus said , "My grace is sufficient for all", he meant everyone.

When Jesus died on the cross he died for all of us.

When he said; "If you love me you will keep my commandments", he was talking to all of us.

When he said, "i go to prepare a place for you, he was talking to all of us.

When he said, "I am the way , the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me".

He was giving everyone a choice to accept or not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, cyk1989!

Probably about as many meanings as a person can imagine, if they're creative enough and want to find ways to "read into" that which has already been stated in any one section of the Bible.

Thanks!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

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Hi, JoeT!

Please don't try to "read into" what I wrote. Original poster didn't mention anything about wanting to know about truth of any kind, only about how many meanings a Biblical passage could have.

I took the question at face value without reading anything into it.

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

You would suggest that there are multiple truths represented in Scripture? Then what God inspired in Peter isn’t inspiration for me? Can you explain how we all arrive at the same truth if we 'read into' God's revealed truth?

Just as there is one God, there can be only one truth.

JoeT

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Please elaborate on what passage you are speaking of. Peter was in the Bible as a disciple. He had a temper. He denied Christ three times. Christ forgave him. He was also known as "The Big Fisherman'.'

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, JoeT!

Please don't try to "read into" what I wrote. Original poster didn't mention anything about wanting to know about truth of any kind, only about how many meanings a Biblical passage could have.

I took the question at face value without reading anything into it.

Thanks!

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Gosh, you act like I kicked your cat. Usually when you ask a question like, “how many meaning can a biblical passage have?” you're asking how many different truths are being presented in any one passage. The answer is, one. There is only one truth (meaning) contained in scripture. Why would you ask, how 'many misinterpretations' (untruths) are in scripture?

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Originally Posted by TUT317

Hi Joe,

Depends on if you are a realist or an idealist.

Regards

Tut

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Truth only has one meaning, it's absolute.

JoeT

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

Gosh, you act like I kicked you cat. Usually when you ask a question like, “how many meaning can a biblical passage have?” you’re asking how many different truths are being presented in any one passage. The answer is, one. There is only one truth (meaning) contained in scripture. Why would you ask, how ‘many misinterpretations’ (untruths) are in scripture?





Truth only has one meaning, it’s absolute.

JoeT

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Joe be a little kinder with your replies. I'm working on doing the same.

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

Truth only has one meaning, it’s absolute.

JoeT

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Hi Joe,


Perhaps a better way of saying it would be, 'absolute truth is one of many truths".


Here are a few examples of different truths...

Truth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TUT317

Hi Joe,


Perhaps a better way of saying it would be, 'absolute truth is one of many truths".


Here are a few examples of different truths....

Truth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Don't make me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

God and Truth are convertible

St. Thomas says, “Whence it follows not only that truth is in Him, but that He is truth itself, and the sovereign and first truth. “ Summa Prima Q, 15 a5” Consequently we can say that there is an absolute truth.


God exists >Truth exists. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,2,3).
God is Immutable >Truth is immutable. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,9, 1).
God is Eternal >Truth is eternal. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,10 2).
God is Spiritual > Truth is spiritual. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,3,3 & 6)

I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten. Psalm 118:30
And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly. Psalm 118:43 (Truth is from God)
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me. Psalm 118:75 (Truth is humbles our intellect)
All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. Psalm 118:86 (Truth is dogmatic Truth)
Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth. Psalm 118:90 (Truth is eternal)
Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly. Psalm 118:138 (God’s justice is Truth)
Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth. Psalm 118:142 (God’s law is Truth)
Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. Psalm 118:151 (God’s ways are Truth)
The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are forever. Psalm 118:160 (God’s words are Truth)

JoeT

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

Don't let me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

JoeT

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Love one another as I have loved you". "Be ye kind one to another"

This is one I need to work on... Kit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

Don't make me laugh so hard! ---- if it's one of many then it's not absolute ---- or if it's absolute then there are no others.

God and Truth are convertible

St. Thomas says, “Whence it follows not only that truth is in Him, but that He is truth itself, and the sovereign and first truth. “ Summa Prima Q, 15 a5” Consequently we can say that there is an absolute truth.


God exists >Truth exists. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,2,3).
God is Immutable >Truth is immutable. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,9, 1).
God is Eternal >Truth is eternal. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,10 2).
God is Spiritual > Truth is spiritual. (Cf. Summa Prima Q,3,3 & 6)





JoeT

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Come on Joe... You don't think I am going to make a mistake like that... do you?

Of course there are absolute truths. By the examples you have given it seems you are referring to logical truth. Logical truth is only one category of truth >it can't include other truths because logical truths set the boundary conditions (roughly speaking) to develop a truth which can't be proven false.

Other contingencies that are not included 'in the boundary' are not covered by 'absolute truth' and therefore not subject to conclusions drawn.


Regards

Tut

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Originally Posted by Kitkat22

Love one another as I have loved you". "Be ye kind one to another"

This is one I need to work on....Kit

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You’ve got the wrong impression – I’m quite good at giving it too.

If I’ve offended somehow, write out the offending words, then reword them the way you would have me say them. I’ll explain or I’ll see if I can come around to correcting my statements. If I’ve made an error somehow, please feel free to point it out. I’m not so hard headed I can’t learn a thing or two.

JoeT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeT777

You’ve got the wrong impression – I’m quite good at giving it too.

If I’ve offended somehow, write out the offending words, then reword them the way you would have me say them. I’ll explain or I’ll see if I can come around to correcting my statements. If I’ve made an error somehow, please feel free to point it out. I’m not so hard headed I can’t learn a thing or two.

JoeT

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I find myself sometimes typing things that seem sharp and unkind.
I have to work on that a lot. I try to remember something my dad alwasys said, "A kind word turneth away wrath. I'm not saying you're unkind". Okay.