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“Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.” John 8:43-51 (KJV)
sk0rpi0n
and claim it as "proof"
Valentinus, one of the greatest Gnostics, had the utmost respect for the Apostle Paul. Could it be true that Paul, like Valentinus, shared the Gnostic viewpoint that the Biblical stories were allegories and not literal history? Yes, absolutely. Paul clearly states that the story of Abraham and his two sons “…are an allegory (Galatians 4:24). An allegory means “fable.” I don’t think Paul could be any more direct. Think about the story of Paul meeting Christ on the road to Damascus. If necessary, read it again. It was clearly a mystical experience, not a literal one.
It is sad that most Christians aren’t aware of some of the quotes given by early church fathers and church historians themselves. By their own admission they downplay the literal nature of the gospels:
...
“The scriptures are of little use to those who understand them as they are written.” —Origen
“The scriptures were written by the Spirit of God, and have meanings, not as they appear at the first sight (literal interpretation), but also others, which escape the notice of most. For those (words) which are written are the forms of certain mysteries, and the images of divine matters.” —Origen
“There is nothing so easy as be sheer volubility to deceive a common crowd or an uneducated congregation.”
—St. Jerome (Epistle to Nepostian, Lii, 8.)
“How it may be lawful and fitting to use falsehood as a Medicine, and for the benefit of those who want to be deceived.”
—Eusebius (12th Book of Evangelical Preparation, 32 chapter)
—Eusebius (12th Book of Evangelical Preparation, 32 chapter)
“We shall introduce into this history in general only those vents which may be useful first to ourselves and afterwards to posterity.”
—Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History, Vol. 8, chapter 2.)
I must interject here that Eusebius is considered the first church historian. He worked under the emperor Constantine the great, who made Christianity a legal religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine also outlawed Gnosticism around 325 A.D.
“And often it is necessary to deceive, and to do the greatest benefits by means of this device, whereas he who has gone by a straight course had done great mischief to the person whom he has not deceived.”
—John Chrysostom (Treatise On The Priesthood, Book 1).
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
- Bible, The Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 22:36-40
"Do everything in love"
- 1 Corinthians 16:14
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
- Romans 13:8
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
- Romans 13:10
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Galatians 5:14
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. - James 2:8
Jesus said their father was the devil
as far as stoning goes, have you not heard of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery?
sk0rpi0n
reply to post by Akragon
Jesus said their father was the devil
He did? Then why did he tell people to "do and observe" as the devils children told them to?
Do you not see a problem in that?
Jesus said their father was the devil, NOT because they were literally fathered by the devil, but because they were given in to sin and evil, while appearing holy on the outside.
Jesus was saying that all True Law is ultimately based upon Love.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
---What do you make of this?
So does this mean Jesus permitted men who "love" their neighbors wives to have an affair with them?
I mean, after all , Jesus preached this magical, fuzzy, nebulous thing called love, right?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13