Christians: can we at least agree on this?

Once you realise that the Hebrew Bible is no more than a collection of books that reflect the culture of the Hebrews, then you'll understand that the Bible is to the the Jews what Shakespeare is to the English culture. It is not and nor never has been a theological document. Nor does it attempt to answer physical phenomena as certain biblicists would attest. It is an anthology of myths, poetry, and tales which chart Hebrew culture over a passage of a millennium.

The contradictions within the Bible are examples of different opinions between Hebrew scholars; those pertaining to Jahwist, Elohist, Priestly and Deuteronomical philosophies.

Furthermore, it was also written as a polemic against other neighbouring cultures of which it took much of their myths (qv. Enuma Elish, Epic of Gilamesh, etc).

Note that I'm talking about the Hebrew Bible, not the New Testament which is a pile of 4th century drivel that warrants no more than a post script in the annals of history.

If the Bible is accepted properly for what it is, it can be justly regarded as one of the greatest pieces of literature (literature, mind you) that man has ever written. On the other hand, if it is regarded as a handbook for religious dogma, then it is about as much use as The Good Wine guide amongst teetotallers

As Christians, we are encouraged to “pursue love,” and we are told that “love is not jealous.” (1 Corinthians 13:4; 14:1) On the other hand, we are also told that “Jehovah . . . is a jealous God” and are commanded to “become imitators of God.” (Exodus 34:14; Ephesians 5:1) Why the seeming contradiction?

It is because the Hebrew and Greek words translated “jealousy” in the Bible carry a wide range of meanings. They can have either a positive or a negative connotation, depending on how the words are used. For instance, the Hebrew word translated “jealousy” can mean “insistence on exclusive devotion; toleration of no rivalry; zeal; ardor; jealousy [righteous or sinful]; envying.” The corresponding Greek word has a similar meaning. These words can refer to a warped, distorted emotion toward a suspected rival or one believed to be enjoying an advantage. (Proverbs 14:30) They can also refer to a positive expression of a God-given quality—wanting to protect a loved one from harm.—2 Corinthians 11:2.

This also has to do with CONTEXT and many who are anti-theist takes many scriptures out of context and that's what's been done here .

agapy is love in the original Greek bible are the only trough Christianity, Catholics are Christians but not 100%, they change several thinks and replays them with other. that is very wrong that is why we the Greek orthodox cal them the lefties,

4 bible are the original bibles reading in Greek Latin Arabian and Jews Avery think ells is not recognize as a troth religious. out there are 64 different bibles reading from some aospasmatan eclision but all are not a reality and are not recognize by orthodox church (ester church)

The whole bible is corrupted; its been changed 25,000 times--all different.

Ever play the telephone game? You tell someone a phrase and it goes around the room with many people; and the original phrase is gone? Imagine doing this 25,000 times with hundreds of people!

There are some interesting things in the bible, however we do not know what the original cannon is. It has been lost in time.

God's jealousy is fully warranted when you consider the false deities that the Israelites often rendered worship to. Deities, though not real, that many times required the most horrific sacrifices. In the light of that (Ie horrid moralities of other religions), God was fully justified in relating his jealousy to the Jews.

There's good and bad jealousy. If a man or woman is screwing around, wouldn't the other partner be justified in reacting jealously? Now if a man simply has a conversation with another woman, and his wife reacts with a petulant type of jealousy, that's a bad thing.

We're all jealous sometimes. Sometimes it's good, sometimes bad. Learn to separate the two.

Jealously can mean envy or the vigilant guarding of something that belongs to us.

We usually use jealousy to mean envy- to be jealous of something we want but do not have.

God's jealousy is the fearse and vigilant guarding of that which belongs to Him - us.

He created us and our devotion belongs to Him. He says we shall have no other gods before Him. That means nothing should be higher in our heart and mind - nothing should be more important to us than Him. He guards what is His. He is jealous for our devotion because it rightfully belongs to Him as our Creator and sustainer of all good things we know and experience:)

It is good for me to jealously guard my husband's love and faithfulness because it rightfully belongs to me. That doesn't mean I'm mean or rude to others he is friends with but I have a claim on him and no one else is allowed to have the special love and devotion he reserves for me as his wife. God feels the same way:)

They are only contradictory in that "jealous" is only being presented here in one form.

(As it happens, a form that suites your argument.)

God is jealous in the form of "solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something (his people)"

(Exodus and Deut. cited.) This type being a loving reaction.

God is not jealous in the terms of "resentment in rivalry" or "resentment of another’s' success" - the type that would not be loving and fits the context of 1st Corinthians 13.

Hey, it's ok to question, but at least be thoughtful and somewhat reasonable about it.

You are so right and we are so confused. It is so good that you take the time to show us the error of our ways.

Except you are totally wrong. It is so interesting how people love to talk of what they do not understand.

My King James Bible does not say that in 1 Corinthians 13:4, so most likely it's the corrupt translations that say whatever they want about God; (and most likely erased the last 16 verses of the book of Mark) it's no accident that it says that.

You're reading from a corrupt translation. probably the ESV, or NIV, or NASV or RSV or another?

You are using the King James Bible that has over 36,000 words added, removed, or ordered changed to very different words by King James! Because King James believed as the Catholic religion that no one other then the priests were ever to read the Bible. They are wrong! Where all other translated Bibles have "wild ox" or "wild oxen", the KJB has "unicorn"s instead. So You would not know the truth!