1. John 14:6 interpreted literally means, 'Only Jesus saves'.
2. To be consistent, what would a literal interpretation of John 4:22 mean? Why does Jesus say, '...salvation is from the Jews'? Why didn't he just say, 'from the Jew' or 'from me' if he is referring to himself?
If you still don't understand what I'm asking, it would help me out a great deal if you could be specific as to why you don't understand the question. Thanks.
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Shinier than a speeding bullet.
Last edited by Mindship on Jul 4th, 2006 at 05:26 PM
In order to understand what Jesus says here it is necessary to examine the whole context. Who is the Lord Jesus speaking to in John 4:22? Go all the way back up to verse 5 of this chapter (ch.4) and you will learn that Jesus had come to a city of Samaria. At this time the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans; they did not associate with Samaritans at all. Read verse 27 of ch. 4. When Jesus disciples returned they marveled that Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman because they knew that Jews did not have anything to do with Samaritans.
Now to complete my response to your question the Samaritan woman tells Jesus that her fathers (ancestors) worshipped on this mountain (verse 20, ch.4.) She goes on to say that the Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus responds by telling the Samaritan woman that there is coming a time when she will neither worship the Father God on this mountain nor in Jersusalm. Finally Jesus tells the woman that she worships what she does not know. But that the Jews know what (or Whom) they worship for (or because) salvation is of the Jews. In other words, Jesus tells the woman that salvation--God the Father's plan of salvation--originated with the Jewish people. You see God needed a starting point to bring His Son Jesus into the world (God becoming flesh) so He chose the Jews. This is what John 4:22 is talking about. Salvation--God the Fathers excellent plan of salvation from sin--had its starting point, its beginning through the Jewish people. That is why the Bible was written by Jews. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew with some portions in Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke). But the New Testament was written in Greek. This is all that John 4:22 is talking about. Can you see this mindship?
Absolutely. I am God's child. Did you not believe everything that your parents told you when you were a child? Your parents raised you from infancy. You had to eat whatever they put in front of you and believe whatever they told you until you were old enough to think for yourself.
Do you really think your parents always wanted you to believe whatever you were told by authority figures? They didn't want you to grow up into a rational, thinking, adult? I wouldn't consider that good parenting.
__________________ "If clowns warred on monkeys, and the monkeys had guns, and were trained to use them, who would win?"
Death only gives another set of choices.
He who dies with the most toys. Still dies.
Last edited by Trickster on Jul 4th, 2006 at 09:26 PM
I only admit that I am taking God at His Word just as you take the newspaper authors, news anchors, scientists and everyone else that tells you something.
I don't take any single person's word as fact. If lots of people tell me the same thing, then I consider it.
If I told you that we were living in a giant pink marshmallow, you wouldn't simply take me at my word. You would be even less likely to take me at my word if someone else told you I had said that.
__________________ "If clowns warred on monkeys, and the monkeys had guns, and were trained to use them, who would win?"
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Jul 4th, 2006 11:55 AM
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