Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Matthew 9:1-38

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. And immediately some people brought to Jesus a man who was paralyzed and lying on a mat. When Jesus observed the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, “Have courage, young man. Your sins are forgiven.”

Some of the teachers of the law thought among themselves, “This man speaks as if he were God. Such is blasphemy!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil thoughts?

Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk’?

But I will prove to you that the Son of Man [Dan. 7:13–14] has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

And the man got up and went home.

When the crowd saw this, they were in awe and praised God for giving power such as this to a human being.

When Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

As Jesus was  reclining around a low table for dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners arrived and ate with Jesus and his disciples.

When the Pharisees observed this, they asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard them, he said, “It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire kindness more than I want animal sacrifices [Hos. 6:6].’ I did not come to invite the self-righteous but to invite sinners.”

Then the disciples of John the Baptizer came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but your followers don’t?”

Jesus answered, “The guests of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them [John 3:29; Rev. 19:7]. But the time will arrive when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth over a hole in an old garment. If he does, the patch will shrink and pull away from the garment, making the damage that more apparent.

Also, people never pour new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the bags will burst, the wine will spill, and the wine bags will be ruined. But people always pour new wine into fresh wine bags. Then both are preserved.”

While Jesus was yet speaking, a leader of the synagogue came to him. He knelt before Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live again.”

So Jesus and his disciples stood up and followed him.

Then there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came behind Jesus and touched the tassels [Num. 15:38–39] of his cloak.

She imagined, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be saved.”

Jesus turned and saw the woman and said, “Have courage, dear daughter. ·Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was healed from that moment on.

Jesus continued along with the leader and went into his house. There he saw the funeral musicians and many people wailing.

Jesus said, “Leave for the girl is not dead, only sleeping.” But the people laughed at him.

After the crowd had been put out of the house, Jesus went into the girl’s room and held her hand, and she sat up.

The news spread throughout that whole region.

When Jesus was departing, 2 blind men followed him. They cried out, “Take pity on us, Son of David! [2 Sam. 7:11–16]”

After Jesus went inside, the blind men followed him. He asked the men, “Do you believe that I can restore your sight?”

They answered, “Absolutely, Lord.”

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because you believe, it will happen.”

Then the men were able to see. But Jesus warned them strongly, saying, “See that you don't tell anyone about this.”

But the blind men departed and spread the news about Jesus throughout the area.

When the 2 men were leaving, some people brought to Jesus another man who could not speak because he had a demon within him.

After Jesus cast out the demon --- an this man began speaking. The crowd was shocked and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in all Israel.”

But the Pharisees said, “He forces out demons by the power of the head of demons.”

Jesus journeyed through all the towns and villages, preaching in their synagogues, the Good News regarding the kingdom. And Jesus healed all types of diseases and sicknesses.

When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion because they were confused and discouraged, like sheep minus a shepherd.

Jesus said to his disciples, “·There are many people to gather but there are so few workers.

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, that he will send additional laborers to gather his harvest.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And having gone to the boat, he passed over, and came to his own city,

2 and lo, they were bringing to him a paralytic, laid upon a couch, and Jesus having seen their faith, said to the paralytic, `Be of good courage, child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

3 And lo, certain of the scribes said within themselves, `This one doth speak evil.'

4 And Jesus, having known their thoughts, said, `Why think ye evil in your hearts?

5 for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

6 `But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins -- (then saith he to the paralytic) -- having risen, take up thy couch, and go to thy house.'

7 And he, having risen, went to his house,

8 and the multitudes having seen, wondered, and glorified God, who did give such power to men.

9 And Jesus passing by thence, saw a man sitting at the tax-office, named Matthew, and saith to him, `Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.

10 And it came to pass, he reclining (at meat) in the house, that lo, many tax-gatherers and sinners having come, were lying (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples,

11 and the Pharisees having seen, said to his disciples, `Wherefore with the tax-gatherers and sinners doth your teacher eat?'

12 And Jesus having heard, said to them, `They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

13 but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

14 Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, `Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?'

15 And Jesus said to them, `Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast.

16 `And no one doth put a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment, for its filling up doth take from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

17 `Nor do they put new wine into old skins, and if not -- the skins burst, and the wine doth run out, and the skins are destroyed, but they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved together.'

18 While he is speaking these things to them, lo, a ruler having come, was bowing to him, saying that `My daughter just now died, but, having come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.'

19 And Jesus having risen, did follow him, also his disciples,

20 and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,

21 for she said within herself, `If only I may touch his garment, I shall be saved.'

22 And Jesus having turned about, and having seen her, said, `Be of good courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee,' and the woman was saved from that hour.

23 And Jesus having come to the house of the ruler, and having seen the minstrels and the multitude making tumult,

24 he saith to them, `Withdraw, for the damsel did not die, but doth sleep,' and they were deriding him;

25 but, when the multitude was put forth, having gone in, he took hold of her hand, and the damsel arose,

26 and the fame of this went forth to all the land.

27 And Jesus passing on thence, two blind men followed him, calling and saying, `Deal kindly with us, Son of David.'

28 And he having come to the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith to them, `Believe ye that I am able to do this?' They say to him, `Yes, sir.'

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, `According to your faith let it be to you,'

30 and their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, `See, let no one know;'

31 but they, having gone forth, did spread his fame in all that land.

32 And as they are coming forth, lo, they brought to him a man dumb, a demoniac,

33 and the demon having been cast out, the dumb spake, and the multitude did wonder, saying that `It was never so seen in Israel:'

34 but the Pharisees said, `By the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'

35 And Jesus was going up and down all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the reign, and healing every sickness and every malady among the people.

36 And having seen the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, that they were faint and cast aside, as sheep not having a shepherd,

37 then saith he to his disciples, `The harvest indeed [is] abundant, but the workmen few;

38 beseech ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he may put forth workmen to His harvest.'

[_spotlight]

Maksutov,
Thankyou for teasing this tidbit out of Little Nip:

Comets are possibly remnants from the Flood of Noah's time --- the firmament above...

That made my day.
I wonder if any of the skylights are left floating around anywhere from that firmament above.

[_Maksutov]

Maksutov,
Thankyou for teasing this tidbit out of Little Nip:

Comets are possibly remnants from the Flood of Noah's time --- the firmament above...

That made my day.
I wonder if any of the skylights are left floating around anywhere from that firmament above.

[_Choyo Chagas]

[ quote="spotlight"]Maksutov,
Thankyou for teasing this tidbit out of Little Nip:

Comets are possibly remnants from the Flood of Noah's time --- the firmament above...[ /quote]
That made my day.
I wonder if any of the skylights are left floating around anywhere from that firmament above.

are heaven, earth, sea and the underworld dos exist as the whole world?

[_LittleNipper]

Note, the Biblical Hebrew word for “circle” (חוג—chuwg) can also mean “round” or “sphere.”

See: https://www.creationworldview.org/artic ... .asp?id=13

[Guest]

Matthew 10:1-42

Jesus gathered His 12 disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal all disease and sickness.

Listed are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew; Zebedee's sons James and his brother John;

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; Alphaeus' son James, and Thaddaeus;

Simon the Patriot , and Judas Iscariot the betrayer of Jesus.

These twelve men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: “Do not go to any Gentile nation or any Samaritan towns.

You are to go ONLY to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is close by!’

Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.

Do not carry any gold, silver, or copper with you;

do not carry a beggar's sack for the trip or an extra shirt or shoes or a walking stick. Workers should be given what they need.

When you come to a town or village, enter and seek someone who is willing to welcome you, and remain with him until you leave that place.

When you go into a house, say, ‘Peace be with you.’

If the people in that house welcome you, let your greeting of peace remain; but if they do not welcome you, then take back your greeting.

And if some home or town will not welcome or listen to you, then leave that place, shake it off ---- you've done all you could.

I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to those of Sodom and Gomorrah than to the people of that town!

Hear this! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. Be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.

Be careful, for there will be those who will arrest you and take you to court, and they will whip you in the synagogues.

For My sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to spread the Good News to them and the Gentiles.

When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how to say it; when the moment arrives, you will know what to say.

For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

People will hand over their own brothers to be put to death, and fathers will do the same to their children; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.

Everyone will hate you because of Me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

When they persecute you in one town, escape to another one. I assure you that you will not finish your work in all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man arrives.

No pupil is greater than his teacher; no slave is grander than his master.

So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names

Don't fear people. Whatever is presently hidden up will be exposed, and every secret will be made known.

What I am telling you at night you must repeat in broad daylight, and what you have heard in private you must announce from the housetops.

Do not be afraid of those who destroy the body but cannot harm the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent.

As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted.

Have no fear; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

Those who declare that they belong to Me publicly, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven.

But those who reject Me publicly, I will reject before my Father in heaven.

Do not think that I arrived to bring peace to the world. No, I didn't come to bring peace, but a sword.

I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law;

your worst enemies shall be the members of your own family.

Those who love their father or mother more than Me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples.

Those who do not bear their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples.

Those who try to hang on to their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it.

Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the one who sent me.

Whoever welcomes God's messenger because he is God's messenger, will share in his reward. And whoever welcomes a good man because he is good, will share in his reward.

You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the most insignificant of My followers because he is My follower, will certainly gain a reward.”

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—

10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.

12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.

13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.

14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,

20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.

22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.

25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

[_spotlight]

Note, the Biblical Hebrew word for “circle” (חוג—chuwg) can also mean “round” or “sphere.”

See: https://www.creationworldview.org/artic ... .asp?id=13

The Hebrew word that is used in Isaiah 44:22 (חוּג, chug) does not at all imply a spherical earth. The root word only occurs in the Hebrew Bible once as a verb (Job 26:10). In nominal forms, the same root occurs four times, three as the noun חוּג (chug; Job 22:14, Prov 8:27, Isa 40:22), and once as the noun מְחוּגׇה (mechugah; Isa 44:13). This term refers to a "circle instrument," a device used to make a circle, what we call a compass.

Isaiah 44:13 refers to this "circle instrument."

Isa 44:13 The carpenter stretches a line, marks it out with a stylus, fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass; he makes it in human form, with human beauty, to be set up in a shrine. [NIV]

The verbal form of the word basically means "to make a circle" or "to scribe a circle."

Job 26:10 He has described a circle on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness. [NRSV]

Most modern translators agree that this "scribing a circle" in relation to the world refers to the horizon of the earth.

NIV: He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.

NLT: He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night.

GWT: He marks the horizon on the surface of the water at the boundary where light meets dark.

Ancient people were very good at observing the physical properties of the earth without necessarily understanding how all of those properties worked. The horizon of the earth is easily seen from any high vantage point or open area as an encompassing circle. This led ancient peoples to describe this "circle" or the horizon as the "edge" or "end" of the earth (Deut 13:7, 1 Sam 2:10, Job 28:24, Psa 48:10, etc.).

http://www.crivoice.org/circle.html

[Guest]

Matthew 11:1-30

When Jesus had instructed His 12 disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John had heard from prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

and questioned Jesus, “Are You He who should come, or should we continue seeking?”

Jesus answered them, “Leave and inform John what you hear and see:

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Blessed is he who does not turn away because of Me.”

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to observe? A reed motivated by the wind?

If not that then what? A man dressed in luxury? Actually, those dressed so are found in palaces.

Then what exactly did you expect to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

For this is he of whom it is recorded: ‘Look, I Am sending My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’

In all fact I say to you, among those who are born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From the days of John the Baptist until this moment, the kingdom of heaven has forcefully advanced, and the strong take it forcibly.

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come.

He who is attentive, let him hear.

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, calling to their friends,

saying, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. We sang a dirge to you, and you did not weep.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they remark, ‘He's possessed.’

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a greedy man, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is exonerated by her children.”

Then Jesus began to chide the cities where most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent:

“Misery to you, Chorazin and you, Bethsaida! For if the awesome works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in burlap and ashes.

But I say to you, it will be easier on Tyre and Sidon at the Day of Judgment than for you.

And you, Capernaum, who is promoted toward heaven, will be cast down to Hell. For if the awesome works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would still exist to this time.

But I say to you that it shall be easier for the land of Sodom at the Day of Judgment than for you.”

At that moment Jesus said, “I thank You, Dear Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.

Irregardless, Father, It seemed good in Your sight.

All things are handed over to Me by My Father, and no one understands the Son, except the Father. And no one understands the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

Depend on Me, all you who work and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

Accept My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am compliant and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus and John the Baptist
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples

3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

[_huckelberry]

That's right. Mental illness is demons and can be transferred to a herd of pigs. You mental health professionals can go home. You veterans with PTSD, you sufferers of schizophrenia and dementia, you just need more Jay-Zuss.

Maksutov,
Just to spread questions about I am inclined to observe that the passage in question does not say mental illness is demons.It certainly does not say mental health professionals can go home or that ptsd suffers , and people with other mental illness have no need of medical help any more than it says we should not take medicine to treat other diseases.

It says there was an instance of demonic harm to a person which Jesus solved. Now I can understand if you say you do not believe in demons and thus think the story is fiction. I do not really share that view but can understand its reason. I do not quite understand bringing in this nasty Jay-zusss comment.

[_Maksutov]

That's right. Mental illness is demons and can be transferred to a herd of pigs. You mental health professionals can go home. You veterans with PTSD, you sufferers of schizophrenia and dementia, you just need more Jay-Zuss.

Maksutov,
Just to spread questions about I am inclined to observe that the passage in question does not say mental illness is demons.It certainly does not say mental health professionals can go home or that ptsd suffers , and people with other mental illness have no need of medical help any more than it says we should not take medicine to treat other diseases.

It says there was an instance of demonic harm to a person which Jesus solved. Now I can understand if you say you do not believe in demons and thus think the story is fiction. I do not really share that view but can understand its reason. I do not quite understand bringing in this nasty Jay-zusss comment.

I don't think we're reading the same text. It says demons went into a herd of pigs out of a disturbed man. I think that a fundamentalist Christian view of psychology is probably pseudoscientific at best and possibly dangerous. And I'm not a big fan of much of psychiatry, either.

It's possible to reread, rewrite, rethink every bit of the Bible into something more palatable, even more illuminating. I think that's the choice of the person who chooses to live by it. But those of us who do not, see it very differently. I'm sorry if it's offensive to you that I regard this body of literature with so little respect. I value it as an artifact, not as a source of wisdom. I know that you get much more out of it but I don't share that experience.