LittleNipper wrote:The only ones who attempt to put God in a box are those which imagine that God needs humanity. God doesn't need anyone or anything. God is beyond anything we can imagine possible and triune is just one of those complex things man is too little to comprehend. The Old Testament was mostly written in Hebrew. The New Testament was mostly written in Greek. The Temple text that Jesus read and taught from to the priests at Jerusalem at age 12 was entirely Masoretic Text. And just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I know everything and don't make mistakes; however, I'm not so sure Mormons can sympathize with such a concept.
Who makes the claim that God needs humanity? Can you provide a CFR for that?
Also, what about the inconsistencies in what the Bible's Prophets taught vs what the B of M's Prophets taught? You have made the claim; now back it up. If you are unable to back it up, then your claim is meaningless.
You also have ignored the fact that the Old Testament is filled with examples of the vices you accuse the B of M to contain as though they were unique to the B of M.
Also, how do you know Jesus used the Masoretic Text? I'll need a CFR for that as well. From your own Wiki post, the Masoretic Text did not even exist while Jesus walked the earth. In fact, the Wiki article on the Septuagint states that for 200 years before Christ, it was the Greek Septuagint that was being used by the Hebrews. Here is more of what Wiki has to say about the Septuagint and its use during the time of Christ and the Apostles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeptuagintChristian use (the bolding is mine); also I have inserted my own [comment].
The Early Christian Church used the Greek texts[29] since Greek was a lingua franca of the Roman Empire at the time, and the language of the Greco-Roman Church (Aramaic was the language of Syriac Christianity, which used the Targums). The relationship between the apostolic use of the Old Testament, for example, the Septuagint and the now lost Hebrew texts (though to some degree and in some form carried on in Masoretic tradition [which was not created until after Christ and the Apostles]) is complicated. The Septuagint seems to have been a major source for the Apostles, but it is not the only one. St. Jerome offered, for example, Matt 2:15 and 2:23, John 19:37, John 7:38, 1 Cor. 2:9.[30] as examples not found in the Septuagint, but in Hebrew texts. (Matt 2:23 is not present in current Masoretic tradition either, though according to St. Jerome it was in Isaiah 11:1.) Furthermore, the New Testament writers, when citing the Jewish scriptures or when quoting Jesus doing so, freely used the Greek translation, implying that Jesus, his Apostles and their followers considered it reliable.[2][19][31]by the way, if you haven't been able to ascertain it yet from my own comments, I fully admit that I don't know everything. Further, I have made it quite clear that Mormons make mistakes just like everybody else. It appears you enjoy hitting your head against walls which don't exist anywhere except in your own mind. Yet you are wont to try to convert everyone to YOUR belief system, even though your comments and beliefs are inconsistent within themselves and you are blind to it. What type of credibility are you presenting which would cause another person to follow you? Especially when you keep avoiding answering the tough questions? When you can't explain how your own beliefs deal with those questions, and so you ignore them, I do not think there will be many individuals on these boards who are going to choose to change their current stance; they are going to want the answers to those questions.
I am not here for the purpose of trying to convert anybody. I try to give an honest look at what scriptures say, as well as encourage people to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost and NOT man's teachings. I do not suggest that they need to belong to ANY particular religious institution. OTOH, you want people to believe what man has taught you, which forces you to overlook so many and various passages in the Bible altogether. And then you encourage them to accept Christ in accordance with your beliefs only; not whatever beliefs they might have revealed to them directly from God and the Holy Ghost.
Meh....this is the place you are at in your journey. A person cannot "hear" until he is able to hear. I used to be where you are. I just wish there had more information available at my fingertips as perhaps I would have progressed more quickly; but this was long before the Internet. At least I have been able to present a little of what has been revealed to me; and it is not in conflict with the Bible...nor does it require that ANY of the Bible be discarded.
Blessings,
jo