Why do people interpret the bible differently if its says all the same thing in everybodys bible?
596315
Motivation and education. \n\nSome people want the Bible to endorse their views or their behaviors and so they cut and paste a verse here or there like they are some kind of fortune cookie sayings, and then force them to mean what the Bible really doesn't. \n\nPastors and seminary professors help people get the context or the point an author is making, which they learn by lifelong study. But average people would likely come to similar interpretations if they would just read a whole context of a passage, and the whole portion of the Bible where it is found. \n\nThere will always be differences in opinion regarding minor doctrines, just because there is not crystal clarity 2000 years after the fact, but no Christians should be interpreting the primary doctrines of the faith differently, or they cease to be genuine Christians. \n\nFor example, the Bible teaches that Jesus is God incarnate. That is not disputed by any Christian. Only the cults would deny what the Bible teaches in this matter because they have an agenda or some additional writings which they allow to trump the Bible's authority. \n\nThe Bible teaches that we are to baptize converted people. How do you baptize, where, when, etc, is the kind of thing Christians can differ on and still be brothers and sisters in Christ.
526993
Actually the only one I can understand (surprisingly) is the King James' Version.  I cannot understand the NIV, or similar versions period.  I feel like it takes away from the authenticity of it.  Perhaps it's because I was raised reading hte KJV, but in comparing it to the other versions I've read, I much perfer that interpretation of the words.
860884
Strange as it may be to you, I believe everything in the Bible.\nI don't expect anyone to understand why, I do because it has never been "proved" wrong.
817490
Many people that believe what is written in the Bible to be true have never read the Bible from cover to cover.\n\nIt's easy to pick them out too.  When they make statements about the bible, they start off by saying:  "my pastor told me".\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThat's some deal, six questions for the price of one.
739836
If all groups are saying something different, only one can be right\nMatthew 7:22\n“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.\n\nI've studied the bible with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and have found them to be the only ones who make sense, and who do what the Bible actually say's.\n\nFor example\nThere is no trinity, that defeats the main purpose of Jesus.  To subject himself completely to Gods will.\n\nLuke 22:42\nsaying: “Father, if you wish, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” \n\nAlso, John 1:1 is miss translated and should read\n\n 'In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god'.\n\nBut if you agree to disagree on that, all other verses talk about Jesus and God being seperate.  Actually the trinity came about at the 'Council of Nicaea' in the year 325, and is an idea thought up by men.\n\nMatthew 15:9\nIt is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”\n\nThat's just one thing and there are many more about Christmas being pagan based, hell not existing, most peoples future being on a paradise earth (psalm 37:29 & Matthew 5:5), they're the only ones to use Gods name (Exodus 6:3) and there's a lot more.\n\nThey do a free Bible study, and I definitely recommend it :)
190601
Of course the Bible has errors, the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) don't even agree on what time of day Jesus was crucified.  The Bible was written by MANY differeny people and there are bound to be things that are inaccurate and just flat out wrong.  The Bible was written by people, not God, and there for it is a statistical impossibility that none of those people made absolutly no errors over a periond of two thousand years.  To me, the Bible is for inspiration and for insight into a lot of spiritual topics, but it is by no means without flaws.  To believe that the Bible is without flaws is a very, very rigid way to look at it and if someone doesn't think so, there is plenty of proof otherwise.  And those who always quote and espouse the stuff in the Bible usually can't come up with anything interesting theologically on thieir own.
72430
^\n^\n^\n^\n\nBut if the whole bible is the word of God,why would you disregard certain parts.\n\nI agree.people pick and chose what they will follow and disregard others.\nThe bible said it was an abomination unto God for two men to have sex,but what about tatoos being prohibited,certain foods not to eat because the bible claimed it was unclean.Back then it probably was unclean to eat certain animals because they didn't have reservers that we have today,but that doesn't apply to now.The bible also said not to shave or trin your hair,it prohibited piecings,it said that it is degrading for a man to grow his hair.\n\nChristians disregard all of those laws,but speaks against homosexuality.If you christians believe that the bible is the word of God,why do you pick and chose.\n\nDid you all know that in the bible,David and Jonathan were lovers.If you don't believe me look it up for your self.Search on the internet to make it easier.\n\nNo matter how we prove that the bible is man's word not God's the more scriptures you all quote.\n\nGod condons slavery\nsexism\nwar\n\nAccording to the bible he does.A loving God condons slavery?\n\nI surely hope one day you all come to your senses.
443504
why must the bible be brought into EVERYTHING!!!!  i was reading the answers and was just waiting.  you know, the bible says so many things that are open for interpretation.  in the past, it's interpretations have been used to promote slavery, oppression, segregation, and many other horrible things.  don't beleive everything the bible suppossedly says.  it was written thousands of years ago you know.....\n\noh yeah, homosexuals are no different than anyone else.  they are people.  there are blacks, whites, asians, hispanics, etc.... there are also homosexuals, bi-sexuals, and heterosexuals....  just different people.  quit being so damn narrow-minded people.
1174548
If you notice, everyone seems to have a different idea to so Fundamental a question. Everyone seems to have a different view. People can have different interpretations of the same book and this is the case of the Bible. Also the Bible has been passed on from one generation to the other by scripts who rewrote the book and made altercations on the way. No Original bible as such exists, the one we have now is a continuosly revised edition of the first. And the bible was not written in the presence of christ which is clear however you look at the fact. All Religions lead to the same end, heaven. As long as we have faith in our hearts, we dont have to worry about anything else.
1045700
I totally agree. People should read the Bible if they are going to question it, praise it, or reject it. Then they are basing their decisions on what they KNOW rather than what they think they percieve.
1075317
You may have noticed that when people 'quote' the scriptures, they tend to take them out of context. The preachers are there to help 'teach' the things of God more accurately. However, personal study is important.\n People will always quote the bible because they want to be right. Unfortunately many miss the mark of proper scriptural handling.
1093782
There are a lot of contradictions in the Bible. Kind of makes sense, considering that the four gospels were just four of dozens that were picked and chosen into one book. So, with all those accounts and perspectives, that humans witnessed, there's bound to be some difference.
9801
I think most people would admit that there are at least discrepancies in the Bible. Even between one version to another certain verses can mean totally different things. Really a lot has been lost from the Bible, however the LDS still believe it to be truth as far as it has been translated correctly. \n\nLDS people 'switch to their scriptures' when explaining their religion because they believe that the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon is the keystone of their religion. \n\nIt still doesn't 'prove' anything. Nothing can 'prove' the LDS religion except for faith. The Book of Mormon is often the path that people follow in developing that faith. \n\nIf you want to learn more about the Book of Mormon and why the LDS care so much about it, then by all means read it. It's an interesting read, often complex in it's story and plot, but simple in the gospel principals it bears testimony of. \n\nYou can find out more about the LDS faith and get a Book of Mormon by visiting www.mormon.org.
688439
I understand what you mean- most people choose to believe only what agrees with them. If something written says what they are doing is wrong they then decide that specific passage is not correct. They want to be seen as perfect so they pick and choose what they want to benefit them. I believe the Bible in its entirety- If you do that then you can't go wrong!
1144068
There are over 10,000 unique Christian cults in the US alone. You can study the bible for the next 500 years and you still won't be in agreement with millions of other people who have chosen a different interpretation.\n\nI was a practicing Christian for over thirty years, studied the bible and religion and I assure you the bible is a book of mythology and supernatural entities ("Gods") do not exist in fact.\n\nThose who claim they "know" what the bible "really means" are either ignorant, dishonest or delusional. No one knows what the bible really means as evidenced by the millions of different interpretation (one you just offered), most of which do not agree with each other.\n\nThere is only one principle shared by the majority of Christians and that principle is:\n\n"We are better than everyone else and we can sin all we want with no eternal penalty."\n\nThat is not a valid doctrine, it is childish nonsense.\n\nBut, to each his own.
842255
You are right.  There are a lot of things recorded in the Bible that make us cringe.  I am not going to make excuses for it (like "oh well that was God's law back then.")  Slavery is wrong.  It was wrong then and it's wrong now.  Period.  \n\nFirst, you have to understand what the Bible is.  It's a collection of writings -- some of which were passed down orally for centuries before ever being written down -- all different kinds of writings.  Each book is different; written for a different purpose.  Do you really think that all Christians believe every word in the Bible is a direct dictate of God?  Okay, some Bible fundamentalists do, but not all of us.  It's the difference between being dictated by God and inspired by God.  "Inspired" is not quite so dogmatic.  \n\nThis particular verse, I believe, is a record from when Moses and the Israelites were in the desert.  It records the early development of the modern concept of the rule of law.  At the time, most tribes had kings, and kings were the law.  Under Moses, the Israelites developed consistent laws and the concepts of legal interpretations and precedents.  This is what you are reading.  While most Christians see the ten commandments as revelation from God, most Bible scholars don't see the long list of rules and penalties as divine revelation in the same sense.  \n\nThat's why religious leaders study the Bible throughout their lives.  They try to understand its wisdom -- its beauty -- and they take what is best and make that their way of life.  \n\nJesus was a real master at this.  His famous summary of the ten commandments into two actually came from the Old Testament:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.  \n\nThis is the foundation of Christianity.  What a beautiful faith.  What a wonderful way to live your life.  This is why I am a Christian.  I do not let a handful of inconsistent verses from 3500 years ago rob me of what keeps me connected to God and to my neighbor and fulfills my life.\n\nBest of luck in your search for Truth.
155418
Every religion differs from the other,so everyone see this in a diffrent point of view...