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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

December 6, 2013

Mythological interpretation of the Bible?

Filed under Sabbath Thoughts

The influence of ancient Greek culture on today's Christianity is evident for anyone who examines its teachings with an open mind. The "immortal soul" is "an idea utterly contrary to the Israelite consciousness and is nowhere found in the Old Testament" (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1960, Vol. 2, "Death," p. 812).

By contrast, in the church of God we may view ourselves as immune to such influence. But from time to time an interpretation of the Bible reflecting Greek mythology is seen in the views of individual church members. The ancient Greeks attributed an active sex life to their various gods and even believed that those gods were capable of having sexual relations with human beings.

That belief utterly contradicts the Bible. The gods of the ancient Greeks were not gods but simply mythological fantasy figures. The Bible also teaches that spirit beings, existing on a higher plane than mortal humans, do not have carnal relations. That applies both to humans who are transformed to spirit via a resurrection and to angels, which exist temporarily on a higher plane than humans (cf. Hebrews 2:7).

Jesus revealed a fundamental truth about the nature of spirit beings when He answered a trick question asked by the Sadducees: "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they [human beings made spirit] neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:29-30). Angels do not marry because they are incapable of doing so. That will also be the case with humans beings who are transformed to spirit.

Some ignore this clear statement and allow themselves to be (unknowingly) influenced by Greek mythology in their personal unterstanding of the Bible. For example, some believe that angels cohabited with humans or that Cain's father was not Adam, but Satan the devil.

Those who desire to be presented to Christ as His bride, having made herself ready, must "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

Is our personal understanding of the Bible faithful to the scriptures themselves, or are we influenced by Greek thought?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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