Importance of Original Sin

They were not punished for holding back and THAT is what is clearly in the text.

Do you see where it says they had the right to their possession? Clearly not. Context means nothing to you.

I agree it was wrong to hold it back, it was morally wrong in the context since everyone else was giving all, but since he legally had a right to dispose of it as he pleased that was not why they were punished. They lied about holding it back and that was what they were punished for.

they were killed for lying about holding it back, not for holding it back.

People read things wrong all the time, that should be no mystery. But when the entire history of the Church says something different about what it says than a modern unbeliever is saying, YOU are the one who read it wrong. Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

It's possible to misread all kinds of things, and the Bible was written in a different time and cultural context so it is no mystery if it is easily misread. Nevertheless most of it is easy enough to read.; In any case wherever there is a dispute as to the meaning, the millions of believers will have it right, not the unbelievers.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

How nave of you. Everybody else would say the same, and all of you disagree. The differences between genuine Christian denominations are minimal and only on minor secondary points where the Bible isn't quite as clear as on the major points. We all share the major points. But you are probably also mixing heretics and cults in with genuine Christians too, and they do distort the reading of the Bible. ABE: ON the points we are discussing there are NOT a lot of different interpretations. It's pretty much you and ringo and other unbelievers against the entire history of the Church. Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

The Church means all genuine believers no matter what the denomination. Historically there was essential agreement on most of the major texts by most theologians if you go back to the beginning. Heresies were identified and thrown out, etc. Which is not to say there weren't minor differences then too, and different ways of expressing principles and so on.Pascal said the Bible contains enough light to inform and guide believers but enough obscurity to keep out the insincere unbelievers.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

All genuine believers includes those in the Roman Church and the Orthodox Church and any other church. There are some in all denominations.And now you are making up what Pascal meant. Too bad he isn't still alive to set you straight.

A genuine believer is someone who is born again and lives for Christ. There are some in every denomination, more in some denominations than other denominations, and although in many cases it is possible to recognize them, sometimes it isn't. It's a spiritual thing.There is no doubt what Pascal meant and it is not what you interpreted it to mean. He thinks it very wise of God to inspire the Bible in such a way as to enlighten believers but mislead or at least remain opaque to unbelievers.I intended the quotation of Pascal to answer your question why the Bible seems opaque to you. It isn't opaque to a believer even if parts of it are hard to understand.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Bad analogy. "Power" in the KJV in context means they had the authority or the right to dispose of their money as they pleased. And all Jaywill means by "every right" is they had a LEGAL right.They had a legal right to do whatever they wanted with the land.Yes they were rebuked for holding back part of it because morally it was wrong in the context of giving all to the disciples as everybody else did. NEVERTHELESS they still had a LEGAL right to do it.The sin that killed them was lying about it to God for the sake of pride. The next verse says that Ananaias, hearing THESE WORDS, fell down dead.Yes they were wrong to hold back part of the money because of the context in which everyone was giving all, not because it was wrong in principle since they had a legal right to it.I understand of course that you arrogantly assume you must be righter than the whole history of Christianity because that's the politically correct position these days, but really it's just that the Bible is too subtle for you.Some relevant scripture: Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

I left out no words at all. That is correct, so you have no argument. They were not struck down for violating the human law that gave them the legal right to the land, but for lying to God Himself. Sorry, it's your arrogant belief in your own rightness against two millennia of theologians and believers that is worse than worthless.

No, I spelled out the argument from the scripture itself and said that's what the whole church has accepted. You on the other hand have your own unbelieving self for your authority.

If millions read it differently than you do, you're wrong. Sorry.

You're an upstart arrogant modern unbeliever against some huge number of believers over the millennia, who cares how many since there are a lot more than just you and those who agree with you.