There are 67 versions of the Bible in English alone. Don't confuse God speaking to you through Christianity as proof you scored the right one. All religions, Christianity included are man made and false. You do not need Paul's interpretation to know Christ. In fact, you could just follow Jesus's words and live a happy and fulfilling life on those alone.
All the rest of the book while fun to explore and argue over, isn't a hill to die on nor an excuse to isolate yourself.
The entire Bible points to Jesus Christ, in which Christianity is derived from. The rest of the Bible (books) are not "fun to explore and argue over," they are purposeful. The Old Testament provides Moral Law and Ceremonious Law, one for all time, and one for the Israelites (think Moses leading them out of Egypt), as well as a picture of God's kingdom, sinfulness of mankind, and his inability to save himself, no matter how "righteous," also prophecies about things to come, with amazing accuracy. Enter the New Testament, Jesus came to obey all the law, and fulfill the prophecies made about the coming Messiah. The rest of the New Testament, not dedicated to the life of Christ, is concerning the life of the believer and the direction of God's people. Letters of Paul were not one and done. There's over 20,000 copies that were transcribed by hand in his life, and shortly afterwards, they are extremely credible and written for the churches (specifically then, but they still apply today, because after the cross of Christ, there is no new revelation, the only thing to look to now is the 2nd coming of Christ in glory. The end of life on earth, and the new beginning in heaven, when he makes all things new). So we still fall under the command given by God through, Paul, James, Peter, John, etc.
I don't care if there's 1 million versions of the Bible in any given language. That is irrelevant. That's like saying once you hit X amount of dollars, you are evil. Instead, consider the heart of the matter. It is more useful. What is the purpose of the translation. There are translations I would never use, nor point people to, because they are wrongfully interpreted, or complete and utter blasphemy. The responsibility falls on us to validate our concerns about different translations. Let me ask you @GoingCamaro specifically, Do YOU personally, know any translators? I know 2, one worked on HCSB and is a master of ancient Greek / Hebrew, a scholar of scholars, and when he preached (on occasion, because he was so busy writing, translating, doing many works of God as my church's Associate Minister [secondary minister], so he was truly a busy man) you had to really pay attention, he gave much spiritual food, and little spiritual milk. It was good for the congregation, who had long since received spiritual milk, and was ready for the spiritual solid food. This is commanded in the NT by the way. Look at the Ligonier Conferences, look at NH Alliance. If you think churches like the one's I have belonged to, are dying on needless hills, you need to re-examine Christianity in your own heart. There are truths worth leaving a church over. There are battles which must be fought, and to lay down your arms in a spiritual battle to give hugs, is to deny God and join Satan. Who put you up on the pedestal of humanity and religion, what qualifications do you stand upon? Have you dove into the depths of the scriptures, climbed the heights of God's word, explored every avenue available to mankind? Or did you read a stupid reddit post, then bring that filth here? Did you concoct some BS, and preach it like it is the Word of God. Because it is not an easy task to formulate the Bible, although some have lazily made translations. Again I say to you, you must take responsibility for the translations you read. If you don't mind, then it's on you. If you were honestly led astray, then upon realization, seek the truth. Please do your research. I have spent my entire life around the Bible, seeking it's truth, and asking questions. It's not wrong to ask a question, and if that's what this is, than I have severely over-reacted, and I'm sorry, but I do not see it that way. I see it as a, if this, then that statement. If there's so many copies, how can any of them be right. Find the differences in different translations, look at what the difference is theologically. Make your own decision on what translation you desire. Circling back (now I hate myself, thanks ;) ) to the name-drops listed above, Ligonier and NH Alliance both contain multiple denominations of Christianity coming together to discuss modern issues, explore the Bible, and find common ground. The church (as Martin Luther described this would happen) split into many groups upon the ability of the common person to read and study the text. What you are seeing now, is the coming together of Christians. The reformation caused it's own Tower of Babel, with a far more righteous cause. I think why you see churches coming together now even with various differences, is because (In my own opinion), Satan sought a tower of Babel for Christians, like God caused the tower of Babel for mankind (because of their evil desires, he confused their language). Satan cannot prevail over God, and now, churches are coming together. There are differences in these denominations to be sure. But there is a core theology that remains necessary. If you aren't a Christian Church who values God's Words, then how can you claim you believe in God? God gives you his commands, you say "no thanks, they might not be right" and in so doing place yourself above (lesser grievance) the giants upon who's shoulders you stand upon and (greater grievance) you insult God, if you claim to follow him, when you don't really follow him. And to say that you just need to follow Jesus' words and you will live a happy life? Upon what context? Some things Jesus says do not apply to us, where he goes, we cannot follow. He says to sin no more. There are many things you can take out of context that would completely take apart the usefulness of your recommendation. You might say, consider the context, and I would say, look in the mirror.
There are 67 versions of the Bible in English alone. Don't confuse God speaking to you through Christianity as proof you scored the right one. All religions, Christianity included are man made and false. You do not need Paul's interpretation to know Christ. In fact, you could just follow Jesus's words and live a happy and fulfilling life on those alone.
All the rest of the book while fun to explore and argue over, isn't a hill to die on nor an excuse to isolate yourself.
The entire Bible points to Jesus Christ, in which Christianity is derived from. The rest of the Bible (books) are not "fun to explore and argue over," they are purposeful. The Old Testament provides Moral Law and Ceremonious Law, one for all time, and one for the Israelites (think Moses leading them out of Egypt), as well as a picture of God's kingdom, sinfulness of mankind, and his inability to save himself, no matter how "righteous," also prophecies about things to come, with amazing accuracy. Enter the New Testament, Jesus came to obey all the law, and fulfill the prophecies made about the coming Messiah. The rest of the New Testament, not dedicated to the life of Christ, is concerning the life of the believer and the direction of God's people. Letters of Paul were not one and done. There's over 20,000 copies that were transcribed by hand in his life, and shortly afterwards, they are extremely credible and written for the churches (specifically then, but they still apply today, because after the cross of Christ, there is no new revelation, the only thing to look to now is the 2nd coming of Christ in glory. The end of life on earth, and the new beginning in heaven, when he makes all things new). So we still fall under the command given by God through, Paul, James, Peter, John, etc. I don't care if there's 1 million versions of the Bible in any given language. That is irrelevant. That's like saying once you hit X amount of dollars, you are evil. Instead, consider the heart of the matter. It is more useful. What is the purpose of the translation. There are translations I would never use, nor point people to, because they are wrongfully interpreted, or complete and utter blasphemy. The responsibility falls on us to validate our concerns about different translations. Let me ask you @GoingCamaro specifically, Do YOU personally, know any translators? I know 2, one worked on HCSB and is a master of ancient Greek / Hebrew, a scholar of scholars, and when he preached (on occasion, because he was so busy writing, translating, doing many works of God as my church's Associate Minister [secondary minister], so he was truly a busy man) you had to really pay attention, he gave much spiritual food, and little spiritual milk. It was good for the congregation, who had long since received spiritual milk, and was ready for the spiritual solid food. This is commanded in the NT by the way. Look at the Ligonier Conferences, look at NH Alliance. If you think churches like the one's I have belonged to, are dying on needless hills, you need to re-examine Christianity in your own heart. There are truths worth leaving a church over. There are battles which must be fought, and to lay down your arms in a spiritual battle to give hugs, is to deny God and join Satan. Who put you up on the pedestal of humanity and religion, what qualifications do you stand upon? Have you dove into the depths of the scriptures, climbed the heights of God's word, explored every avenue available to mankind? Or did you read a stupid reddit post, then bring that filth here? Did you concoct some BS, and preach it like it is the Word of God. Because it is not an easy task to formulate the Bible, although some have lazily made translations. Again I say to you, you must take responsibility for the translations you read. If you don't mind, then it's on you. If you were honestly led astray, then upon realization, seek the truth. Please do your research. I have spent my entire life around the Bible, seeking it's truth, and asking questions. It's not wrong to ask a question, and if that's what this is, than I have severely over-reacted, and I'm sorry, but I do not see it that way. I see it as a, if this, then that statement. If there's so many copies, how can any of them be right. Find the differences in different translations, look at what the difference is theologically. Make your own decision on what translation you desire. Circling back (now I hate myself, thanks ;) ) to the name-drops listed above, Ligonier and NH Alliance both contain multiple denominations of Christianity coming together to discuss modern issues, explore the Bible, and find common ground. The church (as Martin Luther described this would happen) split into many groups upon the ability of the common person to read and study the text. What you are seeing now, is the coming together of Christians. The reformation caused it's own Tower of Babel, with a far more righteous cause. I think why you see churches coming together now even with various differences, is because (In my own opinion), Satan sought a tower of Babel for Christians, like God caused the tower of Babel for mankind (because of their evil desires, he confused their language). Satan cannot prevail over God, and now, churches are coming together. There are differences in these denominations to be sure. But there is a core theology that remains necessary. If you aren't a Christian Church who values God's Words, then how can you claim you believe in God? God gives you his commands, you say "no thanks, they might not be right" and in so doing place yourself above (lesser grievance) the giants upon who's shoulders you stand upon and (greater grievance) you insult God, if you claim to follow him, when you don't really follow him. And to say that you just need to follow Jesus' words and you will live a happy life? Upon what context? Some things Jesus says do not apply to us, where he goes, we cannot follow. He says to sin no more. There are many things you can take out of context that would completely take apart the usefulness of your recommendation. You might say, consider the context, and I would say, look in the mirror.