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159:4 The Talk With Nathaniel (view source)
Revision as of 17:21, 12 July 2011
, 17:21, 12 July 2011Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame 159:4.1 And then went Jesus over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abila Abila], where Nathaniel and...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]
159:4.1 And then went [[Jesus]] over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abila Abila], where [[Nathaniel]] and his [[associates]] labored. [[Nathaniel]] was much bothered by some of [[Jesus]]' pronouncements which seemed to detract from the [[authority]] of the [[recognized]] [[Hebrew]] [[scriptures]]. Accordingly, on this night, after the usual period of [[questions]] and answers, [[Nathaniel]] took [[Jesus]] away from the others and asked: " Master, could you [[trust]] me to know the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? I [[observe]] that you [[teach]] us only a portion of the [[sacred]] [[writings]]—the best as I view it—and I [[infer]] that you reject the [[teachings]] of the [[rabbis]] to the [[effect]] that the [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] are the very [[words]] of [[God]], having been with [[God]] in heaven even before the times of [[Abraham]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. What is the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? " When [[Jesus]] heard the question of his bewildered [[apostle]], he answered:
159:4.2 " [[Nathaniel]], you have rightly [[judged]]; I do not regard the [[Scriptures]] as do the [[rabbis]]. I will talk with you about this matter on condition that you do not [[relate]] these things to your brethren, who are not all [[prepared]] to [[receive]] this teaching. The [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and the teachings of the [[Scriptures]] were not in [[existence]] before [[Abraham]]. Only in recent times have the [[Scriptures]] been gathered together as we now have them. While they contain the best of the higher [[thoughts]] and longings of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] people, they also contain much that is far from being [[representative]] of the [[character]] and teachings of [[the Father]] in [[heaven]]; wherefore must I [[choose]] from among the better teachings those [[truths]] which are to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaning gleaned] for the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]].
159:4.3 " These [[writings]] are the [[work]] of men, some of them [[holy]] men, others not so holy. The teachings of these [[books]] [[represent]] the views and extent of [[enlightenment]] of the times in which they had their [[origin]]. As a [[revelation]] of [[truth]], the last are more dependable than the first. The [[Scriptures]] are faulty and altogether [[human]] in [[origin]], but mistake not, they do [[constitute]] the best collection of [[religious]] [[wisdom]] and [[spiritual]] [[truth]] to be found in all the world at this time.
159:4.4 " Many of these [[books]] were not [[written]] by the [[persons]] whose [[names]] they bear, but that in no way detracts from the [[value]] of the [[truths]] which they contain. If the [[story]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah Jonah] should not be a [[fact]], even if [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jonah Jonah] had never lived, still would the [[profound]] [[truth]] of this [[narrative]], the [[love]] of [[God]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevah Nineveh] and the so-called [[heathen]], be none the less precious in the eyes of all those who love their fellow men. The [[Scriptures]] are [[sacred]] because they present the [[thoughts]] and [[acts]] of men who were searching for [[God]], and who in these [[writings]] left on [[record]] their highest [[concepts]] of [[righteousness]], [[truth]], and [[holiness]]. The [[Scriptures]] contain much that is true, very much, but in the [[light]] of your present [[teaching]], you know that these [[writings]] also contain much that is misrepresentative of [[the Father]] in heaven, the loving [[God]] I have come to [[reveal]] to all the worlds.
159:4.5 " [[Nathaniel]], never [[permit]] yourself for one [[moment]] to [[believe]] the [[Scripture]] [[records]] which tell you that the [[God]] of [[love]] directed your [[forefathers]] to go forth in [[battle]] to slay all their [[enemies]]—men, women, and children. Such [[records]] are the [[words]] of men, not very [[holy]] men, and they are not the [[word]] of [[God]]. The [[Scriptures]] always have, and always will, [[reflect]] the [[intellectual]], [[moral]], and [[spiritual]] [[status]] of those who [[create]] them. Have you not noted that the [[concepts]] of [[Yahweh]] [[grow]] in [[beauty]] and [[glory]] as the [[prophets]] make their [[records]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]? And you should [[remember]] that the [[Scriptures]] are [[intended]] for [[religious]] instruction and [[spiritual]] [[guidance]]. They are not the [[works]] of either [[historians]] or [[philosophers]].
159:4.6 " The [[thing]] most deplorable is not merely this [[erroneous]] [[idea]] of the [[absolute]] [[perfection]] of the [[Scripture]] [[record]] and the [[infallibility]] of its teachings, but rather the [[confusing]] misinterpretation of these [[sacred]] [[writings]] by the [[tradition]]-enslaved [[scribes]] and [[Pharisees]] at [[Jerusalem]]. And now will they employ both the [[doctrine]] of the [[inspiration]] of the [[Scriptures]] and their misinterpretations thereof in their [[determined]] [[effort]] to withstand these newer [[teachings]] of the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. [[Nathaniel]], never forget, [[the Father]] does not [[limit]] the [[revelation]] of [[truth]] to any one [[generation]] or to any one people. Many [[earnest]] [[seekers]] after the [[truth]] have been, and will continue to be, [[confused]] and disheartened by these [[doctrines]] of the [[perfection]] of the [[Scriptures]].
159:4.7 " The [[authority]] of [[truth]] is the very [[spirit]] that indwells its living [[manifestations]], and not the dead [[words]] of the less [[illuminated]] and supposedly [[inspired]] men of another [[generation]]. And even if these [[holy]] men of old lived [[inspired]] and [[spirit]]-filled lives, that does not mean that their [[words]] were similarly [[spiritually]] [[inspired]]. Today we make no [[record]] of the teachings of this [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] lest, when I have gone, you speedily become divided up into sundry groups of [[truth]] contenders as a result of the [[diversity]] of your [[interpretation]] of my teachings. For this [[generation]] it is best that we live these [[truths]] while we shun the making of [[records]].
159:4.8 " Mark you well my [[words]], [[Nathaniel]], nothing which [[human]] [[nature]] has [[touched]] can be regarded as [[infallible]]. Through the [[mind]] of [[man]] [[divine]] [[truth]] may indeed shine forth, but always of [[relative]] [[purity]] and partial [[divinity]]. The [[creature]] may crave [[infallibility]], but only [[the Creators]] [[possess]] it.
159:4.9 " But the greatest error of the teaching about the [[Scriptures]] is the [[doctrine]] of their being sealed [[books]] of [[mystery]] and [[wisdom]] which only the wise [[minds]] of the nation [[dare]] to [[interpret]]. The [[revelations]] of [[divine]] [[truth]] are not sealed except by [[human]] [[ignorance]], [[bigotry]], and narrow-minded intolerance. The [[light]] of the [[Scriptures]] is only dimmed by [[prejudice]] and [[darkened]] by [[superstition]]. A false [[fear]] of [[sacredness]] has prevented [[religion]] from being safeguarded by [[common sense]]. The [[fear]] of the [[authority]] of the [[sacred]] [[writings]] of the past effectively prevents the [[honest]] [[souls]] of today from accepting the new [[light]] of the [[gospel]], the [[light]] which these very [[God]]-knowing men of another [[generation]] so [[intensely]] longed to see.
159:4.10 " But the saddest feature of all is the [[fact]] that some of the [[teachers]] of the [[sanctity]] of this [[traditionalism]] know this very [[truth]]. They more or less fully [[understand]] these [[limitations]] of [[Scripture]], but they are moral [[coward]]s, [[intellectually]] dishonest. They know the [[truth]] regarding the [[sacred]] [[writings]], but they prefer to withhold such disturbing [[facts]] from the people. And thus do they [[pervert]] and distort the [[Scriptures]], making them the [[guide]] to [[slavish]] details of the daily life and an [[authority]] in things nonspiritual instead of appealing to the [[sacred]] [[writings]] as the repository of the [[moral]] [[wisdom]], [[religious]] [[inspiration]], and the spiritual teaching of the [[God]]-knowing men of other [[generations]]. "
159:4.11 [[Nathaniel]] was [[enlightened]], and [[shocked]], by [[the Master]]'s pronouncement. He long pondered this talk in the depths of his [[soul]], but he told no man concerning this [[conference]] until after [[Jesus]]' [[ascension]]; and even then he [[fear]]ed to impart the full [[story]] of [[the Master]]'s instruction.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_159 Go to Paper 159]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 159 - The Decapolis Tour]]
159:4.1 And then went [[Jesus]] over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abila Abila], where [[Nathaniel]] and his [[associates]] labored. [[Nathaniel]] was much bothered by some of [[Jesus]]' pronouncements which seemed to detract from the [[authority]] of the [[recognized]] [[Hebrew]] [[scriptures]]. Accordingly, on this night, after the usual period of [[questions]] and answers, [[Nathaniel]] took [[Jesus]] away from the others and asked: " Master, could you [[trust]] me to know the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? I [[observe]] that you [[teach]] us only a portion of the [[sacred]] [[writings]]—the best as I view it—and I [[infer]] that you reject the [[teachings]] of the [[rabbis]] to the [[effect]] that the [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] are the very [[words]] of [[God]], having been with [[God]] in heaven even before the times of [[Abraham]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses]. What is the [[truth]] about the [[Scriptures]]? " When [[Jesus]] heard the question of his bewildered [[apostle]], he answered:
159:4.2 " [[Nathaniel]], you have rightly [[judged]]; I do not regard the [[Scriptures]] as do the [[rabbis]]. I will talk with you about this matter on condition that you do not [[relate]] these things to your brethren, who are not all [[prepared]] to [[receive]] this teaching. The [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] and the teachings of the [[Scriptures]] were not in [[existence]] before [[Abraham]]. Only in recent times have the [[Scriptures]] been gathered together as we now have them. While they contain the best of the higher [[thoughts]] and longings of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jewish] people, they also contain much that is far from being [[representative]] of the [[character]] and teachings of [[the Father]] in [[heaven]]; wherefore must I [[choose]] from among the better teachings those [[truths]] which are to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaning gleaned] for the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]].
159:4.3 " These [[writings]] are the [[work]] of men, some of them [[holy]] men, others not so holy. The teachings of these [[books]] [[represent]] the views and extent of [[enlightenment]] of the times in which they had their [[origin]]. As a [[revelation]] of [[truth]], the last are more dependable than the first. The [[Scriptures]] are faulty and altogether [[human]] in [[origin]], but mistake not, they do [[constitute]] the best collection of [[religious]] [[wisdom]] and [[spiritual]] [[truth]] to be found in all the world at this time.
159:4.4 " Many of these [[books]] were not [[written]] by the [[persons]] whose [[names]] they bear, but that in no way detracts from the [[value]] of the [[truths]] which they contain. If the [[story]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah Jonah] should not be a [[fact]], even if [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jonah Jonah] had never lived, still would the [[profound]] [[truth]] of this [[narrative]], the [[love]] of [[God]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevah Nineveh] and the so-called [[heathen]], be none the less precious in the eyes of all those who love their fellow men. The [[Scriptures]] are [[sacred]] because they present the [[thoughts]] and [[acts]] of men who were searching for [[God]], and who in these [[writings]] left on [[record]] their highest [[concepts]] of [[righteousness]], [[truth]], and [[holiness]]. The [[Scriptures]] contain much that is true, very much, but in the [[light]] of your present [[teaching]], you know that these [[writings]] also contain much that is misrepresentative of [[the Father]] in heaven, the loving [[God]] I have come to [[reveal]] to all the worlds.
159:4.5 " [[Nathaniel]], never [[permit]] yourself for one [[moment]] to [[believe]] the [[Scripture]] [[records]] which tell you that the [[God]] of [[love]] directed your [[forefathers]] to go forth in [[battle]] to slay all their [[enemies]]—men, women, and children. Such [[records]] are the [[words]] of men, not very [[holy]] men, and they are not the [[word]] of [[God]]. The [[Scriptures]] always have, and always will, [[reflect]] the [[intellectual]], [[moral]], and [[spiritual]] [[status]] of those who [[create]] them. Have you not noted that the [[concepts]] of [[Yahweh]] [[grow]] in [[beauty]] and [[glory]] as the [[prophets]] make their [[records]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]? And you should [[remember]] that the [[Scriptures]] are [[intended]] for [[religious]] instruction and [[spiritual]] [[guidance]]. They are not the [[works]] of either [[historians]] or [[philosophers]].
159:4.6 " The [[thing]] most deplorable is not merely this [[erroneous]] [[idea]] of the [[absolute]] [[perfection]] of the [[Scripture]] [[record]] and the [[infallibility]] of its teachings, but rather the [[confusing]] misinterpretation of these [[sacred]] [[writings]] by the [[tradition]]-enslaved [[scribes]] and [[Pharisees]] at [[Jerusalem]]. And now will they employ both the [[doctrine]] of the [[inspiration]] of the [[Scriptures]] and their misinterpretations thereof in their [[determined]] [[effort]] to withstand these newer [[teachings]] of the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. [[Nathaniel]], never forget, [[the Father]] does not [[limit]] the [[revelation]] of [[truth]] to any one [[generation]] or to any one people. Many [[earnest]] [[seekers]] after the [[truth]] have been, and will continue to be, [[confused]] and disheartened by these [[doctrines]] of the [[perfection]] of the [[Scriptures]].
159:4.7 " The [[authority]] of [[truth]] is the very [[spirit]] that indwells its living [[manifestations]], and not the dead [[words]] of the less [[illuminated]] and supposedly [[inspired]] men of another [[generation]]. And even if these [[holy]] men of old lived [[inspired]] and [[spirit]]-filled lives, that does not mean that their [[words]] were similarly [[spiritually]] [[inspired]]. Today we make no [[record]] of the teachings of this [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] lest, when I have gone, you speedily become divided up into sundry groups of [[truth]] contenders as a result of the [[diversity]] of your [[interpretation]] of my teachings. For this [[generation]] it is best that we live these [[truths]] while we shun the making of [[records]].
159:4.8 " Mark you well my [[words]], [[Nathaniel]], nothing which [[human]] [[nature]] has [[touched]] can be regarded as [[infallible]]. Through the [[mind]] of [[man]] [[divine]] [[truth]] may indeed shine forth, but always of [[relative]] [[purity]] and partial [[divinity]]. The [[creature]] may crave [[infallibility]], but only [[the Creators]] [[possess]] it.
159:4.9 " But the greatest error of the teaching about the [[Scriptures]] is the [[doctrine]] of their being sealed [[books]] of [[mystery]] and [[wisdom]] which only the wise [[minds]] of the nation [[dare]] to [[interpret]]. The [[revelations]] of [[divine]] [[truth]] are not sealed except by [[human]] [[ignorance]], [[bigotry]], and narrow-minded intolerance. The [[light]] of the [[Scriptures]] is only dimmed by [[prejudice]] and [[darkened]] by [[superstition]]. A false [[fear]] of [[sacredness]] has prevented [[religion]] from being safeguarded by [[common sense]]. The [[fear]] of the [[authority]] of the [[sacred]] [[writings]] of the past effectively prevents the [[honest]] [[souls]] of today from accepting the new [[light]] of the [[gospel]], the [[light]] which these very [[God]]-knowing men of another [[generation]] so [[intensely]] longed to see.
159:4.10 " But the saddest feature of all is the [[fact]] that some of the [[teachers]] of the [[sanctity]] of this [[traditionalism]] know this very [[truth]]. They more or less fully [[understand]] these [[limitations]] of [[Scripture]], but they are moral [[coward]]s, [[intellectually]] dishonest. They know the [[truth]] regarding the [[sacred]] [[writings]], but they prefer to withhold such disturbing [[facts]] from the people. And thus do they [[pervert]] and distort the [[Scriptures]], making them the [[guide]] to [[slavish]] details of the daily life and an [[authority]] in things nonspiritual instead of appealing to the [[sacred]] [[writings]] as the repository of the [[moral]] [[wisdom]], [[religious]] [[inspiration]], and the spiritual teaching of the [[God]]-knowing men of other [[generations]]. "
159:4.11 [[Nathaniel]] was [[enlightened]], and [[shocked]], by [[the Master]]'s pronouncement. He long pondered this talk in the depths of his [[soul]], but he told no man concerning this [[conference]] until after [[Jesus]]' [[ascension]]; and even then he [[fear]]ed to impart the full [[story]] of [[the Master]]'s instruction.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_159 Go to Paper 159]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 159 - The Decapolis Tour]]