It was always important to me as a christian never to deny god or to lead others to doubt his existence. If i was struggling with my faith, i shut my mouth so that my thoughts wouldnt influence another to not believe. However, i think im done. I dont really think there is a god. The bible does contradict itself. Read this: https://thoughtcatalog.com/jim-goad/2014/05/30-pairs-of-bible-verses-that-contradict-one-another/ what if we're wrong? Think about it...what actual proof is there that god is real? Really honestly think about that question. If i never was told about jesus or heard his name, if i was clueless as to who he is or what hes done and no believers tried to convice me hes perfect, what would make me believe hes out there? He has never talked to me, ive never seen him, loved ones died without a chance to actually turn to him, my prayers arent answered and at some point of time people told me everything that i now believe in as a christian. God was never there. God might just be the adult version of santa claus. Ive never seen santa, but i was told he watches me and knows everything i do. He brings me gifts unless i wasnt good. Everyone told me he is real and he loves me, but ive never seen him so i just have to trust and believe. I really dont think god is real. I might be calling this quits. Tell me why you believe in god, but leave out everything that someone else convinced you of. I would like the older people to answer this question, " what kept your faith strong throughout the years, of all the times people said that the rapture is going to happen soon that they just feel it..but then 30 years passes and it starts all over again. Out of all the hardship youve experienced in your lifetime, why do you still believe in a god?". Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. �2 Kings 24:8
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem� �2 Chronicles 36:9. No man hath seen God at any time. �John 1:18
For I have seen God face to face. �Genesis 32:30 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. �II Samuel 6:23
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah�and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul. �II Samuel 21:8
Its because of people like you i have a hard time in believing in god, youre so sick and twisted but you call yourself a christian. We represent jesus when we broadcast our belief in him, and you are not representing him well right now. Leave me alone you creepy old man, i told you so many times already that im not interested in you! Youre not posting on this forum to save my soul, your only posting because i had to block you because you wouldnt leave me alone. And here you are doing the same stuff. Get over it. I made a serious post about an issue im having and would like others to give their input, but your making this about you and your big ego. Sorry you couldnt land a 21 year old GIRL, maybe try shooting for your own age...or league.
Am I allowed to post an answer, or am I banned because you are angry that I asked you a few questions.
I do not have the time to do the work necessary to answer, so I have copied the work of someone else. Ok then I happen to be a thief, and a lazy man.
How old was Jehoiachin when he began to reign?
Published April 22, 2013
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He was 18 years old and he reigned for 3 months.
8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother�s name was Nehushta � .
2 Kings 24:8� NASB
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He was 8 years old and he reigned for 3 months and 10 days.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 36:9� NASB
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SAB Contradiction 250
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Too complicated for the critic
For a critic who doesn�t like to study any context, supposing that the word of God is like a vending machine � putting in a coin and the answer rolls out � it seems a contradiction that someone becomes king when he is eight years old and again when he becomes eighteen years old. How is this possible?
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Copy error?
Of course there have always been a mass of theologians proposing that �eight years� can�t be anything other than a copy error. However, by saying so they are stepping over the golden rule of exegesis: "Praestat difficilior lectio". (The difficult reading is preferable.) Remaining within the rules of exegesis we have to say that the two figures (eight and eighteen) must be explained instead of erasing one of them.
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Two kings
Jehoiachin wasn�t the first who became king in his childhood under a regency (e.g., Jehoash under the priest Jehoiada; Josiah under his mother Jedida). Remarkable is that Jehoiachin became king so young while his father Jehoiakim was still alive and active as king. After governing a period of 11 years Jehoiakim died at the age of 36 and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin as active king, who was then 18 years (2 Kings 23:36, 24:8). For 10 years Jehoiachin had the title of king during his fathers reign; what could be the reason for that? To understand this we have to go back to king Josiah (grandfather of Jehoiachin) and his sons (uncles of Jehoiachin) as described in 1 Chronicles 3:15-16.
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Let�s read �
15�The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, and the second was Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
16�The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah [Jehoiachin] his son, Zedekiah his son.
(1 Chronicles 3:15-16)
Before these verses (15-16) a list of kings is given descending from king Solomon up to and including king Josiah (verses 1-14). Apparently verse 15 was written when Josiah was still alive to arrange the succession after him, and it gives four names representing the order of succession of his sons. Here follows the diagram tree of verse 15:
The suggestion is given that this order was inspired by their ages. The firstborn (Johanan) had the first rights and so on down to the youngest Shallum (also known as Jehoahaz; Jeremiah 22:11) who got the last right to become king if the others died prematurely.
This order of age is appropriate apart from Zedekiah, who was 13 years younger than Jehoahaz (and 15 years younger than Jehoiakim). The question is of course: how is it possible that Zedekiah, who was actually younger than Shallum, got a higher place in the order of succession.
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What about Zedekiah?
Zedekiah is called: son of Josiah (verse 15), but he is also called: son of Jehoiakim (verse 16). When we take this information seriously � and we do � we have to reckon with an extramarital affair. Diagram tree of verse 15 and 16 with the mothers of the princes:
1 Chronicles 3:15 says: Zedekiah was a son of Hamutal, a wife of Josiah (2 Kings 23:31 and 24:18).
1 Chronicles 3:16 says: Zedekiah was also a son of Jehoiakim.
At the age of about 15 Jehoiakim begot Zedekiah by Hamutal, one of Josiah�s spouses. In fact Josiah became the grandfather of Zedekiah and could be called his father by the rule: the son of a son is a son.
Hamutal named the boy Mattaniah (2 Kings 24:17), meaning: �Gift of God�; but Josiah called him Zedekiah, meaning: �God is righteous�.
Zedekiah was on the list of succession (1 Chronicles 3:15), immediately after his biological father Jehoiakim. When Jehoiakim would die as king, Zedekiah was his firstborn to succeed and that gave him the unusual position on the list of succession.
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The queen ruling over the king
When it came to pass that Jehoiakim became king, his legal wife Nehushta wanted her legal son Jehoiachin to succeed, instead of Zedekiah (Jehoiakim�s firstborn). Apparently she didn�t trust her husband very much and she insisted that Jehoiakim granted their son Jehoiachin the title of �King� (without the duties) and her the title of �Mother of the King� (2 Kings 24:15).� Already in the year of Jehoiakim�s enthronisation his son Jehoiachin � a boy of eight years � got the title �King of Judah�. After the death of his father he became king with all the duties at the age of eighteen.�� �
The more you stay away from god the further you are from god? Did you miss the part where i explained it wasnt my choice to do all this alone? Im the ONLY christian in my family, i have yet to find a church with a pastor that preaches the word of god rather than sounding like a motivational speaker, and i dont live in an area where there are many christians and especially christians my age. I resorted to online christian websites like this one, but so far ive been messaged by older men that wont leave me alone and people that dont actually care about talking about jesus. Ive been a christian for years, and ive done it by myself. The only thing that kept me so strong was listening to john macarthur and david jeremiah daily and praying. Eventually it gets too hard. Too many bad things happen for no reason and i dont have another christian to talk about it with. I really am starting to give up.
Wait just a minute, put the defenses down, then you might find someone that will talk with you about Messiah.
I only want to talk with you about Messiah,but you are bery confrontational like a cat with its claws out all the time.
Proverbs says, to have friends one must show themself to be friendly.
You are not the only one that is the only believer in their family, and i have been looking for fellowship according to the Word for years, all i find are the christians that like being entertained and coddled, too afraid to stand for the Word of GOD Almighty.
I shared with you part of my testimony, then you turned on me like a wolverine.
IVE ASKED YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE YOU CREEPY OLD MAN. You are ugly on the inside and out. I literally dont read what you write...you know..since i asked you 50 times to leave me alone, i just look at your ugly af pic and scroll past. Dude im on the verge of giving up on god and i come here for support and to hear from other christians but YOU keep showing up. When you wouldnt stop instant messaging me and i asked you to leave me alone you wouldnt. So i had to block you. Now you wont leave me alone on the forum page. Seriously? Youre a christian? Really dude..im 21. This is why i give up on the idea of a god...because of people like you. I came here for support and i find the same thing..creepy old pedaphiles that wont leave me alone. Go ahead and post again, have the last word. Your life wont be any better than this moment here: driving someone away from christ just to get attention. So go ahead and respond back youre petty anyways.. I wont respond back, you dont win, youre just too pathetic to fight with and not worth my time.
Perhaps (he says hoping it wont have the opposite effect) it might be better to calm down and stop over reacting to people that maybe are approaching you from bad angles but maybe or maybe not with no romantic intent?
You are showing a stressed possibly wounded side of yourself and being unnessesarily nasty.... this letting your emotions get the best of you WILL backfire if it has not already.... perhaps ignore the arguer and attack the arguments instead? Remember this is not private messaging it is a public space, you cannot ban people from public spaces unless they are publically transgressing. PM stays in PM.
As to your own approach, you attack a emmense body of work too wildly. Rather slow down and take things slowly bit by bit. Basically rather approach each problematic part in isolation from the others if possible and then work your way outwards. Never expect anyone else to do your homework for you. If you have not before make it a habit of reading the Bible from start to finish bit by bit so you can get a picture of the overarching narrative it provides.
**THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS **FAITH** EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE** Galatians 5:6
Acts 26:17,18: Jesus said to Paul, "I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are **SANCTIFIED BY FAITH**!"
Romans 1:17: For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is **BY FAITH FROM FIRST TO LAST**!!
Romans 3:23-25: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received **BY FAITH**!!
Romans 3:27,28: Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? **NO**, because of the law that **REQUIRES FAITH**! For we maintain that a person is **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH** apart from the works of the law!!
Romans 5:1,2: Therefore, since we have been **JUSTIFIED THOUGH FAITH**, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access **BY FAITH** into this grace in which we now stand!!
Romans 10:5-9: Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them." {Lev 18:5} But the righteousness that comes **BY FAITH** says...The word is near you: it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning **FAITH** that we proclaim: IF you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your **FAITH** and are saved!!
Romans 12:3: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the **FAITH** God has distributed to each of you!!
Romans 14:23: Everything that does not come **FROM FAITH** is sin!!
2 Corinthians 1:24: We work with you for your joy, because it is **BY FAITH** you stand firm!!
2 Corinthians 5:6-10: We are always confident and know that as long as we are at home with the body we are away from the Lord. For we live **BY FAITH**, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!!
Galatians 2:16: We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but **BY FAITH** in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our **FAITH** in Christ Jesus that we may be **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH** in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law **NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED**!!
Galatians 3:23-26: Before the coming of this **FAITH**, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the **FAITH** that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH**. Now that this **FAITH** has come we are **NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVION OF THE LAW**. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God **THROUGH FAITH**!!
Galatians 5:5,6: For through the Spirit we eagerly await **BY FAITH** the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is **FAITH** expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, **THROUGH FAITH**--and this is not from yourselves, it is the **GIFT** of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!!
Ephesians 3:16,17: I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts **THROUGH FAITH**!!
I Thessalonians 1:3: We remember before our God and Father you work produced **BY FAITH**!!
2 Thessalonians 1:3,4: We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your **FAITH** is growing **MORE AND MORE**....Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and **FAITH** in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring!!
2 Thessalonians 1:11: We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed **PROMPTED BY FAITH**!!
I Timothy 1:3,4: Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer... Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is **BY FAITH**!!
2 Timothy 3:14,15: Continue in what you have learned and become convinced of...and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation **THROUGH FAITH** in Christ Jesus!!
Hebrews 11:1,3,6: So **FAITH** is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see...**BY FAITH** we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, in that what is seen was not made out of what was visible... Without **FAITH** it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Hebrews 12:1,2: Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our **FAITH**!!
**THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH **LOVE**!!{Galatians 5:6}
**THE FATHER LOVES HIS FAITHUL SAINTS JUST AS MUCH AS HE LOVES JESUS**
John 17:23: Jesus says to His Father, "You sent Me and have **LOVED THEM** even as you **LOVED** Me!!"
**JESUS LOVES HIS FAITHFUL SAINTS **JUST AS MUCH** AS THE FATHER LOVES HIM**!!
John 15:9,10" Jesus says, "As the Father **LOVED** Me, so I have **LOVED** you!! Now remain in My **LOVE . **IF** you obey My commands, you will remain in My **LOVE** , just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His **LOVE** !"
John 14:21,23: Jesus says, "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who **LOVES** Me! He who loves Me will be **LOVED** by My Father, and I will **LOVE** him....If anyone **LOVES** Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will **LOVE** him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him!!"
I John 3:18: Dear children, let us not **LOVE** with words or tongue but with actions and in truth!
WHAT'S **LOVE**GOT TO DO WITH IT??
I Peter 1:22: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere **LOVE** for your brothers, **LOVE** one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again... through the living and enduring Word of God!
I Peter 4:8: **ABOVE ALL**, **LOVE** each other **DEEPLY**, because **LOVE**covers over a multitude of sins!
I Corinthians 13:2,4-8: If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not **LOVE** I am nothing...**LOVE** is patient, **LOVE** is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. **LOVE** does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. **LOVE** never fails!!"
John 13:34: Jesus says, "A NEW command I give you: **LOVE* one another As I have **LOVED** you, so you must **LOVE** one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples." John 15:12,13: Jesus says, "My command is this: **LOVE** each other as I have **LOVED** you. Greater **LOVE** has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
I John 3:16: This how we know what **LOVE** is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers!
Ephesians 5:1,2: Be **IMITATORS OF GOD**, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of **LOVE**, just as Christ **LOVED** us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God!
Luke 6:27,28,35,36: Jesus says, "**LOVE** your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. **LOVE** your enemies, do good to them. and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your **REWARD** will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!"
Matthew 28:19.20� Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING* I have commanded you!� {See I John 2:3-5}
EVERYTHING would also include all the other commands in God's inspired Word from Acts to Revelation as per 2 Timothy 3:16: 4:2: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
If we really **LOVE** our brothers and sister in Christ we will lovingly teach them to obey all the approximately 400 commands of the NT with **LOVE** in the hope of countless eternal rewards when Jesus comes with great power with all His angels.
Revelation 22:112: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!?
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and **THEN** He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done."
Ephesians 4:15: "Speaking the Truth in **LOVE** , we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ! From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in **LOVE** , as each part does its work."
Ephesians 3:17-19: "I pray that you, being rooted and established in **LOVE** may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the **LOVE** of Christ, and to know this **LOVE** that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God!!"
I John 4:7-12: Dear friends, let us **LOVE** one another, for **LOVE** comes from God. Everyone who **LOVES** has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not **LOVE** does not know God, because God is **LOVE**. This is how God showed His **LOVE**among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is **LOVE**, not that we **LOVED** God, but that He **LOVED** us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so **LOVED** us, we ought to **LOVE** one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we **LOVE** one another, God lives in us and His **LOVE** is made complete in us!
Romans 8:35,37-39: Who shall separate us from the **LOVE** of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...We are more than conquerors through Him who **LOVED** us! For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the **LOVE** of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!!
