A Couple Questions About The Gospels

[Guest Taoist_Saint]

[Guest TheProudDuck]

Tao -- Note that the Matthew 22:30 scripture refers to people "marrying" in the resurrection -- not "are married." In other words, marriages that are contracted on the earth may continue in heaven, but no new marriages are contracted there.

As for Romans 8, I think your interpretation is on point: " I think it may have something to do with distinguishing between "sinful flesh" and "perfect flesh." In the New Testament, the resurrected Christ expressly states that he has a body of flesh and bone. The "flesh" Paul is referring to in Romans must therefore be corruptible flesh.

[porterrockwell]

So, I think there is also something that TS brought up that intrigues me in Romans 8. It talks about "to be carnally minded is death." From what I can see, there is "word of wisdom" in Christianity. I see Catholic bishops smoking and drinking all the time, and I see many a christian on survey list themselves as smokers and social drinkers. So how could Mainstream Christianity be God's church if one, they do not have a united policy like the word of wisdom, and B there aren't repentance processes for those who divulge themselves in such carnally minded things. Also, being as though I have been told that I have to believe in the Nicene Creed to be a Christian, would the fact that Constantine was an Imperalistic, blood-thirsty, dictator have any effect on such phylosophy such as the Trinity seeing as how Constatine clearly oversaw and influenced the whole thing? Sorry it is off the subject a little, but just a thought that popped into my head.

[Guest Taoist_Saint]

Thanks guys...

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Note that the Matthew 22:30 scripture refers to people "marrying" in the resurrection -- not "are married." In other words, marriages that are contracted on the earth may continue in heaven, but no new marriages are contracted there.

PD,

I have heard that argument before also. But I thought that LDS doctrine did allow marriage (sealing) in Heaven. For example, an exalted man can be given new wives...hence the whole controversy of polygamy in the afterlife? Or is that not considered true doctrine?

Does my explanation (That Jesus was referring to Temporal Marriage) make sense too? After all, the footnote in the LDS publication of the Bible references "Temporal Marriage".

[Faerie]

My understanding of that verse in Matthew was that it refers to Temporal Marriage. Those who marry for time only will be as the angels.

Of course, MY understanding of Gospel matters pales in comparison w/ some people on here. :)

[Guest Starsky]

I don't know much on this subject but I think that Matthew is talking about the telestial kingdom...

Also...that the Roman reference is focussing on the difference between being carnally minded/worldly and spiritually minded...

No matter what we do....there is a correct 'spirit' to do it in...and a wrong 'spirit' to do it in. A scripture comes to mind:

Alma 37: 37

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

[Maureen]

The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching. (Matthew 22:23-33)

In viewing these verses in context the real subject is the resurrection. Since the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection they of course were ignorant of what happens when one is resurrected (like most people are since we really don’t know). They are asking a question (hypothetically taking the side of someone who believes in a resurrection) presuming that what we do here as human beings we will do and have also when resurrected. Since Jesus knew their state of mind he answered by not really acknowledging their specific question. They asked, “Whose wife of the seven will she be?” She had married several times and they just assumed that she would remain married after death. Jesus did not say she would not still be married, he just said that marriage does not take place once we are resurrected giving the impression that marriage and being married was not important once you are resurrected. In describing the resurrected as “like angels in heaven” Jesus is giving the impression that the resurrected are celestial beings. The resurrected will have bodies but they will not have earthly bodies, they will have celestial ones (why would a celestial being need to be married?). And the main point Christ was making is the fact that those who are resurrected are no longer dead, but living.

M.

[srm]

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Originally posted by Taoist_Saint@Mar 25 2004, 02:18 PM

I am in some discussions with an evangelical christian, and he had a few questions about alleged contradictions between the New Testament and LDS doctrine.

First:

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

My understanding is that the LDS interpet this scripture to be referring to Temporal Marriage. That is, since there was not a Church of Christ at the time that Jesus said this, he must have been referring to Hebrew marriages, which followed the Law of Moses...and therefore those marriages would not be eternal.

Is that the "official" or accepted LDS interpretation of that passage?

Second:

Romans 8:

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful bflesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Those passages seem to imply that "flesh" is an enemy of God...so I have been asked, how can God be flesh and bone?

I think it may have something to do with distinguishing between "sinful flesh" and "perfect flesh".

But is there another LDS interpretation of these scriptures?

Thanks!

Our interpretation is that the ordinance of marriage is an earthly ordinance...it can't take place in heaven.

It is speaking of earthly flesh (being carnally minded). The question to ask is that if all flesh is evil then how is it that Jesus has a body of flesh as atested in the new testament.

[Guest Starsky]

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Originally posted by Maureen@Mar 25 2004, 05:33 PM

And the main point Christ was making is the fact that those who are resurrected are no longer dead, but living.

M.

Interesting insights Maureen. This one was especially intriquing to me.

[Guest Taoist_Saint]

[Guest Ammon]

We are NOT going to be married in the Celestial Kingdom. Marriage is an earthly word and concept. We will be sealed, however, which is an eternal concept.

[Guest Starsky]

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Originally posted by Ammon@Mar 25 2004, 06:48 PM

We are NOT going to be married in the Celestial Kingdom. Marriage is an earthly word and concept. We will be sealed, however, which is an eternal concept.

Hey...I never separated the two....that is very interesting to think about.

[Faerie]

Whichever, I'm glad I don't have to worry about it anymore..lol...got my bases covered!!