| highwaystar101 said: This website is ace, I'm still on genesis and I'm in bits... seriously guys go visit it. http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/respect.html God has respect for some people. Genesis 4:4 And the Lord had respect unto Abel. Exodus 2:25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. Leviticus 26:9 For I will have respect unto you, and make your fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 2 Kings 13:23 And the Lord was gracious unto them ... and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... Psalm 138:6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect for the lowly. Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God ... regardeth not persons. 2 Chronicles 19:7 For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons. Acts 10:34 God is no respecter of persons. Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. Galatians 2:6 God accepteth no man's person. Ephesians 6:9 Neither is there respect of persons with him. Colossians 3:25 There is no respect of persons. 1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call upon the Father, who without respect of persons, jugeth according to every man's work. |
Let's look into something called original translation, as well as context. It seems your random copypasta lacks it.
So let's go into this:
Most of your verses concerning God not being a respector of persons occurred in the New Testament. The reason for the dissertations of Paul and Peter (the writers of all quoted NT text) used their context showing that God did not prefer Jews over Greeks. During Jesus' earthly ministry, he focused his works entirely within Palestine, with a few visits to Samaria, but did not do much work there. Because of this, some early converts to Jesus' ministry believed that God still prefered Jews over Greeks. This was certainly not the case, and Paul + Peter were refuting that.
Let's look at the occurances concerning God not respecting people (in context):
Det 10:17 - In this section, read in context with the very next verse shows that God is not partial to a specific socio-economic class, as in V18 God 'executes Judegement for the Fatherless, and widow, and loves the stranger by giving him food and/or clothing'. This is in agreement with the Psalms 138:6 verse which says that he 'gives respect for the lowly'. Chalk this verse up to totally destroying context.
2 Chr. 19:7 - Again an 'anti-respect' of persons. The original Hebraic translation uses the word משּׂא or 'partiality'. The context explains that God does not show partiality, so the Judges should not either. Again, context shows that it's also concerning the taking of bribes to show favoritism - and that it is wrong.
Acts 10:34 - A gentile, Cornelius was converted in this chapter. At that time, many Jewish converts to Christianity thought that gentiles were lower on the totem poll, but with the conversion of Cornelius, Peter realizes that God does not show favoritism. There are plenty of scriptures supporting this view outside of the ones you've given.
Romans 2:11 - Read in context. Paul is explaining to the Jewish converts of Rome that God does not show favoritism with gentiles or Jews.
Galatians 2:6 - Similar to Romans 2:11, Paul is discussing that just because one's self may be (externally) circumsized, that does not make someone a better Christian. The original greek word for person, πρόσωπον can also be translated as 'surface' - which may be more fiting for the contexual argument against circumcision. You could translate it as 'God does not respect someone for what is on their surface. What's on the inside, one's personal relationship is what matters'.
And on and on.
Ultimately, the contexual argument about favoritism is this: God shows favoritism on the righteous, internal qualities of a person. He does not, however, care about race, circumcision, or other external qualities of a person. The Bible shows this clearly. God accepted Able's sacrifice because Able gave what God wanted. Cain sacrificed what was easy.
Read the context of Leviticus 26. In this chapter (as well as the ones preceeding and following it), God is outlining His plan for the codification of rights and wrongs for the Israelites. When God commences the 'do's' of the law, he then outlines the blessings involved in such a belief. Again, the Bible is clear that when someone follows God's will, God favors them. All instances of favoritism and respect by God are always in the context of people following God's commandments and will.
If you have any more conflicting statements, feel free to post them. I am sure there are enough Christians out there that will mention the context or root wording of the 'conflicting' statements. Most of what your posting is totally out of context, and totally useless in an argument.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
