The Bible is so confusing!

[Galatians220]

Originally Posted by EruditioSalvatus

God may preserve knowledge absolutely but he doesn't necessarily preserve information absolutely. The bible, and other holy works, might give information about god and plans and so forth, and even use quotes, but this information doesn't always translate into the knowledge of divinity or divine plans.
Eh, one more way to look at things

He keeps knowledge but that can't be said about Information? To me, that's a contradictory statement You may be thinking that Knowledge is in his head and information is on paper, but if it's just whats on his head, then that can never be lost anyways because it was never written down, and if it wasn't written down, then how can man know? It will have to be in the Jewish Oral tradition. But if it were on paper, it is a contradictory statement.

Tell me, He is really keeping his words? How is he keeping his words when He may have just lost things over time?

[EruditioSalvatus]

Originally Posted by Galatians220

How big can a Mustard Seed tree is to you? Man size? Look up Mustard tree on google, you'll see that one is actually bigger and taller than a house.

I think mustard plants get to be about average shoulder height, and like all things some species are larger and some are smaller. From a botanical perspective they're not even trees, but that makes for no marks against anyone; even Pluto isn't a planet anymore.

Looking up "mustard tree" on Google, as you suggested, does give striking images of large trees. However closer inspection shows these trees to be Elm or Oak or some other large tree and indeed not a mustard plant.

This further proves that every thing you find on Google isn't the truth and all of the truth (for those strong of stomach try looking up "sarah plain bikini," an amusing streak "battle pope," or a sinful mind "hell" on Google Maps) Personally I blame the pigeons and their poor eyesight.

But as I said before, it was a parable or allegory and possibly was not meant to be 100% true or accurate. If that were the case the allegory would be something more along the lines of:

"See this mustard seed? It's small and unobtrusive but can grow to become an industrious, rugged, and useful plant. Faith is like this life cycle, for faith begins small like the seed, but grows into a handy, useful organism. Faith helps make you industrious at all things, rugged against the hardships of the world, and useful for spreading the gospel. Just as the mustard plant yields seeds that are taken away, so will you spread seeds of faith in the Lord."

[Galatians220]

Originally Posted by EruditioSalvatus

I think mustard plants get to be about average shoulder height, and like all things some species are larger and some are smaller. From a botanical perspective they're not even trees, but that makes for no marks against anyone; even Pluto isn't a planet anymore.

Looking up "mustard tree" on Google, as you suggested, does give striking images of large trees. However closer inspection shows these trees to be Elm or Oak or some other large tree and indeed not a mustard plant.

This further proves that every thing you find on Google isn't the truth and all of the truth (for those strong of stomach try looking up "sarah plain bikini," an amusing streak "battle pope," or a sinful mind "hell" on Google Maps) Personally I blame the pigeons and their poor eyesight.

But as I said before, it was a parable or allegory and possibly was not meant to be 100% true or accurate. If that were the case the allegory would be something more along the lines of:

"See this mustard seed? It's small and unobtrusive but can grow to become an industrious, rugged, and useful plant. Faith is like this life cycle, for faith begins small like the seed, but grows into a handy, useful organism. Faith helps make you industrious at all things, rugged against the hardships of the world, and useful for spreading the gospel. Just as the mustard plant yields seeds that are taken away, so will you spread seeds of faith in the Lord."

Your earlier post states that Jesus made the fig tree to be an enormous size when in actuality, it is small. That is to say that even Jesus' allegory is erroneous on top of every other errors in the Bible. In truth, some are small, but Fig trees commonly are 10-30 feet but can reach 50 feet (1). Jesus' fig tree still holds true.


1. FIG Fruit Facts

Note: the Major fig producers listed did not include israel; this is probably due to the boycotting of Israeli products including winery by a largely sympathetic Europe to the Palestinian cause.

[EruditioSalvatus]

Originally Posted by EruditioSalvatus

The parable of the mustard seed.
Matt 13: 31, 32; Mark 4: 31, 32; Luke 13: 19; Thomas 20

I'll give in to the idea that the mustard seed is the smallest seed (at least smallest available right then) but large as a tree...

However, it is just a parable so probably not supposed to be accurate (adding to the mysticism of parable and increasing its cryptic, spooky nature).

My personal favorite rendition is in A Bug's Life with the pebble and the great oak tree.

Hmm, nope. I don't see fig tree anywhere. I mentioned oak trees and mustard trees (though the latter really isn't a proper tree) but I don't see fig anywhere. Just to make sure, however, I looked over the portions of text I was using as reference:

Originally Posted by Matthew 13

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field

Originally Posted by Mark 4

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth

Originally Posted by Luke 13

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Originally Posted by Thomas

20. The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what Heaven's kingdom is like."
He said to them, "It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."

All quotes use the King James version, except for the Gospel of Thomas (editors Barnstone and Meyer edition), but a quick look over the other translations appear to use the same mustardey foliage.

Incidentally, I'd personally remember mentioning figs because I used to have one outside my house when I was young. Once I ate so many as to be sick and have abstained from them ever since.

[Galatians220]

Originally Posted by EruditioSalvatus

Hmm, nope. I don't see fig tree anywhere. I mentioned oak trees and mustard trees (though the latter really isn't a proper tree) but I don't see fig anywhere. Just to make sure, however, I looked over the portions of text I was using as reference:




All quotes use the King James version, except for the Gospel of Thomas (editors Barnstone and Meyer edition), but a quick look over the other translations appear to use the same mustardey foliage.

Incidentally, I'd personally remember mentioning figs because I used to have one outside my house when I was young. Once I ate so many as to be sick and have abstained from them ever since.

Sorry I got that confused but ... if we should interpret the story as a parable, what's your point? It is a tree non the less now there's a lot of pictures and pictures can be doctored up. Can you provide me with an actual full size Mustard tree and an article that proves that?