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Old 11-21-2003, 07:51 AM   #1
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Question New Testament and bastards

Does anyone know of a verse in the New Testament that mentions bastard children? I know the Old Testament mentions them, but I remember a verse in the N.T. that said something like, "God hates bastards" or something. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
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Old 11-21-2003, 12:13 PM   #2
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No offence, friend, but it's a good habit to learn to look things up for yourself.

The OT verse you mention is Deuteronomy 23:2. The surrounding verses are pretty comical too. Here's the KJV :
Quote:
Deu 23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Deu 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever
Apparently the Jehovah’s Witnesses still say that illegitimate children can never go to heaven. (Ask them next time they come to the door).

Despite the clear words of Deuteronomy 23:2, the apparently liberal and potentially communist () "Beliefnet Columnist" Ben Witherington III finds himself able to pronounce:
Quote:
I am happy to report that there is absolutely no Bible verse anywhere that condemns illegitimate children or their descendents automatically to hell.
I'm not aware of anything specific in the NT, although "bastards" are mentioned pejoratively a couple of times.
Quote:
Hbr 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Jhn 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God.
All the best

PTET


p.s. See also Farrell Till's article What Was a "Mamzer"?
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Old 11-21-2003, 12:55 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally posted by PTET
Apparently the Jehovah’s Witnesses still say that illegitimate children can never go to heaven. (Ask them next time they come to the door).
That site is Seventh Day Adventist, not Jehovah's Witness.
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Old 11-21-2003, 01:05 PM   #4
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Quote:
That site is Seventh Day Adventist, not Jehovah's Witness.
It is indeed... But the page is answering the following question:
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A lady on my tract route once surprised me with the question, "My son was born out of wedlock. The Jehovah’s Witnesses tell me that he can never go to heaven. Is that true?"
Cheers!

PTET
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Old 11-21-2003, 03:12 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by PTET
No offence, friend, but it's a good habit to learn to look things up for yourself.
Hey now, I've been trying to find those 2 verses for a long ass time, and had no luck. All searches led to the OT verse. Thanks, though.
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Old 11-21-2003, 04:53 PM   #6
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PTET
No offence, friend, but it's a good habit to learn to look things up for yourself.

The OT verse you mention is Deuteronomy 23:2. The surrounding verses are pretty comical too. Here's the KJV :
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deu 23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.



Offa, (in reply), that is a very curious verse. I have always wondered how the Hebrews created eunuchs. I read somewhere that it was not through castration.

I am curious, would having your dick cut off be a severe form of circumcision?

"yeah, you can join our clan if you get circumcised!"

Never trust a Hebrew.
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Old 11-21-2003, 06:51 PM   #7
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There is nothing in the Christian religion that says that illegitimate children are not saved. There are some verses that actually offer an opposing view.

Galatians 3
27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


verse 29 especially indicates that we are all one and children of God, equally to share in His promises.
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Old 11-21-2003, 07:31 PM   #8
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Hi EstherRose

Thanks for your input. It does seem that at least some people who call themselves Christians disagree with you. (Is that the sound of bagpipes I hear in the distance? )

Can I ask how you reconcile Galatians 3:27-29 with the words of Jesus himself in his Sermon On The Mount in Matthew 5:17-19?
Quote:
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
If someone has an illegitimate child, are they not breaking the commandments of God? Should they not therefore be punished unto the tenth generation? How can the words of Paul in Galatians override the words of Jesus himself?

That's a serious question, by the way...

PTET
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Old 11-21-2003, 07:37 PM   #9
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According to Jehovah's Witnesses only 144,000 are going to heaven anyway. Everyone else is supposed to stay on the Earth and rebuild it into a paradise after Armageddon. Either way they're just as nutty as everyone else.
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Old 11-21-2003, 07:40 PM   #10
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Oh what the hey. A little bit of searching around and I see that Jesus couldn't seem to get his story straight either. In Matthew 19:12 he says:
Quote:
Mat 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it].
So when Jesus said in Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" he seemed to recognise that the law had changed from the time of Deuteronomy. I think. Perhaps he was confused? I know I am. Maybe EstherRose can help.

PTET
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