Isaiah 59:1-2 says this:" But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you." I believe it is ironic that God should hide the truth in plain sight so to speak. It is right in front of our eyes. “Seek and ye shall find.” People can be so stubborn.They refuse to see the truth because they don’t want to see or don’t want to admit it. This is like being in a car with someone who took a wrong turn and refuses to ask for directions. If you point out to them that the road does not look familiar, or that you think they may have made a mistake, the answer you will most likely receive is “I’m driving, and I know where I’m going!” Try talking to a teenager who knows it all,and you’ll get the same
attitude. Why do you think Matthew 11:25 says that God reveals truth to babes? As I mentioned before, the emperor has no clothes, and in the story, it was a child who pointed this out.
Jesus said that God was hiding the truth from the Jews.
Jesus said He spoke in parables to the Jews so they wouldn’t get the truth.
So if God didn’t hide the truth from them and if Jesus didn’t speak in parables to them, they would have known the truth.
The blinding began in Isaiah’s day and continues to our day.
“God locks up all together in stubbornness (lit. unpersuadableness) that He should be merciful to all” (Romans 11:32).
When Jesus asked Peter Who He was, Peter said “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told Peter that man did not reveal this to him but God did. God didn’t want all of Israel knowing this. He wanted them to crucify His Son so He could save them from their sins.
So Eusebius, what do you think is the reason that God withheld or hid the truth from people?
Ohhh… I just saw part of the answer in your last words: “He wanted them [the Jews] to crucify His Son so He could save them from their sins.”
Do you really believe that God WANTED them to crucify His Son? Is that the ONLY way He could have saved them from their sins? If so, why is that the only way? Would it have worked if they had simply beheaded Him?
If you are right, they must have been doing the will of God by crucifying God’s Son. Was it therefore not a sin for them to crucify the Son of God?
Will God honour them for doing it some day?
From what I understand, God is the One who tells us the truth so that we should no longer live in darkness. I believe that it is a sin to hide the truth.
The whole of 1 Corinthians chapter 2 explains all that Eusebius is trying to say on this point, if I understand him properly.
I thought I already established why
There are places in the New Testament where Jesus told His disciples not to tell the populace about Him so they would reject Him.
1Co_2:8 which not one of the chief men of this eon knows, for if they know, they would not crucify the Lord of glory."
They were fulfilling God’s hidden intention to crucify Christ. By their crucifying their own Messiah, they were unintentionally saving themselves.
It’s just like the story of Joseph who is a type of Christ. The 11 Israelites conspired to do away with Joseph. He was sold into Egypt. But in so doing, they were unwittingly saving themselves. Remember Joseph said to his brothers when they came down to him to be saved from the famine: “You meant it for evil but Yahweh, He meant it for good.” The Israelites in Jesus’ day meant it for evil but God meant it for good. God’s wisdom is so very much above ours.
But their apprehensions were calloused, for until this very day the same covering is remaining at the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered." for only in Christ is it being nullified. But till today, if ever the reading of Moses should be reached, a covering is lying on their heart."
(2Co 3:14-15)
One day God will remove the covering.
Rom_11:25 For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering."
God doesn’t sin in hiding the truth. He doesn’t miss the mark. He is in total control.
He locks up all together in stubbornness (or unpersuadableness) that He should be merciful to all (Rom.11:31).
I have a few questions here regarding Paul.
Folks go to different seminaries, to study Paul and other Biblical writings. But they don’t necessarily understand Paul and the bible (even though they have different church viewpoints, and training from a traditionally accredited seminary). Even if the US located seminary is accredited, by a regional accreditation agency, recognized by the US Debarment of Education. Is this correct?
Yet some folks are “awakened” or “enlightened”, to the truth of Paul - by God. Is this a correct understanding - of your position? If so, then what is God’s criteria for conveying this understanding to some? What is God’s criteria for making the choices? Does the Bible tell us this?
Someone says they are a Protestant Charismatic. And the Holy Spirit gave them the gifts of knowledge and discernment. But they have a different understanding of Paul (along with the rest of the bible), then you do. Why should we not believe them over you?
A Roman Catholic priest I know, claims he has the gifts of healing and hearing the voice of God. Yet God never communicates to him anything, that would contradict his traditional Roman Catholic, theological understanding. Why is that? And is he hearing the voice of God or something else? And if so, what is he hearing? Imagination perhaps (even if ruled out by medical authorities, as the RC church likes validation)?
In case you are wondering, the last two examples are real scenarios - not “make believe”.
I already explained the reason earlier in this thread. I don’t have the inclination to go through the thread to locate it.
"
It’s easy. If you can recall just 2 or 3 words you used, you just put them, into the search box above. Same goes for any bible verse you quoted, from your special translation of the bible (I think you said previously, you used the Concordant Publishing edition. Back when I asked you, what bible you were quoting from). 
or
If it is so easy, why don’t you search it out? 
Just curious.
Because I’m not a mind reader. You know much better some words you used - especially verses from a unique bible translation. 
I’m not so sure that Joseph said that. Yes, that’s how the Masoretic Hebrew text reads. But that text type differs from that from which the Greek Septuagint was translated, and it seems that the New Testament writers quoted from the Septuagint when they quoted the Hebrew scriptures.
The Septuagint reads, “You took counsel against me for evil, but God took counsel for me for good, that the matter might be as it is to-day, and much people might be fed.” Joseph’s brothers took counsel with each other and made the decision to sell Joseph into Egypt. God “took counsel” with Himself (Greek lexicons say the word can mean “to deliberate with one’s self.” In other words, God brought good out of the situation. There is no indication from the words of the Septuagint, that God intended or planned for Joseph to be sold into Egypt.
Here’s the problem I have with those claiming “special understanding” or “special knowledge”, here on this forum. And that “special stuff” gives them more insight, then seminary trained theologians (assuming in the US, it’s accredited by one of the six regional accreditation boards, recognized by the US Department of Education).
What spiritual proof do they offer? We had someone come to this forum, who claimed to be a prophet. And I asked them what prophesy my mom communicated to me - before she died. They couldn’t answer. Nor did they give a prophesy here, that could be verified. All true prophets are always 100% right, in terms of prophesy. It’s biblical.
The Roman Catholic priest, I will name Father A. He claims the gift of healing. And I have been to his healing services and fell down many times.
My Protestant mom - now diseased - was born with the gift of prophesy. And she was always right, about something that would happen.
And neither one charged money, sold tickets or advertised.
Now I know about our poster, both in his “Wizard of Oz” persona. And as “the man behind the curtain”.
or
youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE
If Benny Hinn (the TV evangelist) had the gift of healing, I feel God would lead me to - or show me - the proof. Just as God has done, for many spiritual people I have met. And spiritual experiences I have had. But I haven’t see anything here, leading me to someone with “special knowledge or understanding”. God has not led me, to anything resembling a spiritual sign - like God has done, many times in my life.
Tradition has a way, of keeping things in check.
Why did the church fathers create creeds - for example? It’s gives us historical ways, of checking our understanding.
Why did the Native Americans, pass their 7 rites or ceremonies, down through the centuries? So that some new age person, won’t deviate from it.
Now don’t get me wrong! I have no issues, with someone believing they have special knowledge. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. 
or
Actually, both the Septuagint and Masoretic text shows God conspired to send Joseph down into Egypt. God told Abraham years before they went down that his offspring would go down into Egypt and be there 400 some years.
And saying is He to Abram, "Knowing, yea, knowing are you that a sojourner is your seed to become in a land not theirs, and they are to serve them. Yet evil shall they do to them and humiliate them four hundred years. Moreover, also, the nation which they are serving will I adjudicate. And afterward they are to fare forth hither with great goods.
(Gen 15:13-14)
The way to accomplish that was for God to have Joseph’s brothers turn on him and sell him into Egypt, have Joseph grow and save and stockpile lots of grain to save everyone during the drought and have Israel and sons go down into Egypt due to that drought. But the texts do reveal that they hated Joseph and tried to get rid of him. They did mean it for evil and God did mean it for good. Sorry but there is just no way around this.
Joseph, being a type of Christ, is a picture of Israel wanting to get rid of Jesus. Their very persecution of Jesus likewise would be their very salvation.
Someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong.
I am not someone claiming “special understanding” or “special knowledge.” What I’ve been claiming all along is that God hides the truth from some of humanity and reveals it to others.
If you are one of the chosen, you will understand the truth in the Scriptures. If you are not one of the chosen, you won’t. It is just that simple.
As I understand it… this hidden-ness of “truth” to which SOME were blind was relative to the redemption of Israel AND certain Gentile inclusion in the outworking of that redemptive plan; no more and no less, period (Acts 13:48;15:14-17). To transpose said hidden-ness BEYOND its historical biblical boundaries does great violence to the text/s in having it saying MORE than it has necessarily said, thus, *adding to Scripture! *
IOW… making scripture saying whatever you want it to say and by implication passively claiming to be “one of the chosen” — which is to TOTALLY misread, misunderstand and thus misrepresent what the Scriptures actually say.
How is it that someone quoting Jesus where He said that God hides the truth from some humans but reveals it to others, how is that making the scripture say what someone wants it to say? Either Jesus said that or He didn’t. There is no interpretation needed for that. Either He said it and meant it or He didn’t say it or mean it.
This is something God is going to do:
2Th 2:11 And therefore God will be sending them an operation of deception, for them to believe the falsehood,
The problem is this Eusebius… you have globalised carte blanch, as though it was a general life principle, what God did in a certain context for given reason at a specific time for a determined purpose, as though it were an endless rule; such was NOT!
What you do however in disseminating such a fallacy is perpetuate the traditional “them / us — chosen / not chosen” lie of religion. Not a helpful thing, IMO!
Here’s the problem I have. Now God (via the Holy Spirit) bestows some gift on a Christian (i.e. healing, prophesy, miracles, etc.). Why wouldn’t God also, make them one of the chosen? I’m taking this aspect, from your theological perspective. As I don’t believe God chooses a few to understand, over the vast majority, of seminary trained theologians.
What practical and spiritual purpose does God serve, by bestowing spiritual gifts, but not spiritual understanding of the scriptures (by being one of the chosen ones, that is)?
What practical and spiritual purpose does God serve, by allowing the bible to be translated - into the languages of the “common man”. But only allowing a few chosen people - to understand them?
