[UntoHim]

I hope OBW doesn't mind but I changed the end of the title on this thread. I think it more fully describes what this thread will be about.

There is no doubt that this is an important matter to discuss here on this forum. After all this is one of the signature or hallmark verses used by Witness Lee and his followers. Furthermore, it touches upon the very nature of God in his triune being. What could be more important than this? Our knowledge and apprehension of God, his nature, his character and his ways are essential if we, as his people, are going to really know him in full way. If we are going to be able to worship him in spirit and in truth, if we are going to "go forth to all the nations" to teach and preach about him to a lost world which desperately needs to know God in the most fullest and accurate way possible.

One key question in correctly interpreting any biblical passage (especially one which touches on the nature or character of God) is to know what interpretive parameters, or maybe guidelines will one be limited or adjusted by. Almost everyone, including many of the cults such as Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons will tell you that "they only go by what is in the Bible". But we all know that they view anything in the Bible (Especially the NT) through the prism of the writings and interpretations of their founders.

So what will we be limited by? What will we be adjusted by? Will we be limited by and adjusted by the early Church fathers and major creeds, or will we simply ignore these for the sake of bringing the words of our Lord and the apostles (kicking and screaming if need be) into our modern 21st century? Is there a happy medium? Is there any way to know the difference between what the apostle Paul MEANT versus what it might MEAN for us today? Who is qualified to know?