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BIBLE MYSTERY AND BIBLE MEANING
BIBLE MYSTERY AND BIBLE MEANING
Thomas Troward
First published 1913
Sixth Printing March 1922
..."THE BIBLE is the Book of the Emancipation of Man. The emancipation of man means his deliverance from sorrow and sickness, from poverty, struggle, and uncertainty, from ignorance and limitation, and finally from death itself. This may appear to be what the euphuistic colloquialism of the day would call "a tall order," but nevertheless it is impossible to read the Bible with a mind unwarped by antecedent conceptions derived from traditional interpretation without seeing that this is exactly what it promises, and that it professes to contain the secret whereby this happy condition of perfect liberty may be attained. Jesus says that if a man keeps his saying he shall never see death (John viii. 51): in the Book of Job we are told that if a man has with him "a messenger, an interpreter," he shall be delivered from going down to the pit, and shall return to the days of his youth (Job xxxiii. 24) : the Psalms speak of our renewing our youth (Psalm ciii. 5) : and yet again we are told in Job that by acquainting ourselves with God we shall be at peace, we shall lay up gold as dust and have plenty of silver, we shall decree a thing and it shall be established unto us (Job xxii. 21-23).
Now, what I propose is that we shall re-read the Bible on the supposition that Jesus and these other speakers really meant what they said. Of course, from the standpoint of the traditional interpretation this is a startling proposition. The traditional explanation assumes that it is impossible for these things to be literally true, and therefore it seeks some other meaning in the words, and so gives them a "spiritual" interpretation. But in the same manner we may spiritualize away an Act of Parliament, and it hardly seems the best way of getting at the meaning of a book to follow the example of the preacher who commenced his discourse with the words, "Beloved brethren, the text doth not mean what it saith." Let us, however, start with the supposition that these texts do mean what they say, and try to interpret the Bible on these it will at least have the attraction of novelty, and I think if the reader gives his careful attention to the following pages, he will see that this method carries with it the conviction of reason.
If a thingh true at all there is a way in which it is true, and when the way is seen, we find that to be perfectly reasonable which, before we understood the way, appeared we all go by railroad now, yet they were esteemed level-headed practical men in their day who proposed to confine George Stephenson as a lunatic for saying that it was possible to travel at thirty miles an hour..."
Thomas Troward
First published 1913
Sixth Printing March 1922
..."THE BIBLE is the Book of the Emancipation of Man. The emancipation of man means his deliverance from sorrow and sickness, from poverty, struggle, and uncertainty, from ignorance and limitation, and finally from death itself. This may appear to be what the euphuistic colloquialism of the day would call "a tall order," but nevertheless it is impossible to read the Bible with a mind unwarped by antecedent conceptions derived from traditional interpretation without seeing that this is exactly what it promises, and that it professes to contain the secret whereby this happy condition of perfect liberty may be attained. Jesus says that if a man keeps his saying he shall never see death (John viii. 51): in the Book of Job we are told that if a man has with him "a messenger, an interpreter," he shall be delivered from going down to the pit, and shall return to the days of his youth (Job xxxiii. 24) : the Psalms speak of our renewing our youth (Psalm ciii. 5) : and yet again we are told in Job that by acquainting ourselves with God we shall be at peace, we shall lay up gold as dust and have plenty of silver, we shall decree a thing and it shall be established unto us (Job xxii. 21-23).
Now, what I propose is that we shall re-read the Bible on the supposition that Jesus and these other speakers really meant what they said. Of course, from the standpoint of the traditional interpretation this is a startling proposition. The traditional explanation assumes that it is impossible for these things to be literally true, and therefore it seeks some other meaning in the words, and so gives them a "spiritual" interpretation. But in the same manner we may spiritualize away an Act of Parliament, and it hardly seems the best way of getting at the meaning of a book to follow the example of the preacher who commenced his discourse with the words, "Beloved brethren, the text doth not mean what it saith." Let us, however, start with the supposition that these texts do mean what they say, and try to interpret the Bible on these it will at least have the attraction of novelty, and I think if the reader gives his careful attention to the following pages, he will see that this method carries with it the conviction of reason.
If a thingh true at all there is a way in which it is true, and when the way is seen, we find that to be perfectly reasonable which, before we understood the way, appeared we all go by railroad now, yet they were esteemed level-headed practical men in their day who proposed to confine George Stephenson as a lunatic for saying that it was possible to travel at thirty miles an hour..."
261 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1904
115 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Troward
408 books117 followersThomas Troward was a judge in British-administered India, where he made a personal study of the teachings of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. After retiring from the bench in 1896, he applied his legalistic mind to matters of philosophy, and began lecturing and publishing on "Mental Science," eventually becoming president of the International New Thought Alliance.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2012
A wonderful new thought work by a masterful logician. I hope to reread this book in the near future. I've already read Edinburgh Lectures; I am now sufficiently intrigued by Troward to next tackle his other works.
November 26, 2018
Questions Answered
This book has answered the most important questions I had. Now armed with the answers I can move ahead. I'm FREE!
This book has answered the most important questions I had. Now armed with the answers I can move ahead. I'm FREE!
January 3, 2020
Challenging
It gives a different perspective to reading and interpreting the Bible. Recommended for those interested in the esoteric meaning of the Bible.
It gives a different perspective to reading and interpreting the Bible. Recommended for those interested in the esoteric meaning of the Bible.
February 3, 2024
Confusing But Interesting
This book helped me understand many important points of the Bible, but at the same time, there were parts I got lost, especially at the end when the author writes about Anima Mundi and Anima Dei. I will definitely have to reread those parts.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, as long as the subject interests you, otherwise you will not finish it.
This book helped me understand many important points of the Bible, but at the same time, there were parts I got lost, especially at the end when the author writes about Anima Mundi and Anima Dei. I will definitely have to reread those parts.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, as long as the subject interests you, otherwise you will not finish it.
April 20, 2022
New age teaching
This is a new age teaching about universal mind etc and used the Bible partially to proven author's theory on it.
This is a new age teaching about universal mind etc and used the Bible partially to proven author's theory on it.
December 11, 2024
Gracias a Dios por este libro 🙏📖
Muy buena introducción para empezar a leer la biblia, les recomiendo leer con fé en Dios. Amén gracias por todo.
Muy buena introducción para empezar a leer la biblia, les recomiendo leer con fé en Dios. Amén gracias por todo.
March 14, 2017
A very dense, but very inspirational, view of source and human life.
February 22, 2014
Thomist reward understood reality of this universe. He looked at things In a calm, logical Manner, and drew certain conclusions from that. His Creative Process of the Individual Is a perfect companion to this.
July 17, 2013
This man is the master.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews