Religion

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts) Mon Dec 3, 2018, 05:44 PM Dec 2018

What Does Water Represent In The Bible? A Christian Study [View all]

From the article:

So water in the Bible represents the cleansing of the sinner by the washing of the water of the Word of God; water is also the source of the living water that springs up into eternal life; Jesus referred to the coming of the “living water” as the Holy Spirit which at the time He spoke had not yet been poured out; and finally, God is this source of this living water in both the Old and the New Testament and those who drink from it will never die and indeed, shall never thirst again (John 4:14).

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/07/17/what-does-water-represent-in-the-bible-a-christian-study/

Water is the medium through which baptism is performed, and it’s extremely fitting. Since water can symbolize cleansing and life, it is perfect to use in baptism.
When someone gets baptized, they are submerged under the water for a second, and then come back up. The whole process shows an outward expression of a true inner value; the person is publicly declaring that they have new life in Jesus Christ. All of the past sins and mistakes are dead (symbolic in the act of submerging the person in water) and then raised in newness of life (symbolic in the act of raising the person back up from the water). It is an expression of what has taken place within the heart; a full cleansing and new life.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2014/11/11/what-is-the-bible-or-spiritual-meaning-of-water/

The great flood referenced in the Bible can be read literally, but when people read deeply, and widely, it is generally apparent that the metaphorical use of water is everywhere.

A ritual bath cannot literally wash sins away. And Jews understand this.

Dipping a person in water for Baptism does not literally wash sin away. And Christians understand this.

The great flood has been seen as a metaphor for the cleansing of the earth for centuries.

183 replies

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Highlight:

What Does Water Represent In The Bible? A Christian Study [View all] guillaumeb Dec 2018 OP

Life a cleansing of sin TEB Dec 2018 #1

And renewal. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #3

I agree TEB Dec 2018 #15

We all know True Dough Dec 2018 #2

Not much of a solo by the drummer. eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #5

Give it up Gil Cartoonist Dec 2018 #4

Thus speaks the official definer guillaumeb Dec 2018 #6

You rockin' it with this one, the OP. Spiritually, that is. Beautiful. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #8

Thank you. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #10

So do you think the flood was a literal event or not? Major Nikon Dec 2018 #17

A world wide event? guillaumeb Dec 2018 #43

You didn't answer the question Major Nikon Dec 2018 #57

But I did. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #58

You didn't answer the question Major Nikon Dec 2018 #61

Flooding occurs everywhere. Even in that area of the world. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #62

This raises more questions than it answers marylandblue Dec 2018 #65

The poster asked one question. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #66

Still waiting on that answer Major Nikon Dec 2018 #68

That is puzzling, given that I answered earlier. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #69

You answered your own question, not mine Major Nikon Dec 2018 #76

What are you saying? Lordquinton Dec 2018 #108

Again supplying more evidence that I was correct Lordquinton Dec 2018 #109

"There are floods" is not an answer marylandblue Dec 2018 #71

Did you read #62? guillaumeb Dec 2018 #73

Yes, but also posted this. marylandblue Dec 2018 #75

There were no doubt floods in that area. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #78

There is a lot of proof that it was to be taken literally marylandblue Dec 2018 #80

That is beside the point, guillaumeb Dec 2018 #81

Well, let me guess, we can't know the author's intent marylandblue Dec 2018 #82

A weak analogy. eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #121

It's not my position, it's my guess at what you might say marylandblue Dec 2018 #124

I read post 62 and reread the story of Noah marylandblue Dec 2018 #83

Sounds like the Monty Python parrot sketch. MineralMan Dec 2018 #72

lol marylandblue Dec 2018 #110

It gets even better Major Nikon Dec 2018 #74

As fully predicted, you didn't answer the question Major Nikon Dec 2018 #67

See #62 and #69 guillaumeb Dec 2018 #70

See #76 Major Nikon Dec 2018 #77

Have fun. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #79

There may have been a 'literal' flood literally, but the interpretation may be that it should be sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #46

This. 😉 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #22

I don't have one second of training at religious schools. pangaia Dec 2018 #151

I do not doubt that. eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #166

Do you view the flood in Genesis as a literal event? Major Nikon Dec 2018 #13

I'll get back to you, I will. With a reasoned answer and not one from my exegesis. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #23

The question you ask is loaded Major Nikon Dec 2018 #25

I bet you're wishing you had read your own links more closely Major Nikon Dec 2018 #14

Hello definer. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #48

Hello name caller Major Nikon Dec 2018 #54

I am describing your actions. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #56

Bullshit Major Nikon Dec 2018 #59

No, I interpreted your remarks literally. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #60

Bullshit Major Nikon Dec 2018 #63

So you did not read this: guillaumeb Dec 2018 #64

You just reposted the same thing, with same problems, but marylandblue Dec 2018 #84

You mean the one that contradicted your previous assertion? Major Nikon Dec 2018 #97

Knowledge depends on definitions. MineralMan Dec 2018 #112

You have defined yourself. MineralMan Dec 2018 #111

Gil has posted no less than 4 links as a proof of concept for his "metaphor" Major Nikon Dec 2018 #16

Ground Control to... sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #47

Same thing it means in pretty much all of literature. Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2018 #119

More: guillaumeb Dec 2018 #7

👍 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #24

Water in the Bhagavad Gita 7:8 sanatanadharma Dec 2018 #9

Thank you for the contribution. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #11

Your links don't say what you think they say Major Nikon Dec 2018 #12

That gif describes literally all his posts Lordquinton Dec 2018 #27

Wait a minute. trotsky Dec 2018 #34

He posted two other links in that one Major Nikon Dec 2018 #36

Hello co-definer. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #49

What the ever loving fuck is this new shtick if yours? Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #85

He's proven he can't actually reason or argue in defense of his beliefs. trotsky Dec 2018 #114

This may be about the numerous personal messages Gil receives Mariana Dec 2018 #115

It's cute how you've embraced your new tool to try and silence people who disagree with you. trotsky Dec 2018 #113

How clever. eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #123

If only you stayed with your gif(t)s. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #44

I'll take your non-response as tacit admission of self-contradiction Major Nikon Dec 2018 #50

Misreading of text seems to be your own forte. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #51

You stole my line! Major Nikon Dec 2018 #53

"Hurl pejoratives"? guillaumeb Dec 2018 #55

"Your argument is bullshit" is not name calling or a Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #86

No, the tactic is to claim that only one acceptable definition exists. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #122

Nobody claimed there is only one definition marylandblue Dec 2018 #126

Bullshit Major Nikon Dec 2018 #149

NOW I see where the name calling thingy came in according to sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #88

Certainly more silly than most Major Nikon Dec 2018 #90

I am fond of this brother and will make no apologies. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #92

One of many used Major Nikon Dec 2018 #94

Acceptable names used against me. You may proceed. 🙂 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #96

Looks like a non-answer Major Nikon Dec 2018 #98

You put me in a tizzz.... sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #101

Call me some acceptable names. 🤗 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #102

Liberal. Democrat. Major Nikon Dec 2018 #104

Heheh. I'll take 'em. 😤 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #106

Here's yours: Liberal, Democrat, A sister or brother in humanity, a side-kick traveler sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #107

You posted a source that proves it's bullshit Major Nikon Dec 2018 #100

I love seeing how water is a bringer of life to the Earth. gtar100 Dec 2018 #18

It helps to understand hidden meanings Major Nikon Dec 2018 #19

It wasn't Genocide, as related in the mythical story... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #33

There are some Christians who believe in the inerrant word of the bible Major Nikon Dec 2018 #37

Aw man, how in tarnation did I miss this one? 🤔 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #150

You are working too hard to be offended Major Nikon Dec 2018 #153

You were easily offended by mild characterizations as being a definer, sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #154

You have deluded yourself into believing that Major Nikon Dec 2018 #155

I stand corrected. I AM delusional, but not in the way you have defined me. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #157

I'm just a soul.... sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #158

Then you should act that way Major Nikon Dec 2018 #161

Sir/ma'am!, yes sir/ma'am! sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #162

There's nothing reasonable about purposely taking words out of context Major Nikon Dec 2018 #159

I'll cowboy up from here out! Fair enuff. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #160

The OP's religious postulates do seem to follow a predictable course tymorial Dec 2018 #176

Cleansing through massive genocide? MineralMan Dec 2018 #20

Well you defined this thread as a Christian Study, so sure, whatever, knock yourself out. marylandblue Dec 2018 #21

Looks more like a sermon than a study Major Nikon Dec 2018 #26

So says the official definer of the Bible? Lordquinton Dec 2018 #28

Double down on a stupid bet Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #29

If gil is anything, it's predictable. trotsky Dec 2018 #31

Those are simply opinions. trotsky Dec 2018 #30

Was this before or after they stole the story from Gilgamesh? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #32

Much if not most biblical stories were plagiarized from other mythologies Major Nikon Dec 2018 #38

On the topic of intellectual bankruptcy... Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #116

Definers! Major Nikon Dec 2018 #117

From your first link: MineralMan Dec 2018 #35

Obviously you just don't understand and are a definer Major Nikon Dec 2018 #39

So be it, then. MineralMan Dec 2018 #40

It does demonstrate the hazards of parroting out sermons Major Nikon Dec 2018 #41

Well, it's possible to find support from established theologians MineralMan Dec 2018 #42

Ground Control to The Major dot dot dot sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #45

Depends on what qualifies as an answer Major Nikon Dec 2018 #52

Name calling? That evades me. I don't recall name calling. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #87

Here's a few from just recently Major Nikon Dec 2018 #89

What's this 'lacking religious privilege'. I don't understand. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #91

Understandably so Major Nikon Dec 2018 #95

It's not a frackin' PRIVILEGE. It's something that was presented to me at forty days sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #99

Lots of people who have privilege can't see themselves without it Major Nikon Dec 2018 #103

You soitenly have a knack. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #105

Well that's a better explanation than anything Gil wrote or linked to marylandblue Dec 2018 #125

I got lost in the shuffle. 🤕 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #133

Yes we're good. The emos don't bother me. marylandblue Dec 2018 #144

Somebody gets a tad bummed out. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #146

More: Eastern Orthodox-'Meaning or Meanings of Scripture' sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #156

You have a privilege. Being allowed to speak to me. 😝 JK!!1 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #134

Hold the wire. I gotta be alert for the a.m. Lawn people are coming to dig a hole. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #93

Either none of that counts as namecalling Mariana Dec 2018 #118

Giving a pass to shitty behavior is part of the privilege Major Nikon Dec 2018 #120

What an interesting response. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #127

You reveal more of the same behavior Major Nikon Dec 2018 #128

tu quoque fallacy in evidence. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #129

Bullshit Major Nikon Dec 2018 #130

Latin should be banned from the English language marylandblue Dec 2018 #131

ita verro. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #137

Just Latin marylandblue Dec 2018 #141

I think that I might detect a bit of humor here. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #142

Yes, it's humorous, and stems from my love-hate relationship with Latin marylandblue Dec 2018 #143

I loved it. Considered teaching it while it was still fashionable. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #147

Is there a name for this Latin-ophobia? eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #164

Latinikaphobia, a term that has the advantage of being entirely in Greek marylandblue Dec 2018 #178

You caught the use if the Greek word. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #180

You not lumpin' me in with those things, are ye? sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #135

Wellllllllllllllllllll guillaumeb Dec 2018 #138

Howsabout when the Major gets a pass? 😚 sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #136

Ooooh my!!! guillaumeb Dec 2018 #139

It's New Atheism, which takes a dim view of religion marylandblue Dec 2018 #171

The label of being afflicted with delusion regarding 'religion', all things God and Scripture, annnd sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #173

Oh, THAT name calling. Why would the term 'definer' burn so? sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #132

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! guillaumeb Dec 2018 #140

Definer is mild for Simonopetra's sake. Gees louise. sprinkleeninow Dec 2018 #148

From context, Gil appears to be using it as a pejorative marylandblue Dec 2018 #145

We all define our own views. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #165

Let me fix that for you "We all define our views" marylandblue Dec 2018 #172

Did Jesus literally dance with his diciples at the Last Supper? pangaia Dec 2018 #152

Damn right, he did. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #163

I was not there. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #167

Well you were not there for the ressurection either. pangaia Dec 2018 #168

True. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #169

I read the Lord of the Rings, but it never happened. pangaia Dec 2018 #170

Are you certain? guillaumeb Dec 2018 #174

Are you not? marylandblue Dec 2018 #175

"Water ... was used to literally cleanse the earth away from all that was evil and unholy" muriel_volestrangler Dec 2018 #177

"Here is a book written by arid-desert dwellers! What could water possibly have meant to them? struggle4progress Dec 2018 #179

And Hell was seena s a place of fire. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #181

Some say the world will end in fire struggle4progress Dec 2018 #182

A fitting ending for this subthread. eom guillaumeb Dec 2018 #183