Originally posted by @kellyjayGranted. The point I was trying to make was that the King James text may have little relevance to what was actually said. We can play games all day long interpreting text which might never have been uttered. So, rather pointless.
The words either are taken as is or they are meaningless. Changing the text to talk about
what isn't written is not speaking to the text as is. Jumping through hoops on what it could
mean if we look at the words if they mean, this, or that has left the text and now all you are
doing is playing with yourself.
Originally posted by @fmfIt simply means that one must go "through" Jesus, the "way", to "come to" the Father, the creator of all that exists.
John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
What precise meanings or definitions do you attach to the words "way" and "comes to" and "through" in this verse?
Originally posted by @ragwort"We are what we do" . Indeed. What we do is greater than what we say. Talk is cheap
I wasn't trying to add anything just understand how you see the verse in context with the rest of the chapter.
Even in the verses you've highlighted (before we get to 15, 21 and 23) Jesus is saying the Father is seen in the works he'd been doing and that whoever believes in him will also do the works.
In other words we are what we do.
Originally posted by @pianoman1Ah, music to my ears. 🙂
Since KellyJay has so clearly failed to answer the OP, perhaps I as an atheist can shed some light on what I understand by this Christian mantra, which, by the way, is merely a 18th century translation of an ancient Hebrew text and, therefore, not to be taken too literally. “The way” = the portal, the means by which you will achieve everlasting life.
“C ...[text shortened]... ” = is conferred everlasting life from.
“Through me” = by following my example and philosophy.
Originally posted by @secondsonJesus picks his friends and brothers to go to the Father. Its those who follow Christ and obey the commandments.
It simply means that one must go "through" Jesus, the "way", to "come to" the Father, the creator of all that exists.
Its not those who call Lord Lord.
Originally posted by @suzianneMy words were a parody of KellyJay's 'rhetoric'. You parroting them back to me doesn't work and demonstrates you haven't bothered to follow the conversation before blurting something-anything-nothing out.
Rather, John 14:6 is what it is, FMF. It means what it means. The words are what the words are. It says what it says. No amount of opaque and fanciful verbiage will turn it into the atheistic works-over-faith cop out you want it to be.