Read ecclesiastes. I'm interested in hearing NathanL's views on the veracity of the bible, and whether it is the literal one and only "word of God".
Hey, It depends how one defines "The Word of God"- to me that means something very different from, "Philosophically Sound" "Consistent yet contextually varied" and "Historically Accurate" I think first and foremost the phrase "God's word" is applied because the Bible is seen as a diverse and sophisticated collection of documents, all recording, lamenting, and philosophising about God's interaction with the world, with insights found nowhere else. In particular, we find this in God's interaction with Israel in the OT, and in the person of Jesus in the NT. Thus to apply the term "God's word" is a sort of presuppositional statement, because it requires a belief in the above categories of thought and conclusion. Now- if one wishes to work through the premises I listed above, and through that trust the Bible as recording God's interaction or some sort of super-empirical interaction (in particular in the Resurrection), that is good, but a different sort of discussion. Can you see what I mean? God bless, Nathan
Only God can predict the future with such detail... The Bible IS the words of GOD Read Ezekiel 37 FedUp... If you do not have a Bible... check out this site www.biblegateway.com
I think, as well, the 'veracity' of the Bible is a very complicated issue- I can't really say anything more than a summary, but I do affirm that (textually) we have an abundance of tradition and a reliability in transmission. We also have, considering contemporary patterns of recording events, a remarkably early writing down of these traditions, and a uniformity in such. Circumstantial contradictions, even if they exist (disputable upon further study), do not affect primary doctrine. More than this, disciplines such as archaeology and historical study generally affirm the Biblical accounts, and where they don't, they only open up discussion as opposed to leading to outright dismissal- and that is being very generous to the sceptics! Historically and textually then, I would say that the Bible has integrity, if indeed such is what you are looking for in "The Word of God", then it has fulfilled one pillar of said belief. The theology and philosophy is complicated, complex, and wide-reaching- its poetry beautiful and tapping into the greatest mysteries of mankind, such as suffering and love and patriotism and dead and separation and betrayal and adultery and so on and so on. It has spoken to countless generations in different ways, and is still the highest selling text. That in itself is in no way a 'proof', but rather if "God's word" was to inspire His creations, then indeed the bible fulfils this pillar too. And then of course there's Jesus, a remarkable man by any description, one who claimed to be more than a man and rejected hypocrisy but loved sincerity- who cared for the outcast yet appreciated culture and the values held wherein. This man, by all accounts, is beautiful, regardless of what His followers have done in His name. Again, not a proof, but if "God's Word" is supposed to contain such an enigmatic and overarching figure of civilisation, then again, the Bible fulfils this pillar. And of course, if "God's word" is real and relevant, you would expect human experiences of putting it to life to be fruitful- and indeed, on the whole, they are. Ask Christians what they think of it, how its words have changed them- ask most people, never mind Christians, especially anthropologists, about the impact its had on human knowledge and behaviour and language, and it will be immense. Again, a pillar fulfilled. The affirmation of "God's Word" is still a belief, but I would say because of all this and more, it's a viable one, not irrational. But let's not make "God's word" into a statement of super-spiritualism- humans wrote it, being "carried on" by the Spirit, inspired in Christian theology, but their culture and personality seeps through. Humanity can be smelled and seen throughout the pages, it is about life and death, and about how real God is to these realities of existence. Jesus said He came to give us life, and give it to the fullest. So let's not make the label of "God's Word" uber-spiritual, but rather, let's see what it means for us- in that application and interpretation, we find the true meaning of inerrancy. Nathan
That's the problem. The designation "God's word" is misleading then. I prefer "Man's description of interactions with God in ancient times". Bhagavad Gita? Writings of certain saints, holy men (non christian), etc.? The problem is assigning the possessive "God's" implies that the "word" literally comes directly from God. Saying the words that I have written are "kharakov's word" is correct. To say what people have written about kharakov is "kharakov's word" is incorrect. No. You lost me at "through that trust the Bible", I don't understand what that means.
The beef comes where we rest our baton- the revelations of God to Israel, and in Jesus Christ, were inherently exclusive in the sense that it was the ONE God of ISRAEL, Jesus Christ "the way, the truth and the life". Therefore, if indeed the Bible records these revelations, it cannot (and nor can we) with any consistency make room for these other texts- historically as well, there is a problem, because if indeed Jesus rose from the dead then a lot of problems come in going elsewhere for revelation, for Jesus' claims (if false) were arrogant, but if true were a 'one way game'. The Bible shares, being a witness to this, in play. Heh heh I meant it this way- if indeed one wishes to study the historical reliability of the Bible (or indeed the lack thereof), or the philosophical soundness of it, or the textual accuracy of it, or the relevance it has today, and from one's conclusions in those areas be led to a decision about the Bible being "God's Word", then that is a different discussion. It's working from the "ground up". Nathan
I "rest my baton" on God, not the bible, not the gita, not some church, not an important soul, not on my understanding, just on God. Here is another problem that many christians have. You don't trust God to provide and guide these other civilizations with personal revelations designed specifically for them. Having greater faith in the bible than in God is the problem. You should see God's actions in your own life. You didn't see Jesus's ressurection, the parting of the red sea, etc. (unless you are much more ancient than you claim in your profile). Just because a book contains aspects of the truth (God interacts with us, helps us, causes pain, etc.), it does not make the whole book true. These things cannot be confirmed (or denied) by people who have not witnessed them. It is wrong to claim that the whole story of Jesus is true because there are fragments of the truth in the story. I have witnessed God's action in my life, but I have never witnessed a ressurection.
Is Funny Moses parted the water with Gods help. Jesus got the public defender lawyer . God was on Vacation that week in Greece watching naked guys .
It would be hard to believe that the Bible is God's true word's when you won't even look it... It is common for people in our age to dismiss the Bible as "myth and ancient history." It is also politically correct to view Bible believers as closed-minded but the real closed-minded ones are those who neglect to check out for themselves what the Bible is really about (Why I Believe the Bible, Scott Huckaby).
The reason you don't believe the Bible is God's true Word, is because you know nothing of its prophecies. And the real extremist, are those who form opinions with out knowledge. NO OFFENSE
Well im not talking about religion. I'm talking about a Book that describes history before it happens. Im talking about the Jews returning to Israel in the last days, I'm talking about an astroid that will strike the sea that will sink a thrid of the seas ships, spoken of in the Bible before the world knew astroids existed. Im talking about a sealed East Gate in Jerusalem, that cannot be opened. Im talking about America being attacked by northern nations, and destroyed in one hours time. All of this and more, is spoken of in the prophecies of the Bible. You don't have to be pompous, just wise, and informed.
