There Are Two Basic Approaches To This Question
There are two different approaches that are taken when it comes to arguing for the Bible being the Word of God. First, there are those who believe that the Scripture is self-authenticating. The Bible is true because it says it is true, and the Holy Spirit bears witness to this truth. No other argument is necessary.
A second approach believes that the claims of Scripture have sufficient evidence to back them up. Those who hold this view believe there is overwhelming evidence to convince anyone that the Bible is what it claims to bethe Word of God. People, therefore, need to check out the evidence not merely blindly believe the claims of Scripture.
We can summarize the two approaches as follows:
Approach 1: the Bible Is Self-Authenticating
To many people, the issue of the Bibles authority is something that should not be debated. The authority of the Bible must be believed because the Scripture says so. This is usually argued in the following ways:
1. The Bible Claims to Be Gods Word: No Other Testimony Is Necessary
There is something else. The problem with providing evidence for the Bible is that human beings are both sinful and finite. They must still evaluate any evidence offered for the truthfulness of the Christian faith. Again, it places some sort of human standard as the final authority. Evidence gathered from other sources may be useful, but it has nothing convincing to say about the truth of Christianity.
2. The Bible Should Be Able to Testify on Its Own Behalf
The Bible Is Not The Word Of God
John says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and with-out Him nothing was made that was made. . This immediately disqualifies the bible as the word of God. Just think how incongruous it would be to substitute the word in Johns verses for the bible. It would read: In the beginning was the bible, and the bible was with God, and the bible was God. The bible was in the beginning with God. All things were made through the bible, and without the bible nothing was made that was made.
However, the bible was not with God in the beginning and the bible is not God. The bible did not create the world. It was not even in existence at the creat-ion of the world. The first Christian bible was not published until 1516.
Living word
John says: I saw heaven opened,and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. . John did not see the bible: he saw Jesus.
The Jews searched the scriptures in the mistaken assumption eternal life could be obtained by reading them. But alas, they could find no life in them because the life is in Jesus. God himself is eternal life and it is vain to seek the living among the dead. .
Living bible
New Testament
Continued next week
Is The Bible The Word Of God
All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.2 TIMOTHY 3:16, 17.
WHAT a powerful expression by the apostle Paul on the excelling value of the Bible! He was, of course, referring specifically to that part of the Bible available to him at the timethe writings that people sometimes refer to as the Old Testament. But in principle his words apply with equal force to all of the Bibles 66 books, including those written by Jesus faithful disciples in the first century C.E.
Do you esteem the Bible as highly as Paul did? Do you think that the writers of the Bible really were inspired by God? First-century Christians did. That belief never wavered during the ensuing centuries. Fourteenth-century English cleric John Wycliffe, for example, viewed the Bible as the infallible rule of truth. The New Bible Dictionary, commenting on Pauls words quoted above, states that divine inspiration, therefore, guarantees the truth of all that the Bible asserts.
Recommended Reading: Do Not Fear Bible Verses 365
Jesus Christ Provides The Answer To This Question
We also find that Jesus Christ, as well as His apostles, provides the answer to this question. About eighty percent of the Old Testament quotations found in the New Testament are from the Greek Septuagint Old Testament translation. The Septuagint is not only a translation, it is not a word-for-word translation from the Hebrew text. The quotations from the Septuagint were treated as Scripture and were accepted as Gods authoritative Word. When Jesus quoted this translation, He made it clear that He was quoting the Word of God. Modern translations of Scripture can be placed in the same category.
Therefore, Bible translations are indeed the Word of God. We should not feel somehow cheated if we cannot read the Scripture in the original. The message of the Lord to the human race still comes across loud and clear.
Why The Bible Is Not The Word Of God
A Young Scholar who loves politics, culture, and religion.
Perhaps it should be first noted that I am a licensed minister in the Missionary Baptist tradition. I believe in preaching the word of God. I believe in the saving of souls from the clutches of dark forces. I believe that God is all-loving and all-powerful, and that his son, Jesus of Nazareth, was the son of God, who has given us a way to live life fully and abundantly. Yet, I do not believe the Holy Bible is the infallible word of God.
The Holy Bible is a collection of Christian texts that is the result of refinement by men who thought they were led by God to discern his teachings. The early Christian world was diverse and everyone had a different take on the Gospel of Jesus. These disagreements were “settled” in large meetings of high ranking priests called “Councils.” The Council of Hippo drew up a collection of texts, which is now the Catholic Bible , in 393 AD. St. Jerome is credited with creating the Old Latin Vulgate, which was the outcome of the African Synods and was used as the Bible for centuries.
As a Missionary Baptist, I believe that God is living today and can play a very active role in our lives. If he would speak to John of Patmos about dragons, beasts, Jesus, and the anti-Christ, then surely he will speak to me on how to love my neighbor and myself.
Don’t Miss: Does The Bible Say We Are Born Sinners
How A Former Abortion Doctor Became Pro
As an abortion doctor at Planned Parenthood, Dr. Patti Giebink believed she was helping women. Later, she began reading scripture and God gradually changed her heart on the abortion issue. Patti tells the story of her long journey from abortion doctor to pro-life and encourages listeners to share the message of life with compassion.
Reason #: What The Bible Says About Itself
First, because I think most men want to believe the Bible is the Word of God, lets consider what the Bible says about itself. No political, double talk here: The Bible unambiguously claims to be the Word of God.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
Bear in mind that our Lords patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Every word of God is flawless he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Jesus said, Sanctify them by the truth your word is truth.
You May Like: Chronological Order Of Bible
How Can We Know That The Bible Is From God
When Jesus walked the earth about 2000 years ago, He was faced with a very similar question when the people who heard Him teach wondered if His teaching was truly from God. Jesus answered them by giving this simple, yet profound answer, …My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. We can apply this same principle to knowing that the Bible is truly from God. All those who desire to obey God will know by the very words of the Bible that it is indeed from God himself.
This is an astonishing argument, since most people would claim that simply hearing Jesus teaching could never be enough. They would have to see miracles before they could believe Him to be from God. Jesus even challenged his hearers to believe because of the miracles He had performed . Yet, did everyone believe in Jesus when they saw these undeniable miracles? No, even when faced with miraculous proof, many remained in their unbelief. The reason for this is found in Jesus original answeronly those who truly want to do Gods will shall know the truthfulness of Christs message .
The Spiritual Battle For Your Marriage
God designed marriage to reflect His love to the world and because of this, the enemy wants to destroy Gods beautiful design. Based on his book, Defending Your Marriage, Dr. Tim and Noreen Muehlhoff share about the reality of spiritual warfare against marriages, and how to combat the enemys lies with the truth of God. Couples will be encouraged that theyre not alone in the fight for a godly marriage and better equipped to be a shining example for the world around them.
Read Also: What Is Omer In The Bible
How Was The Bible Written
The Bible was written over a period of some 1,600 years. There were about 40 Bible writers, and they followed a single theme without contradicting one another. How was that possible? God guided their writing.Read 2 Samuel 23:2.
Sometimes God spoke to Bible writers by means of angels, visions, or dreams. Usually, God put his idea into the mind of the writer and allowed him to select the words he would use to express Gods message.Read Revelation 1:1 21:3-5.
Through The Bible We Get To Know God
I read my dads letters because I want to hear him tell me he loves me. I want to get to know his letters better, because I want to get to know my dad better. Since the Bible is Gods Word we need to get to know it better, but this is not our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is to get to know Jesus better, the Word of God whom the Bible contains.
So, does the Bible contain the Word of God, or is it the Word of God itself? Yes! Both/and.
Recommended Reading: How Many Verses In The Psalms
Importance Of The Subject
In the United States, the Bible is often hailed as a divinely inspired book. Television and radio carry religious programs praising the Bible as the holy and infallible word of God. Religious groups also distribute vast amounts of books, magazines, tapes, pamphlets, and other items. The materials promote the idea that, as televangelist Pat Robertson has said, The Bible . . . is a workable guidebook for politics, business, families and all the affairs of mankind.
The Bible is also extolled by many politicians. For instance, President Ronald Reagan signed into law an Act of Congress proclaiming 1983 to be the Year of the Bible. The law described the Bible as the Word of God and said there is a national need to study and apply its teachings.
Thousands of other religious and political leaders throughout the U.S. promote the Bible. In most communities, an opposing view is rarely, if ever, heard.
The massive and incessant promotion of the Bible significantly influences the beliefs of millions. A Gallup poll showed that over 30% of Americans believe that the Bible is the word of God and its teachings should be taken literally. Gallup identified an additional 25% of Americans who consider the Bible as inspired by God, but think some verses should be interpreted symbolically rather than literally.
If Jesus Is The Word Of God Can We Call The Bible The Word Of God
Even as a lover of books, this might be one of the most terrifying pictures Ive ever seen.
The Bible is not the Word of God, Jesus is. John says he is the Eternal Logos, the true Word spoken from all eternity, and to put such a focus on the Bible as the Word of God is to take it off their point: Jesus. In fact, its tantamount to bibliolatryelevating the Bible to the 4th person of the Trinity.
Ever heard something like that before? Its become a truism among many of the Christian internet set, and something like it has been popular in theological circles for some time now.
I must admit, when I first heard the slogan myself, I was thrown off a bit. I mean, John does identify Jesus as the Logos, the Word, of God from all of eternitythe truest and deepest reality Father is eternally speaking. Whats more, its true that from time to time you can run across someone in a fundamentalist church who treats the Scriptures as if they were dropped from heaven and yet remain utterly oblivious to its central content. I can begin to see what motivates some to adopt it.
However, after the initial appeal, it appears to me that this is a mistaken move that many use as a lead-up to falsely pitting Christ against the Scriptures. In fact, Ive come to see this as sadly little more than a rhetorical sleight of hand, passing itself off as serious theology.
Which brings me to the next point: the Words own view of the words.
Christ himself presents us with the Word.
Soli Deo Gloria
Recommended Reading: Fear Not Bible Verses
Why Should It Be So Difficult To Understand The Word Of God
If the number one predictor of which God someone believes in is what culture and time period they happened to have been born in, what does that say about the actual existence of a deity?
Shouldnt a universal, ubiquitous, loving, caring god have revealed herself in a consistent manner throughout the ages? To all the people of the world in all times?
Not just to a few chosen tribesman 3500 years ago in a very small part of the world.
These chosen tribesman were left with the task of using word-of-mouth to prevent the rest of the worlds people from suffering eternal damnation. But they didnt care about us. All they cared about was killing the people occupying the lands that gawd had promised them.
Why are there a thousand religions that think they have the correct doctrine? Why are there so many different sects of Christianity? If God/Jesus truly loved you, he would not give you mixed messages. Why doesnt he let you know about your misunderstandings? He could stop the in-fighting over interpretation instantly, but He doesnt. The word of God should be clear for all mankind for all eternity.
Raising A Strong Daughter In A Toxic Culture: 11 Steps To Keep Her Happy Healthy And Safe
Meg Meeker has been a pediatrician for more than thirty years, is a mother and a grandmother, and has seen it all. She knows what makes for strong, happy, healthy young womenand what puts our daughters at risk. Combining that experience with her famous common sense, she explains the eleven steps that will help your daughterwhether shes a toddler or a troubled teento achieve her full human potential.
Also Check: Is The Bible Chronological
Who Heard Jesus Conversation With Fellow Criminal
Luke 23:39-43 is a transcript of a conversation between a fellow criminal and Jesus:
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Think about it. The three are high on the cross, the multitudes are crying out for Jesus blood , Jesus and the other criminal are chatting it up while in agony. Who heard this conversation? How could it possibly have been heard above the noise of the multitudes? Who so precisely recorded the conversation? This tall tale was finally recorded some 50 years after it allegedly happened. If you want to claim that the Holy Spirit was in charge of getting this accurately recorded, then you have to explain why Matthew and Mark have different stories.
Love In Every Season: Understanding The Four Stages Of A Healthy Relationship
Every relationship goes through four life-changing seasons: Spring. Summer. Fall. Winter. Each season plays an important role in taking your relationship to the next level. And depending on how you navigate each season, your relationship will either flourish and grow, or it will slowly die. Whether youre single, dating, engaged or married, join licensed professional counselor and relationship expert, Debra Fileta as she takes you on an eye-opening psychological and spiritual journey through the four seasons that she has observed in every healthy relationship.
Read Also: Bible Verses On Verbal Abuse