Originally posted by RBHILLSince I have been on this Forum we have never really had a good discussion about what Inspiration of the Bible really means. There are a number of different schools of thought on what it means to say the Bible is inspired by God.
If man wrote the Bible and was not inspired by God then why would they put this in the Bible: 2 Thessalonians 3:10b "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
I fear that most skeptical posters assume this means inspired the way a work of art or a play or piece of classical music is "inspired".
Theologically, Inspiration is a rather particular thing. The word is common. The theological usage is unique.
I think the passage that you quoted could as well be due to common place ethics. It is not a passage I would use before all others about the bible's inspiration.
Obviously, even the non-theist wants the member of society to carry his load and not JUST consume. Does that really require divine inspiration to say "Hey, get to work lazybones!" ?
Originally posted by jaywillVery good comment.
Since I have been on this Forum we have never really had a good discussion about what [b]Inspiration of the Bible really means. There are a number of different schools of thought on what it means to say the Bible is inspired by God.
I fear that most skeptical posters assume this means inspired the way a work of art or a play or piece of classical mus ...[text shortened]... consume. Does that really require divine inspiration to say "Hey, get to work lazybones!" ?[/b]
Originally posted by RBHILLMaybe the writer of Thessalonians was a hard worker and hated lazy people [and did not care about the disabled, the insane, etc.].
If man wrote the Bible and was not inspired by God then why would they put this in the Bible: 2 Thessalonians 3:10b "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
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Originally posted by SwissGambitThe church in Thessalonika was a young church with many young believers in Christ. They were excited by Paul's teaching about the second coming of Christ.
Maybe the writer of Thessalonians was a hard worker and hated lazy people [and did not care about the disabled, the insane, etc.].
As a result of this excitement some of them dropped their responsibilities and presumed to just "wait for the Lord" to come. While it is commendable to have the hope of Christ's coming it is not godly to absolve oneself from practical responsibilities.
That is the context of Paul's word that they should follow typical employment and not neglect it.
Through the years the same error has been repeated here and there. Some Bible students thought the second coming of Christ was just around the corner. They dropped jobs, doned on white garments or some such thing and in doing so usually brought disrepute to the Christian church.