The Bible

"The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish, or a book that will work wonders by its very presence.

"It is a book that will work wonders in every life, here and hereafter, if acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things, written in the most simple human language possible so that the most unlearned can understand and obey its teachings. It is self-interpreting and covers every subject of human knowledge and need now and forever.

"As a literary composition, the Bible is the most remarkable book ever made. It is a divine library of 66 books, some of considerable size, and others no larger than a tract. These books include various forms of literature--history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, directions for elaborate ritualistic worship, laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecy, drama, and others. They embrace all manner of literary styles in human expression.

"It is the book that reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories true, and its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. The Bible contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good is its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your feet in righteousness and true holiness. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully, meditatively, searchingly, devotionally, and study it constantly, perseveringly, and industriously. Read it through and through until it becomes part of your being and generates faith that will move mountains. The Bible is a mine of wealth, the source of health, and a world of pleasure. It is given to you in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and will stand forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the least to the greatest of labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

~ Finis J. Dake

Originally posted by epiphinehas
"The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish, or a book that will work wonders by its very presence.

"It is a book that will work wonders in every life, here and hereafter, if acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things, written in the most simple human language possible so th ...[text shortened]... est of labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

~ Finis J. Dake

These books include various forms of literature--history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, directions for elaborate ritualistic worship, laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecy, drama, and others. They embrace all manner of literary styles in human expression.

Although a couple of these point to it, I’ll just add one: story.

You already undoubtedly know what I think of the notion “self-interpreting.” 😉

Originally posted by epiphinehas
"The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish, or a book that will work wonders by its very presence.

"It is a book that will work wonders in every life, here and hereafter, if acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things, written in the most simple human language possible so th ...[text shortened]... est of labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

~ Finis J. Dake

That's right, folks, it's time for everyone's favorite activity - Dueling quotations! Here are two from very different perspectives:

Were we allowed to read the Bible as we do all other books, we would admire its beauties, treasure its worthy thoughts, and account for all its absurd, grotesque and cruel things, by saying that its authors lived in rude, barbaric times. But we are told that it was written by inspired men; that it contains the will of God; that it is perfect, pure, and true in all its parts; the source and standard of all moral and religious truth; that it is the star and anchor of all human hope; the only guide for man, the only torch in Nature's night. These claims are so at variance with every known recorded fact, so palpably absurd, that every free, unbiased soul is forced to raise the standard of revolt. –Robert Ingersoll

We must stop using the Bible as though it were a potpourri of inerrant proof-texts by which we can bring people into bondage to our religious traditions...We must no longer use the Bible as the Pharisees used the Torah when they gave it absolute and final status. Christian biblicism is no different from Jewish legalism. It is the old way of the letter, not the new way of the Spirit. --Robert D. Brinsmead

Originally posted by rwingett
That's right, folks, it's time for everyone's favorite activity - Dueling quotations! Here are two from very different perspectives:

Were we allowed to read the Bible as we do all other books, we would admire its beauties, treasure its worthy thoughts, and account for all its absurd, grotesque and cruel things, by saying that its authors lived in rude, b alism. It is the old way of the letter, not the new way of the Spirit. --Robert D. Brinsmead

Were we allowed to read the Bible as we do all other books, we would admire its beauties, treasure its worthy thoughts, and account for all its absurd, grotesque and cruel things, by saying that its authors lived in rude, barbaric times. But we are told that it was written by inspired men; that it contains the will of God; that it is perfect, pure, and true in all its parts; the source and standard of all moral and religious truth; that it is the star and anchor of all human hope; the only guide for man, the only torch in Nature's night. These claims are so at variance with every known recorded fact, so palpably absurd, that every free, unbiased soul is forced to raise the standard of revolt. –Robert Ingersoll

"These claims are so at variance with every known recorded fact"? What does that mean? Is Ingersoll claiming that the barbarism found in the Bible is impossible to reconcile with divinely inspired authorship? If so, I question whether he's ever rightly understood the Bible's context.

We must stop using the Bible as though it were a potpourri of inerrant proof-texts by which we can bring people into bondage to our religious traditions...We must no longer use the Bible as the Pharisees used the Torah when they gave it absolute and final status. Christian biblicism is no different from Jewish legalism. It is the old way of the letter, not the new way of the Spirit. --Robert D. Brinsmead

First of all, it wasn't the Torah which got the Pharisees in trouble, it was the Talmud. Secondly, the Truth found in scripture sets people free, it doesn't bring them into bondage, as Brinsmead claims. Without the "letter" nobody would be able to know the Truth. The "new way of the Spirit" does not render the Bible superfluous, on the contrary the Spirit will always verify the truth of scripture.

Originally posted by epiphinehas
the Spirit will always verify the truth of scripture.

That last phrase is quite an assertion, and I'm curious as to what you base it on. Is it simply a logical consequence of a "sola scriptura" perspective?

My own experiences of "the Spirit," at least as I understand it, have frankly not had much to do with proving scripture's accuracy.