Three Key questions about the Bible

Three questions regarding the Bible:

1) is the bible the written word of God, and without error?

2) is the bible the complete word of God, in that no further written instructions will be forthcoming from God?

3) is the bible the exclusive word of God, such that no other historical, contemporary nor future writings, either from within Christendom, Judah or other religion, should be considered as being the word of God?

When considering Christianity and it’s dogmas as a potential religion, or as someone already a Christian and reforming/renewing one’s relationship with the author of life; then having a robust understanding of the answers to these three questions is a critical fundamental in finding the truth.

Thoughts and question responses are invited from all.

No response other than a petulant red thumb 😐

@divegeester
I think some of the key teachings attributed to the NT figure called Jesus constitute a wise and practical code for morally sound living for anyone and not just people convinced of things like his divinity and everlasting life.

@divegeester said
No response other than a petulant red thumb 😐

These questions have been debated here multiple times. So, what's the point of rehashing it all?

@mchill said
These questions have been debated here multiple times. So, what's the point of rehashing it all?

What’s your objection?

Any comment on the OP?

@divegeester said
Three questions regarding the Bible:

1) is the bible the written word of God, and without error?

2) is the bible the complete word of God, in that no further written instructions will be forthcoming from God?

3) is the bible the exclusive word of God, such that no other historical, contemporary nor future writings, either from within Christendom, Judah or other r ...[text shortened]... critical fundamental in finding the truth.

Thoughts and question responses are invited from all.

Setting the Bible aside for a moment:

Have you ever looked Godward, and is this part of your daily practice?

Which questions has God asked of you which you refuse to answer or shy away from answering, and why?

Have you ever tried to get outside of yourself to see yourself as God might see you, or asked for God's help to see yourself that way?

@divegeester said
Three questions regarding the Bible:

1) is the bible the written word of God, and without error?

2) is the bible the complete word of God, in that no further written instructions will be forthcoming from God?

3) is the bible the exclusive word of God, such that no other historical, contemporary nor future writings, either from within Christendom, Judah or other r ...[text shortened]... critical fundamental in finding the truth.

Thoughts and question responses are invited from all.

If the answer is "no" to any of the three questions, then ones faith would be in vain because the basis of faith is in the infallibility of God himself as expressed in his immutable and unfailing word.

THAT is in the Bible. If, after years of reading the scriptures, one hasn't seen that truth, then that one has scant reason to believe anything the Bible says.

@josephw said
If the answer is "no" to any of the three questions, then ones faith would be in vain because the basis of faith is in the infallibility of God himself as expressed in his immutable and unfailing word.

THAT is in the Bible. If, after years of reading the scriptures, one hasn't seen that truth, then that one has scant reason to believe anything the Bible says.

Can you provide some evidence which supports any of the assertions in your post Joseph?

@divegeester said
Can you provide some evidence which supports any of the assertions in your post Joseph?

Yes I can. I'd love to.

You asked three important questions. "The church" is divided concerning this very important subject.

When considering Christianity and it’s dogmas as a potential religion, or as someone already a Christian and reforming/renewing one’s relationship with the author of life; then having a robust understanding of the answers to these three questions is a critical fundamental in finding the truth.

Absolutely.

@josephw

1) "is the bible the written word of God, and without error"?


The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence of His love for us. God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had God not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. The Bible contains everything mankind needs to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him.

How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God and not just a good book? What is unique about the Bible that sets it apart from all other books ever written? Is there any evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word? These types of questions must be seriously examined. There can be no doubt that the Bible does claim to be the Word of God. This is seen in Paul’s commendation to Timothy: “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15–17).

There are both internal and external evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word.

Internal Evidence that the Bible is God’s Word

Internal evidences are those things within the Bible that testify of its divine origin. One internal evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is its unity. Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1,500 years, by more than 40 authors who came from many walks of life, the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. This unity is unique from all other books and is evidence of the divine origin of the words that God moved men to record.

Another internal evidence that indicates the Bible is truly God’s Word is prophecy. The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies relating to the future of various nations, certain cities, and all mankind. Other prophecies concern the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those by men such as Nostradamus, biblical prophecies are extremely detailed. There are over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Not only was His lineage foretold and where He would be born, but also how He would die and that He would rise again. There simply is no logical way to explain the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible other than citing divine origin. There is no other religious book with the amount of detailed predictive prophecy the Bible contains.

A third internal evidence of the divine origin of the Bible is its unique authority and power. While this evidence is more subjective than the first two, it is no less a powerful testimony that the Bible is God’s Word. The Bible’s authority is unlike that of any other book ever written. This power is seen in the way countless lives have been supernaturally transformed. Drug addicts have been cured by it, homosexuals set free by it, derelicts and deadbeats transformed by it, hardened criminals reformed by it, sinners rebuked by it, and hate turned to love by it. The Bible does possess a dynamic and transforming power that is only possible because it is truly God’s Word.

External Evidence that the Bible is God’s Word

There are also external evidences that indicate the Bible is truly the Word of God. One is the historicity of the Bible. Because the Bible details historical events, its accuracy is subject to verification like any other historical document. Through archaeological evidence and extrabiblical writings, the historical accounts of the Bible proved time and again to be accurate and true. In fact, all the archaeological and manuscript evidence supporting the Bible makes it the best-documented book from the ancient world. That the Bible accurately records historically verifiable events helps substantiate its claim to be the very Word of God and supports trust concerning other matters the Bible addresses.

Another external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the integrity of its human authors. In studying the lives of the authors of Scripture, we find them to be honest and sincere. The fact that they were willing to die often excruciating deaths for what they believed testifies that these men truly believed God had spoken to them. The men who wrote the New Testament and many hundreds of other believers (1 Corinthians 15:6) knew the truth of their message because they had spent time with Jesus Christ after He had risen from the dead. Seeing the risen Christ had a tremendous impact on them. They went from hiding in fear to being willing to die for the message God had revealed to them. Their lives and deaths testify to the fact that the Bible truly is God’s Word.

Another external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the indestructibility of the Bible. The Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists, the Bible has withstood a constant onslaught from detractors. Yet it endures and is still today the most widely published book in the world.

Throughout history, skeptics have regarded the Bible as mythological, but archaeology has confirmed it as historical. Opponents have attacked its teaching as primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts have had a positive influence on societies throughout the world. It continues to be attacked by pseudo-science, psychology, and political movements, yet it remains just as true and relevant today as it was when it was first written. This should not surprise us. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31).

The Bible, unique among books, has transformed countless lives and swayed whole cultures. After looking at the evidence, one can say without a doubt that God has spoken and that, yes, the Bible is truly God’s Word.

GotQuestions.org

@josephw said
@josephw

1) "is the bible the written word of God, and without error"?


The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence of His love for us. God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had God not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. The Bible contains everything m ...[text shortened]... ithout a doubt that God has spoken and that, yes, the Bible is truly God’s Word.

GotQuestions.org

I acknowledge your ability to copy/paste someone else’s thoughts, but none of this conjecture is actually evidence.

@divegeester said
I acknowledge your ability to copy/paste someone else’s thoughts, but none of this conjecture is actually evidence.

The truth about the authenticity, immutability, inerrancy, infallibility and veracity of the scriptures is found in the scriptures.

Apparently you rely on the opinions of others that informs you concerning the questions you raised instead of trusting God's Word and searching the scriptures for the truthful answers to those questions.

When I find the time I'll tackle one of your questions in detail, although, if you already don't believe what the scriptures say about those questions, either because you're misinformed or because you haven't trusted God's Word to tell the truth, I fought seriously we'll progress further than more disagreements and arguments.

Right now I'm visiting one of my daughters and half the grandkids.
They need my attention. I'm their favorite. 😊

@josephw said
The truth about the authenticity, immutability, inerrancy, infallibility and veracity of the scriptures is found in the scriptures.

Do you realise how utterly weak and futile this circular reasoning is?

@josephw said
Apparently you rely on the opinions of others that informs you concerning the questions you raised instead of trusting God's Word and searching the scriptures for the truthful answers to those questions.

If I relied on your “opinions”, wouldn’t that be exactly the same as “relying on the opinions of others”?