The Bible, what do we make of it?

philologos

The point of this thread is to discuss the Bible and what we think of it as Christians (and as non-Christians). I'm doing this because I want to see what the opinion is between Christians as to what the Bible is and how relevant it is today in the Christian world.

I'm personally of the opinion that God's word is perfect in its given form (in the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) and that with God's help we can come to know Him in a real way. I believe the Bible is powerful and can speak into peoples lives, it is truly a means of providing that long lost connection with God that we so desperately need.

Some people might regard the opinion that the Biblical text is infallible to be extreme, some people might regard the notion that the Bible alone contains all that is necessary for salvation to be extreme. I'm open to discussing it in full.

Multiple choice poll to follow - tick all that are applicable to you.

lmaopml

The Bible is not infallible, and parts are relevant but others archaic.

Philologus, I know it may be tiring, but 'Scripture' is not necesarily in it's entirety judged by 'Tradition' only, it can be valuable to all Christians and also be interpreted 'differently' by all Christians, but with 'guidance' where tradition is concerned - and the Churches that acknowledge tradition that has been passed on don't tend to impose understanding except through necessity imo. So the pole is a misnomer to some?

Scripture is always relevant would be anybodies vote imo as a Christian.

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

I left a number of options up for people to tick as they found most applicable. I want to see what people think of the Bible and how that works in their lives.

I'm hoping this doesn't turn into an extension of the megathread because I think this question should be about so much more than that.

Jaafa

You say the bible is gods word in your OP. Should it not be gods word as interpeted by man?

lmaopml

The Bible is not infallible, and parts are relevant but others archaic.

Fair enough! Scripture is always foundational! It always has been from way back to the OT....

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

Jaafa wrote: »

You say the bible is gods word in your OP. Should it not be gods word as interpeted by man?

Be more specific. I'm interested to hear what you're saying.

Fanny Cradock

Perhaps you could elaborate on what you mean by infallible.

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Perhaps you could elaborate on what you mean by infallible.

By infallible I mean that the Bible communicates God's word faithfully to mankind. It isn't corrupted or tainted. Essentially the Bible communicates to us all things that are necessary for salvation and that the Bible can be trusted to be true rather than truth wrapped in untruth. When I say that the Bible is true this doesn't of necessity mean that everything in the Bible must be read literally, it simply means that everything in the Bible contains truth rather than untruth.

Jaafa

philologos wrote: »

By infallible I mean that the Bible communicates God's word faithfully to mankind. It isn't corrupted or tainted. Essentially the Bible communicates to us all things that are necessary for salvation and that the Bible can be trusted to be true rather than truth wrapped in untruth. When I say that the Bible is true this doesn't of necessity mean that everything in the Bible must be read literally, it simply means that everything in the Bible contains truth rather than untruth.

See this is what I would disagree with. By my understanding the bible was written by various people based on events created by God and the prophets. Am I right so far? Therefore even if Gods message to mankind is perfect the fact that his message has to be interpeted by IMPERFECT man and then written down means it can not be perfect and absolute truth.

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

Jaafa wrote: »

See this is what I would disagree with. By my understanding the bible was written by various people based on events created by God and the prophets. Am I right so far? Therefore even if Gods message to mankind is perfect the fact that his message has to be interpeted by IMPERFECT man and then written down means it can not be perfect and absolute truth.

God's word is inspired by Him as far as Christians believe it. So yes, prophets may write it but God is the one who is inspiring them to write it in the way and the manner that they did in order to glorify Him and to give Him the witness that He deserves. It is the account of mans relationship with God and God's communication with man. The Bible infallibly communicates His message to mankind in that God is actively involved in how they received it.

I believe that God can preserve His word from corruption even if it is written by prophets and scribes. God's truth is still truth irrespective of whether or not it happens to be communicated by these people.

Jaafa

In that case we differ on a matter of opinion which can't be resolved on an online forum. So thank you for the exchange of thoughts even if it was brief.

Chuck Stone

Seeing as the OP invites non-believers then....

How in the name of muppetry could anyone take a book that advocates murder, rape, and slavery, seriousy?

Laws of Rape (Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT)

If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.

What kind of lunatic would make a rape victim marry her attacker? Answer: God.

Death to the Rape Victim (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 NAB)
If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife.

It is clear that God doesn't give a damn about the rape victim. He is only concerned about the violation of another mans "property".

David's Punishment - Polygamy, Rape, Baby Killing, and God's "Forgiveness" (2 Samuel 12:11-14 NAB)
Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives [plural] while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.'
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan answered David: "The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die." [The child dies seven days later.]

This has got to be one of the sickest quotes of the Bible. God himself brings the completely innocent rape victims to the rapist. What kind of pathetic loser would do something so evil? And then he kills a child! This is sick, really sick!

Rape of Female Captives (Deuteronomy 21:10-14 NAB)
"When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. But before she may live there, she must shave her head and pare her nails and lay aside her captive's garb. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her, and you shall be her husband and she shall be your wife. However, if later on you lose your liking for her, you shall give her her freedom, if she wishes it; but you shall not sell her or enslave her, since she was married to you under compulsion."

Once again God approves of forcible rape.

Sex Slaves (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)
When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

Thereyago.

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

Chuck Stone: This is simply to guage what people think of the Bible if you want to argue about it go to the Atheist / Christian debate thread on this forum.

I think some of the passages don't say quite what evilbible.com want them to say though.

Bob Cratchet

The Bible contains all necessary things for salvation.

Good OP, though I'm finding it hard to choose an option to vote for that fits my opinion/belief.

gimmebroadband

The Bible is subject to personal interpretation, is basis for personal relationship with God

I voted for the 3rd option as it closely suits my belief. I believe Sacred Tradition together with Sacred Scriptures and the Magisterium communicates best the inspired word of God! Personal interpretation led to 33,000 different versions of the word of God!

PDN

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

gimmebroadband wrote: »

Personal interpretation led to 33,000 different versions of the word of God!

This is absolute nonsense, and I think you know it. How can you pretend there are there 33,000 versions of the Word of God?

Don't you get tired with inserting the same sectarian hobby-horse into just about every thread?

IRISH VEGAS

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, harmful and destructive to mankind.

Why is thier allways a bible in a hotel room?

PDN

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

IRISH VEGAS wrote: »

Why is thier allways a bible in a hotel room?

Largely because of these guys:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideons_International

Of course if you stay in a hotel owned by Marriot then you get a Book of Mormon as well.

IRISH VEGAS

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, harmful and destructive to mankind.

PDN wrote: »

Largely because of these guys:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideons_International

Of course if you stay in a hotel owned by Marriot then you get a Book of Mormon as well.

ohh hell no i lived in utha big mormon state alcohol is 3.2 and full of Nazi when off duty cops wear nazi t-shirts,you know whats up

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

Bob Cratchet, it's a multiple choice poll so you're to tick all that is applicable. gimmebroadband - I'm not expecting this to turn into a Catholic / Protestant megathread. I posted this because I want to gauge as to how people regard the Bible. It's been a long time since I posted a poll like this on this forum

gimmebroadband

The Bible is subject to personal interpretation, is basis for personal relationship with God

My post wasn't meant to be 'sectarian', I posted an 'opinion' as to why I voted as I did - I apologise if it offended anyone, as that was certainly not my intention. I should have just voted and said nothing - sorry!!

BTW I didn't realise I could choose multiple options, and ended up only choosing one - I would have ticked off the first one also!

strobe

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, harmful and destructive to mankind.

I went for 'The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.'

That was the closest option I think. But just to clarify I don't consider it irrelevant, with a billion people (or so) in the world that claim to live by it, claiming it to be irrelevant would be a bit mental. Also whilst I believe it can be an inspiration to others I just want to say that what it inspires people to do isn't necessarily good.

(Interesting idea for a thread though)

lmaopml

The Bible is not infallible, and parts are relevant but others archaic.

philologos wrote: »

Chuck Stone: This is simply to guage what people think of the Bible if you want to argue about it go to the Atheist / Christian debate thread on this forum.

I think some of the passages don't say quite what evilbible.com want them to say though.

evilbible.com..lol..:pac: A real 'bookmark' for sure.

santing

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

I had difficulty with "The Bible is subject to personal interpretation..." Do you mean that anyone is allowed to give his personal spin to the Bible, or that the Bible invites anyone to apply its teaching to his/her own life/circumstances?

philologos

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

I meant the latter santing. What I mean is the principle that everyone should endeavour to read the Bible for themselves and that Scripture would have primary authority in respect to what we believe as Christians. Perhaps that wasn't clear.

santing

The Bible is false, completely irrelevant, but I believe that it can be an inspiration to others.

philologos wrote: »

I meant the latter santing. What I mean is the principle that everyone should endeavour to read the Bible for themselves and that Scripture would have primary authority in respect to what we believe as Christians. Perhaps that wasn't clear.

Ok, in that case I should have selected that option as well.