The Inspiration of Scripture

[redleghunter]

Still doesn't mean that the actual words written on the page of scriptures is infallible, but that God's Word is revealed in it.

Yet the instruction and words of God are infallible.

 

[FireDragon76]

Psuedo Pauline epistles?

Authorship of the Pauline epistles - Wikipedia

 

[FireDragon76]

Yet the instruction and words of God are infallible.

Of course, but @bekkilyn and I believe that's more complicated than simply saying "The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it".

 

[Tree of Life]

I've added a poll. I am alarmed that there are so few Christians who believe in the inspiration of Scripture. I am further alarmed that so few who say that the Bible is inspired are willing to say that the Bible is the very words of God. Anyways, if you could vote, that would better show how this all lays out.

 

[Tree of Life]

Of course, but @bekkilyn and I believe that's more complicated than simply saying "The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it".

Is it as simple as saying "The Bible says it. I believe only some of it."?

 

[FireDragon76]

I've added a poll. I am alarmed that there are so few Christians who believe in the inspiration of Scripture. I am further alarmed that so few who say that the Bible is inspired are willing to say that the Bible is the very words of God. Anyways, if you could vote, that would better show how this all lays out.

We don't believe in inspiration the way you do, that doesn't mean we don't believe the Bible is inspired.

 

[FireDragon76]

Is it as simple as saying "The Bible says it. I believe only some of it."?

What does it even mean to "believe the Bible". I thought our religion was about believing in Jesus Christ and trusting in him for our salvation?

 

[mark kennedy]

Context isn't the verse before and after or the paragraph, although they help of course. Context is ANYTHING that effects the text. The verse before has him speaking to lawyers. This of course not secular lawyers, but those who interpret God's law. Since we know there were two sects of Pharisees, we can also derive who he is speaking of here... those who were part of Beit Shammai. The Talmud, though not something to consider inspired on the level of the bible, does reveal certain cultural thoughts and words that were common to those people at that time. One thing we learn in there is that the teachers from Beit Hillel were called prophets. Different use of the word but all words have more than one meaning. Anyway... a few generations before Christ, members of Beit Shammai went into Beit Hillel and killed a number of the teachers. You won't find a reference to any of the fathers (ancestors) of that sect of Pharisees Jesus was talking to in Luke 11 having killed prophets as we generally use that word... his reference there was to the incident that took place at Beit Hillel.

My point? You're right, Peter's use of the word "prophets" isn't clear and we shouldn't run to make hasty conclusions as we have seen done in this thread. Sometimes there are extenuating factors we are not aware of that are tied into the "context."

Ok, I'm done, the gospel is the Word of God, if you think otherwise so be it. BTW, never heard that from you once. Thanks for the exchange.

 

[Tree of Life]

What does it even mean to "believe the Bible". I thought our religion was about believing in Jesus Christ and trusting in him for our salvation?

I don't believe those two things can be meaningfully separated.

 

[Tree of Life]

We don't believe in inspiration the way you do, that doesn't mean we don't believe the Bible is inspired.

The other definitions for inspiration I've seen on this thread are very sad.

 

[Ken Rank]

Ok, I'm done, the gospel is the Word of God, if you think otherwise so be it. Thanks for the exchange.

You really have no idea how to get along with people, do you? I never said the gospel was or wasn't anything. I was talking about one verse you don't seem to understand, 2 Tim 3:16. But... I won't bother writing you again and thanks again for providing and non-divisive platform where brothers can come together in unity and share their thoughts without fear that we would divide and cause strife.

 

[Mary Meg]

I think I'm more comfortable saying, "What the Bible says, is said with God's authority" or "God speaks through the biblical authors" -- rather than saying all of Scripture is spoken with His voice. This is probably more a nitpicky stylistic or literary thing than a theological thing. In the Old Testament, obviously, God speaks directly in a lot of places, He appearing and speaking as a person, for example when He's speaking to Moses. With the prophets, it's possible to say, "the prophet Jeremiah says," but what the prophet Jeremiah says is appended with "thus sayeth the Lord" -- indicating that it is God speaking through Jeremiah. With other books -- including the New Testament -- they are different literary genres. I don't feel comfortable saying, for example, "God is writing a history," but rather "Luke is writing a history under God's inspiration." Do the words have the inspiration, authenticity, and authority of God? Yes, sure. But is it God speaking as a person or character? No, not really.

 

[FireDragon76]

I don't believe those two things can be meaningfully separated.

Of course they can.... Jesus is not the Bible.

I believe the Bible is infallible inasmuch as it is a guide to telling me I am a sinner and Christ is my Savior. Yes, Christianity is really that simple. The Pharisees also tried to make religion very complicated as well, and they missed Christ altogether.

 

[Tree of Life]

I think I'm more comfortable saying, "What the Bible says, is said with God's authority" or "God speaks through the biblical authors" -- rather than saying all of Scripture is spoken with His voice. This is probably more a nitpicky stylistic or literary thing than a theological thing. In the Old Testament, obviously, God speaks directly in a lot of places, He appearing and speaking as a person, for example when He's speaking to Moses. With the prophets, it's possible to say, "the prophet Jeremiah says," but what the prophet Jeremiah says is appended with "thus sayeth the Lord" -- indicating that it is God speaking through Jeremiah. With other books -- including the New Testament -- they are different literary genres. I don't feel comfortable saying, for example, "God is writing a history," but rather "Luke is writing a history under God's inspiration." Do the words have the inspiration, authenticity, and authority of God? Yes, sure. But is it God speaking as a person or character? No, not really.

Luke says that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob. Does God say that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob?

 

[mark kennedy]

You really have no idea how to get along with people, do you? I never said the gospel was or wasn't anything. I was talking about one verse you don't seem to understand, 2 Tim 3:16. But... I won't bother writing you again and thanks again for providing and non-divisive platform where brothers can come together in unity and share their thoughts without fear that we would divide and cause strife.

The gospel is the Word of God, if you don't get that, you don't get the Old Testament. Have a big laugh about it, we are only talking about the inspiration of the Scriptures here. Peace out!

 

[Mary Meg]

Luke says that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob. Does God say that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob?

No, not really. God has not appeared on a cloud to tell anyone that Steven was stoned by an angry mob (as far as I know).

 

[Tree of Life]

No, not really. God has appeared on a cloud to tell anyone that Steven was stoned by an angry mob (as far as I know).

Then I don't see how the book of Acts can be considered God's word.

 

[Dave-W]

since we have God (Jesus the Christ) in the New Testament actually changing old law Which of course is the New Testament of Jesus the Christ.

Not so. You had better HOPE not so.

 

[Mary Meg]

Then I don't see how the book of Acts can be considered God's word.

Now you're the one being nitpicky.

God can be said to be the author of all Scripture. But not necessarily the speaker.

 

[Dave-W]

Then I don't see how the book of Acts can be considered God's word.

How convenient. Tear it out then. And since it is part 2 of a set, you had better tear the gospel of Luke out too.

 

[FireDragon76]

Luke says that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob. Does God say that Steven was stoned to death by an angry mob?

What God is actually potentially saying in that story is more profound than if he were merely being a timeless, eternal, omniscient Ken Burns.