What should I pay attention to if I want to know whether a given piece of text is divinely inspired?

Original Happy Camper · Sep 11, 2021

TruthSeek3r said:
Or what about the Book of Mormon? Can I apply the Book of Mormon to my life and see if it comes to life for me?

Before you read a book you should understand the teaching behind the book.

Here is a statement that you should understand.

"The Bible teaches that Jesus was not created but was rather the Creator. “In [Jesus Christ] all things were created: . . . all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). The doctrine of the eternality of Christ is one of the distinguishing marks of biblical Christianity.

While Jesus is held in high esteem by Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others of various theological beliefs, those groups teach that Jesus was a created being. "

Was Jesus created? | GotQuestions.org

The above statement would remove them from the ranks of Christianity and put them in the ranks of the enemy so why read their books?

Hazelelponi · Sep 11, 2021

TruthSeek3r said:
The point is, how do you know the Bible itself is inspired, to begin with, epistemologically speaking?

I guess you have to start with the church father's, learn why we accept the Scriptures we do.

The New Testament is an explanation of the fulfillment of the Old covenant. We accept as Cannon those books Jesus quoted from, as well as those quoted by the disciples and apostles.

They quoted from and explained the old testament books, and those they quoted from are the ones we accept as divinely inspired... Partly why is because Jesus is divine, and we believe in Him.

The other parts lies in the fact none of Scripture can be disproven, we have actually proven the old testament texts we teach from today stand unaltered from those read from 2,000 years ago, and the same goes for the new testament teachings...

Voddie Baucham did a wonderful factual teaching as to why we should believe the Bible, based on what we know about it.

However, there are many books that can be explored on the topic as well..

Jesus is my Superhero · Sep 11, 2021

Voddie's apologetics are exceptional. I hope he has fully recovered from his illness.

Aabbie James · Sep 11, 2021

Hazelelponi said:
Voddie Baucham did a wonderful factual teaching as to why we should believe the Bible, based on what we know about it.

"I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses which report supernatural events in fulfillment of specific prophecies claiming that they are words of divine origin, rather than human in origin." --Voodie Baucham

Amen!

1watchman · Sep 11, 2021

TruthSeek3r said:
The point is, how do you know the Bible itself is inspired, to begin with, epistemologically speaking?

Anyone who is a true "born again" saint (as John 3) should clearly see that the Holy Bible is the Word of God (as our Creator-God's counsel and instruction for mankind; as in the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament) and I find the Authorized KJV is the most dependable, without modern changes to use present ideas and phrases about meanings. The Scofield KJV Study Bible is very helpful, with explaining difficult words of old in the margins and footnotes, without changing the KJV wording. It has proved to be helpful to many readers. Bible book stores may carry it, and it is obtainable at Bibletruthpublishers.com.

Tolworth John · Sep 11, 2021

TruthSeek3r said:
Epistemologically speaking, when a Christian is faced with a given piece of text, manuscript, book, etc., how does he or she go about deciding whether the material at hand is divinely inspired or not? What features of the text itself, or about its origin, or about whatever might be relevant do Christians pay attention to in order to decide if the piece of text they have in front of them was divinely inspired? For example, let's say someone is handing out cards with quotes from the Book of Mormon, and I receive one. What should I do in order to decide if the quote I received is divinely inspired?

That is not your role or responcibility.
Stop judging the bible, unless of course you are actively studing the greek, hebrew and aramaic it is written in so you ca comment on the grammer and use of language found n the bible.

BibleBeliever1611 · Sep 11, 2021

The reason how Christians know the scriptures are divinely inspired is because the Bible is so powerful. No other book has the same power as the Bible because all the other books are written by men.

Hebrews 4:12 says,
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Original Happy Camper · Sep 11, 2021

BibleBeliever1611 said:
The reason how Christians know the scriptures are divinely inspired is because the Bible is so powerful. No other book has the same power as the Bible because all the other books are written by men.

Prophecy in the bible is fullfilled that is how you can know that the bible is divinely inspired

Here is one example,

REV 9 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

“In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent, published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown ‘in A.D. 1840, sometime in the month of August;’ and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote: ‘Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days, commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the 11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I believe, will be found to be the case.’–Josiah Litch, in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug. 1, 1840

“At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors, accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe, and thus placed herself under the control of Christian nations. The event exactly fulfilled the prediction. .

BibleBeliever1611 · Sep 12, 2021

Original Happy Camper said:
Prophecy in the bible is fullfilled that is how you can know that the bible is divinely inspired

Here is one example,

REV 9 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

“In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent, published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown ‘in A.D. 1840, sometime in the month of August;’ and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote: ‘Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days, commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the 11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I believe, will be found to be the case.’–Josiah Litch, in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug. 1, 1840

“At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors, accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe, and thus placed herself under the control of Christian nations. The event exactly fulfilled the prediction. .

That's like trying to prove the Bible with scientific method/reasoning. The Bible has to be believed by faith.

anna ~ grace · Sep 12, 2021

TruthSeek3r said:
Epistemologically speaking, when a Christian is faced with a given piece of text, manuscript, book, etc., how does he or she go about deciding whether the material at hand is divinely inspired or not? What features of the text itself, or about its origin, or about whatever might be relevant do Christians pay attention to in order to decide if the piece of text they have in front of them was divinely inspired? For example, let's say someone is handing out cards with quotes from the Book of Mormon, and I receive one. What should I do in order to decide if the quote I received is divinely inspired?

A general rule that I’ve applied in the past that has worked is; check out the originator of the text. In the case of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith. Was the author / supposed recipient of that text the founder of some sort of “Restorationist Movement” church?

Like, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Worldwide Church of God, etc? If so, you can move on. Not inspired.

Original Happy Camper · Sep 13, 2021

anna ~ grace said:
Like, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Worldwide Church of God, etc? If so, you can move on. Not inspired.

What are your qualification to make the above statement about Seventh Day Adventists?

If you have not researched the writings of those above denomination and are only going on hearsay please retract the statement as it applies to SDA.

I have researched the LDS, JW and WCG and agree with your statement. As they all deny the Trinity. therefor their writings cannot be inspired.

UPHOLDING THE PROTESTANT CONVICTION OF SOLA SCRIPTURA (“BIBLE ONLY”), THESE 28 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS DESCRIBE HOW SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS INTERPRET SCRIPTURE FOR DAILY APPLICATION.

What do Seventh Day Adventists Really Believe? - Adventist.org

See# 2 Trinity
See #18 The Gift of Prophecy

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

anna ~ grace · Sep 13, 2021

Original Happy Camper said:
What are your qualification to make the above statement about Seventh Day Adventists?

If you have not researched the writings of those above denomination and are only going on hearsay please retract the statement as it applies to SDA.

I have researched the LDS, JW and WCG and agree with your statement. As they all deny the Trinity. therefor their writings cannot be inspired.

UPHOLDING THE PROTESTANT CONVICTION OF SOLA SCRIPTURA (“BIBLE ONLY”), THESE 28 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS DESCRIBE HOW SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS INTERPRET SCRIPTURE FOR DAILY APPLICATION.

What do Seventh Day Adventists Really Believe? - Adventist.org

See# 2 Trinity
See #18 The Gift of Prophecy

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Camper, I make a distinction between sincere yet misguided theologians who were genuinely trying to understand Truth, and folks who

a) make specific prophecies which don’t come to pass and

b) claim an extraordinary amount of importance for themselves in ecclesiastical history

Imho the Foundress of Seventh-Day Adventism falls into both categories.

Original Happy Camper · Sep 13, 2021

anna ~ grace said:
Camper, I make a distinction between sincere yet misguided theologians who were genuinely trying to understand Truth, and folks who

a) make specific prophecies which don’t come to pass and

b) claim an extraordinary amount of importance for themselves in ecclesiastical history

Imho the Foundress of Seventh-Day Adventism falls into both categories.

I respect your opinion, but how did you arrive at it?

Have you done your own research was the question I asked you or just taking other folks opinions?

anna ~ grace · Sep 13, 2021

Original Happy Camper said:
I respect your opinion, but how did you arrive at it?

Have you done your own research was the question I asked you or just taking other folks opinions?

Hey, Camper. Through my own studies of Early Church history, the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Soteriology, Restorationism, Revivalism, and prophetic claimants of the Americas.

And in light of this, reading the claims, beliefs, and writings of Ellen G. White.

SabbathBlessings · Sep 13, 2021

Everything must be tested by scripture and I don't see where the SDA belief is being challenged here by scripture. If there is any, that would be more interesting than just making an opinion not backed by scripture reference.

We are told Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

The SDA is one of the very few churches who still believes in God's holy laws including all Ten of the Commandments of God, personally written by our Savior and stored in the Most Holy of God's Temple. Talk about inspired!

I am not sure how any Church can claim to be inspired by God while trying to edit one of the Ten Commandments and the holy day of the Lord thy God that God told us to Remember. Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13 It certainly is not what the scriptures teach, nor what the SDA church teach.

anna ~ grace · Sep 13, 2021

So… it basically comes down to Restorationism, the first 1,500 years of Christian history, how we are saved, and the shared histories of the truly Apostolic Churches that are out there.

No disrespect meant to you guys, but in light of these things, no, I can not accept Ellen G. White as being inspired.

Freth · Sep 13, 2021

anna ~ grace said:
Camper, I make a distinction between sincere yet misguided theologians who were genuinely trying to understand Truth, and folks who

a) make specific prophecies which don’t come to pass and

b) claim an extraordinary amount of importance for themselves in ecclesiastical history

Imho the Foundress of Seventh-Day Adventism falls into both categories.

Prophecy works on God's timeline, not ours. When we see Jesus coming in the clouds, that's when we can say that a certain prophecy that hasn't come to pass was indeed bogus. Until then, wouldn't it be putting the cart before the horse?

What church isn't guilty of the claim of an extraordinary amount of importance for themselves in ecclesiastical history? None that I can think of. The issue of lawlessness in the churches (fulfilled prophecy) fits perfectly into this very description and ties in with your first point.

Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Opinions abound, but there is only one truth. Whether God's word or God's inspired Spirit of Prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 ...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

SabbathBlessings · Sep 13, 2021

anna ~ grace said:
So… it basically comes down to Restorationism, the first 1,500 years of Christian history, how we are saved, and the shared histories of the truly Apostolic Churches that are out there.

No disrespect meant to you guys, but in light of these things, no, I can not accept Ellen G. White as being inspired.

It would still help if you could provide through scripture where there is error. As of yet, it has been just your opinion.

Just in case you are unaware the SDA teachings come from scripture. EGW said to test everything through scripture. We follow God and His Word as the scriptures are the authority as it is the spoken Word of our Savior.

anna ~ grace · Sep 13, 2021

SabbathBlessings said:
It would still help if you could provide through scripture where there is error. As of yet, it has been just your opinion.

This is not about arguing Scripture, or Sola Scriptura. Actually, it pre-dates all those things.

SabbathBlessings · Sep 13, 2021

anna ~ grace said:
This is not about arguing Scripture, or Sola Scriptura. Actually, it pre-dates all those things.

It should be, the scripture is Gods Word and what we know we can trust.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6 Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

What should I pay attention to if I want to know whether a given piece of text is divinely inspired?

One of GODS Children I am a historicist

:sighing:

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