How accurate is the Bible?

[pescador]

I've thought more about this since starting this thread and think I've come to somewhat of a conclusion. The way I see it, the Bible is inerrant in that it is the word of God documented through human authors. But this does not necessarily mean that God meant every word to be interpreted in the literal sense. Since nobody can fully understand God or His actions, it would have been pointless for Him to try to describe everything in literal detail; not only would this be impossible, no one would be able to wrap their heads around it even if it was. So He instead revealed His word in a way that people could easily understand. For example, since no one can fully comprehend the creation of the universe--which most likely took billions of years--God presented those years as seven days and simplified His explanation of how He went around creating the world. It would be like explaining to child how an engine works. Are you gonna use exact numbers, like compression ratios, degrees of timing, etc.? Of course not. You'd make it much more simple, accessible, and easy to understand. Now imagine that you're God and you want to explain something as infinitely complex as the entire universe...chances are you'll do something similar. That's what I believe God was probably doing in Genesis and throughout the Bible.

Does anyone have an opinion on my position? Once again, I'm open to everyone's interpretation and my views are far from unchangeable.

I agree with your basic premise, but I don't want to get hung up on Genesis 1. There is much more in the Bible than that one chapter. If one reads the Bible to confirm or deny some human theory then s/he can get lost in human reasoning and logic, thereby missing the point of what they are reading. The Pharisees knew the (Old Testament) Scriptures "backwards and forwards" but when the living Word appeared in front of them they couldn't recognize or accept God's truth.

When I read the Bible I try to have a passive mind so that God can speak to me through his Word. I intentionally shy away from having a predetermined point of view that I want God to reinforce. (Think about that for a moment!)

I also try to use the most accurate, modern version that I can so that 1) I don't have to translate a translation in my mind or 2) somehow feel "religious", an emotion that clouds God's message to the Spirit that he has placed in Christians.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Something that’s important to bear in mind is that God teaches us using both literal and metaphorical language. The Ten Commandments: literal. The Good Samaritan: metaphorical. God was more direct about metaphorical language via Jesus, but He did it as well in the Old Testament. Had God guided Moses’ hand to write in Genesis about the formation of mountains via the movement of tectonic plates, do you think ancient Hebrews would have understood it? Probably not.