How can words be holy?

[leftrightleftrightleft]

The Bible is constructed out of words. Words are fallible. Words are open to multiple interpretations. Words are prone to poor translations. Every day, I see (on this forum, for example), the difficulty inherent in communication. Miscommunications abound. Meaning is lost. Words are misconstrued or poorly defined. The Bible is interpreted subjectively a thousand different ways.

How can a collection of words be called holy?

I can understand the notion that poetry can contain some ill-defined (and subjective) beauty. But to call an entire collection of 66 books as a monolithic "holy book" seems too much for me. Especially when the book contains many things which, to me, seem quite awful, barbaric or evil.

 

[Soyeong]

The Bible is constructed out of words. Words are fallible. Words are open to multiple interpretations. Words are prone to poor translations. Every day, I see (on this forum, for example), the difficulty inherent in communication. Miscommunications abound. Meaning is lost. Words are misconstrued or poorly defined. The Bible is interpreted subjectively a thousand different ways.

How can a collection of words be called holy?

I can understand the notion that poetry can contain some ill-defined (and subjective) beauty. But to call an entire collection of 66 books as a monolithic "holy book" seems too much for me. Especially when the book contains many things which, to me, seem quite awful, barbaric or evil.

"Holy" can mean "set apart" and the Bible teaches us how to live rightly before God in a way that sets us apart from unbelievers. The Bible itself can also be treated in a manner that is set apart from how we treat other books. "Holy" can also mean "sacred, sanctified, hallowed" and it is such because it is the word of God and He is holy. It is also inspired by the Holy Spirit. That is not to say that the Bible can't be misinterpreted or misunderstood or that all the events that it records are themselves holy.

 

[Serving Zion]

The Bible is constructed out of words. Words are fallible. Words are open to multiple interpretations. Words are prone to poor translations. Every day, I see (on this forum, for example), the difficulty inherent in communication. Miscommunications abound. Meaning is lost. Words are misconstrued or poorly defined. The Bible is interpreted subjectively a thousand different ways.

How can a collection of words be called holy?

I can understand the notion that poetry can contain some ill-defined (and subjective) beauty. But to call an entire collection of 66 books as a monolithic "holy book" seems too much for me. Especially when the book contains many things which, to me, seem quite awful, barbaric or evil.

There is one major problem underneath this: that not every person handling the scriptures is representing God. If you will consider Jeremiah 23:16-32, then you will see what St. Paul was driving at in 1 Corinthians 2:4.

Isaiah 54:17 gives a simple answer to your question.

 

[Hieronymus]

The Bible is constructed out of words. Words are fallible. Words are open to multiple interpretations. Words are prone to poor translations. Every day, I see (on this forum, for example), the difficulty inherent in communication. Miscommunications abound. Meaning is lost. Words are misconstrued or poorly defined. The Bible is interpreted subjectively a thousand different ways.

How can a collection of words be called holy?

It can't when you assume they don't mean what they mean.