Is the Bible always correct?

[Gnarly]

I understand the Bible is the word of an infallible god, which would lead me to believe it is infallible word. Do Christians take into account the Bible was written by men, who are not infallible and can therefore contain mistakes?

 

[drich0150]

I understand the Bible is the word of an infallible god, which would lead me to believe it is infallible word. Do Christians take into account the Bible was written by men, who are not infallible and can therefore contain mistakes?

I think there are two types of believers, those who look for and worship God in objects, trinkets, and traditions, and those who look for God no matter where he is found.

Those who look for God in "things" tend to believe in the absolute infallibility of scripture, therefore lifting the bible and all it contains to a state of deity..

Those who look for God where ever he may be, Believe the bible to be God's word, but don't worship the bible as a, or in God's place. We tend to take every word as the inerrant word of God, but if there is a mistake found in the translation or if a more reliable source is found, and if it changes the meaning of a few verses then our faith will not be crushed.

Primarily because we know despite the traditions of religion, Gods true word is infallible, but it doesn't mean we have in our bibles the infallible word of God, but never the less we are responsible for what we do have.

 

[ebia]

I understand the Bible is the word of an infallible god, which would lead me to believe it is infallible word. Do Christians take into account the Bible was written by men, who are not infallible and can therefore contain mistakes?

There's a huge spectrum of Christian understanding on that, from one that has God virtually dictating it word for word, to one that almost leaves God out of the picture altogether.

An historic understanding would be one that doesn't see the tension between God and men as authors as a dichotomy at all - God works primarily through with and alongside his creation, not by overriding his creation.

Yes men make mistakes, AND the bible is as God would have it be. Human language is finite and limited AND God can transend that.

Trying to talk about infallibility and inerrancy or their opposites is a category mistake. The bible is not primarily a fact book - it's a collection of literature, most of which is narrative of various forms and which together have an overarching metanarrative. To ask if it's "correct or not" is pretty meaningless - what does it mean for a piece of narrative poetry to be correct?

 

[Gnarly]

So, the answer to the question can only be answered within a specific belief system?
That does make sense, my question was pretty vague. Thanks for your answers.

Would anyone mind sharing what they personally believe, and why. I'm very curious.

 

[salida]

God used not perfect man who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Bible (Word of God is infallible). Read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell (it would stand up in a court of law concerning biblical evidence with a shadow of a doubt). Its the most true book in the world. It could only be written by God because of its characteristics.

Biblical Evidence (Scratching the Surface Only)

Internal Evidences
Prophesies that are confirmed within Bible

- Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen 49:10 - Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Luke's time period is 60-70 AD)

Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5 -Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60-70 AD)

Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14/Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(60-70 AD)

**I can list at least 20 more of these.
-Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 - four kingdoms are described in the interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek - Daniel 8:21, 10:20) and a fourth great kingdom to follow - part iron and clay - which is the Roman Empire - during this empire Christ came and the church was established - Daniel 2:44.

-Historical Accuracy
The Bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago, yet has not been proven incorrect on any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament - starts at 25 years - between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years
Caesar - at 1000 years

Number of Manuscript Copies
New Testament - 5,686
Homer - 643
Demosthenes - 200
Plato - 7
Caesar - 10

Consistency
Written by at least 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years, and has no internal inconsistencies.

Claim of Inspiration
It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Tim 3:16-17). No other religious book makes such claims.

External Evidences
(Prophesies Outside the Bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never be built again.
Nineveh - Nahum 1:10, 3:7,15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon - Isaiah 13:1-22)
Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-28)

Bible before Science
He hangs the earth on nothing - Job 26:7
(Job was written at least 1000 years ago - some scholars think it could be even 3000 years ago)
Note: Man only knew this for 350 years
Earth is a sphere, Isaiah 40:22
Air has weight, Job 28:25
Gravity - Job 26:7, Job 38:31-33
Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6

Documents that Prove Bible is True
Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles

Archealogoical Finds
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

 

[Gnarly]

Salida, thank you for your insight.
I am just curious though, are you saying the Bible is true, because the scriptures in the Bible declare it so? Or I am misunderstanding your post.

 

[drich0150]

I personally believe in what my bible says to be true, but again (for me anyway) it not about what can be proved or disproved. My faith is based on my faithfulness to what I have to work with. If what I believed to be true today is proved to be inaccurate by something like the Dead sea scrolls, then my "faith" will change accordingly..

God's word is infallible, but I don't assume I have the complete infallible word of God in my favorite translation... God and all of his work from the beginning till now can't be contained in a book, but there is more than enough in the bible to point anyone seeking him in the right direction, and there is enough in scripture to feed someone spiritually for the rest of your natural life. That is if you remain faithful to what you have.

Where we over step, is when we look to the bible as, or worship it like God. The Bible should be a means to an end, not the ultimate destination. Ultimately, if you truly seek God you will find the Holy Spirit.. This is the same Holy Spirit that inspired the bible.. When you obtain a measure of the Spirit then He who inspired scripture resides in you, and what is written will be written on your heart. This doesn't exclude you from needing the bible, it gives you insight and understanding to the bible where there was none before.. Your understanding of scripture will Grow as you grow.. This means constant change, and refinement of your understanding..

So to an actual member of the Body, even if the words haven't changed since there were originally penned thousands of years ago, our understanding of them should as we grow in our faith. So whether there is an actual warranted change in scripture or if the change we experience is through the course of our growing faith, the scriptures should always be "changing" to some extent.. That is unless we come to worship a translation or a specific interpretation of that translation. Then the tool God left us to use to find him, becomes an idol or false god in of itself.. Because the worship stop being about the pursuit of a relationship with God, and becomes a system of "religious preservation."

I say all of that to say: Beware of the person or system of belief who sets everything the bible says or a specific translation of the bible as if God himself wrote every copy.
Remain faithful to your understand or your translation, always seek more, remember the bible isn't a text book to be mastered, or memorized, it is a guide book to a relationship with God..

 

[Gnarly]

Drich, thanks so much on elaborating for me. I think your understanding of the Bible sounds very grounded, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me.