Questioning the Bible

[Nyams]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

 

[wayseer]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

Very much depends on what you mean. Can you elaborate.

But the general concept that you cannot question the biblical texts is a furphy.

 

[DrFrank]

Jesus was sent to earth in part to update Old Testament teachings so of course we must disregard those verses He has disputed.The most blatant example is "an eye for an eye" which is the basis for the hatred of those who are still unsuccessfully trying to gain revenge for the Sept 11,2001 attack in New York City by supporting the crimes against humanity wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Christians realize that they must stop believing in this barbaric hatred and violence so they can follow Jesus' teaching to "love your enemies"!

 

[Voice in the Desert]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

The question might be re-phrased more generally, is it wrong to doubt? To which I would answer that no it is not a sin to doubt, faith is a work. God is bigger than our faith and if you only have enough faith to believe the beginning of the faith, that is a beginning point. At its most basic we must believe that the gospels are true in their portrayal of Jesus and that we are saved by his work on the cross and our faith in him.

No scripture is non-essential, so I would encourage you to work through whatever parts of scripture you are struggling with instead of dismissing them for whatever reason as is so popular these days.

 

[ebia]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

Questioning is always good - truth has nothing to fear from questions. But simply rejecting the inconvenient is quite another thing.

 

[pilgrimgal]

When I have come upon a passage which bothered me it has helped to consider it in context..i.e. consider the reason it is written and what came before the passage and what came afterwards. And as Christians we must always consider the OT in light of the NT. We are so blessed that Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in reading the scriptures. We also have wisdom and knowledge of many mature Christians who can help us regarding a particular passage, chapter, or book. I have found the Nelson Bible Commentary most helpful in understanding the scriptures in context.

The important thing in the Word of God is the over-all message..the message of the Gospel..that God sent His Son to bring salvation to a sinful world.

 

[OldLangSyne]

The question might be re-phrased more generally, is it wrong to doubt?

It is a sin to doubt. Then again, that's easy for me to say that because I don't believe the the sins we commit affect our eligibility for eternal life either way.

It's one thing to have a lack of understanding. For that, you can pray and research further, and you will eventually have the truth.

To have doubts, implies you have not given yourself over completely in faith and that your trust for God could be better. Then again, we can all do better in that regard (much including myself), so it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's a constant journey to be a better Christian.

Also DrFrank is right about the Old Testament.

 

[wayseer]

It is a sin to doubt.

Please supply a theological argument to support your thesis.

 

[Chris81]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

Questioning or having doubts about scripture can be a good thing. It means you are truly reading and seeking to understand the Bible's teachings rather than having blind faith. However, doubt can be destructive to your faith if you do not fully seek out the truth but instead let the doubt fester, grow, and become a barrier to growing stronger in your personal relationship to Christ.

I think that is important to be part of small group bible study, men's or women's group, or other small groups. By connecting with other Christians in a small group setting, you can freely discuss those issues of your faith and understanding of scripture that you struggle with. This can be very helpful because like you and me, everyone has doubts and questions when reading the bible. The combined experience of a group of fellow Christians can help guide and grow your faith and likewise we all have experience that we can share to help others.

It is very important to have the right interpretation of scripture. pilgrimgal wrote a good post about how reading scripture based on the proper context is very important. Often times when I read scripture following the proper rules of interpretation my doubts typically are resolved.

 

[pilgrimgal]

Questioning or having doubts about scripture can be a good thing. It means you are truly reading and seeking to understand the Bible's teachings rather than having blind faith. However, doubt can be destructive to your faith if you do not fully seek out the truth but instead let the doubt fester, grow, and become a barrier to growing stronger in your personal relationship to Christ.

I think that is important to be part of small group bible study, men's or women's group, or other small groups. By connecting with other Christians in a small group setting, you can freely discuss those issues of your faith and understanding of scripture that you struggle with. This can be very helpful because like you and me, everyone has doubts and questions when reading the bible. The combined experience of a group of fellow Christians can help guide and grow your faith and likewise we all have experience that we can share to help others.

It is very important to have the right interpretation of scripture. pilgrimgal wrote a good post about how reading scripture based on the proper context is very important. Often times when I read scripture following the proper rules of interpretation my doubts typically are resolved.

Chris, I appreciate and agree with your comments here as well.

 

[Magentic]

When I have come upon a passage which bothered me it has helped to consider it in context..i.e. consider the reason it is written and what came before the passage and what came afterwards. And as Christians we must always consider the OT in light of the NT. We are so blessed that Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in reading the scriptures. We also have wisdom and knowledge of many mature Christians who can help us regarding a particular passage, chapter, or book. I have found the Nelson Bible Commentary most helpful in understanding the scriptures in context.

The important thing in the Word of God is the over-all message..the message of the Gospel..that God sent His Son to bring salvation to a sinful world.

Questioning or having doubts about scripture can be a good thing. It means you are truly reading and seeking to understand the Bible's teachings rather than having blind faith. However, doubt can be destructive to your faith if you do not fully seek out the truth but instead let the doubt fester, grow, and become a barrier to growing stronger in your personal relationship to Christ.

I think that is important to be part of small group bible study, men's or women's group, or other small groups. By connecting with other Christians in a small group setting, you can freely discuss those issues of your faith and understanding of scripture that you struggle with. This can be very helpful because like you and me, everyone has doubts and questions when reading the bible. The combined experience of a group of fellow Christians can help guide and grow your faith and likewise we all have experience that we can share to help others.

It is very important to have the right interpretation of scripture. pilgrimgal wrote a good post about how reading scripture based on the proper context is very important. Often times when I read scripture following the proper rules of interpretation my doubts typically are resolved.

Chris, I appreciate and agree with your comments here as well.

Groups are important as this cf group confirms

 

[OldLangSyne]

Please supply a theological argument to support your thesis.

I stand corrected of my original thesis. It is not technically a sin, assuming the OP has been born again, since from 1 John 3:2,9.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Just I guess remember to have faith in God's word. There are parts that have been corrupted by man with bad translation and misinterpretation and such, but know to follow the true word, when you see it. Everyone has some great points.

Always remember Romans 14:23 "But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Even if you personally cannot sin, the action may be a sin if it were by another committed.

 

[wayseer]

I stand corrected of my original thesis. It is not technically a sin, assuming the OP has been born again, since from 1 John 3:2,9.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Just I guess remember to have faith in God's word. There are parts that have been corrupted by man with bad translation and misinterpretation and such, but know to follow the true word, when you see it. Everyone has some great points.

Always remember Romans 14:23 "But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Even if you personally cannot sin, the action may be a sin if it were by another committed.

The fact is that we as Christians, continue to sin but are saved from final condemnation. Which is why we continually pray the Lord's Prayer.

 

[razeontherock]

Nyams - why not pursue those passages you find difficult here? This life is the time to sort things out, not the next.

 

[addo]

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

No. It is natural to make questions. Just trust that God will answer to them. So questioning it isn't wrong. But ask God to give you the answer. Try looking for it on the internet. So no, it is not wrong to question the Bible, but make sure to look for an answer.

What kind of verses are you referring to?

 

[DanielRB]

Hi Nyams,

There are some verses when I read I feel that I am not convinced by them. Is it wrong as a Christian to question the Holy Bible? Does it affect person’s faith?

I do not believe that doubt is wrong, when it is prompted by a sincere desire to know the truth--and not as a desire to simply get away from things that make us uncomfortable or are inconvienent.

If my faith cannot stand investigation, then perhaps it is based on something other than the Eternal God.

Here's a song that helps express my feelings on it, by The Lost Dogs:

Our souls balanced on a wire
Below is a consuming fire

If there's no room for doubt now
There's no room for us
Inside and out now
He's looking for us

Christ comes
Fill the empty places
To breathe
We must find the spaces

If there's no room. . .

And none of us are safe
Here in the dark
We try to touch his hand
Here in the dark

We know it's death to see his glory
We're here alive to tell the story

If there's no room for doubt now
There's no room for us
In side and out now
He's looking for us. . .

To breathe
We must find the spaces
He's looking for us

 

[lucaspa]

When I have come upon a passage which bothered me it has helped to consider it in context..i.e. consider the reason it is written and what came before the passage and what came afterwards.

I agree wholeheartedly. And part of the context is not just the context of the text, but the social and historical context. How did the people of the time understand the text? First you have to understand it the way they did, because were the people it was originally intended for. If, after that, you can find meaning for 21st century people, that's a bonus.

 

[pilgrimgal]

I agree wholeheartedly. And part of the context is not just the context of the text, but the social and historical context. How did the people of the time understand the text? First you have to understand it the way they did, because were the people it was originally intended for. If, after that, you can find meaning for 21st century people, that's a bonus.

Yes, in order to understand what it means it helps to know what it meant and the Word is written not just for those who lived but if understood properly it is for those of us who live now. It is the living Word because it comes via the Holy Spirit who gives new life.

 

[DanielRB]

I agree wholeheartedly. And part of the context is not just the context of the text, but the social and historical context. How did the people of the time understand the text? First you have to understand it the way they did, because were the people it was originally intended for. If, after that, you can find meaning for 21st century people, that's a bonus.

This is the foundation of grammaticlal-historical exegesis, and most of us have been taught that this is the approach we "ought" to follow. However, I will note that the way the NT uses the OT, it does not seem to be the preferred method. Instead, what is emphasized is how Christ can be seen in the text. Most quotations of the OT aren't followed by an analysis of what this meant to the first readers, in there historical context. Rather, what the text means in the new covenant of Christ is emphasized.

I would humbly suggest that our preferred method of Biblical interpretation should start and end with Christ. Finding out the original meaning might be nice, too, but the real meaning of revelation is how it reveals Christ to us NOW.

 

[wayseer]

Yes, in order to understand what it means it helps to know what it meant and the Word is written not just for those who lived but if understood properly it is for those of us who live now. It is the living Word because it comes via the Holy Spirit who gives new life.

In what way?

And how do you understand 'properly understood'?