Why the Bible?

[CuriousCanuck]

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

 

[cubinity]

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

When I have an idea about God, myself, or spiritual existence, I find that I turn to the Bible for accountability of those ideas.

I find that, though I don't assume it has any supreme capacity to communicate truth over any other sacred text, it does communicate the kinds of things I like to hear.

I find it particularly encouraging, and I have found that consistently reading it challenges me in ways the other texts never did.

I really get a lot out of the Gita (not so much the Uppanishads, sorry), but the theologies that surround Krishna and the practices regarding the deities are too far from my culture for me to feel comfortable with.

The Koran saddens me more than encourages me. I find its narrator pitiable in his disappointing relationship with the Christian and Jewish authorities, and am heartbroken in my empathy as his rejection turns to anger and resentment. I am left wondering how differently things might have gone if the Christians or Jews had allied with him. I also wonder if there wasn't something they saw in him (like a short fuse, perhaps) that indicated that would not be such a great idea.

The Bible, however, even in its darkest moments (like a left-handed assassin plunging a knife past its hilt into a chubby's belly), leaves me feeling encouraged and challenged to be a better man.

Maybe it's just that I was raised in a Christianized culture. Maybe it is that I see the world with Jesus-tint on my worldview goggles. Whatever it is, I'm not going to pretend its perfect or anything. But, it is mine, and I get a lot out of it.

Great question. Thanks for asking it.

 

[papaJP]

As a devoute follower of God I can go to none other than His Holy Word in print.
To not believe the Bible is to not believe in the true God and a denial of His Holy Word which is in print but also came to us in the flesh.

 

[granpa]

I would be delighted to study these other texts
but if its as hard to find good studies of these books
as it is to find good studies of the bible then I figure its hopeless.

After all these years I'm only just begining to understand the bible.
I just dont have the time to put into studying everything else too.

Why dont you study them and then come back here and give your report?

 

[papaJP]

I would be delighted to study these other texts
but if its as hard to find good studies of these books
as it is to find good studies of the bible then I figure its hopeless.

After all these years I'm only just begining to understand the bible.
I just dont have the time to put into it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I would take issue with you on good studies of the Bible.
Your comment of not having time to put into it is a familar one as that is what is wrong with most who call themselves Christian. God gave you all the time and you are evidently not willing to give Him a small part of it to study His Word and learn how to understand what He wants you to know. You might start by praying over the Bible and asking for revelations and the will to spend the time to study.
I hope you do not take this as a personal attack. I have learned to make myself spend at least 20 hours a week studing, reading and seeking knowledge from God's Holy Word.

 

[granpa]

I study the bible therefore I dont have time to study everything else.

time is one thing God has NOT blessed me with.

 

[wayseer]

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

Just as an aside, parts of the Gilgamesh epic is incorporated into the book of Genesis.

Personally, I think the Bible has stood the test of time. I have study in depth the Tibetan Buddhist texts and while they are illuminating I think the Bible is grass roots up rather than top down.

The biblical texts are a record of our not so glorious attempts to develop a relationship with God. It is text raw with human emotion and frailty. It is certainly not a pretty picture in parts. But I think it truly reflects our feeble yet valiant attempts at coming to term with the eternal Being.

The Bible encourages when everything is telling me it is all useless and it's time to give. It sends my heart soaring at the inspiration and imagination that bursts through the concreteness of everyday drudgery. It confronts and challenges as it consoles and comforts. And even when its resting unopened on my desk it seems to be saying something beyond itself - urging me to take another step, to go another mile.

There are prettier books and one's better written but when it comes to the things that really matter, the soul retching gut busting stuff that one needs to confront the evil which is loose in the world nothing compares.

Without it the world would indeed be a dark place.

 

[Woldeyesus]

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

A good reason for choosing the Bible, probably the most complete road map to God, is its readiness to yield its authority to God's self-revelation under the terms and seal in the "new covenant" including a new order of worship free from Scriptures, religions and place-specific institutions. (Jer. 31: 31-34; John 4: 21-26; Matt. 26:64, 26-29; 27: 50-56; Heb. 10: 19-25; Rev. 21:22)

 

[Kaitlin08]

Here is a moral reason for choosing the Bible over other books.

The Bible is unique from many other holy books in that it was written over a span of many centuries; this allows a person to recognize that there are changes in belief and especially in thought from book to book. There is a realistic sense of give and take, of negotiation, which could not exist if the Bible were written by one person within one generation. However, the belief in inerrancy prevents conservative Christians from coming to this naturally edifying conclusion.

 

[Woldeyesus]

Here is a moral reason for choosing the Bible over other books.

The Bible is unique from many other holy books in that it was written over a span of many centuries; this allows a person to recognize that there are changes in belief and especially in thought from book to book. There is a realistic sense of give and take, of negotiation, which could not exist if the Bible were written by one person within one generation. However, the belief in inerrancy prevents conservative Christians from coming to this naturally edifying conclusion.

The most edifying conclusion about the Holy Bible is the continuous act of creation of man in God's image.

It is possible to track the overwhelming testimony of all Scriptures centering on the giving to all men the gift of immortality, viz.: "life-giving breath" or the Holy Spirit, memorialized in "the tree of life" (Gen. 2: 7-9); and culminated in calling "gods" the people to whom the message of God's self-revelation in Christ's work of perfect and diacritical death on the cross is given (John 10: 34-35; 11: 25-26; 14: 18-21; 19: 30-37).

N.B. It is absolutely impossible to break the seals (the mystery) and open the scroll (under the Scriptures) with any other means than the "key", viz.: the Lamb standing in the centre of the throne (the cross) appearing to have been killed --clear description of a diacritical death! (Col. 2: 2-3; Rev. 5)

 

[cubinity]

Here is a moral reason for choosing the Bible over other books.

The Bible is unique from many other holy books in that it was written over a span of many centuries; this allows a person to recognize that there are changes in belief and especially in thought from book to book. There is a realistic sense of give and take, of negotiation, which could not exist if the Bible were written by one person within one generation. However, the belief in inerrancy prevents conservative Christians from coming to this naturally edifying conclusion.

Amen. I love the way you described this!

 

[MrPolo]

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

The Bible is verified by the early Church in succession of the witnesses of Christ's Resurrection. So one must recognize the infallibility of the early Church to have correctly passed on which letters belonged in Holy Scripture (there were a few centuries of inconsistent collections of which books belonged in Scripture you know--both the Old and New Testaments). So the Church in turn has a traceable lineage to the Apostles and their first successors who testify to the divinity of the man Jesus Christ. So it is on faith that we believe in the divine inspiration of the books of Scripture as passed on by the Church.

 

[Woldeyesus]

Here is a moral reason for choosing the Bible over other books.

The Bible is unique from many other holy books in that it was written over a span of many centuries; this allows a person to recognize that there are changes in belief and especially in thought from book to book. There is a realistic sense of give and take, of negotiation, which could not exist if the Bible were written by one person within one generation. However, the belief in inerrancy prevents conservative Christians from coming to this naturally edifying conclusion.

Whatever conservative Christians say or do not say, there are two constants in the Bible, viz.: the "tree of life" or the cross of Christ, representing God's "life-giving breath" for our total God-reliance; and the "tree of knowledge of what is good and what is bad", representing a mixed-bag of Scriptures and man's self-reliant knowledge of God, a.k.a., as theology.

 

[cubinity]

Whatever conservative Christians say or do not say, there are two constants in the Bible, viz.: the "tree of life" or the cross of Christ, representing God's "life-giving breath" for our total reliance; and the "tree of knowledge of what is good and what is bad", representing a mixed-bag of Scriptures and man's self-reliant knowledge of God, a.k.a., as theology.

Interesting perspective. I can't say I've heard it before, but I think I like it!

 

[Cre Master]

As I have learned more I have tended to find greater truths presenting themselves in the Hebrew bible than any other. Gilgamesh is certainly worth reading and although it's Ark story obviously predates and informs the jewish one Genesis just has that greater degree of poetry and substance. In the New Testament it would have to be Mark that I would return to most often. As the first gospel it's rawness just has a more authentic ring to it.

However we should not forget the works of Shakespeare. Not all that far behind the Bible in exploring what it means to be human.

 

[OzSpen]

Curious,

I am genuinely curious about this. What is your personal reason for choosing the Bible as your holy book? Is there a particular reason for choosing the Hebrew Bible/Christian Bible over the Theogony? Or over The Epic of Gilgamesh? Or over the Metamorphoses? Or over other religious books such as the Upanishads or the Koran? Or over the Dhammapada?

Any answers would be great! Thanks in advance ^.^

What attracted me to the Bible was how the biblical worldview matches reality. I could not find that in all of the other religions I investigated.

I have been greatly influenced by the writings of the late Francis Schaeffer and his associates at L'Abri in helping me to see how reality and the Christian worldview coalesce.

I'd recommend a read of this article that was presented by Jerram Barrs at a L'Abri Conference I attended quite a few years ago: "Christianity true to the way things are". I only now located it online.

Sincerely, Spencer

 

[Woldeyesus]

Interesting perspective. I can't say I've heard it before, but I think I like it!

Thank you. I like it too.

 

[Woldeyesus]

As a complete roadmap to God, I find the Holy Bible to be perfect in serving its purpose, viz.: firsthand knowledge of God's self-revelation in Christ as a basis for sustainable faith.

My interest in the other books is limited to the presence of the "tree of life" in their pages. So far, I have not been disappointed.

 

[jnorgaard]

Because the Bible contains the word og God. It testifies about Christ and that there is only salvation in his name and through His atonement. The philosophies of men will not bring them into Gods kingdom.

John

 

[Woldeyesus]

Because the Bible contains the word og God. It testifies about Christ and that there is only salvation in his name and through His atonement. The philosophies of men will not bring them into Gods kingdom.

John

Neither the philosophies of men nor even the claims in the Bible can bring any one into the Kingdom of God which can only happen on the strength of the testimony of Spirit-active works found in the roadmap leading straight to Christ's self-revelation in his death on the cross! wY