+ How can you take the Bible literally when biblical authorship is so messy?

Question

How can you tell if a man is preaching God's will instead of his own? How can you accept the Holy Spirit within another man and not within yourself? Even without the Bible, we still have the gift to uncover God's will or whomever's will that leads to clarification and consciousness.

If the Bible is God-breathed then so is everything else. EVERYTHING is sacred.

Answer 1

Methinks you trouble yourself unduly.

If some choose to take the Bible seriously, so be it.

You are free not to do so.

... and that my friend, is how we will build a tolerant society.

:-)

Answer 2

I don't usually take the bible literally. I interpret the bible being full of metaphors. The bible is a basis for the teachings of God. Man wrote the bible many times over, so it is in no way the same writing as it was thousands of years ago. But the concept remains the same. The creation of earth to tribulation. Though the words may not represent fully what God preached, it does represent what God is all about. I call people who take any holy scriptures words verbatum an extremist. These teachings are designed to illuminate the soul with His teachings, not to be a Life employee handbook. Anyone else agree?

Answer 3

Think about it! The bible was written to record things that happened 2 thousand + years ago from stories that had been told for several hundred years. Asf you read Genisis where the world is described draw picture of what you read. It won't look anything like reality. It will look the way people understood the world at that time. Was Christ wrong when he told the parable of the mustard seed being the smallest of seeds or did the people of that time not know about poppy seeds which are really much smaller. It doesn't matter if the bible is history of exactly the way things happend, what the bible does is tell us that God loves us and wants us to be with him.

Answer 4

the bible is highly subjective and speaks to the individual ... i don't think that it should be used to speak to the group because the bible cannot be "one size fits all". everyone needs something different. I am riding the fence regarding christianity and i've come to the conclusion that the bible and church are what i dispise about it. the idea of christianity is beautiful and of good intention but the church has twisted this religion (as other religions) into something that was used to exert power and manipulation... it's so sad.

for me, i read the bible as what it is... it was written by man (whom we all agree are imperfect) and the bible was compiled after a huge council decided what would and would not make the "cut"... so the stories in the bible are questionable for these two facts alone

my relationship with god is a personal one and rarely even involves the bible because i just don't think that the bible is a very reliable guide

Answer 5

It is clearly evident that the bible can be easilly misinterpreted simply by looking at the vast number of different religious sects in the world today. God did give us a way of discerning the truth, the Holy Spirit.

John 14: 26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

If you ask God in pray with real sincerity, having faith that you will receive an answer, you will be answered. You will be able to discern what is right and what is wrong. You will be able to tell if a man is preaching God's will and not his own.

If you want to know that what I am saying is true, then ask God. I promise that if you will do it with real sincerity you will recieve an answer from God through the Holy Spirit that it is true. It is how I have come to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is because I have asked God and he has answered my prayer. I have been given spiritual experiences that leave me in no doubt.

Answer 6

The bible is not to be taken literally, because we are suppose to get the message of the passage. Biblical authorship may appear so messy because the stories/messages were first spread through words of mouth, that is, oral tradition, before they were written. There was a faith experience first, followed by the writing of this experience which we now call the Bible.

Answer 7

The bible cannot explain anymore than the human can intrepret because it is a human construction, a book, it is not God. God isn't black and white letters on a piece of paper. I believe that if God exists, he exists within yourself, everyone's included. Why ONLY read what someone else wrote. Read it for reference. Question every word. BUT, if you want to find God, look within. The energy of God is within us all. I dont think any book could possibly explain the energy that exists in loving others.

Answer 8

That's an awesome question. I would say that God set a precedent early on that He would always speak through humans...imperfect humans. There is very elementary greek in the New Testament, and other things that point to the writer's imperfections. And today, as men preach, they are imperfect. We must find people we trust, and develop our spirit so that we can discern what's the truth and what's not.

Answer 9

It is not messy as you view it, you simply do not understand.

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doomed of sinners and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, the light to direct us, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, the gates of hell disclose

Christ is the grand subject, our good, the design and the glory of God, its end. The reward of those with greatest labor, will condemned all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Read it to be wise, believed ti to be safe, practice it to be holy, should fill the memory, rule the heart, guide the feet, read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.

It is the mind of wealth, a paradise of glory, the river of pleasure. It was given in life, will be opened at the judgment and be remembered. Its involves the highest responsibility

The Bible is not a book of human wisdom nor is not a book which only contains the word of God, mixed with humans teaching. Rather, the Bible is entirely inspired by God himself. (2 Tim 3:16)

It comes from God’s own mouth. This leads us to two (2) inseparable doctrines of the Christian Church. They are the following.
• Verbal inspiration
• Plenary inspiration

Verbal inspiration – Means that the documents written by their original authors are word for word what God wanted it to say.

Plenary inspiration – is similar, it extends to the entire Bible completely covering every ideas, thoughts and concept.

Inspiration – maybe defined as the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of chosen men who then wrote the scripture so that God got written what he wanted.

The Bible is all of its parts constitute the written word of God to man. This word is free from errors in its original autographs. It is wholly trustworthy in matters of history and doctrine.

The Bible gets its name from a Greek word which means “the little book”. Gradually in the course of many years, this word came to stand for something more than the little book. The Holy Book and finally, it came ot mean just what is means today. “The Holy Book of Book”

Composition:

1. Contains 66 books (39 – books from the Old Testaments; 27 – books from the New Testaments
2. 44 – Writers
3. Different language (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin)
4. 1,189 – chapters
5. 32,101 – verses
6. 1,260 – promises
7. 3,268 – fulfilled prophecy
8. 3,140 – unfulfilled prophecy

Answer 10

I'm writing a biblical passage myself. I have the same qualifications as the other writers and editors that have created the bible. Of course, as with the other biblical contributors, readers will accept my divine inspiration on faith. Hopefully, someone who answers your question can tell me where to submit my manuscrpt for inclusion into the bible.

I've had some great visions from God, and I'm bound to spread his word. Any who do not believe that I my words are God's words are unbelievers, and will not find passage to heaven.

Just a preview: God's angel told me to tell all who believe in him not to use cell phones while driving.

Answer 11

The belief that there is a God and he rules in the kingdom of man. An all powerful god will make sure what he wants to happen will happen. God can move the heart even the vilest person to ensure his will be done.