If not, then how do you decide what parts to believe in and what parts not to believe in? How do you know what parts are supposed to be literally true? If all the bible is true, then why does it tell us to "beware of anything in addition to God's words". How do you know that some parts weren't just made up by some people for personal or political reasons in the past? I mean come on, some of the commands in the bible are down right cruel. There is a part in the old testament where people stone a guy to death for gathering wood on the Sabbath. This is supposed to be in accordance with "God's" law. And doesn't it seem more likely that a lot of the stories about Jesus' early life and virgin birth in the new testament were made up to make the Christian religion more acceptable to some of the pagan cultures in the area. I'd like to believe that the bible is 100% true, but my reason won't let me.
2006-09-10 08:50:43 · 27 answers · asked by Jazmin 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jazmin,
No, not 100% but there are some things to take into consideration before declaring the Bible an invalid source to believe in. You ask a lot of good questions.
There are some problems with the Bible and errors. Please remember, the Old Testament was passed down by oral tradition before the technology of writing was available. Compared to the Quran which existed long after the technology for writing was invented. So, yes there are errors.
Secondly, there are different ways to interpret based upon the "literary forms" of writers. Depending whether it is in a historical context, prophetic, poetry, or some other type of literary form.
If you took a Bible course and discovered what SCRIPTURAL TYPOLOGY is you would be amazed. If you knew what SALVATION HISTORY was in the Bible you would understand. If you recognized DIVINE AUTHORITY you would know that there has to be someone in authority to reveal the "secret" truths God has given. If you research all those phrases you will begin a journey of discovery that will last a life time.
We have a saying in Catholicism: the New Testament is hidden in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New. There are many mysteries contained in the Bible that I have been amazed at discovering for the past 20 years and there is a whole lot more. St. Jerome said: Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. The whole Bible is about our SALVATION: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament about the Messiah you can discover 50 of them in cd's IT IS WRITTEN.
WHEN YOU HAVE BEGUN TO DISCOVER THESE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY MAN. Jesus (a historical figure along with others in the Bible that are not fictitional characters) by fulfilling just 50 prophesies makes the odds of doing that 10X135 power! An astronomical figure that could not have been achieved by human means.
The thing that might shock you and others is that SATAN used scripture to tempt Jesus. So, too Satan will use scripture to trip us up from following the true faith. This is why there has to be DIVINE AUTHORITY that passes from the Old Testament to APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION in the New Testament. This is why someone cannot Authoritatively pick up a Bible and correctly interpret it nor can there be millions of interpretors to HOLY SCRIPTURE. There can only be one! I can go into detail about that but I have sufficiently answered your great question. If you want to know more you can reach me.
2006-09-10 09:17:56 · answer #1 · answered by Search4truth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know you asked a great question and to answer you, Yes I believe that the Bible is 100% true. I mean some things in the Bible I don't completely understand and I have prayed for understanding. I don't think anyone changed the Bible to make the Christian religion more acceptable b/c God wants us to make our on minds up he doesn't want to force anyone to love him or believe in him. I've never read the scripture you referred to where the man was stoned for working on the Sabbath and if it did happen I don't think you can blame God because people tend to sometimes take the message and word in the Bible out of context. For example when Jesus stood up for the woman being accused of Adultery many people in the Bible viewed this as Jesus saying her actions where okay and in reality Jesus was stating that "no one other then God could judge her" and that all of God's children had the right to be forgiven. So with that said, Yes I believe in the Word Of the Bible and I believe it to be true.
2006-09-10 08:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by KIKI 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The BIBLE is true according to GOD. It tells us to "beware of anything in addition to GOD'S word" which would be outside of the BIBLE of false prophesies.
How do you know that the Bible "isnt" true? Keep in mind the times of the Bible. The times are not cushy of comfort like we know it today. Dont we use guns today and different weapons not known back in the days of the old testament? They used stones, so what. Your not suppose to work (gathering wood) on the Sabbath so the laws were enforced then. What if our laws were enforced today? Maybe we wouldnt have people breaking them so much.
Stories made up about birth of Christ? Reread the Bible perhaps you will see things in Gods light. I pray that your reasons change to see it true, but it is your choice.
2006-09-10 09:08:09 · answer #3 · answered by yeppers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ye s the Bible is 100% true. When Christ came and died for our sins he made a new covenant with us and the old covenant with the Jews before Christ is not necessary for us to follow today such as the stoning etc.. God knew that we could not keep all of the commands in the old testament so He sent His son Jesus to make a new covenant. We need to obey the laws of the old testament to our best ability but we have been excused from the stoning etc.. and are not going to parish because we eat pork etc.. read Acts chapter 15. If you are not a full blooded practicing Jew than you are what is referred to as a gentile. The law of Moses id the old covenant you are reading about in the Old testament. When asked by Christ He told us the greatest commandment is LOVE. Love God and others. Check Answers In Genesis on the web they can help with some of these questions
2006-09-10 09:06:02 · answer #4 · answered by Brian W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off the Bible has to be read in FULL to understand it, you can't just read the OT and stop there and think you have any answers for anything. I believe the Bible is true in everything that has value to one's Salvation. I believe the original text is 100% true but some things get messed up in translating. However, key issues have always been the same, we can check back to writings from aincient Hebrew and Greek and see the essentials are still all in tact.
I don't believe that the Bible was ever changed to fit "political needs" as many claim, especially since politics is pretty much abhored in the Bible. We are never to give glory to man, only to God, people with special intent wouldn't have made wealth, pride, power, permiscuous sex and being "of the world" sinful since that's all man wants.
2006-09-10 08:58:56 · answer #5 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the bible is the indisputable word of God. I do believe that there are slight translation errors, and that some of the words that we have mean like 5 different things in Greek so in some cases you need to look at the original Greek or Hebrew if you can. You can get concordances from christian bookstores. I'm sure I spelled that wrong but never mind that now. I believe the king James version might have been the worst translated version, and that it would have the most discrepancies. I understand that they were strict about that translation though, and if you were caught adding or mistranslating it then it was "off with your head". I hope this helps some...
2006-09-10 09:12:39 · answer #6 · answered by shooter77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have written a very good intelligent question.
You start your question with the word, Christian. Christians know for certain that the Bible, complied from the Scriptures is in fact the Word of God. No question.
When by faith, (that's when you do something that your brain tells you is incorrect) we accepted Jesus Christ, The Word of God, it was that the Father has led us to Jesus, His Word, His Saviour. The Holy Spirit, The Comforter, the one Jesus Christ spoke of before He ascended into Heaven, lites upon us and fills us with the warmth and Presence of God.
That's how we Christians know. The Truth of the Word will set you free from all doubt.><>
2006-09-10 09:01:39 · answer #7 · answered by CEM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looking through some of the questions I saw yours and could relate personally. Some questions take time and research to find answers. I have found that the time is always well spent. Resently I have come across a radio program that has been a real help in my search for biblical truth. Its called Scott Richards Live and is currently broadcasting nation wide. It is a call in program where he helps many people find answers to their questions about life and the bible. Scott Scott Richards is a pastor at a Calvary Chapel in Tucson Arizona.I have heard him speak on numerous occasions in person and via the internet and have had several nagging questions of my own answered. He makes a really good resourse for anyone having biblical questions. He can be reached through his web site scottrichardslive.com or through the following email address:
studio@scottrichardslive.com
I wish you well in your journey. Heres to the day when you are fully confirmed in your faith...
2006-09-10 09:19:43 · answer #8 · answered by Francis M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible is an altered book. It was tampered with, edited, changed, selected and handled by MEN hundreds of years after Jesus. Don't trust it. The early priests selected which gospels they liked and which ever ones they didn't they damned to hell. I don't know how Christians can have faith in their religion when its not a Godly religion. Its a religion for people, AND BY PEOPLE. Religion should be from God, not other people. Its a book filled with contradictions because its been tampered with by the pen of man.
2006-09-10 09:48:19 · answer #9 · answered by Ibrahim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything made or translated by human being is not perfect, and error will occur. The Bible is written by God through Holy Spirit and through prophets.
However, it is important to understand that we are seeking the truth, and even one truth is enough. We don't need to argue for a hundred false. If you find your real father in a busy street, does it still matter if a hundred strangers come forward pretending to be your father?
2006-09-10 09:05:23 · answer #10 · answered by Nicko 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋