Why do Christians put so much faith in the Bible?

Question

It was written by men not God. It was written about 200 years after Jesus died and has been re-translated numerous times. Even some hard core Christian Fundamentalists (like William Jennings Bryan) have admitted that it some of it does not make sense.

So why do people assume it's God's word? Who was the comedian who said "The Bible was written by a bunch of Jesus' friends, and you know how friends always mess up stories."

Even my professors (who are educated) claim that the Bible should never be used as a factual, history book. Why don't Christians keep an open mind and maybe just consider that it is not all 100% fact and should never be taken literally? Why does their faith depend on it?

Small but Fierce...my history professors would disagree with you. I think I'll trust them.

Mesasa197...thanks for assuming I'm young, nice suttle insult there.

I have faith too but my faith is not dependent upon a flawed book. I've seen Christians say over and over "Yes the earth was created in 7 days!! Why? Because they Bible says so!!"
That is ignorance resulting from faith.

and yes I have studied the Bible, I went to a First Baptist Christian school when I was younger so have taken more Bible classes then I like to admit to.

You kept an open mind..but walked away impressed with it's accuracy?

You are the prime example of what I am talking about, thanks. Blinded by faith.

JCT...you are using the Bible to prove your point, saying that the Bible states "It IS God's word" ...according to whom? MEN who wrote it, not God and men are bias and flawed. Always will be. How do we know that they are correct? Did God talk to them? I don't think so.

Answer 1

I can't answer for all Christians.

I can only tell you that I do not put my faith in the Bible. I put my faith in the God of the Bible. I do this by having a relationship with Him. There have been many times that He has proved to me that He is there.

I understand the idea behind the question. This is a very good question. I have many questions about lots of things I have read in the Bible. I also have researched the orgin of the Bible and have even more questions about that.

Having faith in God for me is different than having faith in the Bible. My faith doesn't depend on the Bible. My faith is based on my personal relationship with God.

Thanks for asking.

Answer 2

Because the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is the Answer to life in general. Some things may not make sense to you but the Bible is what our heavenly Father wants us to know about Him in order to be in a right relationship with Him.

If you knew the solution to a math problem on an exam would you use the solution or would you purposely put the wrong answer?

When I was studying Advanced Accounting about 20 years ago my professor had narcolepsy. He would write out answers to problems on the chalkboard but he ALWAYS made mistakes. One of my classmates used to meticulously copy the Wrong Answers down and then he used to use those wrong answers (somehow he used what appeared to be a watch) on the exams. The teacher was literally sleeping on his feet and any classmate who happened to look up only saw someone who looked like he was looking at his watch. The guy always got a perfect score. The rest of the class didn't do very well because we worked out our answers.

I recommend:
Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Case for Faith (and other books by author) by Lee Strobel

Answer 3

You're obviously young. First, let me clear something up: Educated does not equal faithless, and having faith does not equal igorance. Having faith in the Bible as the word of God is, indeed, an act of faith. Now, in the face of science and philosophy, that faith can take a beating. I've been a student at a local university for almost seven years, and I'm working on an advanced degree in literature, and my faith has been tried repeatedly. And, yes, men wrote the Bible, which automatically opens room for error. But I see the Word evidenced in my life often enough to believe that those men who wrote the Bible were influenced and guided by God. I believe. If that makes me less a professor, less educated, or less intelligent, then so be it. My faith rests upon Him, and not on the laurels of men.

Answer 4

We believe that the Bible communicates God's thoughts to man, and that God communicates to man through the Bible.

This is a reality that has been experienced by millions upon millions of people who have read the Bible over the centuries.

Appreciation for the Bible does not deepen but by the actual experience of having God speak to one through it. Then it becomes incredibily believable.

A book can make it on the New York Best Sellers List if the author can somehow strike a chord with his/her readers. God has done just that with the Bible.

Answer 5

How do you justify your claim of a date when we have manuscript evidence significantly older than that date? You misstate facts to support your position. This DOES NOT LEND CREDIBILITY TO YOUR POSITION.

"Re-translated:" Again, your claim is without basis. There is clear evidence that the Koine Greek I read WAS the original language of the New Testament, though a few claim that the Peshitta in Aramaic was original, there is little evidence in support of the claim. Yes, the catholics read a re-translated bible since the vatican declared that the Latin Vulgate was the official Bible, but most CHRISTIANS do not read something which has been re-translated. In the old Testament, again, we have the catholics reading a convoluted re-translation. The ACCEPTED ORIGINAL documents were in Hebrew. The LXX was a Greek translation which a. added texts which the Jews considered un-inspired and b. formed the basis of Jerome's Vulgate. Again, we see catholics reading a re-translation, but Christians not.

Answer 6

words lost in translation is an easily understood mishap


The only things that came from men was the paper,pen and ink

And there are educated men that are wise enough to believe God's word also

Question for you:why do people believe in science books when they were written by men to.

Christians are have proof and are witness that all of God's word is true. Scientist on the other hand just have a buch of theories they present as fact, but arnt really true.Educated or not their theories not fact, very little of what they theorize is actually true.

Answer 7

You, sir, are the victim of indoctrination. You have heard 'millions of years' so many times in your life that the concept of a young earth is summarily rejected.

Genesis is the foundation Book of the Bible, and has been under attack for millenia. The only reason the indoctrinal rejection of scripture is so widespread today is because of mass media. But if you ignore mass media, heck, even ignore Christian sites, and research the scientific arguments for a young earth, you will find that there is a HUGE amount of evidence that the atheistic side of the scientific community has been suppressing for over 60 years that proves the theory of a young earth.

So, this is your choice: You may continue to dwell in the indoctrination to which you currently subscribe, and follow those lemmings over the cliff; OR you could switch sides blindly and follow THOSE lemmings over their cliff; OR you could get out from under everybody elses teaching and do your own research, and learn to reason these things out for yourself.

In any event, God exists, we will all meet Him face to face one day, and we will all be accountable for what we did with what He gave us.

Answer 8

Have you ever actually read the Bible? Have you ever seriously considered it - gave it more than a cursory glance? Time and again the Bible has been vindicated to the embarrassment of so-called educated men. What has education to do with accuracy?

I did keep an open mind - I studied the Bible. That is why I walked away impressed with its accuracy and wisdom.

Now, why don't others keep an open mind and do the same?

Hannah

Answer 9

"Why do Christians put so much faith in the Bible?" You have heard the claim that, "It was written by men Not God." Interesting theory based upon? In Tim. 3: 16-17 it says ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD..... the word "inspired" means God breathed. Going by this premise I will lay the foundation of the Christian Beliefs. I am not sure where you get your dates of 200 A.D. or there abouts.....but it clashes harshly against the mountains of scholars who painfully try and keep accurate historical evidence. And no book has undergone the scrutinty as the Bible. Acts was by theological and carbon dating to be written in 63 A.D. Revelation the Last book appeared to be written around 95 A.D.

Now to your next "?" "So why do people assume it's God's Word?" First, Because it was God who said it was! 2 Tim. 3: 14-17; Rom. 4: 23-24; Rom. 15:4; Is. 40:8; Matt. 5:18. All I am trying to show through Scripture it wasn't the Prophets who were giving credit for writing the Bible but they gave the Credit to God.

Now, let's explore why "Learned Men" would want to discredit the Bible. 1) The Bible claims it is God's Word! That means what is contained therein is TRUE and needs to be adhered to. 2) Calls for everyone to take a hard look at themselves, Rom. 6: 1-23. The Bible is the only Book that claims to be God's Word or Inspired by Him. 3) Therefore that calls FOR change in the person. (But if one can discredit the book that condemns you....hhmmm wonder which side Most people will stand on?)

Now let's look at the Witnesses themselves! Let's look at the events that led up to Christ's Death. Matt. 26:1- 27:1-66, Jon. 13:1- 42. Now, ask yourself, "Why would the disciples who were looking for an Earthly King...when He was being judged, scourged and then publicly crucified....All his disciples deserted Him?" They all believed that once He had died that was it! But then Matt. 28: 18-20, Jon. 20:1-21:1-25, Luke 24:1-53. Then Acts 1:1-2:47 something caused them to change. "What?" So either Man is correct and God is a Liar or God's Word is True and Man is a liar. 1 Jon. 1: 1-10 although written to Christians still holds true Rom. 1: 1-32.

Now according to Mathmatics 2 + 2= 4, Now can 2 + 2 can ever equal something other than 4? Amazing, how those who are adamant when it comes to mathmatics that same logic eludes them when it is applied to God. Christ said I am the way the truth and the Life! Jon. 14:6 And then God says Jon. 3: 16-17, And again Matt. 3: 17 and again in 2 Pet. 1: 16-17. And in the Law of the Prophets All pointed to Christ. Heb. 12:1.

Now let's look at the Prohecy
1) Isa. 53
2) Ps. 22
3) Mic. 5:2-5
4) Zec. 12:10
Now let's use Mathmatics to put things into perspective. The odds against eight of the prophecies about Christ having occurred by chance would be 10 to the 17th power-(as a physical reference)-the number of one-and-a-half inch squares needed to cover every land area of the earth. The odds against 48 of these prophesies being fulfilled by chance (or even more Astoundingly By as Scholars term "So-Called" Prophets) would be 10 to the 157th power-the number of atoms in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, billion universes the size of our own.

Christ Fulfilled Every ONE!

There is a Journalist and lawyer named Frank Morrison, who set out to write a book exposing the Resurrection. I leave the search up to you.

John Clayton an Atheist and proud of it set out to disprove the Bible's Creation. Again I leave his findings for you skeptics to browse over.

Then there is Sir Isaac Newton, Eienstein, and a host of secular yet fabulous minds. Are you going to be so bold as to condemn them? Most interesting, the logic in which you use to condemn the Bible has been used, reused and re-reused....yet for all the Disbelief that is out there the Fact remains the Word is Still present, Active and changes the hearts, minds and souls of those who Believe. 1 Cor. 1:25, 1 Cor. 3: 18-23. God says my Word is the Same yesterday, today and forever! Heb. 13:8 and look at Rev. 22: 18-21. The challenge is clear, Christians have Faith not based upon a nail in the sky, but rather a savior that was risen.....nor was it hidden when Christ arose Acts 26: 24-32. Everything surrounding Christ's Life, Death and Resurrection was very Public. So check historical accounts if/when you disbelieve. 1 Cor. 15:6. And for those who are firm in the faith 2 Tim. 2: 15, and we hold this truth 1 Pet. 2:4-8. So hold fast to your Calling.

Answer 10

Your thinking and concepts are exactly what Satan the devil wants you to think.
Consider this.
Why did God not have the whole bible written by one man?
It would be easier to follow.
Why did he have 44 different writers over thousands of years do it.
How is it that so many people had the same ideas so as to cause a common thread throughout the writings to appear to so many as the truth?
Why did most of the writers talk about what was going on in their times.
Did you realise that some of the bible writers lived and wrote at the same time? And may not have known one-another...(Holy spirit?)
Look through the old testament for them.
Did they want new generations to learn from their lives?
Did a loving God show us through others, how to live successfully?