do you believe that the stories in the bible are true?

Question

If you belive this, do you think they should be taken as face value?

Answer 1

Yes on both counts.

Answer 2

Firstly, I think it is dangerous to look at the bible as a whole. The bible is not one book but a collection of books written at different times and in vastly different contexts.

Secondly, it is impossible for any record of events to be entirely "true" or taken on face value because the writer of the record has their own view point which may obscure the event.

Thirdly, it is important for all Christians to understand that the truth of our relationship with God is not to be found exclusively in the stories of the bible, but in our relationships with other people in our daily lives.

I belive Jesus died and rose again, that is the fundamental basis of Christian faith, but I do not believe that a literal interpretation of the Gospel stories or the Old Testament is the way to express that faith.

As for Jesus believing the stories in the Old Testament were true, I would say that his challenge to the Jews to reject the legalistic, literal view of the Torah, was an indication that he was open to new interpretations of these ancient texts.

Answer 3

The stories in the Bible include prophecies, about 1700 of them. They have been proven to come true. If you knew someone that could accurately predict the result of 1700 football matches,rughy matches, tennis matches and golf tournament winners out of 1700 in a year would you not be impressed. If that person could predict 1700 sporting events and got them every one correct 2000 years before they happened and we all lived to see the outcome you would think that person was amazing and had a great gift. The prophets in the Bible had this great gift. 46 prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus was crucified. Just imagine a prophet telling people that Jesus would be crucified in the middle of two thieves 2000 years before it happened. At the time these prophecies were made death would have been by stoning as was the Jewish custom. These prophecies foretold the Roman Empire was going to control Jerusalem and all of Judea at the time of Jesus' death on the cross. Crucification was a Roman punishment and not a Jewish custom. When most of these prophecies were made the Jews controlled the Holy Land. Some of the prophecies for this event were told when the Jews were in captivity in Babylon when it appeared that they would never return to Jerusalem. The prophecies were indeed remarkable.

Answer 4

some are and some aren't. The Old Testament covers a lot of history - after a fashion. It gives us the general drift of things but it's no an accurate history.

The new testament (so-called) is a bunch of writings that were produced solely to con an illiterate (or semi-literate) population. Very little of it is technically "true". It's best ignored except for the fact that it's a wonderful example of the diseased and perverted imagination.

Answer 5

Many of them are historical FACT. Christianity has a foundation in archaeology! Jesus is mentioned in Roman (Non Jewish and Christian) documents.

Of course not all the bible can be proved! Most of it is believed on pure faith alone.

I think your caution is commendable! Choosing your faith is a serious matter! This is why God gave us free will so we can decide what to believe for ourselves.

I am a lay person and not a theologian but I can guide you to an excellent book . 'The bible for Dummies' is a plainly written non biased book which explains what Muslims, Jews and Christians believe and why. Where the bible comes from and what it means for the human race.

Answer 6

To me everything prior to Abraham is hard to take literally. As for the rest some is history and other parts are stories designed to make a point - Job and the story of Jesus walking on the water probably fall into this category.

Answer 7

Yes. I believe they are true.

I believe also that some things in the Bible were told as parables (stories with a pointed moral lesson).

And some things in the Bible were written of to relate to the understanding and customs of the time. In that, we may not always know how to interpret them.... but just because, at first glance you don't understand...doesn't make them false.

Answer 8

I don't see how they can be taken as face value in that nothing even remotely like the stories happens today.

Answer 9

no i do not. if there was such thing as a god and he made the earth... he did it way before people were living on it... and eventually by the time people did come along.. how did they know him?? i think some guy was bored on day and made it up! if god is real how would they know. did he visit them? if so how comes this is not in the bible? do you think in all the other galaxies in the universe that there might be other people living? do they believe in a god? or do they know the real answers?? its a mystery and will remain a mystery...

Answer 10

No, but many have a seed of truth in them. They should definitely not be taken at face value.

Answer 11

its a book of metaphors, simple as that. Many of the metaphors used are - obviously - based on what the world was like back then, and many terms used have been later mis-translated as the original meaning was lost. Example - "to sin" was "to miss the target" ie an archer. (gives a whole new angle to the sin thing - could it have meant if you sin (miss your targets on your life path, do wrong etc) then you will go to hell - but hell could have been a metaphor for quality of life on earth, as was heaven, so if you miss your life targets and do worng by others it will come back and bite ya bum in this life - karma perhaps?) "thou shalt not suffer a WITCH to live" was originally "thou shal;t not suffer a sorceror to live", sorceror used to mean a con-artist, deceptor, nothing to do with magic.

This is my favourite subject if anyone would like to chat about it with me