I onlyf half of the 40 men who wrote the Bible were inspired by God & the rest were just bluffing, would you?

Question

still believe the Bible was the word of God?

It's my considered opinion that they were all bluffing but I'm being generous here in imagining half were inspired men and half were not.

Answer 1

Heheehe where did you get that from?

Answer 2

In regards to the different "versions" I don't rely on them, they are just translations of the originals and do contain some translational errors. That being said; old Hebrew and Aramaic texts are beyond reproof, as well as the greek "Textus Receptus" being perfect. If one is so annoyed with bad translations; he should learn Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew and read the original intent for himself. Or at least get a Strong's Concordance with the literal Greek and Hebrew definitions.

You can't bluff it, not in the scriptures ORIGINAL form. Many authors have tried to I believe H. G. Wells was one. He tried to just copy the literary styles
and cadences...couldn't do it. Yet all the books of the Old (Hebrew and Aramaic) and New testament (Greek, Textus Receptus) have the same thread running through them. It is this thread as well as the prophetic thread that ties the scriptures together into the finest tapestry ever created. It is the finest because the Lord's hand wove it.

Answer 3

For you doubters and skeptics, "IF" is always the question, isn't it? That means your premise is contrary to facts already in evidence.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all SCRIPTURE is inspired (God breathed). God can inspire any man when he sits down to write. So, it's not so important that the men themselves were inspired as much as it is that the words they wrote were. Like a scalpel in the hands of a skilled surgeon, we do not praise the scalpel. Any scalpel will do. The writers were tools used by God. Written evidence of Divine inspiration goes all the way back to
Exodus 4:15.

But to continue in your fantasy, IF only half were inspired by God, then their writings would not reflect the common themes and doctrines presented in the half that were inspired. Their writings would be incongruous with the rest of the Bible, and therefore, be immediately identified as "not God's Word."

Fortunately, all 40 were inspired by God and the premise of your question is false.

Answer 4

"Didn’t men write the Bible?"

Absolutely. When you write a letter, do you write the letter, or does the pen? Obviously you do; the pen is merely the instrument you use. God used men as instruments to write His "letter" to humanity. They ranged from kings to common fishermen, but the 66 books of the Bible were all given by inspiration of God. Proof that this Book is supernatural can been seen with a quick study of its prophecies. See Psalm 119:105 footnote.

Answer 5

Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading” and represents an early monastic technique of prayer which continues in practice though less widely, intended to achieve communion with God as well as providing special spiritual insights and peace from that experience. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray from God's Word.

History
Lectio Divina was first expressed in the year 220 AD. It was found that to read the Bible profitably it is necessary to do so with attention, consistency and prayer. The systematization of “spiritual reading” into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book entitled “The Monk’s Ladder” (Scala Claustralium) wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “This is the ladder by which the monks ascend from earth to heaven.”

Method
Lectio is typically practiced daily for one continuous hour. A selection from the Holy Scriptures is chosen ahead of time, often as a daily progression through a particular book of the Bible.

Time
Selecting a time for lectio divina is important. Typical methods are to pray for one hour in the morning, or to divide it into two half-hour periods, one in the morning and one in the evening. The key is to pre-select the time that will be devoted to the prayer, and to keep it. Using the same time every day leads to a daily habit of prayer that becomes highly effective.

Place
The place for prayer is to be free from distractions. This means it should be isolated from other people, telephones, visual distractions, etc. Some find a religious icon to be helpful. The same place should be used for lectio if possible, especially as one first begins to practice it. Familiarity with a location reduces the possibility of distraction away from the prayer. Some practitioners conduct other devotions, such as praying before the Catholic Eucharist, as a preparation for Lectio Divina.

Preparation
Prior to reading, it is important to engage in a transitional activity that takes one from the normal state of mind to a more contemplative and prayerful state. A few moments of deep, regular breathing and a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer time helps to set the tone and improve the effectiveness of the lectio.

Once the stage is set it is time to begin the prayer. There are four phases of the prayer, which do not necessarily progress in an ordered fashion. One may move between different phases of the prayer very freely as the Spirit guides.

The Four Moments
Lectio
Read the passage several times.

Meditatio
Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture and application to one's own life.

Oratio
Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. This is not primarily an intellectual exercise, but more of the beginning of a conversation with God.

Contemplatio
Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one's own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak

Answer 6

If a frog had wings, would he still bump his butt when he jumped? I absolutely hate this kind of question. What if ought to be multiple guess at the very least. Throw me a bone here...

Answer 7

By your definition it would be predetermined, but seeing as there is no god or gods I would have to say no.

Answer 8

Proof please.