Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and they were chosen to be included in the Bible.
It is not fair to assume that every single word that Paul wrote is the infalliable word of God so how do we know that these letters are to be considered as such?
2007-01-26 05:30:15 · 19 answers · asked by ÜFÖ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We don't. They are indeed just letters and opinions to a friend. But not all opinions are worthless, so learn what you can from them and move on.
2007-01-26 05:34:56 · answer #1 · answered by future_man_uk 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All of the Bible is the "word of man" technically because man wrote it, and as such may make grammatical errors and such, but the one thing they wont do is write something they know is a blatant lie, profess it to be the truth, and be willing to suffer and die for it.
People say the writers of the New Testament were "inspired" by the Holy Spirit, however, aren't ministers inspired by the Holy Spirit? So what makes the word of the Bible any different than the word of a minister? I'll tell you. The Bible is not "the Word of God" per se, but God's word may be conveyed through it. In the same way, a minister's sermon is not the Word of God, but the Word of God may be conveyed through it.
So the only true way to tell if something conveys the Word of God is if you have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not convey something from one person and unable to recognize it in another. The Holy Spirit, being like one Spirit, always knows what belongs to it, and what is not from the Spirit. When you posses the Holy Spirit inside you, you will be able to distinguish those things of the Spirit, and those not from the Spirit.
And about the grammatical errors part, of all the people who would not commit them, it would be Paul since he was the most educated and intelligent of all the authors of the New Testament, and perhaps exceeds all those of the Old as well.
2007-01-26 06:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's been stated a number of times about the Paul being a friend of Timothy's....did you know he also was the deliverer of the letter to the Corinthians and to the Philippians, and he was on the missionary journey of Paul and Silas? He may have been a friend of Paul's but he was also a co-laborer and knew the the true meaning of serving the Lord. It's also been stated that these are part of the Canon of scripture agreed on by the Council of Churches. The Lord used His people to write His word. We tust in the Lord that He spoke to Paul and he recorded it.
2007-01-26 05:51:22 · answer #3 · answered by Jan P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First I am sure there were many other word's Paul may have wrote that were inspired words of God but we just do not have them as part of our Bible. Paul was a man very much connected to God, we all know this is true because of the many signs and wonders done by him. Also because the Jews could not refute his understanding of the Law and comparing what the Law said about Jesus coming. Myself I wish I had more of Paul's words than just the few that we do have because he was the most inspired man of God outside of Jesus Christ in his day.
And to think that killing the first Christian martyr Stephen was part of his inspiration for who he was is amazing to me.
Also God is unchanging in his ways even though man is always changing, shows us both things you say are true, it was a letter from a friend to a friend, and how God can come down and live in words from God to mankind as his friend
2007-01-26 05:45:35 · answer #4 · answered by sirromo4u 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
UFO - I do believe that Paul's letters were inspired by God and were infalliable BUT...they were meant to speak to the people, church communities and society of the time Paul lived. This is not to say we should not read them or consider them...we should, but only in light of knowing realistically that they were written to a world very different from our own.
I understand and acknowledge that not all Christians believe as this one does. cal
2007-01-26 05:43:00 · answer #5 · answered by Callie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well often times, Paul will state if something is his thoughts and not nessisarily God's. And if Paul's letters to Timothy do not go against the rest of the Bible's teachings then why not keep them included?
2007-01-26 05:40:03 · answer #6 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Paul's letters being written lengthy after Christ departures would not recommend they were no longer inspired by technique of God. as well to they did not make their way into bible because God "allowed" them to. Paul's letters chanced on their way into the Bible because they are area of Gods plan. God would not enable Priest to rape children, priest make a call to rape children. and they are going to pay the cost for that decision. Why is that human beings like you, those who both do not trust in God in any respect or hate God as they declare to no longer trust in Him at the same time continuously blame God for the moves of guy? similar is going for Christian divorcees. human beings attempt to operate or get rid of from Gods note, like you've tried to do right here yet contained sooner or later Gods note will stand! If the catholic Bible become altered to regulate Gods note, human beings did it, no longer God and He hasn't allowed it to regulate a component, component's will end merely the way god stated they could no count number what number of human beings attempt to regulate or twist the note of God.
2016-12-03 02:05:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would depend on what YOU believe about the Church, the Body of Christ. The Church canonized the Bible - not the other way around. If you believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, indwelt with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and that the same Holy Spirit is present in the Councils of the Church....and that the Church said that Paul's two letters to Timothy are Scripture...then they are the Word of God.
St. Paul said "all scripture is "theopneustos" - God Breathed.
2007-01-26 05:38:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Dear UFO, The BIble from beggining to end was penned by Man. The authors ranged from fishermen to shepherds to prophets and tax colecters. Saul of tarsus, was a Tent maker, after is Damascus Road conversion, he worte the epistles as instruction to The christian Body. but one thing all of these authors had in Common, is that they were all inspired by God, God alowed these men to use there personalities and different abillites which give the different bok s there own unique theme. for example, Paul wrote about Church Conduct and James wrote about Individual christian liivng and conduct. Howver, even tho this si so, each of these men were inspired.
God Bless
Apostle
2007-01-26 05:38:07 · answer #9 · answered by Rated J for Jesus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Certainly ever single word that Paul wrote which is in the Holy Bible was an inspiration of God. Why are you trying to discredit the Holy Bible. Quit trying to find things you can pick on from the Holly Bible and give your self to Jesus before it is too late.
BB, Boop Oop A Doop!
2007-01-26 05:42:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Paul concidered Timothy his son... the letters were for instruction as God had instructed Paul. The specific individual words were Paul's, But, the instruction was given to Paul by God and He was passing on that knowledge. Paul was the last Apostle and that was his job.
2007-01-26 05:37:22 · answer #11 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋