When did the bible move from the divinely inspired word to the literal word of God?

Question

When the protestants just decided it was so?

Answer 1

There is no verse in the Bible that says it is the "literal" word of God. And, a good portion of it is so obviously non-literal that the only people who can possibly claim it to be literal are those that do not know the definition of "literal" or who have not read it.

Example: Colossians 1:6 "...All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth."

In Colossians, Paul and Timothy are writing a letter to the people of the church at Colosse. Hence the name of the book "Colossians." When they say to the Colossians that all over the world the gospel is "bearing fruit and growing" do they mean that the gospel is actually, in reality, sprouting peaches and apples? Of couse not, they aren't LITERALLY bearing fruit. The gospel is FIGURATIVELY bearing fruit. The real meaning is that the gospel is spreading around very quickly and growing successfully.

It is clearly not the LITERAL word of god. It is the FIGURATIVE words of Paul and Timothy. It may well be the word of god spoken through Paul and Timothy, but if it is the word of god it is most certainly not literaly. It is the figurative word of God. The metaphorical word of god.

So, please, all you so-called Christians out there who continue to claim that the bible is literal from cover to cover. Please open up the book and actually read it. Because if you can find a chapter without a metaphor, simile, allegory, allusion, illusion, or other figurative device, I'd be surprised.

Answer 2

Obviously the protestants (image to the beast) have no power over the word of God. It is still divinely inspired and its what the literal means spiritually...the literal kills and the spiritual gives life

Answer 3

Wrong again! The OT was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The NT was written in Koine Greek, except for Matthew, which was originally written in either Hebrew or(more likely) Aramaic. If the Bible was the "literal" Word of God, very few could read it. Once the Bible is translated, it can no longer be considered literal. Right? So, your question is based on a misconception. The Bible is still the inerrant Word of God, but it must be properly understood. This requires study, study, study.

Answer 4

The literal word of God rocks your face.

Heh, sorry, couldn't resist.

Like it's been stated here before, it's all due to cherry-picking. It's the 'literal word of God' whenever you want it to be, and it's the 'divinely inspired word of God' when the Bible disagrees or conflicts with reality.

Answer 5

Jesus accepts divine entitlement

In what is a clear dialogue between Jesus and "Doubting" Thomas, we read: Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus held him," Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:27-29).

Does Jesus say, "I am God"? No, because that would have been misunderstood. Jesus is not the Father (as it would have been thought), Jesus is the Son. But He clearly claims an absolutely unique relationship with God whom Jesus calls 'Father." Jesus claims something about Himself that, through the various miracles, His statements as cited above, and the response He receives from other people, is slowly filled-out, and the meaning of His Sonship becomes clear.

In the very opening of his Gospel, the Apostle John presents Jesus as "the Word" and provides perhaps the clearest explanation of the identity of Jesus, the meaning of the incarnation, and a further glimpse into the reality of the Trinity:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4; 14).

Answer 6

Being the divinely inspired word of God, would mean that men penned the words, but they came from God through his holy spirit, thereby having the protection of God as well. Very little of the text has changed since the original...other than the fact that the modern translators have taken God's name out and replaced it with mere titles. However anyone who really wants to please God will search for him, and find him. We do that through the Scriptures...His Word...so basically they are HIS WORDS.

Answer 7

It didnt. It was alwas and still is word inspired from God AND it literally comes from God. Although some laguage is figurative, but still directly from God, but written by the hand of a man.

Answer 8

Literal word of God are His direct words as theyve been carried by the angels to His prophets in the form of scripture and or message.

Inspired word of God is more or less an inspiration and subject to mans own mental interpretation of the inspiration.

For example, you might be inspired to write a poem, but that doesnt necessarily mean the poem will be free of errors because your inspiration is subjective coming from you.

Therefore, the words of people who are not recognized as prophets, are not words of God directly.

Answer 9

Christian Fundamentalism which has popularized the view of the Bible as literal and inerrant has been around for only 500 years since sola scripture was popularized and propagated - it is a new form of Christianity far removed from original Christianity.

Answer 10

We are to live according to the Word of God, and in order to do that you must obey it by way of acting upon it. Obedience to the word of God means to put it into action by following what God tells us to do. Praise the Lord!