What scriptures are used to back up the position...?

Question

that the bible isn't an epic novel, or perhaps a collection of short stories?

Answer 1

The Wiccan Rede
(Full Version)
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Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Answer 2

The "epic novel" can be dismissed because the Bible is not a single book. Rather it is a collection of 66 books written by over 40 authors during a 1500+ year period. No one person wrote it. Some it would be difficult for it to be a single "novel". Rather you would have to have dozens of people all conspiring to create a massive hoax over hundreds of years.

The Bible is a collection of "short stories", or rather "short books". What makes the collection so impressive is how the same themes and images run through all these different books. Many of the authors never meet or read each others books, yet they contain the same ideas and doctrines.

Look for example at Psalms 22, written about 1000 years (with copies still existing today from at least 500 years) before the time of Jesus. Yet it list over 25 details of events that would happen to Jesus at the crucifixion. Some, like the words he would speak, he might have been able to control. Others, like the method of his death, not breaking his bones after his death, the mocking words of his enemies, the soldiers gambling for his clothing, etc he could not have controlled. How could the author (David) have known all that a thousand years before if the Bible was merely a collection of short stories?

Answer 3

There are no specific scriptures that back this up. However there is a lot of historical and scientific evidence that the stories in the Bible are true.

The most positive proof that these are more than just stories is the sheer number and age of manuscripts still in existance. More than any other book.

Few people knew how to write back then and most writings were scholarly works. In the times and places where manuscripts have been discovered record keeping was poor and very little history was recorded.

The very fact that the words were written down combined with their careful preservation indicates that they were considered sacred.

In addition, fiction as it is known today was not written until the first novels in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and short story writing began in the early 19th century.

Answer 4

There aren't any "bona fides" cited in what we call the O.T. (Hebrew scripture),which does not presume to be anything other than what it is: a history of the Hebrews and their relationship with Yahweh who is for the most part represented as a god only for their tribe,not the God of all humanity. In the Gospel there are numerous verses asserting divine inspiration,and sanctions against tampering with the text. In practical terms there is no Bible per se; the two components - Jewish and Christian - have little in common. Virtually all of the "contradictions" in "the Bible" cited by atheists are actually differences between Christian and Jewish doctrine.

Answer 5

The bible isn't as good as an epic novel. I wouldn't read it.

Answer 6

Here is one:

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We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
~2 Peter 1:16-21 (NIV)

Answer 7

the proof that the bible is a divine text, supposedly comes from the the recording of prophesy and then the fulfillment of that prophesy, who other than God could accurately predict the future? there are, to my mind, holes in this argument as events can be manipulated to fit what was written

Answer 8

2 Tim 3:15 - "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

- the most accurate translation, or so i was told, says that it was "God-breathed" and the last time God breathed something, He created life.

Answer 9

Using Scripture to prove Scripture would be called "circular reasoning" - and all Christians should shy-away from the practice. It drives me NUTS, and I won't do it here!

Scripture is Scripture because God said it is and because the Church said so and approved all 66 books.

Answer 10

There's a verse somewhere in 1 Timothy that says that all scriptures are divinely inspired.