The Bible is the perfect and complete word of God and nothing can happen between God and man that isn't in the Bible. So what's the point of theology? If you say it's to understand the word of God better that implies there are things in the Bible not understood, which leaves it open for translation and the possibility of say other events yet understood, such as the mormon prophet or the creation of the non-catholic church, and yes there obviously is a question denoted by the question mark.
2007-04-15 04:54:10 · 20 answers · asked by purplepeace59 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
1) Your premise is wrong. Many (most, actually) Christians, especially the Western Catholics and Eastern Orthodox and Traditional Anglicans do NOT hold to that view of Holy Scripture! That idea of "sola scriptura" did not appear on the scene until almost 1,500 years of Christianity had passed!
2) Since that is the case, Theology (study of God, words about God) is a noble effort, wrapped up in not only the Scriptures, but in the commentary of the Apostolic Fathers - (aka "Patristics")
3) The Church is the organic Body of Christ, with Jesus as the Head and all Baptized persons being the members....filled with the Holy Ghost. The Church is the final arbiter of Scripture.
2007-04-15 05:00:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The idea that the Bible is the perfect and complete word of God, and everything there is to know about God is found in the Bible, is not found in the Bible....
That idea was invented by Protestants in the 16th century, as a way of ignoring the authority of the Catholic Church.
Nowhere is the Bible will you find the teaching that ALL information about God is found in scripture. Or, the idea that if an idea is not found in scripture it is to be rejected. Instead the Bible teaches just the opposite. In 2Thess 2:15 Paul writes, "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether in word of mouth or by letter from us." So, the Bible teaches us to uphold oral traditions as much as the letters of the New Testament!
What is the pillar and foundation of truth? The Bible. Nope, wrong answer. In 1Tim 3:15, we find Paul declaring that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth. So the Church has the authority to declare what is and what isn't true.
Who decided what books were supposed to be in the Bible in the first place. The early Christians had many books that were read in churches and then later deemed as not real scripture. So the Acts of Peter, the book of Enoch, the Didache, the Gospel of Thomas, the Shepard of Hermes, were all known to the early church and read in the churches, but they were rejected.. But by whose authority? It was decided by a Catholic council of bishops around the year 400. So the Bible couldn't be complete and perfect on its own, it needs the authority of the Church is confirm for the regular people that it is inspired.
2007-04-15 12:29:08 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a horrible answer, "Just believe in God". How can we be expected to believe in something we don't understand? I mean Einstein's Theory of Relativity was believed for a few months before people starting trying to find its flaws, and this was made by a human being! An answer like that is basically saying:
A: See those clouds?
B: Yes, they're pretty but how do they give off rain sometimes?
A: You just gotta believe, and you'll know.
The point of theology is to clarify the MOUNDS of Apocrypha found in the latter day version of the Bible itself, so that we can understand why certain happenings and occurrences within don't necessarily happen today. It's not a Christian's best thing in the world, but they've got to admit it turns up some very valid questions.
2007-04-15 12:07:44 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So let me get this straight? You make an assumption that many Christians believe that the Bible is the absolute word of God. Many of us don't. But that being said the Bible is a guide not an encyclopedia. All things that are good and righteous need to be re-enforced, thus, theology. In my view the Bible can be summed up in a book of about 50 pages.
There are many, many Christians like me that belong to no church or certain religious sect. Yet still see the Pope as the leader of all Christians, and when he speaks, we listen.
2007-04-15 12:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a book that was written in another language, and another time. so as with any other book you would need to have it translated and also because of the different times, things are not the way there were and nor did the people think like we do today, so we need to study it to get an accurate understanding of it. People also understand things in different perspectives. You can have a conversation with 2 other people and they might get something totally different out of it then you did. I hope this makes sense, I know what I want to say but having a hard time putting it into words. Good luck with this and God bless you sweetie.
2007-04-15 12:04:20 · answer #5 · answered by Ama A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is God and He can do anything He pleases.
There are no constraints for Him.
What our little bitty minds think doesn't direct or effect Him one bit.
What is this mentality that God can't do anything between Him and mankind that isn't in the Bible?
Where did that come from?
The southern Baptists?
I am incensed.
Who is any human being to stand up to the Almighty saying you can't do that?
Must be full of themselves.
So full that they can't see beyond their noses. Ridiculous. Ludicrous
2007-04-15 12:08:46 · answer #6 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theology is the science of the nature of god belief.
As for religious belief itself, it is emotional. Theology is academics, whereas the actual belief is emotional, and it makes you feel good.
Many people have an emotional need to believe in the Bible; don't spoil it.
2007-04-15 12:01:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is obviously not perfect or complete.
2007-04-16 08:59:49 · answer #8 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since 2000 years have gone by, and still, over 70% of the people on earth reject the bible, you can rest assured that a god had nothing to do with it. it would be the worst track record in history for a god's communication to so poorly "miss the mark". it's a pretty ridiculous notion that is inspired by god -- i mean, it has over a thousand errors in it, and many of them are of a self-contradicting nature!
2007-04-15 11:57:50 · answer #9 · answered by Phyllis 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The bible has always been touted as the word of God,what if it turns out to be a work of fiction what would be the repercussions
2007-04-15 11:59:50 · answer #10 · answered by john m 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋