What makes one so certain that the authors of the New Testament didn’t, shall we say, gild the lilly?

Question

Since lies and exaggeration are a common way to help spread the Christians message in the modern world doesn’t it seem highly probable that the New Testament authors engaged in a wee bit of hyperbole?

Example of famous Christian liars would be Mike Warnke, Bob Larson, stories of satanic ritual abuse, Jim Baker, Darlene Bishop, etc.

And don’t say they died (were martyred) for their beliefs. I can open the paper and read about nut jobs blowing themselves up for their religious beliefs every single day. That does not increase their credibility one iota.

Answer 1

Well, since the bible was written by many different people, each with their own internal bias and then a committee went through scrolls and picked and chose what they wished to include with a specific purpose in mind I'd say the whole bible is gilded.

Answer 2

It's a fair question, especially with modern day 'Christians' using any trick necessary to try and grow their numbers. Here's why there was no 'lily-gilding.' The NT is counter-cultural. It doesn't matter how much you groom a dead horse, it still isn't appealing. When Jesus tells people to pick up their cross and follow him, he's not coining a phrase. He's demanding a self-sacrificing lifestyle. When the rich young ruler comes to Jesus and states his obedience and moral standing, Jesus commands him to sell all he has and give it to the poor. He can't bring himself to do it. Does Jesus cave? No. The man walks away... Gilding these stories would involve the man selling everything, then being rewarded. There is no promise of earthly reward from Jesus, just suffering and persecution.
By the way, those who blow themselves up for radical Islam think there are 70 virgins waiting for them. There is no comparison between them and early Christian martyrs. (which means 'witness' by the way. One who gives testimony to what they know to be true...)

Answer 3

Well, you do have a mixed bag of "famous Christians" there.

But to get to your question-we have too many ancient Biblical documents to compare with, plus we have even more non-Biblical critical documents that discuss the Biblical text and the writers. We can construct the entire Bible just from commentary about it. We are far more certain about the Biblical text that any other documents ever written, ever. You can count on that.

Answer 4

Well, sometimes they didn't say the same thing twice. Can't remember where, exactly. I think, for instance, I believe there was one tale about a fig tree blooming. One writer said it bloomed the next day, the other said it bloomed immediately if I recall correctly.

I put it down to exuberance.

Answer 5

There is no question about the gilding and linkage to pagan symbology. The Gospel of Thomas is the only "ungilded" understanding of Jesus' vision of the link between one's psychological state and the mirror of reality.

Answer 6

So what you're saying is that you are the exception? You don't lie and exaggerate? I wholeheartedly disagree with you, and you will never convince me, not even with a grenade. The Bible says your(and my) heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.

Science Bless ya, have a good night!

PS: It's Jagermeister wednesday!!!!!

Answer 7

Look........Its all about faith.Either you believe that GOD is powerful enough to keep his word pure,or you don't.If the bible has ONE mistake,it might have a hundred....It is therefore WORTHLESS to me.
I know my bible is the PURE,INERRANT,PERFECT word of God,period.

If it has errors,one of those errors might be the very thing I am basing my salvation on,so it would be of no value to me,or anyone else.

Answer 8

Paul openly talks about the Glory of God abounding because of his (Paul's) lies.

Apparently the Gospel writers took that one to heart.