Is the Bible the inspired Word of God?

Question

if so, how do you know? Keep in mind that the more we look at how the world really is (via science) the more errors we find in the Bible. For instance, evolution is a fact (only contested be people with a huge vested interest in self-deception, otherwise known as "faith").

Answer 1

Yes.

The Catholic Church does not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.

One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.

Catholics can believe in the theory of evolution. Or not. The Church does not require belief in evolution.

On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:

The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.

Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html

The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theory of evolution is the most logical scientific explanation. However tomorrow someone may come up with a better idea.

As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and modern science can live in harmony.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I believe the Bible was inspired but what I believe about that is different than what most believe. I do not believe that all the 40 writers got visions or were in trances and God gave them magical words. I believe that all the writers of the Bible were in good standing with God and God approved of what they wrote. In Corinthians Paul even says that some of his instructions are not directly from God but are just what Paul feels God wants from us. I think there are a few men of the Bible like Moses, Daniel and the Prophets that did get some direct revelation from God as inspiration. I am not sure what exactly took place when God gave Moses the 613 laws of the Torah or when Daniel got his prophecies of how the world would unfold in the next 500 years (and it was accurate). The 4 Gospels of the New Testament were written some 25-50 years after Jesus Christ left the earth. The were written to a specific group of people as correspondence letters. I am sure the writers of the New Testament letters had no clue these letters would become part of the Scriptures. To them "the Scriptures" was the Old Testement...Period...There is much to be said about inspiriation.

Answer 3

"people with a huge vested interest in self-deception, otherwise known as 'faith'"

It sounds like you already have your mind made up but here goes...

I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God for several reasons. For one, it has been the most scrutinized literary work in history, by far. To say that science is perpetually disproving the Bible would definitely be false. And to say that evolution is fact is also false. It is still a theory and, as my sister-in-law with a Ph.D. in genetics told me... there are some problems with evolutionary theory.

I wouldn't say the biblical account of creation is completely clear or even "prove"able but my point is this, both the Bible and evolution require an amount of faith in order to believe they are fact.

The Bible is an incredibly unique work of literature. When comparing one book of the Bible with a contemporary work, (such as Exodus compared to similar Assyrian law codes) the Bible gives all credit to God whereas the norm of that time would be to claim that a military conquerer was a God himself. I interpret this to mean that the Bible's authors were inspired to give all credit to God rather than seek their own glory for victory or prosperity.

Answer 4

The bible is God's spoken word because it says so. There are no contradictions or errors. How can you say evolution is a fact and deny creation? That doesn't make any sense to me. Either way, read the bible. I am amazed at the details listed in it. In Ezra, for example, where the Children of Israel leave their exil and return to Jerusalem, it lists the exact numbers and names of the people, not just an approximate. That's incredible. It's advice on living is as true and applicable today as it was then. No book ever could tell the past and the future with exact precision unless it was inspired by the one who created it all.

Answer 5

Yes, evolution is fact, the mechanisms are theory. Any respected scientists will tell you this and prove to you that evolution has occured (fossil record, bone/organ transitions etc.)

The Bible, while more elaborate that many religious texts, is no different. Actually its elaborate nature works against it, as you said, it contradicts now know worldly knowledge, the OT we are speaking of, more than any other religious text.

It is just that in this culture we consist of mostly Christians. If this message boards were in parts of Asia Hindus would be the majority and that would be the norm. Parts of Africa and South America, many indian religions still exist and would be the norm in certain areas. Other parts of Asia, Buddhism, etc....

Answer 6

Absolutely not. The Bible is the inspired work of Paul of Tarsus- the most evil human being to ever walk the face of the Earth. Jesus would agree with me 100% Let me explain:

The Old Testament was written from around 600 BCE.

The main authors were: Jeremiah, Baruch (600 BCE- 590 BCE) with help of Persians and then Nehemiah and Ezra from 450 to 420 BCE (again with help of Persians).

See the Supreme Bible of God which gives you all the source texts from which the Bible was written as well as the Biblical texts.
http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/bible_of_god.htm

+++Is the Bible fact or fiction+++

If we take just one character, Moses, did Moses ever exist? or was Moses in fact based on the real historic figure of Pharaoh Akhenaten?

The Essene High Priests exiled at Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls etc) certainly believed the Torah was pure fiction and based on Akhenaten. One of their most treasured relics was
the Copper Scroll on which is written in Greek:
"Akhenaten is also Zadok". (in other words Akhenaten is Moses/Aaron )...
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/old_testament/sources/copper_scroll/copper_scroll_0010.htm

Or maybe the instruction from Nehemiah to the Temple on Elephantine Island around 420 BCE on the "brand new" ceremony of Passover is a clue that the Old testament Bible is a made up story?
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/old_testament/apocrypha/passover/passover_0010.htm


+++What did Jesus think?+++

Jesus founded the Nazarenes, also known as the gnostics.
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/nazarenes/nazarenes_0010.htm

Jesus believed the god of the old testament was not god, but satan, the ultimate deceiver pretending to be god.

This of course makes perfect sense, for any god that commands its followers to kill, has to be twisted and evil. Any God that is "jealous" is "vengeful" clearly cannot be the creator of the universe, but some lesser deity.

However, the Sadducee High Priests with Paul of Tarsus created the parasite religion called christianity to deceive even those who thought they follow Jesus.
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/founders_christianity/founders_christianity_0000.htm

So if a person truly follows Jesus, then they would reject the Bible of Paul of Tarsus. Because any person who believes the Bible supports the primary enemy of Jesus.

Answer 7

I know because the Church Christ founded has infallibly declared it to be so. This is the only way anyone can know that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is also the only way anyone can know the specific 73 divinely inspired texts that comprise the Bible.

Answer 8

How do you explain prophecies in the Bible that have come true that only God could have known? The book of Daniel and Revelation specifically have many prophecies that came true to the day. Yes, I believe that ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness as it says in 2 Tim. 3:16. Another proof that I have is an "about face" in my own life when I gave my heart 100% to Jesus and said "here, take me...I'm a mess but I am all yours". I challenge YOU to try that! God is awesome and can do ALL things!!

Answer 9

Yes, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Actually science and archeology contantly prove the Bible to be true, rather than as you state. Even Evolution, should it prove to be true, does not actually counter the Biblical Creation story--they are not mutually exclusive, as God can Create in a second something that could appear to take years to us. For example, in the Biblical account, Adam was created as a full-grown man, not as a sperm and egg.

It is funny that you promote Evolution as "fact" however, since even scientists aren't willing to do so. In science, we move something from "hypothesis" to "theory" to "law." Evolution was moved from "hypothesis" to "theory" many years ago, but has never been moved to "law" (like the Law of Gravity). There are actually many scientists who believe that many elements of Evolution need to move back into the "hypothesis" stage because they have not held up over scrutiny. It is simplistic to state that the entire Theory of Evolution has been accepted as "fact" by the scientific community.

As a teacher of reasoning, logic, and critical thinking, I find many problems with Evolution and how it has been reasoned that raise red flags for me. Too often scientists have laid aside their own scientific principles to try to "prove" Evolution rather than testing the hypothesis. If they come upon information that doesn't fit, they try to make it fit rather than stepping back and anaylzing what they have discovered. This has lead to serious flaws in the Theory of Evolution that a thinking person would be wise to be aware of.

How do I know the Bible is the inspired Word of God? Unlike many who have discounted it without even reading it, I have studied the Bible for many years and have tested it--tried it out--and have found it to be true and reliable and a source of authority in my life. The Bible itself invites us to try it out--apply the principles with a sincere heart, and see where they lead. I have found they lead to life and peace.

Blessings.

Answer 10

Christians believe the bible is inspired by god, but there is no way of proving it. And Scientists believe in evolution, but evolution is a theory not a fact so it is not proven either. So it is really whatever you believe The christian theory, or the Scientific theory.