Is the Bible infallible?

Question

2nd try on this one tonight.

I will agree with the fundementalists that if the Bible was indeed inspired by God, it should be perfect.

Leviticus 11:20... All flying insects that walk on all FOURS are to be detestable to you.
21... There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all FOURS that you may eat: those that have jounted legs for hopping on the ground.
22... Of these you may eat of any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.
23... But all other winged creatures that have FOUR legs you are to detest.

Since when do insects have four legs?

Before you reply back that crickets and grasshoppers have 4 legs for creeping and 2 more for hopping, I urge you to go watch one walk... they creep on all 6.

So, Neeva... which winged, 4 legged creatures do you think the Bible IS talking about here?

Answer 1

Good grief. I answered this before. It was true at the TIME. Satan and the Atheist Scientists have genetically altered the animals in a pathetic attempt to "prove" the Bible wrong.

Answer 2

Cud-boy,

Again, your interpretation would appear to indicate some error. In fact it is the interpretation of the original language that makes this a difficult verse to understand.

There are not always exact English equivalents to the original text. So in the KJV (among others) we see descriptions that do not always make sense. However a closer inspection of the original will usually offer the insight needed to properly understand the verse.

In this case sherets refers to a lot of things. Teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers, of insects, animals, small reptiles and quadrupeds are all covered by this word.

So while you may not accept "insect" as a four-legged creature (though there is also a reasonable explanation for this description as well) some of the others would definitely qualify.

~Neeva

Response: You're interested. I suppose that is good.

I like the way Snowball describes it in George Orwell's Animal Farm. "Four legs good, two legs bad." Well, his intent was that humans were bad but ducks and geese got angry. He clarified that their wings were used for propulsion and not manipulation. Thus they had four legs as far as he was concerned. Grass hoppers are described as having "legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth." It seems likely that the Hebrews regarded these legs as different than the other four (which are only ever called feet...another distinction).

So, in one case we might be referring to a bird (which I doubt) or in the other we might in fact be referring to exactly what it says...an insect (which I find more likely).

~Neeva again

Answer 3

NO! The Bible is INERRANT in its intended message; but infallibility is not a characteristic of a written work. It is a characteristic of a mental process, in this case interpretation and exegesis. Even though the Bible is inerrant in its message of salvation (it is irrelevant whether it is inerrant on other matters), it does not provide truth unless the interpretation by the reader is correct - and it does not provide the fullness of truth unless the interpretation is infallible. Obviously the many interpretations within denominational religion are anything but infallible, since every denomination interprets the Bible in different and conflicting ways. Truth cannot conflict with truth. Therefore many if not most of such interpretations are, de facto, false.

The Bible was given to one Church, and that Church alone has full responsibility and authority for its accurate and authoritative interpretation. Which is why that one Church founded by Jesus Christ has not fragmented into thousands of conflicting denominations in a few hundred years, but has remained strong, true, united and constant in its teaching for 2,000 years, just as Jesus Christ said it would. This one true Church is available to anyone who desires the fullness of truth. The only alternative is to remain in manmade denominational religion, in direct opposition to the stated will of God, "that they all may be ONE", and to accept as truth whatever idea pops into Pastor Bob's head as he reads and attempts to interpret his collection of early Catholic writings.

Answer 4

Apparently God was also having an identity crisis at the time.

War or Peace?

EXO 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

ROM 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Answer 5

i find the two serious answers here comical,

no its ok for everything else to be wrong in the book except the salvation part

so its ok to make up a bunch of pages as long as that one verse is ok?

no
no
no

it just don't fit

if it were me asking id give best answer tot he woman saying the atheist scientists genetically changed the insects to prove the bible wrong cause its hilarious

Answer 6

You are confusing the doctrine of infallibility with inerrancy. The former claims the Bible infallibly communicates its message (regardless of possible errors) of God to us. The latter claims that it is without error (in the autographs, not copied manuscripts or translations).

Answer 7

Maybe the Bible is speaking about the long-extinct rabbit locust that had long ears, four legs and sharp teeth.

Really!
.

Answer 8

God is infallible. The Bible is inspired Word of God, but the Bible never claims to be perfect.

We will know all these things one day. I concentrate more on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Answer 9

btw... the Bible also says pi=3. 1 Kings 7:23 I believe.

Answer 10

The bible is just plain fiction.