I see some of the responses from Y/A on the Bible and it is evident that these people have never opened up the Bible. Those that have, already have a preconceived opinion about it which is unscientific. Everything they say is based on what they learned from some unbelieving academic, who probably did his studies on commentaries on the Bible, rather than on the Bible and certainly didn't have a relationship with God.
Let me remind my readers that the Bible was not written to prove anything, it was written to already believing people. If God started off trying to prove His existance it would have been absurd
So what do you think is an authority on the Bible?
An atheist theologian?
2007-06-25 17:40:17 · 19 answers · asked by Sweet n Sour 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Medicine is man made, if you want to be a doctor you learn from a doctor
The Bible is divinely inspired, if you want to understand God's Word, you ask God to make it alive for you.
A college degree on the Bible without God, is like asking an Asian who only speaks Asian to teach you French from a manual.
2007-06-25 17:50:05 · update #1
Without the Holy Spirit you can study the Bible all your life and think it means this or that but you will never know unless God reveals it to you for His glory
2007-06-25 17:51:45 · update #2
VERY WELL SAID!
I have always said that "education" is like alcohol, a little may be good for you, but too much kills your ability to think for yourself, and will kill you.
2007-06-25 18:02:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
"Without the Holy Spirit you can study the Bible all your life and think it means this or that but you will never know unless God reveals it to you for His glory"
Interesting. This means that only those that the Holy Spirit and God pick and choose who can understand the Bible, and therefor the word of God based on whatever criteria it would be pointless to reveal in said Bible because those who aren't chosen can't truly understand the Bible.
How do you know you've been chosen to understand the Bible? How do you know you're not interpreting it wrong? How do you know if you've been divinely inspired or if you just think you have been? If you can't rely on the bible to be accurate for you because you don't know if you fit the role of one of god's chosen, the ones that the holy spirit gifted with the ability to understand the bible, how can you follow the bible?
Why would the bible be misunderstood unless god let's you in the "club" of those that have had the bible revealed to them? Why would god trick people like that? It's dishonest.
This is simple logic that even a four year old being told to "do as I say, not as I do," can figure out. If god is not a deceiver, then his word is plain for all to understand, particularly those who need it most: the unbelievers. If god is a deceiver, then his word is mysterious until he decides to "reveal" it for "his glory." Again, basic logic. If this logic does not apply, then you return yet again to the hypocrisy of "do as I say, not as I do," which is also deceptive.
The rest of your, erm, logic, I guess you'd call it? Is just as fallacious. Like the "preconceived opinion" being unscientific. It is to laugh. Preconceived opinion = hypothesis.
You should re-examine your thinking, compare it to appropriate scripture in the bible you obviously never bothered to read without an appropriately Stepford Christian study guide full of pithy wisdom, and come up with the correct answer. That answer is that the bible was never meant to be tested as we test theories and hypotheses. If you're fine with that, then be fine with that. Don't try to pretend the bible is something it's not; that's just as disingenous as any claim that the bible is only accessible to those it has been revealed to.
You can learn a lot from an atheist if you're truly into your walk with Christ.
2007-06-25 18:13:09 · answer #2 · answered by Muffie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, the only person who is able to even understand the Word of God is the person who has a relationship with God.
It takes the Holy Spirit to bring us into all truth and if you are not saved and filled with it , then the bible is no more to you than a good story book.
The bible says that the natural man doesn't understand the things of the Spirit of God.
That's why so many in this forum ask such silly questions, some of which I just cannot see myself answering.
2007-06-25 17:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have read the Bible several times over, spent 12 years in Catholic school, became "Born Again", attended Bible study sessions for many years, and I do have a bachelors degree. All that is meaningless in one's being able to discern the validity and creditability of a book. Simple common sense would tell you that God had no hand in the creation of such a collection of contradictory and flawed literature. Even as a child, I have questioned and doubted various accounts in the Bible. If you disagree with my ideas and beliefs, just look at all the other religions. They all have their own man-made books which they have accepted as absolute words of their gods. What makes yours more factual than theirs?
2007-06-25 18:16:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I didn't know you had a following of readers. A college degree does not make one an authority, but it does provide some useful tools. Your statements are broad and you are applying the same blanket to everyone. The Bible is open for interpretation. That means that just about anybody can be an authority on it.
2007-06-25 17:53:37 · answer #5 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I share your opinion that the Bible was written for those who already believe and nothing more needs to be said or considered about that. If the Bible remained in the realm of the metaphysical and hidden from the mainstream of society everything would be OK. Christians could practice their superstition in secrecy all they want as long as they do not impose it on others.
There is one very large problem. The Bible exists in a social context that frequently is in conflict with the Bible.
The Bible is the anti-science. And Bible believers frequently want to kill those of us who believe in an empirical epistemology. There is a long history of superstitious bigots killing those who are interested in expanding the body of human knowledge beyond the Bible.
Eventually the Bible will be viewed as another primitive tribal text supporting exclusivity and ethnocentrism. It's stories are quaint but barbaric with blood sacrifices, human sacrifices and primitive rituals.
I have read the Bible, Numbers is just wonderful. My favorite verse is Exodus 22:18. How quaint.
2007-06-25 17:52:18 · answer #6 · answered by valcus43 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Not what, who, the witness of the Holy Spirit within the believer. And we do have God's word preserved pure, inerrant, and infallible in the King James Bible.
2007-06-25 17:51:34 · answer #7 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A secular expert in mythology and fantasy writing. A combination of anthropologist, social psychologist, literature expert and historian ought to cover it. Belief that the bible is in any way true should immediately disqualify a person from being an expert in it, as you could not study the bible and believe that it in any way resembles reality.
2007-06-25 17:51:47 · answer #8 · answered by Nodality 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
What about World renowned Bible scholars, who spent their lives studding the Bible (not other studies, but the Bible itself) and they do not agree on anything and interpret the Bible many different ways?
Could it be because the Bible simply makes no sense?...
2007-06-25 17:48:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Not what but who and that person is the Holy Spirit.
2007-06-25 17:46:33 · answer #10 · answered by son of God 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋