Christians: which of these best describes your level of belief in the Bible?

Question

(a) I believe that every word is the literal Truth
(b) I believe that the authors were inspired by God but don't believe in every single word
(c) I think it is a useful book, but it isn't in any way "inspired"
(d) I don't value it all really

If the definition you're closest to is unsatisfactory then by all means re-define it. I also know that some of you will agree with different definitions depending on which Testament we are talking about, so feel free to elaborate fully.

Answer 1

I'll make up my own--I believe in its overall message and symbolism. I don't believe it is LITERAL truth--Genesis is enough proof that it isn't, because we know for a fact it can't be true because dinosaur fossils exist. I believe its overall message is one of LOVE--not "Jesus is our Savior let's all bow down and kiss his feet or be sent to Hell!" The love I am talking about is the kind that Jesus showed EVERYBODY--the unconditional kind. I also believe in certain teachings, such as turning the other cheek, judge not lest ye be judged, and being concerned with a speck in one's eye while you have a plank in yours.

I believe Genesis, Revelations, and other things (Hell included) should be interpreted symbolically, not literally. Can you really imagine Revelations coming true? I certainly can't--it contradicts every vision I have of a loving God.

Also, we have to remember the Bible was written by MEN--not God, fallible, egomaniacal humans. NOT God Himself. I believe it was inspired by God, but somewhere along the line, people with their own agendas rewrote the Bible to suit their own preferences...and you can't argue otherwise, especially with a book that's been around as long as the Bible. After almost two millenia, it would be stupidity to think that it would be flawless.

Answer 2

at the time St Jerome compiled the Latin Vulgate, there were so many bad translations in circulation that something had to be done. It took him a very long time, and I do believe that he was guided by the Holy Spirit, as were those who were the writers of the Bible.

Let us examine what "inspired" means in this context. I believe that it means these men were so moved to enscribe these words, that they could not stop themselves from doing so and in order to put the screws into it, I would go so far as to say that miraculous events probably accompanied the writing of each and every book and translation of the Bible.

In this way, and thinking upon the love the author had for the words he wrote, (or dictated) and the drive, the hard work and all the obstacles that had to be overcome, I truly believe that the Holy Bible deserves my respect. I believe that each and every word in the bible is for our benefit. I also believe that with every story, the writer is there for us to see: what kind of man he was, where in his life he stood, and what sort of experiences he had.

So, I guess that I would go with "b"

Answer 3

I'd have to say "b". I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, meaning that every thought and principle is His, as spoken through the authors of the Bible (in their distinct personalities), but taken as a whole, it is His Word. However, word for word literally would be difficult in translation. For example, in German, when you ask someone how they are doing, you say, "Wie Gehts". The word for word translation is "how you", more or less. In English, we would say "How are you". It is stil the same meaning, it is what we were saying, we are just saying it a way our audience can understand it. That is why we have word for word literal translations as in the King James Version, and paraphrased versions, like the Message or Living Bible -- to try to put God's Word in a language that can be understood. Now, there's over 5,000 copies of these manuscripts, and there's Greek and Hebrew dictionaries to check and make sure it is right -- and it is proven than over 99% of it is accurate, and most of the rest of the errors are in spelling or punctuation. None of the original thoughts, intentions or concepts has been changed at all.

In essence, I believe the Bible is the inspired literal WORD of God, though the words conveying it may differ from translation to translation. God preserves His word. In this day when there are more translations, He's given us the Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, and the Dead Sea scrolls as guideposts to make certain we have it right. I DO take the translations as the "literal WORD of God" literally.

Answer 4

"every word"? "literal"?

I believe the message the Bible has, is the truth.

The Bible has a lot of parable, symbolism, and illustration.
And plain ol' common speech that is often times misinterpreted.

It just cannot be taken 100% literal.

I do whole heartedly believe the Bible has the truth that leads to everlasting life.


Until the 1800's, there was only one public Greek text works, and that was the Textus Receptus.
In the 1800's, the Catholic Church released other, older manuscripts for photographing and then the truth about a lot of church doctrine was exposed.
We do indeed have the message God was wanting us to have through written word.

Answer 5

My belief falls somewhere in-between b and c. The Bible was assembled over generations, edited and redacted multiple times by parties with different, sometimes conflicting, agendas. I would argue that this is a good thing, as we can see different perspectives throughout the Bible. We get a sense of a deepening of understanding about God as the Bible goes along. Some parts even correct other parts. All of this is "inspired" in the sense that all the people who wrote and edited and ultimately canonized the scriptures were contributing their own, limited, understanding of who God is. God is not perfectly revealed in scripture, because he is ONLY perfectly revealed in the person of Christ - that is my belief. Nevertheless, I believe God IS revealed in scripture, but it requires Wisdom. Others have their beliefs, for their own reasons.

Peace to you.

Answer 6

The bible is true, and literal truth, now why ask this question is simple we have a man named Jesus who said he was truth, bold claim, now archaeological evidence is abound ant to prove the bible is true, but here something interesting, the bible is still the number one selling book, a fool says the bible is not true, only a fool will try to prove bible false, it has been used to find lost cities, it has been used many ways in science like the transformers used to store energy, from water dams, the engineer who made them got a clue from the bible from the passage where Jesus turns water into wine, so yes the bible is true

Answer 7

I believe every word of the Bible to be the Truth, i dont think its all literal though (on the contrary)

So i guess something between A and B

Paz de Cristo

Answer 8

A, comes the closet to my belief, although I do accept the possibility that some testimony may be missing, either due to being lost, destroyed, intention or imperfect translation. Even though the Bible tells us not to add to or take away from scripture, man has always had ulterior motives..........I believe it is all truth, but it may not be all OF the truth.

Answer 9

b. I do believe the authors were inspired by God but don't believe everything should be taken literally

Answer 10

(e) I believe the Bible is God's written word inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit through the hand of man, in both Testaments of the Protestant Bible (that's my spiritual leading), and that every word of it, parable, vision and account is 100% true and worthy of doctrine, teaching, instruction and correction.