christians: where did christians learn about God?

Question

christians learned about God from the Bible.
The Bible says that God is real.
How do christians know the Bible is the truth?
Because God says so?
isnt that circular reasoning?

help me out here. this is serious question.

and i dont need pointless atheist, or christians for that matter, answers.

im really looking for a real answer.

btw, I AM CHRISTIAN.

but this thought just hit me.

Answer 1

The Jews trace their lineage back to Abraham but there is no Hebrew (or OT) scripture until after the time of Moses - a considerable length of time. The first generation of Christians had no New Testament and canonized scripture is several generations after that. So people started believing in God and then in the teachings of Jesus long before anything was ever written.

Answer 2

Depends on the Christian...

As a Catholic, baptized at birth, I learned through attending parochial school.

The bible didn't figure prominently into my education until years later.

There is a term (and I can't remember it for the life of me) whereas a word or phrase is read and it literally speaks to the individual's soul.

For that reason, the Word is a very personal reference for all Christians.

As far as veracity is concerned, for the layman, it is faith; the scientist and/or researcher would argue your question to a finer point.

To the depth of the argument determines their position. Some feel He does not exist with all available research.

For peoples of all beliefs (or non-beliefs), faith is the catalyst that allows one to discern something is what it is.

As for God... He is believed as the Alpha and Omega. The bible is written testimony on what happened over many thousands of years. Because He was there in the beginning, He is thought to have created the bible to give us some insight... not completely, but some.

I guess you could approach it a different way... If you have read any portion of the Word, you'd know that the Pentateuch was written to establish a nation. Another part was just to record the growth and demise of the Jewish state. There is a part though that if you find it, will help you become a better person, and closer to God.

Answer 3

ok i heard a story from my youth pastor who told about his professor who is an atheist saying that there is more proof that Jesus died on a cross, was buried, then disappeared 3 days later than that Julius Caesar even existed! crazy right?

but heres another reason i believe.....there are about 1,000 original copies of the original manuscripts of the original scriptures. There are 9 Julius Caesar original documents, and Plato's original writings number about 6 or 7 i cant remember. But the reason we believe that the copies of the original documents of the Bible are so accurate is because of the way jewish scribes copied and wrote down stuff....they couldnt mispell, change, or falter the documents (ESPECIALLY the holy scriptures) or they would just be put to death or lose everything.

but finally the belief of Yawheh has been around since Abraham which is at least 5000 years ago....well, from a creationists stand point anyway

Answer 4

Another important point in this circular logic, is that Christians like to say that god inspired the men to write the bible.

But the only reason they think this is the case... is because the men who wrote the bible TOLD them god inspired them.

No god has ever, nor ever will, be a part of this equation.

The book was written by men, and everything pertaining to a god, came from no other source... than men.

I like to point this out to them when they say they rely on god's word, rather than men's word... such as, oh I don't know... actual verified science books.

Answer 5

I suppose the best way to answer is to tell you my story. I was raised in church, given all the head knowledge of who God and Jesus was, but never taught about a personal relationship with Him. In my 20's I stopped going to church and did a lot of bad things I am not proud of. There were times I doubted that God even existed because my life was going nowhere. 7 years ago I decided to start reading the Bible again and 2 years ago I started working on a serious relationship with Jesus. My life is going somewhere now and He has taken away from me self-destructive behaviors I thought would always be with me. Do bad things still happen in my life and to those I care about? Absolutely; we do live in a fallen world, after all. But my faith is a shield against the illusions of this world and the hard times are MUCH easier to work through. I believe there are timeless, practical principles in the Bible, and I believe that God works through principles. His commands aren't about ruining my fun or controlling me; they are about giving me the joy and contentment I never had living life on my terms and keeping me safe from those who would see me hurt, among those principally myself.

So how do I know God is real? It's because I've seen the VISIBLE results of an INVISIBLE God at work in my own life and the lives of those I love and care about. Faith comes by hearing the Word. You first have to believe, follow His principles and He will reveal Himself to you.

I'm not going to throw Scripture at you because that isn't what will get you to take another look at my God. Know that the God I love and who saved me through His Son Jesus Christ is at work every single day but He will absolutely not force Himself on you. He wants you to come to Him willingly and with an open heart and mind. Love isn't love when its forced; it's only love when it's given willingly and sincerely. Do I love Him because He's my cosmic genie and gives me every desire of my heart? No. I love Him because He loved me first. He loved me so much that seeing the self-destructive path I was on, reminded me that if I accept the sacrifice His Son made for me, then He would give me eternal life.

I know my answer was long but I hope it helped. I don't know if you can email me through this but I am more than happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Take care.

Answer 6

i will answer your question. your correct most people sidestep instead of just answering the questions from their own personal experience rather then what they think is the correct answer.

i am christian. When I was a child i thought my parents were God. however as soon as i could understand words i learnt pretty quickly that they were not God. In fact it was through my parents that God revealed Himself to me. They too are christians.

If i wasnt TAUGHT about Him first i dont know how well i would know Him today as an adult. It was the way my dad spoke about Him that enabled me to understand that God is REAL. I saw that He practiced what He was teaching us. Even through the hard times they didnt lose faith.

Their constant communication (praying singly or together and also with us kids as a family) with this "God" they kept going on about that proved to me their FAITH was REAL. There was never a time when i didnt believe in God's existence because i'm a witness to my parents faith. They practised what they believed.

There are however many times i doubted His Love because I didnt understand how God could allow so much suffering in this world. I no longer doubt His Love even though i still dont understand why many people (Third World counties) have to watchtheir children starve - when their is so much food that goes to waste in my own country, and in my own kitchen.

Try as i may i have not yet been able to discard my belief in God. I only believe in the one God my parents TAUGHT me about and have FAITH in. He is a LOVING GOD, a MERCYFUL GOD a LIVING GOD. That is what I was TAUGHT.

i did not believe in God from reading the Bible. i believed in God first before I understood that the Bible is the "Word of God." That is why i am eternally grateful to my parents for teaching us about God.

As an adult i cant deny what is REAL. Only another believer can understand me when i say i know He is REAL because "i have felt His warm embrace"

God uses other people to teach us about Him, that is how we learn about Him not through a Book. I credit the person that told me about the Book not the Book itself. Jesus is the Living Word of God. I believed in Him before i could read!

God bless

EDIT: would you mind answering your own question pls.

Answer 7

God put the knowledge of himself in your heart before you were born. The proof of Him is everywhere. The bible was written by men, every word inspired by God. Read it for yourself. I suggest a New Living translation, which is written in plain modern English.

Answer 8

The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the truth that is in scripture, if you can't believe in the Word of God then you should soften your heart and pray that God might give you vision.

Answer 9

It's circular reasoning only if you're trying to prove something.

You see, I do not believe in God is real because the Bible says so. I believe in God because I know he is real. I know he is real because I see the evidence of his reality. I see people whose lives have changed. I have seen things happen in my life that reveal God to me. I have seen God's fingerprints in his creation. And more than that, God have moved inside of me and enabled me to believe in him.

So, you see, your line of reasoning has nothing to do with my beliefs.

Answer 10

I first begin to learn about God from my mom, then the bible, Sunday School and church. God used all of these to begin teaching me about Himself.