Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?

What first convinced you? Why?

I've been mulling this topic over (apparently for the past 6 years: http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ad.php?t=21086 )

I can see it as sacred, I can see it as containing wisdom, I can see it as useful in leading people towards relationship with God, but I just can't see it as perfect.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

Its a fact that the catholic church had a heavy hand in editing what we know as the bible. Matt 28:19, 1 John 5:7 are just a few examples of this.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I agree with you DG. I honor the Bible but I do not view it as a black and white rule book the way I used to.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I believe that the Bible is inerrant with relation to the original manuscripts. Issues of translation have caused some misunderstandings down through the centuries regarding some passages. Most are well known to scholars.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

But do we really even have access to the "original" manuscripts?

But beyond that, what is the reason you believe those originals to be inerrant?

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I believe the originals to be inerrant out of simple faith. I believe that if there is a God, He designed us. And if we can communicate clearly, so can He. Therefore, if He is interested in our souls, He'd communicate with us clearly. Out of all the religions I've studied, Christianity appears to be the most flexible and universal in it's message. So, to me, it makes the most sense that God would speak through the texts held sacred by Christianity. Now, many disagree, and that's fine. But that's my opinion.

As for original manuscripts, no we don't have access to them. However, we do have access to many manuscripts that were copied from them while they were in existence. There is no promise that these are entirely inerrant. However, I believe the primary thrust or purpose of the message as preserved by the Spirit of God. Also, various church fathers quoted enough Scripture that we can be relatively sure that the translations we have are nearly word for word from the originals, accept in a number of known difficult to translate passages.

That's my take on it.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I believe in the Bible because at 20 years old when I started reading it and took its words PERSONALLY a power or influence came into my life that was not there before. It was so wonderful it kept me ravished to the point of reading it for hours a day.

I remember when I first read about the "higher criticism". It was so horrible of a feeling! Trying to destroy faith in the greatest thing I ever experienced!

The words of Christs literally come alive to those who believe.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I can prove with facts that the Bible is not perfect. There are numerous flaws and mistakes, and even those on AFF who claim infallibility know this. When I discovered this, my heart was heavy at first because of my dogmatic stance of the past that the Bible was a flawless book of Faith and Truth.

That was many years ago, and I've come to some conclusions about this problem:

1. The Bible was written by men, not G-d. There is no way man can write something that is perfect, period.

2. Man cannot, nor ever could, handle "Perfect Truth". We are imperfect, and we need imperfection to remain balanced, no matter what we are dealing with.

3. The Bible is the "Face of Man". Think about it, men who wrote Scripture were adulterers, idolaters, murderers, whore-mongers, polygamists, heathens, etc. If we are honest, we can use the Bible as a mirror, which will reflect the truth about our entire “flawed” character.

4. There are no remaining Documents that are "Original". This means we rely on copies, and we know what happens when humans begin to copy things such as documents, words, or any other invention on this planet; changes are imminent and unavoidable when copies replace the original.

5. At least with me, I am relieved the Bible is not infallible. G-d, in the mercies we all need, allowed us to create instruction and truth that can lead a man down a path that isn't for everyone, because we are not everyone; we are all unique and different, with multiple needs at separate times. Religion doesn't conform to this, and even the Bible points this out, where those who draw a line in the sand regarding obedience to G-d, are the very ones who were labeled deceitful and called hypocrites.

6. The Bible is tainted with Religion, no matter how hard we try to reject this idea. IMO, this is the greatest flaw with Scripture, as isolated Faith(s) will evolve into a Cult, where lies replace truth about who we really are, thinking they are the only ones who are "Saved".

7. This is the last and most amazing thing to me about this issue; the tentacles of Scripture cross every barrier and belief system available to us. G-d, can meet a man at any crossroad, at any level, and at any stage of life. Young, old, sinner, saved, it doesn't matter, we are all in this story, where mercy MUST reach us in the dire of our needs.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

I believe that the main purpose of the scriptures are to lead us to relationship with Jesus, and the infilling of His spirit. But I believe that they can do that without being inerrant.

I too believe that God wants to communicate with us, but I think He uses many different sources, that are ultimately "translated" through his spirit dwelling inside of us. i.e. He can speak through songs, books, a friend, a Pastor, Nature, a Movie, etc. However, we would never make the assumption that any of those sources are inerrant.

And I think that is my ultimate stumbling block. Many sources may claim to speak for God, and I treat them all with a healthy source of Skepticism.

Re: Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?
 

depending on the definition of Inerrant.

There are at least 5 different views of inerrancy of the scriptures.