Why do you believe the Bible to be inerrant?

[Dichotomy Girl]

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.

[Fionn mac Cumh]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

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.

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.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

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.

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.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

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.

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.

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Aquila

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.

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?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

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?

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.

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Aquila

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.

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.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

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.

I see what you're saying. And there are many places in the Bible where things have been mistranslated. Therefore, I'd say that the translations of the Bible that we have are "inspired" but not entirely inerrant.

God once spoke to me through a secular song once when I was backslidden. Is the song inerrant? Well... for me it was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvvJ7MYaK8o

It's funny... it still makes me cry after all these years. lol

[Michael The Disciple]

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.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

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.