I agree with the author on this issue, and he really answers the questions you raise in a very indepth manner.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Deadeye, one question for you. The current Bible we possess was mass distributed starting in the early 1800's, as modern day printing presses had not been invented yet. This means, mankind as a whole never had a "Bible".
So, how did mankind in the context of all time conceive God and His will before the Bible became a part of mainstay reading by the common people?
I believe we are guilty of drawing vain conclusions by stating we will fall into apostasy without a Bible, when humanity as a whole on this Planet never even knew what a Bible was.
I didn't say we are in danger of falling into apostasy in the absence of the availability of a Bible...my point was that selectively discounting, or discrediting parts of the Bible will lead to apostasy....lot of difference there.
I realize that there are variations and differences in translations.....and i also realize that some are better than others. However i believe that what has been delivered to us is the Infallible Word of God, and that it is our responsibility to "rightly divide the Word"
Sure there are things and scriptures that need research to have a better understanding, but when we start questioning the Flood, sun standing still, etc...we might as well throw the whole thing out....we can strive to understand it better but to selectively discount portions of the Bible is a slippery slope that ends in apostasy.
So which translation is perfect? Which one isn't? Is The NIV perfect? The NIV includes footnotes that claim certain passages shouldn't be there, including Mark 16:8-20 which includes several verses that are foundational for pentecostals. Considering this, is the NIV infallible?
I disagree with the second bolded statement, although maybe, not totally. I don't like it when people want to selectively discount certain verses BASED on their theology. For example, many in your camp want to discredit Matthew 28:19 and I John 5:7 ONLY because it doesn't fit into the Search For Truth Home bible Study, or the best General Conference sermons. I think that's ridiculous.
But deadeye...scribal additions are, fairly well, certain to have taken place. There's also the issue of language. Have you ever read a Spanish bible or had it translated to you? In some places, it's completely different than what we have because of language-translational problems. "Rightly dividing" the "Word of Truth" can, and certainly should, include being honest about the authenticity of certain areas of the bible.
Honestly, the only "SELECTIVE" discrediting of passages in the bible, is being done by YOUR camp...those that either can't, or don't want to bother with, explaining troublesome passages like those I mentioned.
Uhhh, remind me, how did you send it to me, again? Email? Link in PM? Looks like it's another victim of my hard drive crash.
Found it. I'll bump it up on my list of things to read/view. (Sorry, Miz. ) I can't wait to find out that the MT and the TR are perfect word-for-word copies of the original manuscripts! Er, well, the MT is, I mean. I want to find out why the question doesn't fit, for the TR.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
You beat me to it, Timmy. I just recalled I emailed it to you.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
You beat me to it, Timmy. I just recalled I emailed it to you.
I'm reading the Introduction now.
BTW, does bug you, like it does me, that a lot of people skip the intro? There's usually a lot of good stuff in there! Hey, I just thought of a solution! From now on, book writers should just call it Chapter 1 instead of Introduction, and shift all the other chapter numbers accordingly!
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty