Prove The Bible is the Word of God

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Timmy

On another board (now defunct), I participated in a discussion of this topic. I said that if the Bible is God's word, it would actually be true. One example:

John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Is that true? Does God keep this promise? The response was, essentially, that it would be absurd to think God should be my magic genie, doing whatever I want Him to.

I agreed. It certainly is absurd to think that Jesus would do anything I (or anyone else) ask Him to do. Yes, John 14:14 and all the similar promises are absurd.

But no, we can't let that deter our faith! We must have faith that it's God's Word! So it is true! God will do whatever we ask in the name of Jesus .... we just have to add all the right caveats and qualifiers to make it true! They're not there in John 14, but we have no choice. We have to add things like "as long as it lines up with His will" (in other words, it happens to be something God wants to do anyway), or "if we have enough faith" (so if it doesn't happen, guess whose fault it was).

Maybe it's just a matter of absurdity tolerance. Some people can see an absurdity and it doesn't bother them. Actually, they may see it as an opportunity to exercise their faith. The more absurd it is, the more faith is needed to believe it! The more faith, the more you please God! So bring on the absurdities!

I think you need to take the Bible as a whole and not piece meal it. For example; using your example of John 14, you should also know about the scriptures that talk about asking amiss, and as you referred to having faith that He will answer.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Esther

I think you need to take the Bible as a whole and not piece meal it. For example; using your example of John 14, you should also know about the scriptures that talk about asking amiss, and as you referred to having faith that He will answer.

So, other writers have corrected what Jesus said?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, other writers have corrected what Jesus said?

No. Look as an example at the four gospels. They all tell some of the same stories, yet some give more details than others. And although they may have all been at a reported incident not all reported on all the same incidents.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Esther

No. Look as an example at the four gospels. They all tell some of the same stories, yet some give more details than others. And although they may have all been at a reported incident not all reported on all the same incidents.

And I have no problem with that. But that isn't what happened in this example. We have a direct quotation of Jesus. James may have noticed that it doesn't work as Jesus said it would. He may be among the first to "add to the word of God" to try to make it "true". Oddly enough, in the very next chapter, James also makes a pretty bold promise, which also doesn't work.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

If the prayer doesn't work, well then, it was obviously not a prayer "of faith". Always plenty of blame to hand out. Even for the parents of a dead child, who claimed this and other healing scriptures, rather than take their child to a doctor. Tell them to their faces that they didn't have faith. Or tell them this isn't a promise that all sickness would be healed, even though it says any sick among you. Or tell them God has healed their child in Heaven. That always works. It also makes this "promise" utterly pointless.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Esther

If someone ask you to prove that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, how would you respond?

Give as many details as you can.

Thanks

I just had this question asked me about a month ago. Because of a question asked me in another thread, this is what I said about my answer:

Originally Posted by TK Burk

I just had a college graduate who majored in philosophy talk with me. He is going to all kinds of churches, religious groups, and synagogues looking for answers. He wanted to know how I can prove the legitimacy of the Bible being “God’s Word.” I told him that the evidence of the “virgin birth” cannot do it. Neither can the “30 pieces of silver” Judas received when betraying the Lord. These, as well as many other “prophetic evidences” are all subject to whether a person believes the Bible for what it says. Then I asked him: what if I can show you passages written hundreds of years BEFORE Jesus was born, and Him teaching those while prophesying detailed occurrences that He said would come within His generation, and then showing you that they did happen exactly 40 years (a biblical generation) after Jesus foretold them, and then being able to substantiate those with non-Christian witnesses, would THAT prove to you that maybe something was supernatural behind such writings? He excitedly said, “YES”! That talk lasted about ½ hour. He told me he had never had anyone approach his question in such a way. I did not know he was going to do this, but he came to Church that Sunday. That day I taught on why Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” from the cross. I showed that Jesus’ words was a prophetic utterance from Psalms 22, and that He used those words to confirm “fulfilled prophecies” to those at His cross. This man then came to my home on Monday for a 3½ hour study. He now wants to come every week for more. Does Fulfilled Eschatology give a person hope? You better believe it does!!!

If you’re still in doubt, just ask Bro. Benincasa about the numerous marathon studies he’s had with every religious and non-religious person imaginable. Ask him how Fulfilled Eschatology shuts the mouths of the critics and the doubters and how it also converts the sincere to believe Jesus is exactly who the Bible prophecies Him to be. Jason, he uses this message to teach about Jesus to both Muslims and Jewish Rabbis at the same time. Can you do that with Dispensationalism?

This same young man is still in Bible study with me every week. Last week he told me that because of what I've shown him he now believes the New Testament is trustworthy. God's Word does prove itself to be the Truth when it is taught as written!

Blessings,
TKB

[Timmy]

[Pragmatist]

Originally Posted by Esther

If someone ask you to prove that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, how would you respond?

Give as many details as you can.

Thanks

I would say I can't prove it. If they're really interested and not just being argumentative, I would recommend Josh McDowell's Evidence that Demands a Verdict.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Timmy

And I have no problem with that. But that isn't what happened in this example. We have a direct quotation of Jesus. James may have noticed that it doesn't work as Jesus said it would. He may be among the first to "add to the word of God" to try to make it "true". Oddly enough, in the very next chapter, James also makes a pretty bold promise, which also doesn't work.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

If the prayer doesn't work, well then, it was obviously not a prayer "of faith". Always plenty of blame to hand out. Even for the parents of a dead child, who claimed this and other healing scriptures, rather than take their child to a doctor. Tell them to their faces that they didn't have faith. Or tell them this isn't a promise that all sickness would be healed, even though it says any sick among you. Or tell them God has healed their child in Heaven. That always works. It also makes this "promise" utterly pointless.

Timmy I believe MOST not all of our praying for the sick is NOT done in faith. I think for too many it has become a habit of laying on hands and praying more like a ritual than truly having faith that God is going to heal.

It is the Lord's will to heal 95% or better of those who need healing, it is a very few that it is not His will to heal.

I think this generation refuses to accept blame for their short comings and looks for a scapegoat to blame it on. It is easier to blame God's Word as not being true than to accept they didn't have faith that God would heal them. God's Word is true, I doubt it not. But I also know I am not wise enough to have a full understanding of all of His Word. I wish I did, but at this point I don't. Nor do I know anyone that does. There are many that have a good grasp of the Word.

But I do believe that if we have a LOVE for the TRUTH, He will show us as we mature and as we put the effort into studying His Word.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by TK Burk

I just had this question asked me about a month ago. Because of a question asked me in another thread, this is what I said about my answer:




This same young man is still in Bible study with me every week. Last week he told me that because of what I've shown him he now believes the New Testament is trustworthy. God's Word does prove itself to be the Truth when it is taught as written!

Blessings,
TKB

I think as we see the Muslim community growing even faster than we imagined we will see this question even more.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Esther

I think as we see the Muslim community growing even faster than we imagined we will see this question even more.

The same answer I gave concerning Fulfilled Eschatology answers the Muslim questions and concerns as well. Truth always corrects error....