More handpicked essays just for you.
The nature and authority of the Bible
The nature and authority of the Bible
The Nature and Authority of Scripture
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The nature and authority of the Bible
The Bible is inerrant because it does not contradict itself. Many have tried to point out ways that the Bible contradicts itself but have not been successful. For example, many ask the question who was right about what time Jesus was crucified, John or Mark? John said that Jesus was crucified at the sixth hour and Mark says that Jesus was crucified at the third hour, but John's time reference was in Roman civil days and Mark's was in Jewish time, so they did not contradict. That is one of the many examples of how people try to show that the Bible contradicts itself, but the Bible does not contradict itself because it is inerrant.
The Bible is inerrant because it is inspired by God. The Bible says that "All scripture is breathed out by God"
William C. Plachers’ article, “Is the Bible True?” explores deeper into the subject of the Bible and if it content it contains is credible information. Through Plachers’ statement, “We need to understand the genre to understand a text. Reading a text literally is not always reading it faithfully,” we are able to reach the idea that the Bible is in fact true, but it all depends on how the individual interprets the text.
The study of textual criticism is important when talking about any historical manuscript or text. In particular, when talking about something with as much impact and influence as the bible, textual criticism is a necessary part of scholarship. Brad Ehrman does an excellent job in explaining the basics of textual criticism and how it can be used to determine the accuracy of biblical texts and manuscripts. His book, Misquoting Jesus, serves as a primer to the study of historical biblical manuscripts. As Ehrman states in his introduction, the thesis explained in the text is that biblical manuscripts have been changed throughout history, both intentionally and non-intentionally, and that those changes were affected by the attitudes and beliefs of the scribes.
It was deemed that the books of the New Testament that are authentically apostolic in nature were included in the Bible. This strict appraisal process used by the church fathers to determine the legitimacy of certain books in the bible is the reason why scripture, once it becomes part of church canon it is incorruptible. Furthermore, because tradition stems from scriptural interpretation that it can be corruptible as it relies on the judgment of human beings, whose interpretations may be driven by internal
This quote by Gene Nowlin in his book The Paraphrased Perversion of the Bible summarizes the composition of the Bible. Throughout life, Christians grasp tightly to these words of God in hopes to inherit the Kingdom of God one day. In order to do this, they must study the Bible closely and apply it to their lives daily. Without the proper Bible, this may become a difficult task to accomplish. Although the various translations of the Christian Bible are exceptionally similar in their message, some have quite a few differences and perversions that set them apart from one another. Many of them even leave out several potentially important verses in their revision. These variations contribute to the justification of one translation being more reliable and accurate than the other versions.
Even though humans wrote the text, translating it and passing it down from generations to generations, God’s truth is unchanging. Debates of the inerrancy of the bible cannot usurp God as the King of grace. Instead of focusing on the inerrancy of the Bible, individuals who wish to seek a life of faith should focus on the inspiration God is showing them in his word. These revelations should move them into applicable, daily life changing implications from what they have learned. God shows revelations of himself through the Bible, and his character is revealed time and time again throughout scripture. Any faulty facts or discrepancies in grammar or data, should not take away from the value that scripture holds. When we read scripture we bring new meaning of interpretations of the truths God shows us, since new eras and environmental factors will be influential on how we process information. The bible is not just a fact book, telling humans stories of the past, but instead the bible is inspired instructions for how we can deal with spiritual and ethical encounters we
To begin, before a person can debate the validity of anything, they must first understand the topic they are debating. So is the case here. A person must first understand the Bible and its origins before they can try and prove or disprove it. The Bible itself is composed of 66 books divided int...
Too frequently the Bible is considered a weak argument, but why? When using the Bible as a reference for any argument, the accuracy of the Bible is quickly questioned. The Bible, in fact, is actually one of the most proven books in history. The Old Testament is quoted in several ancient Near East manuscripts including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Masoretic Text. The Dead Sea Scrolls, found in 1947, contain the entire Old Testament except for Esther. These original manuscripts discovered date back to 200-100 B.C. Although the Dead Sea Scrolls are not the Bible, they help to prove the accuracy of Masoretic text (Arnold, 28). The Masoretic contains our version of the Old Testament. Although the oldest copies available date back to A.D. 1000, scholars believe that the text reflect copies from A.D. 100. The Masoretes were serious about copying the Old Testament. In Encountering the New Testament A Christian Survey, the text declares, “They knew, for example, that the Torah—the first five books of the Old Testament—contained 400,945 letters!” (Arnold, 27) Understandably, this might not make much sense, but the care taken in preserving the ...
The culture associated with its text does not hold up to today’s ideals. That is to be expected. The social classes, government rulings, and even countries have changed as time has progressed. Then, can the Bible become outdated? That is what Luis Menendez implies.
The Bible is read and interpreted by many people all over the world. Regardless, no one knows the absolute truth behind scripture. Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old Testament, wrote “Biblical Authority” to help people understand what he describes as six different parts that make up the foundation to ones understanding of scripture. He defines these six features as being: inherency, interpretation, imagination, ideology, inspiration, and importance. As Brueggemann explains each individual part, it is easy to see that they are all interconnected because no one can practice one facet without involuntarily practicing at least one other part.
Writings of historical scholars, Josephus, Aristotle, and Plato, to name a few, are taken as truth and fact, yet the writings of the Scripture are constantly disputed. Why? Perhaps because of the ethical imperatives imposed to which people do not want to adhere. Perhaps because of man’s ego and pride that disallows them to submit to a Higher Authority. Nonetheless, The Bible has been, and still remains, the most widely read and revered book of all
All people have a worldview that is based on personal beliefs forming their reality and what they feel is meaningful in life. I am a Christian of faith that has a biblical worldview, which is based on the word of God. The Book of Romans 1-8 provides the word of God and answers for how Christians can live a righteous life for our savior Jesus Christ.
This bible was supposed to be written thousands of years ago and supposed to have actual quotes from Jesus himself. First how could a book last this long?
... for personal reasons you to are using exegetical approaches to the scriptures. We do this every time we read something or hear it spoken. The Bible is no different besides that you have to decipher it correctly. By reading other commentaries on that book or verse you can form your own exegetical hypothesis, but make sure it is a biblical one.
the Bible were “God - breathed” making each a Word from God and not the words of the
As a child, I was raised to know there is a God. Any problems in your life can be solved by praying to "our father '. The Bible to me is a guide through life as a cheat sheet is helpful to a test. In life, you will overcome multiple obstacles and also tests. The only way I know how to get through the laborious times in life is to reach out to God. To me, the Bible is a hands on learning experience about how to get through life itself The Bible teaches you how to get through every season in your life. The Bible has an answer for every issue in your life such as depression, financial hardships, losing a loved one, relationships , and strength. In life, you always have to have faith the size of a mustard seed. When