Greg,
<<1. The Bible was written by men inspired by God... not directly by "the hand of God". Compare this to the Decalogue, which is supposed to be directly written by God. The recording of it in the Bible is, however, made by man.>>
This text God claims to be a revelation of Himself where not what everyone hears from God is intended for everyone. I do not say that God has not spoken to them if it is in line with the Word but believe that allot of times it is more intended for personal value and not to be forced on others.
<<2. The Bible was edited by men inspired by God. Men decided which books were canonical and which were apocryphal and which were heresy. Dare I say that editions were, in many cases, politically motived?>>
I don't understand the point.
<<3. The Bible, in English, is a translation. I don't know Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, so I have to rely on translators. Let's even consider all translations to be inspired by God.>>
I believe that translations are inspired by God. The fact that we know that there are many different translations puts a burden on us to research and pursue the truth. That is what it is all about is the search for the truth. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the light. Without His light we search in darkness.
<<4. Before printing technology, the Bible was laboriously copied by men. Were there mistakes? Divinely inspired copying?>>
In the Hebrew text there were scribes that were highly trained and supervised. They did numerical counts of characters by line and then read the text for errors. when 1 numbers was off the scribe had to begin all over again and put the error in the margin when reprinted.
Similar safe guards are used for modern text. However the main message of the sacrifice of Yeshua, His divinty, and salvation being available to all people is clear in all translation the rest IMO is a proudful attempt to strain out gnats.
<<5. The books of the Bible were written in a different culture than ours. Are we even understanding all the subtly and shadows in these writings? Are they correctly propagated through editions and translations?>>
I do believe allot is lost because of a refusal to learn of the root from where the text comes but like I said the main critical message is clear and the rest is the desire each person has to know God.
<<I do not question God when I question the interpretations of men that the Bible is His inerrant word>>
I am sorry but when you word it this way you are indeed questioning Gods sovereignty to control His word to men. If you have a problem with a scripture and the application of men on that scripture then you are no longer questioning God but men. The Bible states many times that He has inspired the writings and that it is the inerrant word of God.
<<I do not question God when I question the claims of men that the Bible should be interpreted literally.>>
The Bible says it is to be taken literally or not at all. The problem I see is that it is a more personal application and you are focussed on other men and not on what God wants to say directly to you.
<<I do not question God when I question whether the English translations made by men of a Bible edited by men is without error>>
But you do, when Moses was told to go to Pharoa he told God he could not speak well enough and God sais I made the mouth and the brain. If He chooses He can use the tongues and minds of men anytime He chooses to communicate and taht is how the Bible came into the world.
<<I see a difference between divine inspiration and divine inerrancy. (*)>>
Could you explain this for me so I can understand better,
If you say that the Bible is the Word of God (inspired and controled by God) but you question what men say it means on any point then I will agree (for what its worth) that you are not questioning God.
<<(*) Within the Judeo/Christian/Islamic religion, there may be only one item that can claim divine inerrancy: The Decalogue. And now they are just supposedly dust in the Ark of the Covenant, hidden somewhere in Ethiopia.>>
If it is hidden how can anyone trust it or know whats in it? I am not familiar with this text. Don't you think the creator of men would make the revelation of Himself easily available to most people?
May the Lord grant you peace and prosperity,
Nancy |
