Honest Bible Question

[oldthennew]

when we're led to read the ancient stories concerning the very beginning of us -
with open, childlike, searching hearts, then -
something happens to us that is quite unexplainable yet thrilling and
so much more...we start to grow and begin to grasp the meaning of
Holy Precious Love.

how blessed are we my brethren!

 

[Utah]

Jesus said, Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Jesus performed miracles that were witnessed by many people. That's the proof.

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

when we're led to read the ancient stories concerning the very beginning of us -
with open, childlike, searching hearts, then -
something happens to us that is quite unexplainable yet thrilling and
so much more...we start to grow and begin to grasp the meaning of
Holy Precious Love.

how blessed are we my brethren!

What a good little peace...

 

[notuptome]

The bible is indeed an interesting book. Only God could write a book like the bible. The long time over which it was written and the accuracy of the prophecies makes it a genuine curiosity to the intellect of men.

It is very likely that the bible would have been lost in obscurity had it not been for the guiding hand of the Creator God. The uniqueness of the writers and the uniqueness of its content certainly sets it apart from all other books ever written. It is a book that must be read because it is so unique in every aspect.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[dcontroversal]

Well this is what I'm asking. What is the proof?

How about the following...

1. NO OTHER BOOK can compare...
2. It promises the perpetuity of the scriptures...still here even though many have tried to burn, kill, stamp it out
3. Written over 1600 years with some 40 plus authors from Kings to priests to fruit gatherers to shepherds, tax collectors, and yet it ALL flows and goes together and points to one central theme...God is and the redemption of humanity
4. What it teaches about humanity is true
5. ALL those who have stood against it are gone and dead...yet it remains....
6. The prophesies contained therein have come to pass and or will come to pass
7. It has predicted the rise and fall of world empires and even NAMED the leaders hundreds of years before they actually came upon the scene...such as Cyrus the Persian
8. Was used to impress men such as Alexander the Great when shown the prophecies of Daniel concerning Alexander tot he extent that he spared Jerusalem and gave them 7 years without Taxation
9. Has changed the lives of untold millions of people who have believed it's message and surrendered to it's authority
10. It claims inspiration by God
11. An honest, non-bias study will reveal that there is NO WAY the mind of men could have put it together as there are numerous examples of things that even the smartest of men would have missed that have not been missed (in the writing of it)

and on and on and on.....

 

[jettrooper]

I can't think of any way of asking this without sounding bad. But its meant with the best possible intention.

I've always wondered, how do you know that the authors of the books in bible intended them to be non-fiction?

There is no doubt about the age of the texts etc, but how exactly to we know the intention of the authors?

Based on the reception of the text. Take for instance Isaiah, his works are not taken a fiction because those who received his text knew him to be nonfiction (the prophet to the King of Judah). This is not the case with other ancient writers in Judaism take for instance the Alphabet of Ben Sirah. The Jews knew that this was not a non-fictional work at the time of its writing and treated it as such.

 

[Hizikyah]

Well this is what I'm asking. What is the proof?

If you truly study the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniyl there is no doubt the is "POWER" there.

and some archeological evidence here:

http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/106298-did-reed-sea-crossing-really-happen.html

 

[JimmieD]

I can't think of any way of asking this without sounding bad. But its meant with the best possible intention.

I've always wondered, how do you know that the authors of the books in bible intended them to be non-fiction?

I think the author's intent is what matters when asking what any particular text means. The objective meaning in any text resides in the author's intent.

There is no doubt about the age of the texts etc, but how exactly to we know the intention of the authors?

Unfortunately, as is the case for many things in life, there isn't an easy answer - there is no formula to apply that works always and everywhere. We can however operate on some general principles: we consider who the author is, who his audience is, historical context, cultural context, the genre, etc.. to try to establish just what it is that he hopes to communicate to his intended audience. It's not necessarily easy or always clear and so there will be disagreements. Literary analysis doesn't operate the same as math formulas.

 

[GuessWho]

I can't think of any way of asking this without sounding bad. But its meant with the best possible intention.

I've always wondered, how do you know that the authors of the books in bible intended them to be non-fiction?

There is no doubt about the age of the texts etc, but how exactly to we know the intention of the authors?

Poor Jews...their history, religion, traditions would be irrelevant. Even them as a people would be irrelevant if the authors of the Scripture had the intention to write bedtime stories.

I guess some people really don't know when to stop with the "what ifs".