the Error in the "Error" of saying there is an Error in Gods word

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CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,330
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#1
Many people who have received liberal theology education; claim error with what is known as “The Word of God".


This is nothing new, they have been trying to for years weaken the understanding associated with “The Inerrant word of God”.

Renowned Apologists Norman L. Geisler

Has wonderfully addressed this concept/wrong thinking of the Word of God..

The Bible cannot err, since it is God's Word, and God cannot err. This does not mean there are no difficulties in the Bible. But the difficulties are not due to God's perfect revelation, but to our imperfect understanding of it. The history of Bible criticism reveals that the Bible has no errors, but the critics do. Most problems fall into one of the following categories.” (N.L.Geisler, NAMB )

It is this edifying approach to the word of God , that other have withdrawn from due to scoffing, ridicule , and lack of Biblical understanding.

2Sam 22:31 KJV “ As for God his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

We have to trust the word of God even when we do not have all the details

“.Assuming the Unexplained Is Unexplainable

When a scientist comes upon an anomaly in nature, he does not give up further scientific exploration. Rather, the unexplained motivates further study. Scientists once could not explain meteors, eclipses, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Until recently, scientists did not know how the bumblebee could fly. All of these mysteries have yielded their secrets to relentless patience. Scientists do not now know how life can grow on thermo-vents in the depths of the sea. But no scientist throws in the towel and cries "contradiction!" Likewise, the true biblical scholar approaches the Bible with the same presumption that there are answers to the unexplained.” (N.L.Geisler NAMB)web page.
“Critics once proposed that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because Moses' culture was preliterate”. Now we know that writing had existed thousands of years before Moses”. Also, critics once believed that Bible references to the Hittite people were totally fictional. Such a people by that name had never existed. Now the Hittites' national library has been found in Turkey. Thus, we have reason to believe that other unexplained phenomena in Scripture will be explained later.

Part two will follow
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,330
4,052
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#2
Part TWO:
In this part N.L. Geisler,

Addresses “Assuming the Bible is Guilty of Error Unless Proven Innocent”

He states:

“Many critics assume the Bible is wrong until something proves it right. However, like an American citizen charged with an offense, the Bible should be read with at least the same presumption of accuracy given to other literature that claims to be nonfiction. This is the way we approach all human communications. If we did not, life would not be possible. If we assumed that road signs and traffic signals were not telling the truth, we would probably be dead before we could prove otherwise. If we assumed food packages are mislabeled, we would have to open up all cans and packages before buying. Likewise, the Bible, like any other book, should be presumed to be telling us what the authors said, experienced, and heard. But, negative critics begin with just the opposite presumption. Little wonder they conclude the Bible is riddled with error.”
Many issues with those who say the word of God has errors, here are some

  • Confusing our Fallible Interpretations with God's Infallible Revelation
  • Failure to Understand the Context
  • Interpreting the Difficult by the Clear
  • Forgetting the Bible's Human Characteristics
  • Assuming a Partial Report Is a False Report
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#3
I believe the wisest men I know, understood how little mankind really knew or understood of God's creation and master plans.

NewtonIsaac-SeashoreQuote800px.jpg
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#4
i would add

* Translational errors from the Greek and Aramaic manuscripts
* Interpretational biases of Jewish scholars still held by many modern Christians that Jesus pointed out as false interpretation of the INTENT and MEANING of scriptures and biblical prophecies. For example Jesus says that God is God of the LIVING and not the dead.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#5
The Bible cannot err, since it is God's Word, and God cannot err.
Thats a mistake of equating various different things.

1. God´s word (lowercase w) is a specific will of God revealed to men or other creatures.
2. Scriptures are works of men under the inspiration of God, vocabulary, grammar etc are of men, ideas are of God.
3. Manuscripts are hand-made copies of Scriptures, made by various men and of various quality.
4. Critical editions are man made selections of text based on collection of some manuscripts.
5. Bible is a translation made by men based on critical editions.

---

All Christians believe that 1) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 2) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 3) contain errors.

Most Christians believe that the goal of 4) is to get rid of errors from 3), but that it cannot be absolutely perfect.

Most Christians believe that 5) Bible translations are not infallible, but by providence of God, Church can spiritually grow from any good and godly translation.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,330
4,052
113
#6
Thats a mistake of equating various different things.

1. God´s word (lowercase w) is a specific will of God revealed to men or other creatures.
2. Scriptures are works of men under the inspiration of God, vocabulary, grammar etc are of men, ideas are of God.
3. Manuscripts are hand-made copies of Scriptures, made by various men and of various quality.
4. Critical editions are men made selection of text based on collection of some manuscripts.
5. Bible is a translation made by men based on critical editions.

---

All Christians believe that 1) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 2) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 3) contain errors.

Most Christians believe that the goal of 4) is to get rid of errors from 3), but that it cannot be absolutely perfect.

Most Christians believe that 5) Bible translations are not infallible, but by providence of God, Church can spiritually grow from any good and godly translation.
I dis agree they are not the work of man because man could not think to put 66 Books together insuch away it fits as one.

Most Christian Trust God as the keeper of HIS word and the Word of God tell us that God Himself Places His word above His name. today the number one issue is thw lack od studying the word of God . This was nota problem 30 years ago.

here are again the issues :


  • Confusing our Fallible Interpretations with God's Infallible Revelation
  • Failure to Understand the Context
  • Interpreting the Difficult by the Clear
  • Forgetting the Bible's Human Characteristics
  • Assuming a Partial Report Is a False Report
 
Aug 7, 2016
203
7
0
#7
I think He brother Tro might be talking about just the different translations.

It's obvious that the original manuscripts before we ever had a fully readable bible, had no error.

Although over time, like in the King James for instance, there are few errors and words that are changed from what was suppose to be originally there.
 
Last edited:

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,263
5,620
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#8
I dis agree they are not the work of man because man could not think to put 66 Books together insuch away it fits as one.

Most Christian Trust God as the keeper of HIS word and the Word of God tell us that God Himself Places His word above His name. today the number one issue is thw lack od studying the word of God . This was nota problem 30 years ago.

here are again the issues :


  • Confusing our Fallible Interpretations with God's Infallible Revelation
  • Failure to Understand the Context
  • Interpreting the Difficult by the Clear
  • Forgetting the Bible's Human Characteristics
  • Assuming a Partial Report Is a False Report
Where will I find the word of God?
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#9
i think the majority that speak of errors are not talking about the Most High made an error speaking to a prophet, but a translater made a mistake. such as 1 John 5 7 when they added a footnote to scripture. footnotes are not scripture.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#10
Thats a mistake of equating various different things.

1. God´s word (lowercase w) is a specific will of God revealed to men or other creatures.
2. Scriptures are works of men under the inspiration of God, vocabulary, grammar etc are of men, ideas are of God.
3. Manuscripts are hand-made copies of Scriptures, made by various men and of various quality.
4. Critical editions are man made selections of text based on collection of some manuscripts.
5. Bible is a translation made by men based on critical editions.

---

All Christians believe that 1) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 2) cannot contain error.

Most Christians believe that 3) contain errors.

Most Christians believe that the goal of 4) is to get rid of errors from 3), but that it cannot be absolutely perfect.

Most Christians believe that 5) Bible translations are not infallible, but by providence of God, Church can spiritually grow from any good and godly translation.
could you clarify your beliefs?

It seems that you are saying that translations are fallible and that manuscripts may have man made errors and that they are only copies of part of what you refer to as Scriptures.

what do you consider Scriptures? do you include the Acrophya?
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,263
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#11
i think the majority that speak of errors are not talking about the Most High made an error speaking to a prophet, but a translater made a mistake. such as 1 John 5 7 when they added a footnote to scripture. footnotes are not scripture.
Footnotes may not be scripture but they aren't error. They are deliberate and are usually very helpful.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,330
4,052
113
#12
Where will I find the word of God?
do you have a bible ? is it the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, I can ensure you the Holy Spirit has usewd each of these Bibles tranlations , and people are being saved today from the hearing of it in the english language .

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are to be trusted as Jesus said in John chapter 14 & 16 . God will not fail you . when you put your trust in HIS word.
 

FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,125
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#13
I am often perplexed that those who believe in God have a difficult time believing He can keep His message pure through different translations of His Word. His Word is alive and accomplishes that which He wills.
 
Aug 7, 2016
203
7
0
#14
I am often perplexed that those who believe in God have a difficult time believing He can keep His message pure through different translations of His Word. His Word is alive and accomplishes that which He wills.
Well just like Cs1 Just said, the Word of God, the Gospel of Christ can be found in the KJV, NIV, NLT, YLT, all the different types of translations.

Just for nerds who like to study the bible can find errors I guess, it's just the nerdy people who notice this stuff...

From what I've been told the King James version alone is 98% accurate so the errors are really just few.

Know what I mean? And I agree with you FlSnookman, His Word is alive, and accomplishes that which He wills.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#15
do you have a bible ? is it the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, I can ensure you the Holy Spirit has usewd each of these Bibles tranlations , and people are being saved today from the hearing of it in the english language .

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are to be trusted as Jesus said in John chapter 14 & 16 . God will not fail you . when you put your trust in HIS word.
and in the hundreds of others languages the Bible has been translated in to as well besides just English.

the holy Spirit is what makes people able to understand God's message, not just the written word but the Spirit that testifies its truth.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,263
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#16
Well just like Cs1 Just said, the Word of God, the Gospel of Christ can be found in the KJV, NIV, NLT, YLT, all the different types of translations.

Just for nerds who like to study the bible can find errors I guess, it's just the nerdy people who notice this stuff...

From what I've been told the King James version alone is 98% accurate so the errors are really just few.

Know what I mean? And I agree with you FlSnookman, His Word is alive, and accomplishes that which He wills.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#17
Footnotes may not be scripture but they aren't error. They are deliberate and are usually very helpful.
often the footnotes contain doctrines that can be argued as false, like Darby rapture theory.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,263
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#18
often the footnotes contain doctrines that can be argued as false, like Darby rapture theory.
I'm not familiar with the Darby translation. That must be a long footnote! The sort of thing I'm referring to are short notes, some only two words long like [Masoretic Text] or [Psalm 113] to direct to a verse Jesus or Paul is quoting in the passage. Not inserting an entire teaching superfluous to the text.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#19
I'm not familiar with the Darby translation. That must be a long footnote! The sort of thing I'm referring to are short notes, some only two words long like [Masoretic Text] or [Psalm 113] to direct to a verse Jesus or Paul is quoting in the passage. Not inserting an entire teaching superfluous to the text.
more like "Study bibles" that sometimes do a lot of interpretation that may be debatable. ...just look at our forum to see the variances of what people consider sound doctrine.