What Kind of Book Is the Bible?
Monika-chen
Member
The Bible is famous for its classic and authority. It has played an important role in the process of human civilization. In history, the Bible has benefited many great men. It also has a profound influence on mankinds science, education, literature, law, economy, and so on. There are many words of wisdom about human life in the Bible, which tells what the meaningful life is like and shows people the direction of life. The Bible records the work God has done, which covers the Bible with a mysterious veil. Countless Christians are attracted to study the Bible hard, hoping to know the Holy One through this book. As a result, people all regard the Bible as God. Many people cant help but ask, Can the Bible be equivalent to God? What kind of book is the Bible on earth?
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Comments
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for me Bible is a literary cryptogram. To enjoy it, you must use your coconut in whatever way possible.0
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The Bible has been used for much more injustices and killings than any other books written by man.
Many claim it is important, but only a few believers actually read it. In any family, it tends to be the atheist member who knows more about it than the religious ones. It is so because to be an atheist one is likely to have studied the Bible and then concluded by rejecting the religion upon which it is based.0 -
The Bible has been used for much more injustices and killings than any other books written by man.
Many claim it is important, but only a few believers actually read it. In any family, it tends to be the atheist member who knows more about it than the religious ones. It is so because to be an atheist one is likely to have studied the Bible and then concluded by rejecting the religion upon which it is based.
True,
That is why we christians should read more of the Bible and study it thoroughly, and doing so with a clear heart.
Atheists tend to read the Bible the way they want to read it, as long as the verses align to what they want to believe, they just leave it as is without really taking into consideration context, hermeneutics and just taking it how the way it is written.0 -
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The bible is about the struggles of a really blood thirsty god against his creation called humans. He just cannot cannot control them and make them bow down to him in complete submission no matter how he scares them with eternal torture. He made a mistake he cannot rectify.
It is also a book with words with meanings people love to distort.0 -
TODAY we call our Sacred Scriptures the Bible. The Bible forms the foundation upon which every teaching and practice of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or the Church Of Christ are built. The Bible-centered method is one of the defining characteristics that make this Church unique.However, the attitude of some more liberal groups concerning the Bible departs even further from the proper reverence that should be accorded the Scriptures, and some who even profess to be Christians, calling the Bible only one of many sacred texts.
These same people consider the religious books of other religions, such as those of Buddhism and Hinduism, to be equally valid expressions of Gods voice and worthy of equal consideration and respect as the Bible. They consider all the sacred texts to be Gods various ways of speaking His truth to man, no matter how much the truths these books teach differ from and contradict one another and the Bible.
Still others give the Bible no respect at all, as they try to deconstruct it and attempt to read into the motives of the different writers, assigning them various social and political agendas. For them, there is no such thing as a sacred text. They see the Bible only as a human text that can be analyzed and criticized like any other literary works.
There are those who classify the Bible as a mere collection of myths, that is, something beyond the realm of truth. Others believe that the Bible is a mere work of man and just a product of human imagination.
However, in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ), the Bible is considered indispensable. It is the ultimate authority and guide to the way the Church members think, feel, and act. Why do Gods words written in the Bible hold such power over their lives that they untiringly invite people to listen to and follow His words? The answer to this question rests on the distinctive attribute of the divine word that is also present in God Himself.
How True the Bible is the Word of God?
HOW TRUE THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD?
I dont believe in the Bible because it is only written by men
THE BIBLE IS consists of sixty-six (66) books and written by more than forty (40) men including the Prophet Moses, the King David and the Apostle Paul. However, because the books of the Bible were written by men, others immediately dismissed the Bible as the word of God. They asked, How can the Bible be the word of God if it is written only by men? Thus, they dismissed the Bible as a sacred text and see it only as a human text that can be analyzed and criticized like any other literary works.
THEY WERE COMMANDED BY GOD TO WRITE HIS WORDS
Not because the biblical books were written by men it does not necessarily means that the Bible is not Gods word, not a sacred text. These men wrote Gods words because God commanded them to do so. Jeremiah wrote the biblical book Jeremiah because God ordered Him to do so:
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. (Jeremiah 30:2 NIV)
Even in the Christian era, the apostles like Apostle John, were commanded by God to write His words:
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (Revelation 1:9-11 NKJV)
Thus, the biblical books were written by men whom God commissioned to do so. What they wrote is Gods words, 'Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
It is like a letter which the president ordered his secretary to write. Technically, it is written by the secretary, but it does not necessarily means that the letter is not from the president.
The prophets and the apostles wrote the biblical books because God commaned them to do so.
THEY WROTE THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE THROUGH GODS INSPIRATION
Not only that God commanded them to write His words, but they wrote the biblical books through Gods inspiration. This is what Apostle Paul said in II Timothy 3:15-17:
And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)
This is why the writers of the biblical books are called inspired writers. These men wrote through Gods inspirations or they were inspired by God when writing the biblical books.
The notion that the biblical books were written by men make others to immediately dismissed the Bible as Gods word because all men commit mistakes. However, they failed to consider that these men who wrote the biblical vooks were inspired by God. What does it mean that these men who wrote the biblical books were inspired by God? In Revelation 10:4 this is what we could read:
Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them. (Revelation 10:4 NKJV)
They wrote through Gods inspiration means the Lord God guided them as they wrote His words. It is the Lord God Himself who decides what should be written and what should not be written. It is also the Lord God who decides when the inspired writers will end the writing of the biblical book:
But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. (Daniel 12:4 NIV)
He said to me, "And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening. (Daniel 12:4 TEV)
Thus, the real issue here is not if the biblical books were written by men, but if those men who wrote the biblical books were truly inspired by God and what they wrote are truly Gods words.
WHAT GOD WAS, THE WORD WAS
God is unique in that He is almighty (Gen. 17:1). He has unlimited power. His will always comes to pass since nothing could ever prevent its fulfillment. Gods words possess the same quality:
For no word from God shall be void of power. (Lk. 1:37, ASV)
Every word from the Almighty God has power. Like God Himself, His words are of unlimited power. How is Gods power manifested in His words?
Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. (Is. 41:22-23, NIV)
God is able to declare what the future holds. He can tell us the things to come long before they happen. False gods, such as idols and graven images, cannot do or say anything, let alone declare the future. And it is this power of God, which can be seen when what He says come to pass, that proves that He alone is the true God. God is able to make known the end from the beginning or declare what will ultimately and certainly come to pass because He himself, with His infinite power, brings His words to fulfillment (Is. 46:9-10). This characteristic of God and of His words distinguishes Him from man. Man by Himself cannot declare the things to come since he cannot foretell even the day of his own death (Js. 4:14).
Therefore, Gods power and the power of His words are found in no other. In view of this fact:
There is indeed a sacred scripture, the word of God that what God was, the word was.
This power of the divine word, declaring the things to come, cannot be found in any human text.
Only the scripture that have the power of the divine word or the attributes of the word of God can rightfully claim to be the Sacred Scripture where the words of God are indeed written.
DECLARING WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
The Bible contains several examples of Gods words that were declared long ago but were appointed to take place in the time when the end is near.
The Great War
In one instance during the Lord Jesus Christs ministry on earth, His disciples asked Him concerning the time of His Second Coming, which is also the end of the world (Mt. 24:3). The Lord replied thus:
Just so, when you see all these things beginning to happen, you can know that my return is near, even at the doors. (Mt. 24:33, LB)
The Lord Jesus spoke of the occurrence of events that would signal His second Coming and the end of the world. He was able to prophecy concerning future events, not because He Himself is God, but because He spoke the words given to Him by God who sent Him and not His own opinions (Jn. 12:49; 17:3). Hence, the words that Christ spoke were Gods words. The events that Christ foretold were the events that God declared would happen.
Which are these events that Christ prophesied would signal that the end of the world is near?
You are going to hear the noise of battles close by and news of battles far away; but do not be troubled. Such things must happen, but they do not mean that the end has come. (Mt. 24:6, TEV)
The first sign that Jesus gave as an answer to His disciples question about the signs of His return and the end of the world was a war that would be dramatically different from all other wars that preceded it. What would make this war so unique is that the news of its battles would quickly spread both far and wide. This great war prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ found fulfillment in the war that was once called the war to end all wars, or the First World War which began on July 27, 1914.1
In this war that would take place to mark the approach of the worlds end, how would the news of the battles be heard from far away?
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. (Dan. 12:4, NKJV)
The increase in knowledge would help people run to and fro and also contribute to the speedy dissemination of reports concerning World War I. The kind of knowledge, which would rapidly increase before this Great War and continue as the end of the world draws near, is clarified in another translation of the same verse quoted above:
But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased. (Dan. 12:4, TLB)
Through the great advantages in travel and education or transportation and communication technologies important events around the world could be made known to people throughout the world almost instantly. And the first war in which modern technology was used for the rapid spread of news was the First World War. Historians Arthur Boak, Preston Slosson, and Howard Anderson recorded these advances in knowledge and invention which were first used in World War I and thereby stand as a testimony to the power of Gods words to always find fulfillment:
A very large part of recent scientific invention has concerned itself with this problem of getting people, goods, and message quickly from place to place. For moving people and goods, we have the steamship, the railway, the automobile and motor truck, the airship and the airplane; for getting thoughts quickly from one mind to another, we have the telegraph, the cable, the telephone, the wireless telegraph, and the radio.2
Advances in Communication and Transportation
When did the great advances in information and communication technologies begin to find fulfillment?
The electric telegraph was the product of many minds in many lands, but it became a practical success in the hands of the American, Mores, in 1844. A submarine cable was laid between England and France in 1851, and across Atlantic, after several failures, in 1866. The telephone entered commerce with the American inventor, Bell, in 1876. The Italian, Marconi, succeeded with wireless telegraphy around 1896. Radio was invented shortly before the First World War.3
Trough the rapid and successive progression of inventions, God was already paving the way for the news of the war to spread quickly. These great leaps in information and communication technologies prophesied thousands of years earlier all took place within the 70 years preceding the start of the Great War.
On the other hand, when was the fulfillment of the running to and fro or the great advancements in transportation that contributed to the quick transmission of the news of the First World War? What vehicles were used to help people travel so quickly?
The chariots race madly through the streets, they rush to and fro through the squares; their appearance is like torches, they dart like lightning. (Na. 2:4, NRSV)
In this prophecy, Gods prophet Nahum spoke of chariots that would be speeding to and fro through the streets and squares and would be illuminated like torches. In ancient times, chariots were the only vehicles used for land travel. What else would be the quality of these land vehicles that the prophet foresaw?
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad way; they shall seem like torches they shall run like the lightnings. (Na. 2:4, KJV)
These chariots which the prophet saw in his vision of the present era and recorded in the inspired Scriptures would be jostling against or banging into one another even in the broadways and highways. People of the modern era are witnesses to the fulfillment of God;s words in the cars and automobiles of today, as they speed through the streets (The chariots race madly through the streets) with their headlights on (their appearance is like torches), occasionally getting into accidents with one another (they shall justle one against another).
Just as information and communication technologies began experiencing rapid leaps of growth and development in the relatively small period of time preceding World War I, the same thing happened with inventions in transportation:
Then the gasoline automobile came into practical use in the eighteen-nineties.4
Rapid transportation on land with the modern chariots of today started in the 1890s. This was approximately only two decades before the start of the First World War. Meanwhile, rapid transportation on water or the seas began only about 140 years before the start of the war:
The invention of the steam engine (about 1770) is attributed to James Watt, a Scotch inventor.5
When did travel to and fro in the air begin?
The airplane was the invention chiefly of two Americans, the Wright brothers. It was in 1905 that these two men made their first successful airplane flights.6
It was less than ten years after the invention of the airplane when these vehicles were first used in the Great War. Thus, it was the First World War in which all the new advancements in communications and transportation were used. These new inventions hastened the spread of news concerning this war and were also used as instruments during the war.
In the present day when mans sense of amazement and wonder at the continuingly rapid advancements in technology has been replaced by the thought that al these are now ordinary and commonplace, the great significance of the First World War should never be underestimated. The impact which Gods words and these terrifying visions had on the ancient prophets must have been profound. This was the first war in history considered global in scale, and the first war in history to be fought not only on land and on the seas but also under the ground in the trenches and far above the ground in the skies.7
The Bibles Unmistakable Description of the Condition of Our Time
Even with regard to the condition of our time in these last days, the Bible provides an unmistakable description. Through the apostles, this is what the words of God declare:
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (II Tim. 3:1-5, NKJV)
We do not have to look far. Right within the confines of our homes we see on television how perilous our time is. The rising tide of criminality is so alarming. Wanton crimes continue to be perpetrated against persons and properties. For these, various corrective measures have been imposed such as stricter gun laws and stiffer penalties to deter criminals, but to no avail. The sanctity of the home is now endangered, threatened by domestic violence brought about by squabbling couples and disrespectful children. So many lives have been snuffed out. So many dreams have been shattered.
This point to the conclusion that what is written in the Bible is true. Thus, we are assured that the Bible we are using now is the true Holy Scriptures because this has the quality of the words of God: What He says will surely happen.
THE BIBLE: OUR SACRED SCRIPTURE
Therefore, the Bible is indeed the Sacred Scripture, the word of God. What God was, the word was. Gods power to declare what the future holds, telling us the things to come long before they happen. Since the power of Gods words are found in the words written in the Bible, the Bible also declares what the future holds, long before it happens; thus the Bible is indeed not a human text, not a collection of myth, not in equal status with other sacred scriptures, but the only Sacred Scripture where the words of God are written.
Since Gods words written in the Bible came to pass, we know with certainty that His words are filled with power. Nothing can hinder the Almightys words from having the intended effect for which He spoke them. His words are the truth because He always makes them come true. That is why all people should trust in His words found in the Bible. They should completely obey all His teachings and His commandments and accept all His prophetic utterances.
http://theiglesianicristo.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-bible-is-gods-word.html0 -
Before our pastor told us that:"Bible is the words of God and it is inspired by God,believing in God is believing in bible". Also we thought that bible was writen by God, so that we put bible was higher than God, and became to worship bible ,not the God. Later one of my friend let me read the Almighty words ,Almighty God says: The Bible is a historical record of Gods work in Israel, including many of the words of the ancient prophets and some of the words that Jehovah spoke when He performed His work. So everyone sees it as a holy book (because God is great and holy).... *In truth, the Bible is only a record written by man, was not named by Jehovah Himself or produced under His direction; that is to say, the Bibles author is not God, but man. It is called the Holy Bible, which is only a respectful title man gives to it. Jesus and Jehovah did not confer with each other and then decide to call it that; the idea came just from man. For it was not written by Jehovah, much less by Jesus, but rather by many prophets of old, apostles, and foretellers, whose writings were assembled by later generations into a book that was ancient and was seen as very holy, and as containing many unfathomable and profound*mysteries*to be unraveled by generations to come."
After reading Gods word, I can understand that bible was not written by Jehovah, much less by Jesus, but rather by many prophets of old, apostles, and foretellers, whose writings were assembled by later generations into a book that was ancient.
The Bible is a history book written by human beings,* which records the two stages of work God did. The Old Testament describes Jehovahs work in the Age of Law, while the New Testament describes Jesus work in the Age of Grace. Through the Bible, man can know Gods work, and draw sustenance from Gods deeds, Gods word, and former apostles and prophets experiences of serving God.but we can put bible higher than God,.we believe in God ,not the bible ,bible just is a way to know about God.
If need to read more , please click the link http://www.findshepherd.com/the-bible.html0 -
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Frank_Macky wrote: »Just use the pages as tissue paper. Or to roll a blunt.
The Gideon pocket-size Bible is the best R.P. invented by man or God. Every college pothead believes that its convenience, perfect size and excellent burning characteristic is miraculous, almost divine.0 -
As someone who practically grew up reading books, I can definitely say that the Bible is like no other. It is a palpable, living, breathing being that speaks to you. Hindi mo magegets yan if you are spiritually dead. Only those with spiritual ears can understand what I'm trying to say.
Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 11:15)0 -
As someone who practically grew up reading books, I can definitely say that the Bible is like no other. It is a palpable, living, breathing being that speaks to you. Hindi mo magegets yan if you are spiritually dead. Only those with spiritual ears can understand what I'm trying to say.
Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 11:15)
Hello, Thanks for your reply, I didn't get your meaning , may you make it clear? Are you a chritian? 0 -
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Monika-chen wrote: » Hello, Thanks for your reply, I didn't get your meaning , may you make it clear? Are you a chritian?
she's hard core fundie christian. I think second to Smartdessa, or maybe they are just the same person0 -
its the christians holy book -sacred and inerrant.,as far the believers are concerned.
its background and history, its compilation , edition, etc,,, are another thing.0 -
Sto. Ni?o Fluvial Parade 2016 Merlin fish dance.... bow down & calm down "dirty" mortal fish, this fishy is obviously trapped forever swimming in this rock.... n roll hole of vomiticiouse caliber :(
I'm obviously on route to level 2 don't annoy me "sinners & dirty forever" Sayōnara
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well to kindly put it this is where you end and where you're story ends forever
due to me climbing higher above all the locos and savages which is YOU. amen to that ... if you mortals dare go past the written line I'm going to knock YOU OUT forever.
but you "are" already knocked out forever you just don't realize it = but it will keep burning what needs to be burnt which is ....... you guess
just like this burning
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Frank_Macky wrote: »Just use the pages as tissue paper. Or to roll a blunt.
got mine on my ipad0 -
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