Bible Basics - the Bible

Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Bible is the word of God. We believe that it is the revelation from God on faith and practice as we live out this life according to God's purpose. This is an important part of any discussion of theology. It must be agreed upon what standard will opinions and conclusions will be based. I mean how do you know Jesus love you? How do you know that you are a sinner, cut off from relationship with God - caught in an endless bondage to sin terminated only in death? How do you know that you are in a predicament whose only remedy is the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Simple, the Bible says so. I'm not suggesting that there is not any reasonable evidence outside of scripture to believing these things, but I do recognize that the fundamental evidence that I am basing my life on is based on what the Bible says. No way we could know these truths without direct revelation from God.

This is why you find many agnostics, atheists, other religions, and cultists attacking the Bible. Their ilk have attacked it since the beginning because they know if the Bible is not the word of God then everything Christians believe is a lie. This is why how you see the Bible is very important. If its full of errors, then how do you know that the parts promising eternal life are not lies? If it embellishes miraculous events then maybe the hope-giving encouragements are to be taken with a "grain of salt"? It also means that there is no judgment and everyone can live and do as they themselves see fit. In this case, laws and civil order go out the window. Who are you to tell someone like Hitler that he is wrong to kill anyone he doesn't think was worthy of life? Or what stops a person from walking up to you, smacking you on the head, and taking all you own? That person could no longer be called a "thief" or a "murderer". Those terms and many others would loose all meaning. Thank God that he gave us a standard outside of us that we can use to know right and wrong. That measuring stick is the Bible - against with all faith, opinion, suggestion, idea, thought, and conclusion should be weighed, counted, and measured against and if found wanting - should be discarded. No one, no matter how dastardly their deeds thinks of themselves as evil, even if they know they are wrong.

It took 1,500 years for all 66 books of the Bible to be written. It was written by over 40 different authors, writing in different languages, from different backgrounds and cultures, on three continents. The kicker is that despite these facts there are coherent messages without conflict or error. How could this be unless God is behind it? I want to turn to some scriptures in which itself tells us what it is.

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21

And Paul said:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17

This is why I consider Biblical Inerrancy to be a major sticking point concerning anything with Christianity. The Bible tells us what our world view should be and gives us glimpses into the mind of God. It also records for us how God has related to other people who were like than any of us. We see their triumphs and their failures. How if they trusted God, they succeeded (just read Hebrews 11 as a summary of this point) and if they turned their own way they failed with disastrous consequences. This is no different today.

This post went a little longer than I thought it would. I had planned to discuss,on the surface, some of the objections that have been raised by those who don't think that such discussions on real matters should be based on the Bible. I guess I'll save that one for a later time.

Biblical Basics - Introduction

I am intending to write a series of post that discuss biblical topics. Most of it will be very basic and will do nothing to challenge orthodox Christian theology. All my posts will be attempts to read only out of the Bible what was intended to be there and not read into it my own biases and traditions. I use the word "attempts" because I know how hard it is to do that and I welcome feedback and challenges. These are going to be things that I desire to get the correct understanding of I know that i will always have more to learn and to grow into yet. I don't have it all now and I will never have it completely down until I see Christ. Paul said:

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1st Corinthians 13:8-12

If the apostle Paul, handpicked by God to take the Gospel all over the Roman world , understood that he did not have the complete picture, makes you wonder why any of us have such audacity to think we do. I pray daily not to fall into that. Because of the grace of God, and only the grace of God, I have three college degrees in engineering and technology so I am constantly examining my attitude towards other people. The following scripture helps with that. It almost seems written for me.

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness."
1st Corinthians 3:18,19

One thing about the Bible is that for every scripture that you can use to condemn others there are several that get you too. To add emphasis, Paul uses the weight of the Old Testament quoting Job 5:31 in verse 19. Reminding others and informing some that God cannot be outsmarted, tricked, or manipulated. I intend to follow his lead the best I can as I write, footnoting and referencing whenever I can. I want to use science, history, philosophy, archeology, anthropology, and art to talk about theology and Bible doctrine. When I make a mistake, or when clarification is needed, please comment and let me know. Also if you have some ideas for articles that I can research with you on, please also let me know.