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paulvipond · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Bury

As good evangelicals we happily accept the authority of the scriptures as God's Word. I read something recently which confidentlystated that the Bible was its own authority relying on no outside source for verification. This got me thinking about the things we take for granted:

1. When we read an English translation we actually rely on the scholarship of the translators - unless of course we all go and learn Greek and Aramaic.
2. We rely on historians and archeologists to explain the history behind the scritures so that we can understand, say Jesus' words, in context.
3. We pick up the theology of our leaders which is not scripture (though it may be scriptural) but forms our understanding of scripture.

Fortunately we do not have to "rely on our own understanding" because God has given us His Spirit. Still it makes me think that for all of us there should be more "searching the scriptures to see if these things are true".

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Make you walk in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus

admin · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject: The authority of the Bible

I, like you Paul tend to rely on received wisdom from the church in interpreting the Bible (although I think you're much better at studying than I. Mostly my personal study is based on Scripture Union daily readings, the occasional book and your good self leading bible studies Smile

Surely though, major parts of the historical record of the Bible can be verified and correlated with other historical records? So we also have outside authority to back up what the Bible says. not just as background.

I agree that we should question our beliefs in order to know what we really believe and be convinced. Not just accept everything blindly.

Jannine Ebenso · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Nigeria

Living in Africa as I do now, I am amazed how many people here use the KJV and reckon that is the only inspired version (now before David Higson sends down brimstone from heaven let me explain!)

English is a second or in some cases third language here, and the English spoken is like nothing on earth! Most folks here will not read an English novel 'because it is too difficult to understand' but will slog through KJV memorising it but not understanding a word!

I actually heard one person tell me a few years back that the reason she reads KJV is because she wants to read the Word of God in the language it was originally written! (Hmm!)

So, few deny the authority of the KJV - but as for the other English versions they are not so sure.

Moi? Well, I agree with what you have both said, but would want to add that a lot of what is in the Bible has been backed up by archaeological (sp?) evidence, so that is also encouraging. I reckon the few bits that the folk with the little spades and brushes haven't 'proved' I can take on trust Smile

That of course brings a challenge - if I believe it is HIS word, and I believe it is true - how come I have such a hard time obeying it? Confused

I think that relates to the other thread though.

Jannine

GeneWyrm · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 6

We are called into a personal relation with Christ and Paul (in Philippians 2:12) exhorts us to 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling'

Taken together, for me personally, they form an inspiration to read scripture, think, pray and hopefully act. They call me to do this things on my own, to develop that relationship, to work through what I think and feel.

Equally on the flip side passages such as Hebrews 10:19-25 spur me on to develop a relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Darthmiller · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 27

The problem with extolling any translation as the deffinative (English) translation is that hebrew has no vowels and has a grammer very much unlike English (no posessive nouns etc...) and there are many words with no direct translation so we rely on judgement of those translating to pick the right word, which is why thought for thought rather than word for word translations can be very useful in getting a feel for what the text is getting at.

And obviously in terms of the NT Greek we ar talking mainly Kione Greek but some fragments are written in others, but ancient greek has weird grammer as well and has many words which are problematic in translation. Sometimes due to the defficiency in our own language, the greek words for love for instance.

I personally recommend that you get and read as many different translations as you can, get translation notes and if all else fails learn ancient greek and hebrew!

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Going to church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.