Thread: How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
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How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 06:18 PM
this is the question that is posed to me quite often.
A co-worker told me today that he is reading the book of Enoch and said it gives alot of details about the demons that fell having intercourse with the inhabitants of the land and that was why God flooded the earth. He asked me my thoughts and I said, I think it would be wise to read the bible before getting into other things that we dont really know of.
He argued that the bible doesnt make sense and that there are other books out there that give more details.
anyway, then he says, man put together the bible, King James wasnt even a christian, how do we know that he didnt just throw any books together. Then the others agreed. needless to say I was outnumbered (again). so, how do you talk sense into people that 1. dont have the holy spirit and 2. think we (christians)are brainwashed.
I believe the bottom line is when he's ready, he'll know. but I know he's searching...and that is what matters. What do you think?
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 06:36 PM
apologetics would apply normally if I could give them scriptures to prove my point but they dont even believe the bible is holy spirit inspired...??? I would need to prove it another way, any suggestions?
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 07:09 PM
dear river,
john 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
thats how i think you just know it in your heart the words are true and you can believe with all your heart.. GOD the FATHER is drawing you to JESUS... if ya wanna believe its there. if ya dont well youll just keep fightin it..
just plant your seed and hope itll take, sometime..
hey they might make fun of ya.. they know no better..
but it just might take root in some.. ya never know..and it may even be years from now..
and be prepared and when they ask you just tell them why you believe straight from your heart.. folks can tell when youre bein genuine with em ..
sometimes GOD has a way of really gettin someones attention hehe..
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 07:45 PM
I know the feeling. But remember that as Cattle said, it's your job to hand them a candle - God will do the lighting.
I used to get really defensive when asked that question. But then I realized it is a valid question and one I asked myself before God found me. So - how do you answer?
First of all, I tell the person that it is a valid question and the only way to really answer it is with another question: Do you love your parents (or whomever)? And how do you know? Can you prove it? Just as there is no solid proof for love, there is no solid proof that the Word of God is inspired. You just know it. They will start to balk at this, but then I hold up my hand and say, "Look. I'm not going to argue with you about this, because there's no point. If you are honestly interested in learning more, I'd be happy to get together with you on the phone or in person and go over why I believe what I believe. However, I'm not going to get into any circular thinking (ex. Can God make a rock so big he can't lift it type thinking) - because then we're both just wasting energy. What it all boils down to, is that I do believe what the Bible says, and therefore, I know I'm saved and will spend eternity with God. The question you should be asking yourself isn't "Is the Bible inspired by God?" but rather "Where will I spend eternity?" That's the question you need an answer to and it can be found by using the same faith you have that makes you believe you're capable of giving love."
This usually shuts them up long enough to turn and walk away. If they start to argue again, keep walking. They may act like they didn't hear what you said, but they did. And they'll be thinking about it.
You can't make someone believe - all you can do is start that little spark.
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 08:04 PM
Hey River,
I hear this argument all the time. I usually ask the person or people what they believe and why do they believe it? Where did they get their information that lead them to believe what they believe? It is always a book or many books. Then I tell them that the Bible is a collection of books with a cohesive theme that was assembled in 324 a.d. at the council of Nicea by several Christian leaders of the day. How is the fact that I believe what is written in a book any different from them believing what is written in a book?
Is it written by God? The only evidence that supports this believe is that the Bible says it is. Otherwise it is a matter of faith to believe it.
I look at it this way too. The unregenerate souls never argue about the validity of any other book as much as they do the Bible so it must be right.
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 09:18 PM
Hey River,
I think you are doing a great job that it even came up in conversation. Great Job! A couple of things, first, I have never read the book he was talking about, but I believe the bible demonstrates that he is correct about the reason for the flood and that Noah was chosen because he had one of the few undefiled bloodlines left on earth.
Next, you are fishing for men. When you fish, you don't throw the anchor at them, you throw out a small piece here and there to entice them into biting. You are doing great, just keep doing what you are doing.
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 22 Feb, 2010 10:00 PM
Thunder,
The Canon of The New Testament was comprised over a period of almost 40 years and several councils. The Catholic Church had over 300 books and letters claiming to be "inspired" by God. The Book of Enoch was one of many. Several of the Early Church Fathers (such as Tertullian) considered this book as an Inspired work.
The Catholic Church compared what was in this book to the Truths that She had and decided that some of the writing was "inspired", but not all of it and therefore left it out of The New Testament.
Every religion can claim that their "book" is the inspired word of God, because "the book says so". Circular Reasoning. Even we Christians do it.
The way I go about answering that question is to say:
"Let's look at The Bible as a History Book. Archealogists and scholars have proven many of what The Bible has written about to be true and accurate. Given that...The Bible speaks about a man called Jesus and the fact that He did exsist can be collaborated by historians and other secular books. Jeus did exsist! That can not be denied.
Again...takening The Bible as strictly a History book...Jesus was one of Three things -- he was either a delusioned madman...insane. Going around claiming to be The Son of God or He was a conspirator...someone trying to "Scam" everyone for personal gain. He was part of a "ploy" to overthrow the current Authority or whatever. Thirdly...He Truly was what He said He was...The Son of the Living God...The Messiah -- God come down to earth.
Now...bear in mind...people were willing to die for Him...many a horrible death. Who would do so to protect a conspiracy? If He was Insane...it would have all ended after His Death! But Christians continued to Die for Him for CenTURYS after His Death.
No...Jesus did exsist and Jesus was who He said He was and Jesus started His Church and
IT IS HIS CHURCH THAT DECLARED THE BIBLE THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 23 Feb, 2010 12:41 AM
Scripture is The Written Revelation from God.
Yet God did not intend for Scripture to be the Only means of Depositing His Truths. There is also the Oral revelation from God. Paul writes that he has much to tell the Christians, but he will not put "pen to paper", but will wait until he is before them. Once he was before them -- what Paul told them became the Oral Tradition of The Church. In John we are told that if everything Jesus said and did were to be "written down", the whole world could not contain the number of books needed. The 40 days Jesus spent with His Apostles -- much of those days were not written down -- are we to not listen to or believe anything that happened...because it was not written down?
God Created a Teaching Church (The Magistarian) which along with The Written Revelation (Scripture) and Oral Tradition were the means of vouchkeeping The Full Deposit of Faith.
Just as a horse without a rider will wander aimlesly and a book without a Teacher brings error...Scripture needs The Church so as to assure it's accurate interpreting.
How do you know the bible is the inspired word of God?
Posted : 23 Feb, 2010 01:36 AM
I thought Martin Luther settled that kind of thinking in the early 16th century. Why do you think they call us Protestants, we do not believe as you.
Personally, I will not believe a nything you cannot back up clearly with scripture. Why else would we have it if God didn't want us to test everything, hold fast to that which is good?
Jesus was the living Word of God, the Bible is the written Word of God. Kind of puts it all in perspective.
Of course some churches don't want people to have bibles. I wonder why that is the case? It sure looks suspicious, though.
Even during the time of the epistles, we see that the "oral tradition" being taught in various churches was way off base. That is why you can never trust it. If it isn't written down, it didn't happen.
