The Infalibility of The Bible FAQ

[Guest Brian]

He's no Zeus.

[Guest SP-1]

I bet Jesus could take Hercules in a fight though.

 

Sorry, it was the first thing that came to mind and sounded awful Dopey-ish.

[Guest Brian]

But one Kawada runs in, Jesus is done.

[Guest SP-1]

I dunno, man. Jesus could prolly be pretty crafty if he wanted to. The whole being God thing, he could probably slow down time and pull off some Matrix stuff. (see: the Joshua comments earlier).

 

I'd pay to see it on PPV.

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

Yea, well, Shiva-Rudra would whup anyone and everyone. End of story.

[Guest SP-1]

Shiva . . . that sounds familiar. Was that the mythological goddess that the MK character is based on? Or is it a wrestling reference I'm not getting?

[Guest HecateRose]

Shiva-Rudra is a mythical goddess, and I do believe they based an MK character on the premise, not sure if the meant for the reference to be there or not

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

Well Shao Kahn could take them all. Now that was a MK reference.

[Guest JMA]

I believe this link is relevent.

 

http://www.theonion.com/onion3716/god_diag...ed_bipolar.html

 

I myself USED to be a Christian once. So I know much about the Bible. I wouldn't put too much stock in the book of Leviticus. It was more a lawbook than anything else. Most of the rules seem to relate to health. The Levis used it to determine their laws. Most people use the book as a basis for condeming homosexuality, while at the same time say Jesus' death negates the rest of it. Seems a bit hypocritical. Also, I don't think YHWH destroyed Sodom and Gomorroh just because of homosexuality. The people here were said to be violent and cruel, as well.

 

They wished to rape the Angels because of their great beauty. Lot offered them his daughters (what a great father...) and they refused. Later, these same daughters would get Lot drunk and rape him. Thus, impregnating them. Divine retribution perhaps? In the end, I see the Bible as a story. A story very rich in mythology and culture. A story with VERY retroactive continuity.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

As mythology, the Bible sucks balls. Greek and Norse mythology piss all over it. I find the story of Icarus just as relevant if not more so than anything in the Bible, plus its actually engaging. The Bible is boring, narrative-wise.

[Guest SP-1]

Jesus's death changed things in the manner that in faith in Christ your sins are cleansed. Eliminating the sin from your living is still important. The need to live right isn't negated, but stumbling as you try to is taken care of. And breaking the bonds of those sins is still important. Not hypocritical at all, IMO.

[Guest godthedog]

Saying that robs God of his Sovereignty, however. And that just isn't so. God is fully in control of what went into the Bible and what didn't. To say He isn't is to say he isn't God.

this is the same argument that was used for the divine right of kings, and is a rather dangerous view to have.

[Guest DrTom]

The Joshua thing is indeed about time-stopping, at least in the KJV. This is after God throws down stones from Heaven to kill a bunch of people, of course. Gotta love those examples of the compassionate, loving, forgiving God everyone talks about...

 

And I don't believe that inspiring what the biblical writers wrote takes away their free will. If they were willingly in the service of God, then writing down what He wanted was certainly within the realm of fulfilling a choice that they themselves made.

If they were going to write one thing, and ended up writing something else, that's violating their free will. Call it inspiration if you must, but that seems a weak term for it. Generally, people are inspired by things they experience, not by an outside force compelling them to record events in a certain fashion. That's ethereal editing, old chap.

[Guest SP-1]

They still submitted to God to allow Him to do that. There is a vast difference between God playing puppeteer and forcing them to write this or that and these men submitting to God when writing their letters to the various churches.

 

There are times, even times on here in these discussions, when I come out with explanations and things that, on my own, I don't think I could have come up with. It's just not how I usually think about things and indeed there's a, "Whoa . . . where did that come from . . . and it's in line with things . . . wow." vibe when I'll go back and review something. I think it's the same thing with the writers of scripture. Just as pastors and Christian teachers pray to God to "give them the words," I'm fairly certain that the apostles prayed for that. They had quite the connection with Christ, one that so many of us Christians don't pursue these days. I believe God, "gave them the words," just as he gives modern Christian pastors, leaders, teachers, and even posters the words. You sit down, you write it, and it's like being in a zone at times.

 

I think this is the same thing that happened with the writing of scripture.

[Guest Brian]

So when the translators that went back and transcribed things and tried to line thing s up with the Old Testament, they were speaking with God too? And God was giving them a different line? You know, since they got the final say.

[Guest SP-1]

I'm not sure what you mean there, Brian. Because OT scripture is quoted in the NT? Most of these men were originally Jews, especially Paul. He persecuted Christians before the Lord changed his life.

 

Or am I missing what you're saying? Because, to my knowledge, modern translations of the Bible have been pretty straightforward modern english updates from the original greek texts by various conventions put together for that purpose. Pastoral Ministry students are also taught the languages of the original texts and are made to translate them themselves to be as close to the originals as possible in their studies.

[Guest Brian]

They're all Jews. The whole movement was Jew. They didn't become Christian until what, the third or fourth century. Before they were just a sect of Judaism.

 

The originals weren't even written. They were oral, in barbaric toungues (as in regional dialects that were non-latin). At some point, and I don't have the dates, they were transcribed into gaelic. From there, latin. Then Guttenberg, the King James. I'm very sure that's the whole timeline of the bible. In between the gaelic, they may have been written in Greek too.

 

What I'm saying is through all the translations, and the fact that alot of the church was corrupt at the time, you're saying that's God's will? Let me re-phrase part of that: One translation is god's will and the second one is too? When these guys go in to reclaim the holy land and lose all but one crusade, that's God's will? Does God's will include the sacking of Rome and the only reason that the church, and many books, survived during the time is thanks to Arabic libraries in Spain and the Byzantine Empire?

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

Sorry for not explaining. Shiva Rudra is the third form of Vishnu, a (I believe) Hindu god. There's Brahma, the creator of life, Vishnu, the preserver of life, and Shiva-Rudra, the destroyer of life. Eventually, when man and gods have become too corrupt and evil (And don't say that this time is now, it also says mans lifespan would be about 20 years and the only pleasure man would get would be in sex) Shiva Rudra would destroy everything on the planet, including the other gods, to make room for the next wave of souls to be reincarneted. That's the gist of the thing, anyway.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Shiva is the god of death, destruction, disease and dance and has an eternal errection ...BOOYAH.

 

Shiva is not a form of Vishnu.

 

Vishnu actually has done things very similar to the christian god (story of manu, anyone? Krishna?) Something interesting to note.

[Guest SP-1]

I'm curious as to where you get that information from, Brian. Now, I could very well be wrong, but the New Testament is a collection of letters, not books, that were in fact written and sent out to the churches from Paul and the other Apostles as a means to send word from The Lord for better understanding.

 

And even in your scenario above, God is perfectly capable of making sure that those translations are preserved perfectly and that His Word and His Message are perfectly passed down. He's God. He's Sovereign. That's nothing out of the way for God to do.

[Guest JMA]

Here's a BIG list of Biblical contradictions. Those who attempt to rebuff them should take this into account.

 

1) How many generations were there between Abraham to David? Matthew

 

1:17 lists fourteen generations. Matthew 1:2 lists thirteen generations.

 

2) Is Paul lying? In Acts 20:35 Paul told people "to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Since Jesus never made such a biblical statement, isn’t Paul guilty of deception?

 

3) When did the leper become not a leper? (Matthew 8:13 & 8:14) Jesus healed the leper before visiting the house. (Mark 1:29-30 & 1:40-42) Jesus healed the leper after visiting Simon Peter’s house.

 

4) Who approached Jesus? (Matthew 8:5-7) The Centurion approached Jesus, beseeching help for a sick servant. (Luke 7:3 & 7:6-7) The Centurion did not approach Jesus. He sent friends and elders of the Jews.

 

5) Was she dead or just dying? (Matthew 9:18) He asked for help, saying his daughter was already dead. (Luke 8:41-42) Jairus approached Jesus for help, because his daughter was dying.

 

6) Just what did Jesus instruct them to take? (Matthew 10:10) Jesus instructed them not to take a staff, not to wear sandals. (Mark 6:8-9) Jesus instructed his disciples to wear sandals and take a staff on their journey.

 

7) When did John find out Jesus was the Messiah? (Matthew 11:2-3) While imprisoned. John the Baptist sent followers to Jesus to inquire if Jesus was the messiah. (Luke 7:18-22) While imprisoned. John the Baptist sent followers to Jesus to inquire if Jesus was the Messiah. (John 1 :29-34,36) John already knew Jesus was the Messiah.

 

8) Who made the request? (Matthew 20:20-21) Their mother requested that James and John, Zebedee’s children, should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom. (Mark 10:35-37) James and John, Zebedee’s children, requested that they should sit beside Jesus in his Kingdom.

 

9) What animals were brought to Jesus? (Matthew 21:2-7) two of the disciples brought Jesus an ass and a colt from the village of Bethphage. (Mark 11:2-7) They brought him only a colt.

 

10) When did the fig tree hear of its doom? (Matthew 21:17-19) Jesus cursed the fig tree after purging the temple. (Mark 11:14-15 & 20) He cursed it before the purging.

 

11) When did the fig tree keel? (Matthew 21:9) The fig tree withered immediately. and the disciples registered surprise then and there. (Mark 11:12-14 & 20) The morning after Jesus cursed the fig tree, the disciples noticed it had withered and expressed astonishment.

 

12) Was John the Baptist Elias? "This is Elias which was to come." Matthew 11:14 "And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he said I am not." John l:21

 

13) Who was the father of Joseph? Matthew 1:16 The father of Joseph was Jacob. Luke 3 :23 The father of Joseph was Heli. Christians shall try to LIE and tell you that one is the herritage of Mary and the other Joseph. This is utter bullshit, the Hebrew and Greek cultures NEVER regarded the bloodline of the mother. They were patriarchal societies which only concerned themselves with paternal lineage.

 

14) How many generations were there from the Babylon captivity to Christ? Matthew 1:17 Fourteen generations, Matthew 1:12-16 Thirteen generations.

 

15) Matthew 2:15, 19 & 21-23 The infant Christ was taken into Egypt. Luke 2:22 & 39 The infant Christ was NOT taken mo Egypt.

 

16) Matthew 5:1-2 Christ preached his first sermon on the mount. Luke 6:17 & 20 Christ preached his first sermon in the plain.

 

17) John was in prison when Jesus went into Galilee. Mark 1:14 John was not in prison when Jesus went into Galilee. John 1:43 & 3:22-24

 

18) What was the nationality of the woman who besought Jesus? Matthew 15:22 "And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." Mark 7:26 "The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation, and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter."

 

19) How many blind men besought Jesus? Matthew 20:30 Two blind men. Luke 18:35-38 Only one blind man.

 

20) Where did the devil take Jesus first? (Matthew 4:5-8) The Devil took Jesus first to the parapet of the temple, then to a high place to view all the Kingdoms of the world. (Luke 4:5-9) The Devil took Jesus first to a high place to view the kingdoms, then to the parapet of the temple.

 

21) Can one pray in public? (Matthew 6:5-6) Jesus condemned public prayer. (1 Timothy 2:8) Paul encouraged public prayer.

 

22) If we decide to do good works, should those works be seen? Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works." 1 Peter 2:12 "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that ... they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." This contradicts: Matthew 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them…that thine alms may be in secret." Matthew 23:3-5 "Do not ye after their [Pharisees'] works ... all their works they do for to be seen of men."

 

23) Who did Jesus tell the Lord’s Prayer to? (Matthew 5 : 1 , 6:9.. 1 3 & 7:28) Jesus delivered the Lord’s Prayer during the Sermon on the Mount before the multitudes. (Luke I 1 : I .4) He delivered it before the disciples alone, and not as part ofthe Sermon on the Mount.

 

24) When was Christ crucified? Mark 15:25 "And it was the third hour and they crucified him." John 19:14-15 "And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour; and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your king…Shall I crucify your king? John 19:14-15.

 

25) The two thieves reviled Christ. (Matthew 27:44 & Mark 15:32) Only one of the thieves reviled Christ. Luke 23:39-40.

 

26) In 1 Corinthians 1:17 ("For Christ sent me [Paul] not to baptize but to preach the gospel") Paul said Jesus was wrong when he said in Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…" Clearly one of these people is wrong, either way, it’s a contradiction.

 

27) When did Satan enter Judas? Satan entered into Judas while at the supper. John 13:27 Satan entered Judas before the supper. Luke 23:3-4 & 7

 

28) How many women came to the sepulcher? John 20:1 Only one woman went, Mary Magdalene. Matthew 28:1 Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" (Jesus’ mother) went.

 

29) Mark 16:2 It was sunrise when the two women went to the sepulcher. John 20:1 It was still dark (before sunrise) when Mary Magdalene went alone to the sepulcher.

 

30) There were two angels seen by the women at the sepulcher and they were standing up. Luke 24:4 There was only one angel seen and he was sitting down. Mark 28:2-5

 

31) How many angels were within the sepulcher? John 20:11-12 two, Mark 16:5 one.

 

32) The Holy Ghost bestowed at Pentecost. Acts 1:5-8 & 2:1-4 The holy Ghost bestowed before Pentecost. John 20:22

 

33) Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples? In a room in Jerusalem. Luke 24:32-37 On a mountain in Galilee. Matthew 28:15-17

 

34) Where did Christ ascend from? From Mount Olivet. Acts 1:9-12 From Bethany. Luke 24:50-51

 

35) Can all sins be forgiven? (Acts 13:39) All sins can be forgiven. Great, I’m happy to know God is so merciful, but wait (Mark 3:29) Cursing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.

 

36) The Elijah mystery: (Malachi 4:5) Elijah must return before the final days of the world. (Matthew 11:12-14) Jesus said that John the Baptist was Elijah. (Matthew 17:12- 13) Jesus insists that Elijah has already come, and everyone understood him to mean John the Baptist. (Mark 9:13) Jesus insists that Elijah has already come. (John 1:21) John the Baptist maintained that he was not Elijah.

 

37) Who purchased the potter’s field? Acts 1:18 The field was purchased by Judas. John 20:1 The potter’s field was purchased by the chief priests.

 

38) Paul’s attendants heard the miraculous voice and stood speechless. Acts 9:7 Paul’s attendants did not hear the voice and were prostrate. Acts 22:9 & 26:14

 

39) Who bought the Sepulcher? Jacob, Josh 24:32 Abraham, Acts 7:16

 

40) Was it lawful for the Jews to put Christ to death? "The Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die." John 19:7 "The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." John 18:31

 

41) Has anyone ascended up to heaven? Elijah went up to heaven: "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." 2 Kings 2:11 "No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man." John 3:13

 

42) Is scripture inspired by God? "all scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Timothy 3:16 compared to: "But I speak this by permission and not by commandment." 1 Corinthians 7:6 "But to the rest speak I, not the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:12 "That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord" 2 Corinthians.

 

Credit: EvilBible.com

[Guest SP-1]

Thanks for the list of inconsistensies from a website that calls itself "EvilBible". I'm sure there's absolutely NO bias there. But, just because I'm in a sporting mood, I'll actually sit down and tackle everything I can.

 

Also, off the top of my head: For number 13, with Joseph's heritage, I feel I should point out that you are in fact wrong about the paternal/maternal listings and their importance. Because in Jesus' lineage, two women are shown instead of men to have continued the bloodline. Women. Blatantly. Whether or not the society is concerned with it or not, God did indeed inspire for women to be named in that genealogy.

 

As for the rest, I'll sit down and prepare something more formal.

[Guest SP-1]

Also I feel I should point out that it is very easy for people to take a single verse and distort it. In the Bible, context is super important. Some cults build their entire living system out of a single verse that has become distorted by their founders. So single verses are generally set right rather easily when you look at the historical and written context.

[Guest JMA]

Thanks for the list of inconsistensies from a website that calls itself "EvilBible". I'm sure there's absolutely NO bias there. But, just because I'm in a sporting mood, I'll actually sit down and tackle everything I can.

And I suppose you ARE unbiased? C'mon. I, of course, know that you can never truly argue with the devout. But it's okay to try. But please, don't try to insult the site just because the list is long. I simply cited my source, as is the honorable thing to do. But enough of that, I don't want to get off subject (which will probably happen anyways). I will, however, say no one arguing either way is unbiased. I am inspired that you are dedicated enough to defend your faith.

 

Just understand that I am willing to do the same for MY "faith."

[Guest SP-1]

I didn't mean that as a shot at you. But I'm not surprised that a site calling itself, "EvilBible" would search high and low to compile a list like that.

 

I'll have something in a few days, after I've had time to look over everything and provide the best answers I can. I'm pretty sure that most of that is stuff out of context or just nit-picky stuff that ultimately adds up to the same thing.

[Guest JMA]

I didn't mean that as a shot at you. But I'm not surprised that a site calling itself, "EvilBible" would search high and low to compile a list like that.

 

I'll have something in a few days, after I've had time to look over everything and provide the best answers I can. I'm pretty sure that most of that is stuff out of context or just nit-picky stuff that ultimately adds up to the same thing.

Oh. I thought it was a shot. Sorry for lashing out. I actually just found that site minutes ago. That's all.

[Guest SP-1]

Is ok. I was being somewhat sarcastic so it's understandable.

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

You want sarcasm? Here's your sarcasm.

 

http://elephanticity.5u.com/xianches.html

 

This answers the question....Should Christians play Chess?

[Guest DrTom]

Skeptic's Annotated Bible

[Guest DrTom]

They still submitted to God to allow Him to do that.

sub•mit

v. sub•mit•ted, sub•mit•ting, sub•mits

v. tr.

1. To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.

 

How were they not giving up their free will, then? If they surrendered themselves to God and His will, not only were they giving up their free will, but God was denying them the gift he gave to all people. You’re arguing against yourself when you choose words like that, dear boy.

 

There is a vast difference between God playing puppeteer and forcing them to write this or that and these men submitting to God when writing their letters to the various churches.

Not really, at least not according to the definition above.

 

There are times, even times on here in these discussions, when I come out with explanations and things that, on my own, I don't think I could have come up with.... I believe God, "gave them the words," just as he gives modern Christian pastors, leaders, teachers, and even posters the words. You sit down, you write it, and it's like being in a zone at times.

I’ve been in that “zone” rather frequently, when a writing project is going well. They keystrokes just keep on coming, the ideas keep on flowing, and the story keeps building. But you know what? I know that *I* and I alone am doing it, and that I and I alone am responsible for it. You ascribe things like that to... divine intervention, if you will. That’s common among people who have faith. Things that can’t easily be explained MUST be the will of God, in their minds. People who recover from illnesses thought to be terminal rejoice at the “miracle,” when there are often much more mundane reasons. You come from a perspective like that one; I obviously do not. What the thinker thinks, the prover proves.