Subject: How inspired is the NAS Bible today? |
Bible Note: Sir Pent: Your reference to a dyslexic's transposing numbers in a Betty Crocker cookbook reminds me of the story of the dyslexic agnostic who was troubled with insomnia and stayed up all night pondering the existence of doG. ..... I should hardly think that a sufficient number of copyists or translators of the Bible were affected by dyslexia or other aberrations so as to render their works spurious and invalid. ..... There is every reason for Christians to believe -- if they indeed believe anything at all about the sovereignty of God -- that God is active still in the affairs of men, as He was in the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as He was at the moment of creation; as He has been throughout the annals of time...... The Bible presents the strongest evidence possible that it will endure. The words of Isaiah: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Is.40:8). Peter quotes this passage from Isaiah and adds, "And this is the word which was preached to you." (1 Pe.1:25)..... That the Bible will be preserved for all ages is a given, if we believe the Bible at all. But that's simply all we know. I'm neither willing to engage in vain speculation about how God goes about His business of guarding and preserving the purity of His word, nor disposed to harbor any doubt that He is engaged in doing it. God has neither revealed the intricate details through His word nor to me personally through a vision or any other tailor-made divine revelation. Therefore I have no knowledge of this process beyond what He says in His word, and neither does any one of you. Time after time Jesus quoted the words of the prophets that had been transmitted down through time. His Apostles likewise quoted the words of the ancient Hebrew Scriptures. Neither Jesus nor His divinely-appointed Apostles seemed to be troubled in the least about the issue of their preservation or authenticity. Neither am I. Neither should you. ...... I am saddened and sick at heart that his forum is becoming alarmingly obsessed and derailed by wild, vain, and scripturally unsound speculations, babblings and sheer nonsense. Have we not developed a serious case of itching ears, not willing to endure sound teaching, but to engage in every controversial issue, every sensational topic, and every off-the-wall philosophical, crackpot idea that comes down the pike? This is not a salvo of digust pointed to you, Sir Pent, and no personal insults toward you or anyone else is being contemplated. This is a far wider-reaching issue than personalies or personal vendetta. We have, in my estimation, lost sight of the aim and purpose for which this forum was established -- if indeed many of us have ever troubled ourselves with finding out just what it is supposed to be..... Switching the focus for a moment: There is an excellent book that treats of the subject of the reliability of the Bible and how it has been carefully transmitted to us down through the centuries. The book is written by Josh McDowell and it is called "The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict" and is published by Thomas Nelson .... I firmly believe that anyone and everyone who is unwilling or unable to keep their focus riveted on studying and discussing with fellow members of this forum the eternal word of God, should at least demonstrate their personal integrity and civility by logging off and going elsewhere for their kicks. --Hank |