Is the Bible a history book?

Zzyzx · Post by **Zzyzx** » Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:59 pm

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Is the Bible a history book?

Many adamantly maintain that stories from the Bible are literally, actually, accurately historical record and that the Bible is a history book.

The Library of Congress classifies the Bible as philosophy, Psychology, Religion â€“ subclass BS (their designation, not my suggestion) â€“ NOT History or Science.

History is defined as: the study of past events www.merriam-webster.com

Notice â€œeventsâ€� â€“ Not imagined or fanciful accounts.

Historical fiction is defined as:

The genre of literature, film, etc., comprising narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and personages. www.dictionary.com

OR

Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the main characters tend to be fictional. Writers of stories in this genre, while penning fiction, attempt to capture the manners and social conditions of the persons or time presented in the story, with due attention paid to period detail and fidelity. http://www.definitions.net

Might it be reasonable to consider the Bible as historical fiction (as well as religious literature)?

How many of the Bible's main characters are known to have been real and to be as depicted?

JehovahsWitness · Post by **JehovahsWitness** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 7:34 am

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

No, to refer to it as "a history book" in my opinion implies its chief or main purpose is to present information about history. The main purpse of the bible is imho to provide spiritual direction so while it does present many historical facts and is presented in a historical context, I wouldn't classify it as strictly "a history book" as it contains much more that just history.

Historical Fiction? No, because nothing in the bible can be proven to be fictional.

CONCLUSION: I would say the bible is a book of spiritual guidance and prophecy for mankind, relevant to every age presented in a historically and scientifically sound context.

Further Information:
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JEHOVAHS WITNESS

tfvespasianus · Post by **tfvespasianus** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 10:26 am

This question is interesting. Certain portions of the bible come close to the genre of History (e.g. Kings, Chronicles), but are somewhat different in character and content than other ancient works of history. Moreover, the writings compiled in the bible are disparate in character and content (which I will simplify as â€˜genreâ€™) from each other. That is, the bible contains etiological narratives, â€˜Wisdom literatureâ€™, sacred history, liturgical works, and poetry. As for the genre of the gospels, there is actually a great deal of debate regarding where they fit precisely in the literature of the ancient world. I think two of these views â€“ that they are straight-forward history or that they are sui generis ought to be discarded, but there are several other options. So, in discussing the genre of the bible as a whole isnâ€™t strictly speaking possible, but discussing a given component of it is.

Take care,
TFV

Elijah John · Post by **Elijah John** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:11 am

I voted "other", in that the Bible is a mix. History based on oral tradition, and sometimes, perhaps oftentimes inaccurate in it's details.

Some events appear to be entirely mythic. (Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel etc)

Also, or course, prayers (Psalms), Wisdom writings (Proverbs), Law for a Theocratic society, (Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus) etc.

The detail contained in the Law indicates that there is at least some historical basis. Works of complete fiction seldom contain that much detail about a society's legal system.

But overall, I think cnorman18's signature line sums it up quite nicely.

"I believe the Torah is true, and some of it may have actually happened."

Zzyzx · Post by **Zzyzx** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:28 am

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[Replying to post 4 by Elijah John]

Cnorman nailed it.

What is the PURPOSE of the Bible?

Is its purpose / intent to record events during a certain time period?

OR

Is its purpose / intent to promote a religion?

If the former it is a history book, if the latter it is a religious tome. If the latter contains references to real events it is STILL a religious tome, not a history book.

If some or many of the "events" described are not authentic it is, at least in part, historical fiction and/or pious fiction.

JehovahsWitness · Post by **JehovahsWitness** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:37 am

Zzyzx wrote: What is the PURPOSE of the Bible? Is its purpose / intent to record events during a certain time period?

OR

Is its purpose / intent to promote a religion?

I don't believe its either uniquely. The PURPOSE of the bible is to put man in communion with their maker; to explain how we (humanity) ended up on a planet with suffering, pain and death and to help us understand how we can return to "Eden" ie how God will will be done on earth (with the restablishment of a earthwide paradise).

Yes, it contains historical events in it; but I wouldn't say that is it's sole "purpose" rather it give a framework for when and how the books were recorded, and adds validity to the narrative, but the purpose is highly prophetic (the bible contains hundres of prophecies, many of which have already been proven to have been fulfilled and many are being fulfilled in this our 21st century).

Regarding religion, the bible explains the origins of false religion and yes, contains the history of the Jewish religion which was essential for the coming of the Messiah, but I wouldn't say it "promotes" this religion so much as presents it as being temporarily the channel through which God communicated his will. Today, of course the Jewish religion no longer enjoys that privilege, as imho, Jehovah's Witnesses now represent God on earth. So yes, as a spiritual book, the bible does present religion and its teal purpose.

JEHOVAHS WITNESS

Elijah John · Post by **Elijah John** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:41 am

Zzyzx wrote: .
[Replying to post 4 by Elijah John]

Cnorman nailed it.

What is the PURPOSE of the Bible?

Is its purpose / intent to record events during a certain time period?

OR

Is its purpose / intent to promote a religion?

If the former it is a history book, if the latter it is a religious tome. If the latter contains references to real events it is STILL a religious tome, not a history book.

If some or many of the "events" described are not authentic it is, at least in part, historical fiction and/or pious fiction.

The purpose of the Bible?

A faith history for a Spiritually evolving ancient people. Their accounts, (subjective as they may be) of their encounter with the mysterious Divine.

Unification and a basis of historical cohesion for that People (The Jewish people, of course), through it's teachings and traditions.

The mission statement OF the Jews as the chosen people. Chosen for what? A Nation of Priests, priests of the Living God, YHVH.

And the basis for the spread of message of ethical monotheism for the rest of the world via some of the universal messages of the Prophets and King David...(Every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that "only in YHVH is righeousness and strength") Jesus, Paul and the other apostles.

But in the most general sense, the purpose of the Bible is for the purpose of Spiritual inspiration and guidance.

Elijah John · Post by **Elijah John** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:45 am

JehovahsWitness wrote:I wouldn't say it "promotes" this religion so much as presents it as being temporarily the channel through which God communicated his will. Today, of course the Jewish religion no longer enjoys that privilege, as imho, Jehovah's Witnesses now represent God on earth. So yes, as a spiritual book, the bible does present religion and its teal purpose.

JEHOVAHS WITNESS

Where does anyone but Paul suggest that Judaism is only supposed to be a "temporary channel"?

JehovahsWitness · Post by **JehovahsWitness** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:49 am

Elijah John wrote:
JehovahsWitness wrote:I wouldn't say it "promotes" this religion so much as presents it as being temporarily the channel through which God communicated his will. Today, of course the Jewish religion no longer enjoys that privilege, as imho, Jehovah's Witnesses now represent God on earth. So yes, as a spiritual book, the bible does present religion and its teal purpose.

JEHOVAHS WITNESS
Where does anyone but Paul suggest that Judaism is only supposed to be a "temporary channel"?

Why would it need to be anywhere but Paul? Jehovah's Witnesses view the entire bible canon as the Word of God, if its anywhere, it's valid.

JW

Elijah John · Post by **Elijah John** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:17 pm

JehovahsWitness wrote: Why would it need to be anywhere but Paul? Jehovah's Witnesses view the entire bible canon as the Word of God, if its anywhere, it's valid.

JW

So that would include Jesus quote of Hosea 6.6, I desire mercy, NOT sacrifice?

No blood theology needed, animal or human, by that verse and others like it.

And Jesus himself never taught that Judaism was no longer valid, only that his interpretation of Judaism was the right one. So in effect, you are saying that Paul's opinion is more important than Jesus opinion?

Debating Christianity and Religion