Scriptural inerrancy and literalism - is it true?

[polonius]

http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/ ... red-by-god

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

“Theologians speak of inspiration as the mysterious process by which God worked through the authors of Scripture to produce inerrant and divinely authoritative writings. Inspiration is a mystery because Scripture doesn't explain specifically how it occurred�.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/inerran1.htm

Absolute inerrancy: If God controlled the writers' words directly or indirectly, then he would not have led them into error. Deceit and error are not normally attributes expected of God.

Limited inerrancy: the Bible is without error in certain matters such as faith, morals and the criteria for salvation. However, the Bible contains errors when describing other matters, such as scientific observations and historical events.

No inerrancy: They interpret it as containing much legend, myth, historical and scientific inaccuracies, religious propaganda, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_literalism

The term "biblical literalism" is often used as a pejorative to describe or ridicule the interpretative approaches of fundamentalist or evangelical Christians. A 2011 Gallup survey reports, "Three in 10 Americans interpret the Bible literally, saying it is the actual word of God."

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness]

"Well then yes, the bible should be regarded as inerrant if by that you mean should be viewed as the Word of God contains the truth from that one . Whether a speciefic part of it should be taken literally or not should be assessed on an text by text basis."

How can God say something for it to be understood?
In Genesis - 'God said let there be light' did He actually use his mouth to speak the way we do? Hope no one here will say yes.

Simply said, there is no ratio between the divine and the human on any level including the language. It is true for those whose perception is open to the divine to teach the inner, spiritual truths.

Nice post, I couldn't agree more. If people really grasped this they would understand the metaphor of scripture much more. Thank you for your contribution.

JW

[Monta]

[Replying to post 42 by polonius.advice]


"Matt 16:28 "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.�

Perhaps you overlooked this passage and the generation it specified, that is, “there are some standing here….� That's pretty specific!

But, of course, it just didn't happen. "

Simple question, where does it say it did not happen.

RESPONSE:

Common sense shows that no one records what doesn't happen, only what did happen.

Perhaps I should write that the world didn't end yesterday. But those reading my claim already know that so what would be the purpose

Do you really expect Jesus to list a series of thing that obviously did not happen?

Jesus is in his kingdome, that's what He came to accomplish by evercoming death and those who were standing there witnessed His ascension. Everything that was needed to be done has been done.
What do we want, demand of Him to manifest Himself just because that's what we want? Just as devil temted Him - if thou be.....

[polonius]

Jesus is in his kingdome, that's what He came to accomplish by evercoming death and those who were standing there witnessed His ascension. Everything that was needed to be done has been done.
What do we want, demand of Him to manifest Himself just because that's what we want? Just as devil temted Him - if thou be.....[/quote]

RESPONSE: If Jesus was divine, we'd expect him to tell the truth (or prophecise correctly).

If he didn't that seems to evidence a lack of divinity, simple!

[polonius]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness]

"Well then yes, the bible should be regarded as inerrant if by that you mean should be viewed as the Word of God contains the truth from that one . Whether a speciefic part of it should be taken literally or not should be assessed on an text by text basis."

How can God say something for it to be understood?
In Genesis - 'God said let there be light' did He actually use his mouth to speak the way we do? Hope no one here will say yes.

Simply said, there is no ratio between the divine and the human on any level including the language. It is true for those whose perception is open to the divine to teach the inner, spiritual truths.

Nice post, I couldn't agree more. If people really grasped this they would understand the metaphor of scripture much more. Thank you for your contribution.

JW

RESPONSE: But a metaphor isn't actual history. It really didn't happen.

Definition: Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

[JehovahsWitness]

RESPONSE: But a metaphor isn't actual history. It really didn't happen.

Definition: Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

No, that would be "fiction" or "a parable" or "an illustration" or even "allegory" ... a metaphor is a figure of speech or a linguistic tool, it can be applied to anything ... something fictional or real, scientific or historical or imaginary. For example, I could use squashed strawberries as a metaphor for the holocaust, there were no strawberries, nobody crushed them but there was a holocaust. I would, as a writer, simply be using the strawberries to picture Jews and squashing them, to symbolize their fate. Jews of course are not literally strawberries, so it is not "literally applicable" but that doesn't make the point of the metaphor fictional.

Anyway, the whole bible isn't one or the other, it contains, fiction (stories and parables) metaphor, allegory, symbolism, scientific truth, historical facts, etc etc.

JW

[Monta]

[Replying to polonius.advice]


"RESPONSE: If Jesus was divine, we'd expect him to tell the truth (or prophecise correctly).

If he didn't that seems to evidence a lack of divinity, simple!"

By your measure of course.

[polonius]

RESPONSE: But a metaphor isn't actual history. It really didn't happen.

JW admits

(A metaphor)can be applied to anything ... something fictional or real

Anyway, the whole bible isn't one or the other, it contains, fiction (stories and parables) metaphor, allegory, symbolism, scientific truth, historical facts, etc etc.

QUESTION: Then how do you separate fact from fiction in the Bible?

[JehovahsWitness]

QUESTION: Then how do you separate fact from fiction in the Bible?

Mostly I refer to context. Usually parables are presented by words such as "and Jesus began to teach using a parable" (paraphrasing). Otherwise I personally use common sense and my knowledge of how language works. I may also refer to biblical commentaries.

JW

[polonius]

QUESTION: Then how do you separate fact from fiction in the Bible?

Mostly I refer to context. Usually parables are presented by words such as "and Jesus began to teach using a parable" (paraphrasing). Otherwise I personally use common sense and my knowledge of how language works. I may also refer to biblical commentaries.

JW

RESPONSE: So you overlook rather obvious contradictions such as between Matthew 21:2-7 and Mark 11:2-7. And argue that contextually two animals are the same as one animal?

That's not a contextual difference. 2 does not equal 1. That's a contradiction or error.

At least one account is fictional (or both may be).

Or did you find some "biblical commentary" that said that 2 really does equal 1 and you believe it?

[Monta]

[Replying to polonius.advice]


RESPONSE: So you overlook rather obvious contradictions such as between Matthew 21:2-7 and Mark 11:2-7. And argue that contextually two animals are the same as one animal?

That's not a contextual difference. 2 does not equal 1. That's a contradiction or error."

Just giving the refference is not enough.
You might have to quote the part of the text you want to point out.