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Proper interpretation of the bible
The historical nature of the bible
The historical nature of the bible
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Recommended: Proper interpretation of the bible
How do we see the Bible? Do we see it merely as a historical narrative of what happened in the ancient past? Do we see it merely as devotional inspiration for a moment? Do we see its pages as the world’s greatest literary volume? Do we see the Bible as a secret disclosure of coming events and the consummation of the age? Do we see it as a tool to win arguments from a theological stand point? Or do we see it as fragments of truth that will confirm and strengthen our prejudices?
Many things have been said about the Bible by some prominent figures. Abraham Lincoln said "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book." George Washington said "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." Horace Greeley said "It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom."
The History of the Bible informs us that it was written by approximately 40 different authors- shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings; and on 3 different continents, over approximately 1600 years ago.
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Believe it or not, interpreters cannot fully grasp its mysteries without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. For the sake of clarity, the Bible states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), for it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them (2 Peter
The Bible is read and interpreted by many people all over the world. Regardless, no one knows the absolute truth behind scripture. Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old Testament, wrote “Biblical Authority” to help people understand what he describes as six different parts that make up the foundation to ones understanding of scripture. He defines these six features as being: inherency, interpretation, imagination, ideology, inspiration, and importance. As Brueggemann explains each individual part, it is easy to see that they are all interconnected because no one can practice one facet without involuntarily practicing at least one other part.
“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This section of a verse from the NRSV started the grand story of the bible. In the beginning the Bible brings two things to focus. The two things that are focused on is the setting and the main characters of the Bible (Professor Smallbones). The Bible opens in Genesis 1 with God creating. God creates light, the earth, the sun, living creatures, and many other things, but most importantly God creates humans. As God is the main character in the grand story he immediately forms a personal relationship with man and woman. God created Adam the first man and Eve the first woman. In the book, The Unfolding Drama of The Bible, Anderson says, “The
The King James Bible has been the focus of the moral compass of the world since its creation. Being that it was the English translated Bible, Christianity spread rapidly as more people began to know and study God about Jesus Christ. The language in the Bible holds better understanding in which why it became so well-known so fast. In study for the beginnings of the book, the revising of it turned people on to its stories like the Sermon on the Mount and Psalm 23. Translation of the King James Bible came directly from Tyndale’s writings of the New Testament written in 1524. The King James Bible is an adaptation of Tyndale’s writings.(1) Language in the King James Bible shows direct writings from Tyndale’s New Testament and poetic, literary wisdom,
Scripture,” the idea that the Bible is God’s perfect word, the clearest expression of God’s plan
...nature of God, the world, and human beings, the Bible is a source from which a reasonably comprehensive worldview may be constructed. Many narratives or teachings of Scripture speak directly to the various elements of a worldview” (Palmer, pp 93) .
Even though humans wrote the text, translating it and passing it down from generations to generations, God’s truth is unchanging. Debates of the inerrancy of the bible cannot usurp God as the King of grace. Instead of focusing on the inerrancy of the Bible, individuals who wish to seek a life of faith should focus on the inspiration God is showing them in his word. These revelations should move them into applicable, daily life changing implications from what they have learned. God shows revelations of himself through the Bible, and his character is revealed time and time again throughout scripture. Any faulty facts or discrepancies in grammar or data, should not take away from the value that scripture holds. When we read scripture we bring new meaning of interpretations of the truths God shows us, since new eras and environmental factors will be influential on how we process information. The bible is not just a fact book, telling humans stories of the past, but instead the bible is inspired instructions for how we can deal with spiritual and ethical encounters we
The Hebrew Bible, better known as the Old Testament, is a collection of tomes that form part of the Biblical canon. Many scholars around the world do not think that a single author wrote the books contained in the Hebrew Bible, but rather that it represents centuries of stories frequently compiled after the events they describe . The stories were created with visions for the future, in order to allow audiences insight into communities and beliefs that were common thought during their era. The stories responded to the issues and problems of their time, but also addressed contemporary climates. While the stories themselves may not be true, they convey truth without needing literal readings. For example, the creation stories in Genesis, portray God as creating the universe, and while this is considered as not ‘literally true’; the stories communicate theological truths about mankind’s relationship with God through the eyes of Hebrew writers .
The Bible as a Historical Document MARK'S THEOLOGY REFLECTED IN WRITING Mark and the other evangelists used basically five ways to change, edit or enhance Jesus' sayings to reflect their own views of Christianity. According to the Five Gospels Book, plagiarism and changing of writing was not a crime, but actually very common Mark's time. Besides, Mark never knew Jesus first-hand, he somehow had to make a 'story' from basically Hearsay!
The most important question one must ask is how should the Bible be interpreted? The first and obvious, yet important thing to say about the Bible is that it is literature. In fact, it is a whole library of books: some of them history, some poetry, and some in the form of letters. When we approach literature, one usually asks the question “How does the author want it to be understood?” When reading the Bible, one should always try and follow the natural understanding of a passage in its context. Dr. John Lennox, who is a professor at Oxford University explains this idea well, by showing how the early Christian fathers used this “literal understanding” to counter a metaphorical interpretation.
...ns). The King James Bible, however, did not just affect writers because scientists and political leaders also used this for their own gain. “Scientists found their awestruck of the universe in this Bible. When Samuel Moore sent his first revolutionary telegraph message in 1844, it quoted the Book of Numbers in King James English” (Jenkins). Political leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and other radical reformers used the language of the King James Bible to shape their own dreams for what they wanted in America (Jenkins). The importance of the King James Bible in that time period can be shown through the literary works and other influential people, to England and later the United States.
The Bible: The Holy Canon of Scripture is an essay by J. Hampton Keathley, III that aims to justify the canonicity of the Bible. Keathley first defines canonicity as a word used to describe books that are recognized as inspired by God and then gives a brief history of the term. In essence, the word can be derived from Greek, Hebrew, and Akkadian words denoting a standard of straightness and was used first to describe accepted doctrines of the Church before it became widely used as a description for the list of sacred books that fit the modern definition. The article then addresses the need of a canon and justifies the canonicity of the Old and New Testaments.
For centuries now Christians have claimed to possess the special revelation of an omnipotent, loving Deity who is sovereign over all of His creation. This special revelation is in written form and is what has come to be known as The Bible which consists of two books. The first book is the Hebrew Scriptures, written by prophets in a time that was before Christ, and the second book is the New Testament, which was written by Apostles and disciples of the risen Lord after His ascension. It is well documented that Christians in the context of the early first century were used to viewing a set of writings as being not only authoritative, but divinely inspired. The fact that there were certain books out in the public that were written by followers of Jesus and recognized as being just as authoritative as the Hebrew Scriptures was never under debate. The disagreement between some groups of Christians and Gnostics centered on which exact group of books were divinely inspired and which were not. The debate also took place over the way we can know for sure what God would have us include in a book of divinely inspired writings. This ultimately led to the formation of the Biblical canon in the next centuries. Some may ask, “Isn’t Jesus really the only thing that we can and should call God’s Word?” and “Isn’t the Bible just a man made collection of writings all centered on the same thing, Jesus Christ?” This paper summarizes some of the evidences for the Old and New Testament canon’s accuracy in choosing God breathed, authoritative writings and then reflects on the wide ranging
2 Timothy 3:16 upholds that the Bible produces valuable direction in living a Christian life. Living one’s life based on the authority, inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible brings about transformation. Without the Scripture being a God given absolute, truth erodes and man risks becoming god by interpreting the Bible according to his knowledge, which is limited.
Answering these questions is the purpose of this essay. I begin by arguing that the Bible cannot be adequately understood independent of its historical context. I concede later that historical context alone however is insufficient, for the Bible is a living-breathing document as relevant to us today as it was the day it was scribed. I conclude we need both testimonies of God at work to fully appreciate how the Bible speaks to us.
The Bible is the book sacred to Christians and is seen as the indirect word of God. To Christians, the Bible is a guideline on how to live their lives. It also provides information on how the Earth was created, how humans came about, and provides explanation to anything life has to offer. The Bible is split into two segments which include the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the sacred book of the Jews. It provides information to everything before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The New Testament starts with the birth of God’s son whom he sent down to Earth, Jesus Christ. The Bible is a sacred book for the Christians as well as a history book composed of many first and second hand accounts of not only Jesus Christ,