The Bible

Since this blog is based on the Bible and the evangelical understanding of that book, I need to make it clear exactly what I mean, and what I am referring to, when I speak of the Bible.

First, we don't actually have the Bible anymore. The Bible was what was originally written. I understand there are some thumbnail sized pieces of Paul's letters extant, but that is all.

What's more, we don't even have copies of the Bible.

What do we have? We have translations of copies. The Bible was written primarily in Hebrew and Greek. Those documents which make up the Bible were copied by hand, one at a time, for centuries before mass printing was possible.

It is those copies, or printed versions of them, from which printed translations into other languages were made. Bibles are subject to the same vagaries of translation as any other document.

This brings up two questions. What do I believe about the original? Is what we have any good?

I believe the Bible, as originally written, is the inspired, infallible word of God, completely truthful and relevant for every situation and circumstance and just as real and important today and for the future as at any point in history. I believe every single decision we make should be, in some measure, weighed against it. For instance, while the Bible doesn't tell us directly what we should eat for supper, it does speak to the need for eating in a healthy manner.

I believe the Bible is the sole source of faith and practice. Other writings or teachers may help us understand it better, but no person or writing shares its authority and the worth of all other religious teaching and literature is based strictly upon how truly it conforms to the Bible, itself.

As to the worth of our translations, they are as good as their scholarship. One should take some care in choosing a translation (I use the New American Standard), but if a well translated version is chosen it has all the value of the original.

How can that be?

No book in history has been as studied and researched as the Bible. Scholars have gone to almost impossible lengths to confirm its accuracy and root out such small errors as have crept in. Thus it is pretty much impossible to believe that any well researched modern translation contains, and fails to point out, those small errors.

Can I prove the Bible is true or correct? No. There is no need for that with those who believe it and it is impossible to do with those who reject it. Some parts of it are easily verifiable. Some parts won't be verified until the end of time. In this blog I will not attempt to prove the Bible. The Bible is, in its essence, a book of faith, and it must be accepted on that basis. Evangelical Christianity does just that, and for the purpose of this blog that will suffice.

Romans 15:4, II Timothy 3:14-17, II Peter 1:20-21