Very few bible believing christians read the bible. Even fewer still have ever bothered to research the origins of the OT and NT and how it was that the various separate and disparate books were collected together into one single book, called the christian bible today.

In fact, there is NO one recognised bible. The "Catholic bible" has about 6 more books than the Protestant bible (my terminology here may not be correct. So excuse me). So which bible did god exactly inspire?

Was it the bible with 66 books or the bible with fewer books or the bible with more books?



In fact, in the word of some academic biblical scholars (Bart Erhman, Misquoting Jesus), there are more variations in the existing textual manuscripts of the NT than there are words in the entire NT. That is, there are more than 20000 variations in the texts of the NT. Admittedly, the vast majority of these variations do not seem to have doctrinal implications. However, there are a few that clearly stand out and do seem have doctrinal consequences. Here there are:


1) John 7:53 - John 8:11. The story of the woman caught in adultery.

This story does not appear in the earliest existing Greek manuscript but seems to have been added in much later by some later scribes. In fact the bible right in front of me right now has the following words about this story;


SOME EARLY GREEK MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT CONTAIN 7:53 - 8:11


2) The doctrine of the Trinity (Can't remember the exact verse).

This too was not present in the earliest manuscript, but was added into the gospel as a doctrinal tool to fight the development of gnosticism. ( I shall get the exact details on this later, when I check all my sources. So I stand corrected on this one when better evidence comes in)


So if the NT is such a hotchpotch of text that has undergone many scribal mistranslations, errors, additions etc, which parts of it can be relied upon for doctrinal support? Can it still be said to be inspired? If so, which bits?


In fact I would let Bart Erhman pick up the story.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cK3Ry_icJo&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUfSuninCn0&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6m07nmLe60&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkZnIJoY3ZY&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDjZK8SMBxE&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogG38VaSG3I&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YKMsJvBLag&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QSmdtgehQE&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJdq7MysUk&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TffAToyojg&feature=related



==============================================================================

Some of my other threads


The Dangers Of Religious Fundamentalism To Intellectualism
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110955.msg1929006#msg1929006

Only For Those Who Know Their Bibles And Some History: Who Was Jesus?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112697.msg1954632#msg1954632

Only For Those Who Know Their Bibles: Old Testament Stories
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112679.msg1954426#msg1954426

Human Sacrifice In The Bible: Lev 27: 29 & Judges 11
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112584.msg1953340#msg1953340

Please, Please, Please: Christians - Read Read Read Your Bibles
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112578.msg1953311#msg1953311

When Was Jesus Crucified?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112557.msg1952665#msg1952665

On Conversion To A Religion (christianity Or I-slam)
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112547.msg1952353#msg1952353

Faith-healers And Tele-evangelists
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112398.msg1950528#msg1950528

Where Did Sin Originate?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112377.msg1950291#msg1950291

For The Non-beleivers Only, 1
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112262.msg1948957#msg1948957

Would Christains Be Criminals And Offenders If They Were Not Christians?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112259.msg1948919#msg1948919

On The Authenticity Of The New Testament, Part 1
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112240.msg1948631#msg1948631

Has Atheism Got Principle? No
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112216.msg1948180#msg1948180

It Is Biblical To Have Sex (and Lots Of It) Before Marriage
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112139.msg1946940#msg1946940

Should The Old Testament Laws Be Observed In The Modern Era?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112114.msg1946682#msg1946682

Founding A State or Nation On Religious Principles
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112086.msg1946268#msg1946268

Great Books About Non-belief
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111928.msg1943935#msg1943935

Who Are The Self-declared Non-believer? Resources For You
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111806.msg1942137#msg1942137

Beware of a Simplistic Interpretation of Jesus's 2nd Coming Passages
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111677.msg1939992#msg1939992

Archbishop Cause Furore Over Sharia Law In The Uk
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111645.msg1939155#msg1939155

Eminent Christian Scientist (francis Collins) Explains The Evolution Of Humans
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111482.msg1936158#msg1936158

Please, Help Me Out With Your Knowledge Of The Bible
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111474.msg1936099#msg1936099

Why Biology Is So Important To Our Modern World
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111466.msg1935975#msg1935975

Genesis Vs Genetics
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111227.msg1932655#msg1932655

Jesus Genealogy
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111222.msg1932616#msg1932616

£300 (three - Hundred Pound Sterling) Essay Competition
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111143.msg1931508#msg1931508

Beware Of Religious Fundamentalism In Your University Campuses
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110965.msg1929160#msg1929160
===============================================================================

Therationa U are not doing bad in ur crusade of trying to discredit the bible. Is that ur calling on earth?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence (to quote Carl Sagan). The christains are making extraordinary claims about the bible, as to its inspiration by god.

What would you expect from a book that is inspired by an omniscient being. I would expect ABSOLUTE perfection, and nothing less will do. Otherwise the claim for inspiration or omniscience have been wrongly attributed.

@therationa,

therationa:

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence (to quote Carl Sagan). The christains are making extraordinary claims about the bible, as to its inspiration by god.

Have you demonstrated your willingness to enter an extraordinary discourse on your assumptions?

therationa:

What would you expect from a book that is inspired by an omniscient being. I would expect ABSOLUTE perfection, and nothing less will do.

You make me laugh! If you saw 'perfection', would you be able to grasp it - nevermind "ABSOLUTE perfection". It amazes me that you'd be asking for extraordinary evidence when indeed you haven't been able to hold your own ground when simple responses are presented to you.

therationa:

Otherwise the claim for inspiration or omniscience have been wrongly attributed.

That may again be a cheap conclusion drawn before considering the invitation to discuss.

Stimulus,


Enlighten us then

Are there any reasons for me to believe the "Woman caught in Adultery" story in the bible as authentic?

@therationa,

therationa:

Stimulus,

Enlighten us then

I'm willing to discuss your misgivings, if and only if you're willing to stand and not scoot off from the spirited discourse as you have done in several threads.

therationa:

Are there any reasons for me to believe the "Woman caught in Adultery" story in the bible as authentic?

I'd like to see you present rational and well seasoned arguments for not believing it as authentic.

@therationa

The producers of the movie 'The Da Vinci Code' spent $125 million in an attempt to darken the truth about Christ.

What did they eventually achieve -> the truth of Christ was better analyzed and better understood. They ended up adding more people to the body of Christ, without realizing it.

This is how God draws good from the evil that men do; including the shallow (irrational) questions you keep asking.

imhotep:

This is how God draws good from the evil that men do; including the shallow (irrational) questions you keep asking.

Precisely. And how does this work in therationa's case? I think more people have come to see the big holes in his assumptions; and his inability to stand and rationally debate any issue to a logical end has even worsened his case.

stimulus:

Precisely. And how does this work in therationa's case? I think more people have come to see the big holes in his assumptions; and his inability to stand and rationally debate any issue to a logical end has even worsened his case.

Beautiful.

@therationa and co:
God is too powerful to be threatened or limited by the foolish questions emanating from your faulty reasoning.

imhotep:

Beautiful.

@therationa and co:
God is too powerful to be threatened or limited by the foolish questions emanating from your faulty reasoning.

Imhotep & Stimulus,

Where is my faulty logic? I have just given you guys what I got from my bible. The WARNING that some verses are not found in the earliest Greek manuscript and seem to have been added much later on. I got that WARNING from my bible. Where is the faulty reasoning in that?

BTW, have any of you guys ever done academic research? Are you familiar with the tradition of using other reputable and trusted source as a means of shoring up ones arguments?

I have given you my sources, one of which is Bart Erhman. This guy is in most the immenent committee for the interpretation of NT material (can't remember the name exactly) In fact, the entire scholarly community has a consensus on these verses. That is why most new bibles these days are printed with those warnings. Do you think I am making things up. It behooves you guys to take on the academic bodies and stop misinforming the largely ill-educated audience you target.

therationa:



Imhotep & Stimulus,

Where is my faulty logic? I have just given you guys what I got from my bible. The WARNING that some verses are not found in the earliest Greek manuscript and seem to have been added much later on. I got that WARNING from my bible. Where is the faulty reasoning in that?

BTW, have any of you guys ever done academic research? Are you familiar with the tradition of using other reputable and trusted source as a means of shoring up ones arguments?

I have given you my sources, one of which is Bart Erhman. This guy is in most the immenent committee for the interpretation of NT material (can't remember the name exactly) In fact, the entire scholarly community has a consensus on these verses. That is why most new bibles these days are printed with those warnings. Do you think I am making things up. It behooves you guys to take on the academic bodies and stop misinforming the largely ill-educated audience you target.

@therationa
We have met your type severally. You will soon start arriving at satanic conclusions, like gaylord bawomol(o).

imhotep:

@therationa
We have met your type severally. You will soon start arriving at satanic conclusions, like gaylord bawomol(o).

I will ASK AGAIN. Why is my faulty reasoning/logic?

BTW, stop getting to conclusions I have not made and stay of the subject

We have met your type severally. You will soon start arriving at satanic conclusions, like gaylord bawomol(o).

lmbao. i see u have resorted to personal attacks. and i thought christians were supposed to more ethical than atheists huh?? who said i was gay??

*ignored the troll*

Could we trust the bible for factual accuracy?

huxley:

Could we trust the bible for factual accuracy?

Yes.

=================
We can also trust this your line of reasoning to lead to the living of a degenerate lifestyle.