Defending the Bible

[Shine]

I've had two separate situations this past weekend in which I was challenged by two separate non-believers to defend the origin of the bible...and I felt completely inadequate in this area. I believe if this is a bit of a "wake up" call to show me an area that needs to be worked on in my faith life. I have no idea where to start...advice is much appreciated.

 

[WIP]

Personally, I don't think it should be necessary to defend the truth. For this reason, I avoid getting into those situations. I will witness for Christ but I won't or at least I try not to get into a defensive position with regard to God. I figure God can defend himself just fine and he doesn't want attorneys but he wants witnesses. A witness is someone that shares what he/she believes to be truth.

I've been in your shoes on more than one occasion and the reason I think I feel defensive is because I do lack the theological background necessary to argue the fine points. At this, I agree that we both need to work on those things but not so we can win arguments but so we can have a better understanding of our God.

 

[childeye]

You must begin by declaring that Christianity is not founded on the bible but that the bible is founded upon Christ. Otherwise you will lose the confrontation because you will have accepted the false and subtle innuendo proposed in the argument at the outset...

 

[Nathan Alterton]

There has been A LOT of great work done on the authenticity of the Biblical writings, far too much to even summerize here, frankly.

You should probably consider starting with something basic. Try reading the article "Is the New Testament Text Reliable?" by Greg Koukl, which should provide some good foundational info. Mr. Koukl also has a more lengthy treatment of this material that should be very approachable for a layman in his short book, "Ancient Words."

To get more in depth, you could check out any number of great Christian scholars like Bruce Metzger, F.F. Bruce, Paul Barnet, Michael Licona, Paul L. Maier, or Gary Habermas.

If you have specific questions, I'm sure I or someone else here could do a reasonably good job at answering them, too.

 

[Gazelle]

I would add to that list the New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell.

be well.

 

[glorydaz]

Personally, I don't think it should be necessary to defend the truth. For this reason, I avoid getting into those situations. I will witness for Christ but I won't or at least I try not to get into a defensive position with regard to God. I figure God can defend himself just fine and he doesn't want attorneys but he wants witnesses. A witness is someone that shares what he/she believes to be truth.

I've been in your shoes on more than one occasion and the reason I think I feel defensive is because I do lack the theological background necessary to argue the fine points. At this, I agree that we both need to work on those things but not so we can win arguments but so we can have a better understanding of our God.

I'm with you on this one, WIP. God can defend Himself just fine.

I tell them that the Bible is only written for those who want to know God....it's but foolishness to anyone else.

 

[glorydaz]

You must begin by declaring that Christianity is not founded on the bible but that the bible is founded upon Christ. Otherwise you will lose the confrontation because you will have accepted the false and subtle innuendo proposed in the argument at the outset...

I wouldn't suggest that. Both Christ and the Bible are the Word of God...both being revelations of God to man.

 

[glorydaz]

There has been A LOT of great work done on the authenticity of the Biblical writings, far too much to even summerize here, frankly.

You should probably consider starting with something basic. Try reading the article "Is the New Testament Text Reliable?" by Greg Koukl, which should provide some good foundational info. Mr. Koukl also has a more lengthy treatment of this material that should be very approachable for a layman in his short book, "Ancient Words."

To get more in depth, you could check out any number of great Christian scholars like Bruce Metzger, F.F. Bruce, Paul Barnet, Michael Licona, Paul L. Maier, or Gary Habermas.

If you have specific questions, I'm sure I or someone else here could do a reasonably good job at answering them, too.

If an unbeliever isn't persuaded by the Gospel message, he will not be persuaded by any number of "facts" about the Bible itself.

 

[childeye]

I wouldn't suggest that. Both Christ and the Bible are the Word of God...both being revelations of God to man.

Sorry glorydaz, but I've already won many arguments and brought people to look into the Christ that way. What you are not seeing is the subtle innuendo I alluded to. They want to say Christ exists only to the weak minded, because of what some man or men made up and wrote in a book. To argue this point is unproductive, since at every turn one must take someones word for it somewhere, and all of these believe in the book to begin with.

But no one can argue with the fact that Love exists apart from a book. and no one can argue they don't make up their own absolute or image of god. Everyone has a truth they reason upon. Neither can they deny that a Truth exists that is not made by man. The Moral Truth is that Love is eternal and trustworthy, that is what the Christ came to show. And that is what the bible testifies to. Conquers them every time.

 

[glorydaz]

Sorry glorydaz, but I've already won many arguments and brought people to look into the Christ that way. What you are not seeing is the subtle innuendo I alluded to. They want to say Christ exists only to the weak minded, because of what some man or men made up and wrote in a book. To argue this point is unproductive, since at every turn one must take someones word for it somewhere, and all of these believe in the book to begin with.

But no one can argue with the fact that Love exists apart from a book. and no one can argue they don't make up their own absolute or image of god. Everyone has a truth they reason upon. Neither can they deny that a Truth exists that is not made by man. The Moral Truth is that Love is eternal and trustworthy, that is what the Christ came to show. And that is what the bible testifies to. Conquers them every time.

I can certainly believe that is your claim.