"Every word in the Bible is from God." + God's wil

[Orion]

This statement has been the source of much debate and discussion. The statement, "Every word in the Bible is from God." is said by those who may also say that God would make sure that His word was preserved by the some 40 writers during that 1500 year period.

However, I wonder how true that statement can really be. Here's my point. I am currently involved in a very sad marital separation where my wife has no desire for us to be back together. I've prayed that God would change her heart, .. . . however, people state that God will no go against her will, . . . that God won't make her desire to come back to me because of her own free will.

Now, it would then make sense to hold to the notion that those 40 writers, during that 1500 year period may very well have had their own influences, internal or external, shape what they were writing and that, because of their free will which God chooses not to superscede, what we have in our Bible cannot be exactly what God was wanting us to know.

This is also the case of the countless numbers of people who had some hand in helping the original author, those who may have had the text in their possession, those who eventually translated it. . . and translated the translation, those who decided which texts were "holy" and which ones were "heretical", . . . . and so on and so forth.

So, when I hear "every word is preserved as God wanted it", . . . I really have to step back and question the accuracy of that statement. What is your opinion on this?

 

[mutzrein]

Orion - I have also gone through a marital separation and I must say that there came a point when I had to submit to the Lord and say 'not my will but thine be done'. Now while another person's will seemingly contributed to my predicament I can only say that at the end of the day, God's will has been done - and is continuing to be done as I submit to Him.

Many people refer to the bible as God's word and live by it, almost as if it were a rule book since they believe every letter of it to be every bit true. I believe scripture is inspired by God but I recognise that it cannot be 'lived by' without the same spirit that inspired it, to be also dwelling in the person who reads it. And there are many who have taken scripture and interpreted it without the Spirit of God that (I believe) inspired it in the first place. So even though man has written it (and with free will) I believe God has enabled him, because of the environment that shaped them, to be conformed to His will thus enabling him to be his servant in conveying his 'word'.

Obviously not my 'complete' opinion but a few thoughts for you for starters?