Why would God want us to even have a bible? What is its use, is that the only way we can learn about God and his laws? Even in the stories of the bible were there are many who were close to God and did his bidding yet they did not have a bible, why is this contradiction never brought up?
The Bible can be used to prop up the corner of your washing machine if it is tilted.
I’ve also rolled joints out of the pages of revelations. When I smoked the part where the seven headed dragon was descending with seven trumpets of gold and what-not…well, …let’s not go there right now.
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This is new to me. Did God really want us to have a bible? Did he really say, get a bible to know me?
I think one does not need a bible to know God. But I consider the bible a great book. and there are nice stories in the bible. It tells of man and his world’s history and creation, of man’s fall, how to return to God.
Here’s something to make you smile:
Q:Why do most old people like to read the bible?
A:They are preparing for their final test.
What contradiction?
You can killer joints with bible paper, and in a pinch it makes for good ass wipe. So it has its uses.
The contradiction that every major religion uses their bible to explain the personality and intent of God yet it was not written by God.
And the very stories in the bible show that God was well known to some indiviules without the use of a bible to understand Gods will.
Please don’t think I’m here to bash the bible or religion, I’m not, I’m just confused at to the idea that we need a bible to show us who and what Gods intent is, (mainly the King James Old Testament, Koran, and Torah) it seems to do far more damage then good in that respect.
Bashing religion is always evil.
Bashing religion is evil; making fun of religion is entertaining.
It isn’t a contradiction, though. It was during the time the Bible was being written so it wasn’t necessary. I don’t think the prophets needed a Bible to write the Bible. The Bible is a tool for followers; the writers the leaders.
But it’s a necessary evil. 
Are you implying that only a select few can know God well enough to teach the rest of us? Also why the contradiction of Gods personality as told in the Old Testament compared to Jesus teachings?
The Bible is just another history book. We need the history to have a reference for the way our society is structured today. The Bible also gives another frame of reference for many societal systems of ethics.
I don’t see much historical evidence in the Old Testament, that’s one of my gripes, its more like wishful thinking and superstition and Gods attitude is completely different in the Old Testament compared to the New Testament.
Guess there is not many bible believers here, I was hoping to get some opinions from those who think the bible is infallible, maybe they could explain the discrepancies I see.
The historical accuracy of the OT is accepted by most secular archeologists. Indeed, a recent article in the most prominant science magazine Nature demonstrated that the biblical dating of solomon’s reign in Israel is more consistent with dating of nearby civilizations than had previously been thought. In this case the bible was proved MORE accurate than previous archeological dating.
It’s also a common misconception that the God of the OT is different from the God of the NT. The God of the OT loved his chosen people yet punished their sin. The God of the NT loves his chosen people yet will not tolerate sin. I see little difference between the 2. Please provide biblical passages to support your view that they are in any way different.
It’s not that there aren’t many believers here, it’s just that the discussion must be substantially more meaningful than “Christians are stupid” to engage our interest.
Please describe the discrepancies in detail if you want to discuss them.
You don’t see a lot of historical evidence in history books either. You just regard them as factual, and get on with your life. If you have never been to Gettysburg, you have absolutely no proof that a Civil War battle happened there other than a book that told you so.l
I should have been more clear, sorry, I cant say much to refute the history part but the Old Testament has much content concerning Gods nature which is in direct contradiction to what Jesus taught.
For Ned Flanders:
For example “god sought to kill Moses†concerning the circumcision of his child. The whole story of Jobe where God plays a game with Satan to show what he would already know about Jobe’s faith. Also the battles of Jericho and many others where God leads the favored warring tribes into battle and instructs them to kill every last soul, even the dogs and cattle. These along with the ridiculous laws of Leviticus are in no way the same God that Jesus taught.
True. And God also kills people in the OT. And through the work of the Holy Spirit he also kills and injures people in the NT…
Acts 5
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
So, while I acknowledge that God sometimes kills people I fail to see how this demonstrates any variance between the OT and NT.
Well I wouldn’t describe it as a “game” but I could understand how you would see it as such. Again, my response would be to ask what evidence you have that God is any different in the NT. NT theology clearly shows that God has already defeated Satan through the cross but still allows him to tempt and harass Christians. I fail to see how this is any different to Gods attitude in the book of Job.
If your point is that the God of the NT would not do such a thing them you are sorely mistaken and have probably not read the book of revelation where God finally makes war on those who are disobedient. If your point is that God sometimes kills whole groups of people then I would agree but would ask why you think he is any different in the NT? Again, I fail to see your point that the God of the OT and NT are different.
Really? Consider the following comments of Jesus…
Matthew 20
32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
And consider the discription of Jesus himself in the book of revelation…
Revelation 19
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” 19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
The NT description of Jesus bears an uncanny similarity to the description of God in the OT. In the OT God forgives David after he commits murder, adultery, lies and covets. In the NT Jesus died on the cross in order to forgive me and you. In the OT God regularly kills those who are against him and some of his own people who refuse to repent. In the NT God kills those who are against him and will one day send those who refuse to repent to everlasting torment. I fail to see the difference!
The reason that people often think there is a disparity is that they do not read the whole of the NT or are selective and read only passages that support their preconceived idea of a “gentle Jesus meek and mild”. I suggest you delve a little deeper into the bible.
Ned:
You misinterpret the parts about Jesus, he is not actively setting father against son and so on, it is his Truth that will cause this division, same thing in Revelations about the sword from his mouth. Jesus never taught anything concerning aggressive murderous behavior and his actions backed it up, he was passive aggressive and the Truth was his weapon. I realize that there are passages in the New Testament that align with the OT, but I clearly stated that Jesus’ teachings are in contradiction to the God of the OT. Also somewhere it explains that God is not a destroyer, yet he destroys. These contradictions cause me to realize that the bible is written by man and flawed just like everything we touch. It is my opinion that God never intended for us to have a bible and he certainly didn’t write anything nor did he inspire anyone to write it down and call it the word of God. It is not the word of God IMO, his word it taught into your heart in a language that cannot be written and cannot be misunderstood and since we are all spirits and he is a spirit why would he need a book or any fallible ever-changing words to teach us about his nature.
Maybe it’s just me, but when someone says that their specific purpose in “coming” was to bring a sword I take it that the person is an ACTIVE participant in that purpose.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Furthermore, if I see someone on a large horse carrying a sword, with a robe dripped in blood I usually assume that they are ACTIVELY doing something.
I think you are confusing Jesus teachings to his followers with Jesus essential nature and purpose. Jesus clearly taught his followers not to resist in the face of opposition. However, the NT teaches that Jesus himself got angry, whipped a crowd in the temple and will come again one day to ACTIVELY kill people. He is also described as the judge who will send the vast majority of human beings to endless torment. Neither of these concepts could be acurately descibed as “passive aggressive” and probably point to the fact that only God is righteous enough to inflict such punishment on other human beings. Furthermore, Jesus told the Jewish leaders to their face that they were “sons of the devil”, “dead mens tombs”, and completely ignorant of Gods purpose. I hardly think this could be described as “passive aggressive”.
OK, it seems like your point is getting narrower which is a good thing. If we focus on Jesus TEACHINGS to his disciples then I would agree that they are revolutionary and can be contrasted with the OT. The reason for this is that in the OT man’s relationship with God was based simply on heredity and outward action. In the NT God’s relationship with man is based on CHOICE (Belief), outward action (obedience), and INTENT (sincerity). I agree that introducing the concept of CHOICE and INTENT are rather new and can contradict OT teaching in many respects. However, one must keep in mind that a change in God’s approach to man does not necessarily mean that God’s nature is any different between the OT and NT, as you previosuly stated. God can be exactly the same and have 2 different processes by which humans can have relation with him.
I have no idea what passages you are referring to.
I think you’re confused as to what the bible says. God is exactly the same God in the OT and NT. However, the processes by which we can connect with him are different. As I assume that you are not a long-dead pre-modern Jew then I think it safe to say that the process described in the NT would be more applicable to you.
Really? Where did you get this opinion? Your personal views are subjective and therefore irrelevant to the argument of whether the God described in the OT and NT are any different in nature.
You make a lot of assumptions about who God is and how he speaks to us. Good luck with such confidence in your own reasoning.
I own two bibles: One in English the other in the original Greek.
I tried reading through them but I just couldn’t follow the fictitious plot long enough to become interested. The character development is dismal.
No, I use them as filler and Book supports.
They are also complementary items for my Atheist books….you know….books of reason.