From: Hassell, Ian C. (hasselli@eucom.mil)
Date: Tue Sep 17 2002 - 07:33:58 EDT
Jesus (Mt 5:17,18), Paul (2 Tim 3:16,17) and Peter (2 Peter 1:20,21) (and
there are probably more) all referenced the inerrancy of the "scriptures" or
the "law" (they were obviously referring to what we know as the Old
Testament). Christ on several occasions re-affirmed OT stories (Jonah in Mt
12:38-40, David in Mt 12:3,4 and the flood in Mt. 24:37-39 and Luke
17:26-32). Throughout the past 6 months that I've been reading this
news-post I've seen many pieces of the OT re-explained, negated, derided or
worse through claims of those understanding modern science much better than
I do. Were Christ's references to Jonah and the flood simply his
misunderstanding of the scriptures? Did He really believe that Jonah was
swallowed by a big fish? What are the implications to our acceptance of the
OT, and to a larger extent our acceptance of Christ, given these quotes from
him? I'm open to debate on the Bible - we are encouraged to "test all
things" (I Thes 5:21) - but at what point does the Bible's inaccuracy begin
to erode our understanding of God? and ultimately the foundation of our
faith?
If there are errors throughout the Old and New Testaments, how do we know
the "important" pieces are accurate. How do we know that Jesus said "I am
THE Way..." and not "I am A Way...". At what point do we lose basis for our
faith? This isn't a call to blind faith, rather it's a challenge of Source
Authority. Which holds ultimate authority: God's omniscience and
omnipotence? or the latest interpretations of scientific data?
Why try to measure God by our human standards/logic/reason rather than seek
to understand His logic/rationale when the Bible and/or science appear
confusing and contradicting? Clearly a philosophical debate, but one at the
heart of all Biblical interpretation.
Ian Hassell
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