Introduction
One of the things that most troubles people about Christianity is that they perceive the Bible to be historically unreliable and regressive.
I. You can and should trust the Bible historically.
II. You can and should trust the Bible culturally.
III. You can and should trust the Bible personally.
Conclusion
Do you want your heart to burn within you? Do you want the deepest longings of your heart to find their rest in a personal encounter with God? Go where the Scripture is expounded.
Literalism: Isn't the Bible Historically Unreliable and Regressive? was preached 11.5.06.
rating & reviews
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Joseph Sullivan
It has taken me a while to get to this sermon -quite topical at present. Always enjoy Tim's work and gain encouragement from it this is no exception. As Jason said, not all of the issues of the Scriptures are addressed. It does however open the door for discussion and the book Matthew has recommended are helpful for a to check out for a study group on the subject.
Clifford Koehn
I appreciate this.
George C
Which Bible, Kemosabe? Is it the NKJV Bible that produces Protestants, or the Vulate Bible that is the basis of the Catholic Faith, or the Mormon Bible that supercedes Scripture for Mormons, or the Greek New Testament that is the basis of the Eastern Orthodox faith, or the New World Translation Bible that guides the Jehovah Witnesses?
Matthew Woodley
Dear Jason: Thanks for the comments. Obviously, every issue can't be covered in a single skills article written for preachers, so I would recommend the following books that delve into the issues you've raised: Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God (by Paul Copan) and God Behaving Badly: Is the Old Testament God Angry, Sexist and Racist" (by David Lamb). Regarding the Gospel of John, there are thousands of articles and books that address the issues you've raised; I would recommend a new (2011) commentary by Dale Bruner.
Jason
I clcked 2 stars but it won't let me change it. Nyway, a few interesting bits, but the sermon skips the truly difficult passages (infanticide, genocide, kidnapping of virgins as brides, ge 1 and 2) etc in pref for the already long argued defense of biblical slavery. Historicity in OT is avoided yet more problematic. No comparison of johns gospel, which most scholars say is the lest historical, to the Synoptics. My first visit to the site, but if this is the best defense of hisnview ofnthe bible in 2010 critics don't have much to worry about.
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