at all...
No darkness
The Bible
Dictaded or Inspired?
Have you ever been reading the Bible and come across a verse that made you uncomfortable? Maybe it was a verse like Psalms 137:8 where David prayed for children to be beaten against rocks. Maybe it bothered you that 1 Samuel 16:14 says God sent Saul an evil spirit. Maybe it was one of the verses that tell us God commanded the Israelites to destroy everything in the enemy’s camp, (including little children). Maybe you have even run across a verse that seemed to contradict another verse like 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1. Maybe you found something that made you wonder about the fairness of God’s judgment like in Numbers 15:32-36 where we are told God commanded a man to be stoned to death just for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Maybe there have been other verses that just didn’t seem like Jesus/God to you.
As a young believer I would ask about these and other verses that bothered me. Invariably I would get one of three answers. The first was a waving of the hand and saying God’s ways are higher than ours and I should NEVER question the Bible. Second would be a long explanation of the difference between the Old and New Covenant. Lastly and the most unsettling was God’s righteous judgment - adding that I better not step out line. I could grasp the concept of righteous judgment but what scared me was I knew I had the capacity to do things much worse than picking up sticks on the on the wrong day.
As the years went by I kept asking the same questions and getting the same unsatisfactory answers. Eventually, as most of you have done I tried to sweep all the questions under a rug. I tried to convince myself that there was a higher reason for all the evil ascribed to God. I also tried convincing myself that the verses that seem to contradict each other really didn’t.
The problem was, I loved reading the Bible, and the more I read the more questions I had. Since I had been taught that the Bible was dictated word for word and letter for letter, everything must fit perfectly like a puzzle. But, I couldn’t make it fit. Imagine trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle where some of the pieces you have don't even belong to the puzzle your working on. I was trapped by a literal reading of the Bible; the letter was killing me (II Corinthians 3:6). It was like a cave, but the walls were made of words. Each sentence, each word from Genesis through Revelation must be reconciled! The harder I studied, the more scripture I learned the more impossible this task became.
Maybe you are in the same place I was. You might feel trapped by unanswered questions, words and sentences that surround you like a cave. It could be you are having a problem getting all the puzzle pieces to fit. You might be asking how you can reconcile a God of love with all the written words of the Old Testament implying He does evil. Maybe you are having a problem fitting light into darkness or life into death. Or, it might simply be trying to fit the God of the Old Testament into Jesus.
Most Christians (that have actually studied the Bible in depth) will end up asking the same question. Is the Bible in its entirety the Word of God? Or another way to ask the same question is; is the Bible withour error or contridiction of any kind? The reason I said (most) and not (all) Christians will ask this question is becuase there are some that simply are not honest with what they have found in thier studies.
We have all seen the occasional preacher holding the Bible high in the air while shouting; “we have to get back to the word of God!” But, is this what the Father intended when He inspired the writers of the sixty six books we call the Bible? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God - John 1:1.When John tells us that in the beginning the Word was with God and the Word was God was he referring to the Bible? And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth - John 1:14. We can see by this verse and the rest of John One that the Word is Jesus Christ, NOT the Bible.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life -John 5:39
In the preceding verses Jesus (the Word) is correcting the theology of those listening by making it very clear that the scriptures are NOT the Word of God, He is. In fact He tells them that their grip on a literal reading of scripture is actually keeping them from Life itself!! This short comment by Jesus leaves us with a shocking reality - in this case it was the scriptures themselves that were keeping the Jews away from the WORD/JESUS!!
Brothers and sisters, is it possible that Jesus might be saying the same thing to some of us?
Is a literal reading of scripture actually coming between us and life Himself?
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life - 2 Corinthians 3:6
Years ago while wrestling with the implications of what we have already covered in this article a strong image began to appear. I saw a beautiful woman in a long white gown. Her arms were outstretched and she was gripping something with all her might. She looked neither to the left nor to the right but stared straight ahead at what she was grasping. It seemed as if this unrelenting grip was actually weakening her. As the image became clearer I saw that she was gripping words, a sentence suspended in mid air. It was then I heard the words, “death grip”.
I believe the woman in this image represents the bride of Christ. The words she gripped and so intently gazed at symbolizes a literal reading of scripture. The phrase “death grip” spoke of the fact that by hanging on to a literal reading of the Bible she was actually killing herself (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Jesus Himself told the Jews that it was their literal reading of scripture that was keeping them from Life (John 5:39). Paul repeats this truth to the Corinthian church by telling them that by reading scripture by the letter kills (II Corinthians 3:6). The sad thing is many have replaced a relationship with Jesus for an intellectual understanding of the Bible. Was it God’s intention for us to have a relationship with a book? Does God want us to have faith in the Bible or faith in Jesus?
CS Lewis put it this way: “The human qualities of the raw material show through. Naivety, error, contradiction, even (as in the cursing Psalms) wickedness are not removed. The total result is not “the Word of God” in the sense that every passage in itself, gives impeccable science or history. It carries the Word of God.”
I would agree with CS Lewis when he says the Bible itself is not the Word of God but it (carries) the Word of God. I believe that the idea of God dictating His Word to the writers of scripture the same as a court of law would use a stenographer is the “death grip”. Wouldn’t the very idea of dictation violate the meaning of inspiration?
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: - 2 Timothy 3:16
The Greek word for inspired is theopneustos { theh-op’-nyoo-stos}. It simply means; given by inspiration. The English definitions for this word vary, but none of them carry the idea of something being dictated word for word. In fact, at its core, the meaning is opposite.
Following this same logic, if we were to take the Bible literally down to every word which translation do we use? Since no one agrees on that, what if we go back to the original Greek and Hebrew? That would be helpful if there was an original but scholars all agree no one has an original. What we have are earlier and earliest texts. Even using the earliest Greek and Hebrew texts any honest student of the Bible will agree that there can be multiple English meanings to each Greek and Hebrew word. The best Greek and Hebrew scholars continue to disagree on word definitions, which one do we believe? With this is mind, should we read scripture literally? I think the better question would be is it even possible to read scripture literally?
For example, Isaiah 40:3-4, predicts that valleys will be raised and mountains brought low. Luke 3:4-6 indicates that this prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled by the preaching of John the Baptist. The valleys and mountains of Isaiah 40:3-4 are apparently symbols for something else and therefore not to be taken literally.
The apostle John saw a beast coming, out of the sea (Revelation 13:1) and another beast out of the earth (verse 11). Were the animals real, or only a vision? Were they literal or symbolic? If we interpret the prophecy literally, we might worry about mutant dinosaurs. But few students of the Bible interpret these beasts literally as fearsome wild animals. Rather, the beasts symbolize a typological fulfillment.
Is figurative interpretation a second-best approach to the Scriptures? In these cases, certainly not! It is what God intended.
Through Isaiah God prophesied that the Messiah would reign on David's throne with justice and righteousness forever (Isaiah 9:7). But did Jesus fulfill this prophecy? If we had lived then and insisted on a literal interpretation of the prophecies that describe the Messiah as a conquering hero, we would have rejected Christ, the living Word. Wasn’t this the exact problem Jesus was having with the Jews in John 5:39?
If our faith only goes as deep as words on a page, if our faith rests in the Bible being literally perfect, we are no better than the scribes and Pharisees and in fact could be rejecting Jesus Himself. My intent is not to discredit the Bible nor is it to shake anyone’s faith. My intent is simply to help loosen our grip on the letter, it kills.
God gave us common sense it what keeps us from putting our hand into a fire or walking in front of a moving vehicle. Let’s not leave it behind when we study scripture. Let’s not close our eyes to the facts or sweep verses under a rug and pretend they don’t exist. By asking honest questions we are NOT questioning God.
Because the following may be a bit shocking to some it is important you remember that you don't have to believe the Bible is perfect to have faith, you have to believe Jesus! Jesus is the truth, not every word in the Bible. Jesus is life, not every word in the Bible. Jesus is the Word, not every word in the Bible. The scriptures aren’t Jesus, they testify of Him (John 5:39).
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Matthew 27:9 misquotes Zechariah 11:13 as having been said by Jeremiah,
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Acts 7:16 erroneously lists Abraham, rather than Jacob, as the purchaser of the
Sepulcher from the sons of Emmor\Hamor per Joshua 24:32.
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1 Samuel 24:1 tells us Gods anger moved David to number Israel.
-OR-
1 Chronicles 21:1 writing about the same incident tells us Satan made David number Israel.
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1 Chronicles 21:25So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
-OR-
2 Samuel 24:24…... So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
How much did David buy the place for, 600 shekels or 50?
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1 Kings 7:26 says, "...it contains two thousand baths.
-OR-
2 Chronicles 4:5 says,"...and it received and held three thousand baths."
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2 Samuel 8:4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen....
-OR-
1 Chronicles 18:4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen....
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I felt it important to input here. With every doctrinal issue comes the risk of falling in one ditch or the other; let’s stay in the middle of the road. I am NOT writing this to get anyone to question the Bible as a whole. I believe the Bible to be truly inspired by God. I agree with CS Lewis when he said; “the Bible carries the Word of God.” The Bible carries the truth. God can and will teach us, guide us, help us, correct us and direct us in and through the Bible. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It carries the Gospel, the message of our faith. It is wonderful, amazing, enthralling, encompassing and unsurpassed. I simply want to give some facts so that we can loosen our hold on the written word. Jesus is the truth, not every word in the Bible. We don’t have to believe that the Bible is literally perfect to be saved. Our faith should not rest on the Bible being without error, our faith should rest in Jesus.
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The authors of Ezra 2:3 and Nehamiah 7:8 enumerate the tribes that came back from captivity in Babylon. They disagree as to the numbers involved in some clans and tribes:
Ezra: Nehamiah:
Arah: 775 Arah 652
Pahath Moab: 2812 Pahath Moab 2818
Zattu: 945 Zattu: 845
Bebai: 623 Bebai: 628
Azgad: 1222 Azgad 2322
Adonikam: 666 Adonikam: 667
Bigvai: 2056 Bigvai: 2067
Adin: 454 Adin: 655
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Jeremiah 3:12 “...for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
-OR-
Jeremiah 17:4 “...for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
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Ecclesiastes 1:4 "...the earth abideth forever
-OR-
"the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also, and works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10
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Gen 22:1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham,
-OR-
James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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PS 58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
-OR-
Pr 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
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2 Samuel 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand (800,000) valient men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand (500,000) men
-OR-
1 Chronicles 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbers of the people unto David: And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand (1,100,000) men that drew the sword, and Judah was was four hundred threescore and ten thousand (470,000) men that drew the sword.
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Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
-OR-
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
-AND-
1 John 1:5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
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Amos 3:6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
-OR-
Romans 12:9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (If the Lord has done evil in a city, then this (New Testament) verse is telling us to abhor what the Lord has done)
-AND-
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (Is God love? If so, this verse says He doesn’t even think evil, if He doesn’t think it how can He create it or do it in a city?)
-AND-
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (If the Lord is the one creating evil, if the Lord is the one doing evil, whose works was Jesus destroying?)
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The preceding verses are an example of some of the questions I might have asked as a young believer. The sad thing to me is when I did; I would never get a satisfactory answer. No one ever told me that that inspired might not mean dictated. No one ever dared using words like “error” or “contradiction”. These words were used only by Atheist and Agnostics. Why is it we have been told that we must believe the Bible is perfect and without one error to be a Christian? My Bible says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom 10:13). My Bible DOES NOT tell me I must believe it to be 100% perfect, without error or discrepancy of any kind to be saved.
Have you been afraid to even question the Bible? Tradition has planted the idea that if we question the Bible we are actually questioning God. Beloved, God gave you a mind; He gave you the ability to reason. He does not expect you to believe 2+2=7. Furthermore, God does not want you to have faith in the Bible being perfect; He wants your faith to be in Him.
"It’s difficult to expect the same fruits of the early church when we value a book they didn't have more than the Holy Spirit they did have." -Bill Johnson
We can try to explain away all the verses we just looked at, I did for years. The problem is we are fooling ourselves and we know it. Your faith does not have to be in the Bible being literally correct down to every word. Your faith has to be in Jesus! God did inspire the writers of the Bible but He did not dictate to them. God chose to inspire humans even with all our weaknesses and imperfections.
You might ask; what is the benefit in all this or what do we gain with this understanding? The answer is freedom! The freedom to actually be able to ask a question when we get to a verse that seems to disagree with everything Jesus did, said, and stood for. Just being able to say; “wait a minute that doesn’t seem like Jesus” and not feel as if we are questioning God Himself. Beloved, don’t worship the Bible, worship God. Loosen your grip on the letter and walk out of the cave into freedom.
"It is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not Father, Son, and Holy Bible." –Bill Johnson
A literal reading of scripture does not allow the freedom to ask any questions, including asking God want He meant about a verse. We have been manipulated by tradition into thinking that if we question a verse in the Bible we are questioning God Himself. Beloved, at least give yourself enough freedom to see God as Jesus revealed Him and put on a shelf any verse that seems to imply otherwise.
“The two things one must not do are (a) to believe on the strength of Scripture or on any other evidence that God is in any way evil (In Him is no darkness at all) (b) to wipe off the slate any passage which seems to show that He is. Behind the shocking passage be sure there lurks some great truth which you don’t understand. If one ever does come to understand it, one sees that it is good and just and gracious in ways we never dreamed of. Till then it must just be left on one side.” - C. S. Lewis,
If you have read the preceding with an open heart you will see the following verses in a whole new light. Listen to the Spirit as you read, hear the voice of freedom calling you away from the letter and back to life. The following is your (permission) not to read the Bible literally. No, it is your charge.
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth lif. 7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 3:6-18
Jesus is the express image of God and He completely and perfectly revealed God’s true nature to us. Jesus never did or said anything He did not see the Father doing. If we have seen Jesus we have seen the Father. Jesus never hurt anyone, never put sickness on anyone and never once turned anyone away that came to Him for help. Jesus NEVER had anything to do with evil, except overcome it with good.
By Tim Cooper
