[JeffAtlanta]

It's generally held that God considered the first five books--certainly including Genesis--to be SO important as to warrant dictating them to Moses one character at a time. Every word is there for a reason, many of which we can't understand.

I've never heard the one character at time comment. Is it based on biblical evidence or popular belief. Not saying it isn't true - just wondering.

About every word being there for a reason - there are several different versions of the bible and they all differ significantly in wording. Some even leave out portions of the book of Mark. The catholic bible includes some books that the protestant bible doesn't.

[MississippiMan]

About every word being there for a reason - there are several different versions of the bible and they all differ significantly in wording.

Translations vary. The original Bible does not. And FWIW, I don't think any of the translations vary significantly on the creation issue.

MM

[MississippiMan]

Jeff, if I can find a reference on the one character at a time issue, I'll come back and post it. I've heard it for years but have never researched it in depth.

As for the tendency to classify "important" and "unimportant" parts of the Bible, that is biblically refuted with crystal clarity.

Psalms 12:6: "...the words of the LORD are flawless"

Psalms 119:89: "Your word, O LORD, is eternal, it stands firm."

Proverbs 30:5-6: "Every word of God is flawless."

When you open up one area of the Bible for revision, you open up ALL the Bible. The tearing down of Genesis by evolution is IMHO exactly how we've wound up with gender-neutral translations, claims that Jesus was a metaphor instead of a real man, etc. And there's no doubt in my mind that this is exactly how Satan planned it. Destroy the foundation--GENESIS--and tearing down the rest becomes far easier.

MM