Is the Bible God's Word? (Do you believe the Bible is the only word of God?)

http://www.jamaat.net/bible/Bible1-3.html ^ | Ahmed Deedat

[Stourme]

THE CATHOLIC BIBLE

Holding the "Douay" Roman Catholic Version of the Bible aloft in my hand, I ask, "Do YOU accept THIS Bible as the Word of God?" For reasons best known to themselves, the Catholic Truth Society have published their Version of the Bible in a very short, stumpy form. This Version is a very odd proportion of the numerous Versions in the market today. The Christian questioner is taken aback. "What Bible is that?" he asks. "Why, I thought you said that there was only ONE Bible!" I remind him. "Y-e-s," he murmurs hesitantly, "but what Version is that?" "Why, would that make any difference?" I enquire. Of course it does, and the professional preacher knows that it does. He is only bluffing with his "ONE Bible" claim.

The Roman Catholic Bible was published at Rheims in 1582, from Jerome's Latin Vulgate and reproduced at Douay in 1609. As such the RCV (Roman Catholic Version) is the oldest Version that one can still buy today. Despite its antiquity, the whole of the Protestant world, including the "cults"* condemn the RCV because it contains seven extra "books" which they contemptuously refer to as the "apocrypha" i.e. of DOUBTFUL AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding the dire warning contained in the Apocalypse, which is the last book in the RCV (renamed as "Revelation" by the Protestants), it is "revealed":

". . . If any man shall add to these things (or delete) God shall add unto him the plagues written in this Book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

But who cares! They do not really believe! The Protestants have bravely expunged seven whole books from their Book of God! The outcasts are:

The Book of Judith
The Book of Tobias
The Book of Baruch
The Buck of Esther, etc.
* This disparaging title is given by the orthodox to Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists and a thousand other sects and denominations with whom they do not see eye to eye.

[Stourme]

[pfluegerFishin]what is your motive for posting this. Your previous posts are plainly pro LDS - what are you trying to accomplish

[StourmeI choose not to take anyone that calls other people "cults" seriously.

See post #7. I think it's pretty obvious what I was saying, if you point your finger at someone else and call them a cult, I'm not going to take anything you say seriously.

[Stourme]

What church do you belong to?

[Tennessee Nana]

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

[PfluegerFishin]

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

your position is unbiblical and leads down a slippery slope.

but hey - if it works for you.....

I'll not be losing sleep though

[Stourme]

The newer versions of the Bible also point us to the direction that you get to heaven by works instead of the blood of Christ. Jesus Christ died for us. Our ‘good deeds’ here on earth can never suffice to get us there. Only believing in His Son will. KJV 1611 ;-) There is a difference!

Unfortunately, modern religions like to ignore the parts of scripture that they don't agree with....if a passage corrects their doctrine they refuse to acknowledge it.

They refuse to use scripture to correct themselves. Faith and works is a classic example. And a classic example of a real heresy.

Christ alone has the power to save, however, He has put conditions on who He saves. John saw in vision the judgment and he saw that ever person is judged by their works. You have to have met Christ's conditions in order to be saved.

Jesus Himself taught this principle over and over. It's a major theme of the new testament. But modern "christians" refuse to accept it. Because it would change their doctrine which they consider to be "palatable".

Or it's a pride issue. They don't want to admit they were wrong. /shrug

But there it is. And no matter how hard you wish, no matter how hard you want to believe otherwise; when the books of your life are opened...you're going to be judged by your works.

As James says, works justifies your claims of faith.

[Stourme]

but hey - if it works for you.....

I'll not be losing sleep though

You need to give a reference or I have no idea which post you're commenting about.

[r9etb]

Not to mention the minor matter of Jesus Christ, Who is not equivalent to the Bible.... Say WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT ?????????

At issue here is the premise of the article, which addresses the claim that "the Bible is the only word of God." (That is, I admit, something of a strawman, but the essentials of the claims are in fact made by others.)

At any rate, to say that the Bible is the only word of God, is essentially to claim that Jesus is the Bible; and that the Bible is Jesus.

And yet, as Jesus Himself pointed out to the Pharisees, You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.... (John 5:39).

The Old Testament is clearly not Jesus -- it merely "bears witness" to Him. The New Testament is about Jesus -- and according to St. John, it's not close to being even a complete account of Jesus' time on Earth; and thus it's just as clearly not Jesus Himself.

The Epistles, of course, are also not Jesus.

[r9etb]

You appear to have missed the object behind the thread... The “extra” is the book of mormon....

No, I didn't miss the object of the thread. The point is valid even from a strictly Christian perspective.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Elsie,
I believe the current number exceeds 200 offshoots of
mormonism...

ALL of them claim to be right.

[Stourme]

It's also contrary to Christian experience: many, many of us have experienced God "speaking" to us personally, through the Holy Spirit.

Really good post.

[r9etb]

I believe the current number exceeds 200 offshoots of mormonism... ALL of them claim to be right.

"Splintering" is not a particularly useful criterion for dismissing a particular religion, however. Consider, for example, Christianity's several thousand "offshoots," the vast majority of which arose over who was "right" about some point of doctrine or other. Would you similarly dismiss Christianity on the basis of its number of offshoots?

[Stourme]

Every single word, yes.

So it's safe to say, you believe that we will be judged by our works. Correct?

[Stourme]

Yes.

Why?

[Tennessee Nana]

modern religions like to ignore the parts of scripture that they don’t agree with....if a passage corrects their doctrine they refuse to acknowledge it.
________________________________________

Yeah modern religions...

like mormonism...

[aMorePerfectUnion]

>>>John saw in vision the judgment and he saw that ever person is judged by their works. You have to have met Christ's conditions in order to be saved." He didn't see the Church judged. He saw the world judged - all the unsaved of all ages who are dead at that point in time. You should read all the way to 20:15 and see that this includes anyone whose name is not written in the book of life... 15 "And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." >>>Jesus Himself taught this principle over and over. It's a major theme of the new testament. But modern "christians" refuse to accept it. Because it would change their doctrine which they consider to be "palatable". During Christ's ministry to the JEWISH nation, he did teach this. It is NOT a major theme in the NT when you pass the Gospels. Let me FIX your post... "But modern "mormonites" refuse to accept it. Because it would change their doctrine which they consider to be "palatable." "Or it's a pride issue. They don't want to admit they were wrong. /shrug" >>>As James says, works justifies your claims of faith. Ah yes, but James is talking about BELIEVERS - not to obtain salvation. He is writing that WORKS are the VISIBLE MANIFESTATION of FAITH. Mormons teach the opposite. In mormon-land, salvation is to those who "deserve" it because they've "done all they could do". Over in Christian-Land, people, who are all sinners and unable to please God through works, are saved when they trust GOD'S WORKS on the cross on their behalf - completely apart from ANY merit or work. This is, sadly, because mormonism is a cult that has created a Ladder of Ascention, as all cults do.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Splintering” is not a particularly useful criterion for dismissing a particular religion, however. Consider, for example, Christianity’s several thousand “offshoots,” the vast majority of which arose over who was “right” about some point of doctrine or other. Would you similarly dismiss Christianity on the basis of its number of offshoots?

Totally different.

Christian groups do splinter - and frankly, it is often over
silly things like letting a woman wear pants. They don’t
disagree over the basic doctrines of the faith.

Further, Christian groups are formed every day of the week
for a large variety of reasons - like contemporary style
of worship vs. traditional. Each recognizes the other as
simply a different cultural expression of worship.

Mormonism splinters, each claiming to be the ONLY right way.
Their Living Prophet is the ONLY right one.

[Stourme]

Christian groups do splinter - and frankly, it is often over silly things like letting a woman wear pants. They don’t disagree over the basic doctrines of the faith.

As I said before, modern religionists ignore major issues. You defend the indefensible. I'm sure you've heard of the contention with infant baptism?

It used to be capitol offense, as in they burned you at the stake, for not accepting the doctrine of infant baptism.

Augsburg Confession
"The Confession remains the primary statement of faith among Lutherans, who to this day expect their ministers at ordination to express fidelity to the way it interprets the biblical teachings."

Article V: Of the Ministry.
They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.
Article IX: Of Baptism.
Of Baptism they teach that it is necessary to salvation, and that through Baptism is offered the grace of God, and that children are to be baptized who, being offered to God through Baptism are received into God's grace.

They condemn the Anabaptists, who reject the baptism of children, and say that children are saved without Baptism.

They don’t disagree over the basic doctrines of the faith.

Yea...whatever.

[r9etb]

Christian groups do splinter - and frankly, it is often over silly things like letting a woman wear pants. They don’t disagree over the basic doctrines of the faith.

Well ... you may not think they're "major doctrines of the faith," but clearly those who split as a result of such things obviously do think so: they're angry enough to start new churches over them.

[Tennessee Nana]

As I said before, modern religionists ignore major issues
___________________________________________

And then you quote from an ancient document ???

The Augsburg Confession ???

Where’s your sources ???

Your quotes from “modern” theologians ???

[caseinpoint]

I compared them to other Mormon groups because that was the specific inquiry. How is the LDS Church compared to its various offshoots. The National Council of Churches said the LDS growth rate of 1.56% was the second fastest among American churches. So they also compare favorably with world churches, I guess. It wasn’t something I was addressing, nor do I want to address it. I never said the church was growing faster than non-LDS offshoot churches, nor will I. All churches are experiencing convert doldrums right now as people are still living the easy life and see little need for God. How much has your church grown? Or do you have a specific organized church?