Is the Bible the word of God?

[TonyChanYT]

Loosely speaking, yes.

Some people think the KJV is the word of God, but God did not speak to Abraham in English. Technically, I consider the Bible a translation of a recording of the word of God.

One problem is that there is no universal definition of the Bible. The Protestant Bible has 66 books; Catholic, 73 books; Orthodox, 81 books; Ethiopian, 86 books.

Let's arbitrarily fix a definition of the Bible as defined by the 66 books of the Protestant canon. Still, there is a problem: Which ancient manuscripts are the word of God? Matthew 17:21 is missing from NIV because of its choice of manuscripts.

Moreover, some passages are clearly words of God, Numbers 9:

6 But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”
8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.
9 Then the LORD said to Moses, 10“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD.

Other passages are not so clear, 1 Corinthians 7:

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

In any case, whether it is direct quotations from God or Paul's personal opinions, 2 Timothy 3:

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Is the Bible the word of God?

Yes, loosely speaking.

No, if you want to be precise about it.

Is the Bible infallible or inerrant?

It is better to stick to the wording of the Bible and say that all Scripture is God-breathed.

How do the OT and NT Scriptures differ from other religious scriptures?

The Bible records history from the beginning to the end. It records the acts of historical figures (Adam, Jesus) and how they interacted with the one true God.

See also Was Acts 7:16 inspired?.

 

[Bob Estey]

Loosely speaking, yes.

Some people think the KJV is the word of God, but God did not speak to Abraham in English. Technically, I consider the Bible a translation of a recording of the word of God.

One problem is that there is no universal definition of the Bible. The Protestant Bible has 66 books; Catholic, 73 books; Orthodox, 81 books; Ethiopian, 86 books.

Let's arbitrarily fix a definition of the Bible as defined by the 66 books of the Protestant canon. Still, there is a problem: Which ancient manuscripts are the word of God? Matthew 17:21 is missing from NIV because of its choice of manuscripts.

Moreover, some passages are clearly words of God, Numbers 9:


Other passages are not so clear, 1 Corinthians 7:


In any case, whether it is direct quotations from God or Paul's personal opinions, 2 Timothy 3:


2 Peter 1:


Is the Bible the word of God?

Yes, loosely speaking.

No, if you want to be precise about it.

Is the Bible infallible or inerrant?

It is better to stick to the wording of the Bible and say that all Scripture is God-breathed.

How do the OT and NT Scriptures differ from other religious scriptures?

The Bible records history from the beginning to the end. It records the acts of historical figures (Adam, Jesus) and how they interacted with the one true God.

See also Was Acts 7:16 inspired?.

I believe the Word of God are those instances in the Bible where God or Jesus are directly quoted.