On the other hand - in a RADICALLY different manner - I believe the Scriptures to be EXACTLY what they claim to be (literally 100's & 100's of times throughout the SIXTY SIX Books) - the very WORD & WORDS of GOD revealed to mankind - by means of some FORTY different WRITERS (give or take 1 or 2) over a period of some FIFTEEN HUNDRED years (give or take a couple) - writing from MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES (up to a dozen or more) - in TWO major languages - having been SUPERNATURALLY preserved (against countless attacks over CENTURIES) & yet astoundingly PROLIFERATED for 1000's of years - to the point of being THE most PUBLISHED/ READ & STUDIED writing/ compilation of writings in all of human history ( including TODAY!).[emphasis in original]
But before I respond, we should note a phenomenon that occurs in these discussions between people of different beliefs. A choice is made. It may not be a conscious choice; the person may not even realize they are making the choice--yet the choice affects the entire approach.
One chooses whether they are making statements to convince the already convinced, or attempting to persuade those of differing convictions. I constantly hear, “Oh, I am trying to do both,” but the simple reality is that this doesn’t work. This is one of those statements that may impress those already convinced the Bible is special (since it confirms their belief), but for those who question how special the Bible is, this is not very persuasive.
The problem is that: 1)this is an ad hoc argument, 2) the Christian will not stay consistent with and 3)isn’t the reason the Christian finds the Bible special in the first place!
Let’s unpack those three (3) points:
1. Ad Hoc Argument
Understand when I use the term “argument” I am not referring to a heated discussion over how long one’s mother-in-law will stay for the holidays; it is a compilation of evidences toward a claimed conclusion. The problem with an ad hoc argument is that its approach is backward; it first makes a conclusion and then looks for evidences for that conclusion.
A demonstration to make the point; imagine I claimed Bill Gates was the cleverest person to ever live. I point out how he has been consistently rated among the wealthiest people of the world. He has written several books, and is co-founder of Microsoft—arguably the most prolific computer software company to ever exist. He wrote his first computer program at age 13, and got 1590 out of 1600 on his SATs. He did all this without getting a college degree.
Now, do you see what I did? All I did was describe Bill Gates (taken from Wikipedia) and attach the label of “clever.” What I failed to do is demonstrate why those particular attributes constitute “clever” or what other factors should be taken into consideration, or address any counter-facts.
Apply this to our current situation. What you have done is describe the Bible, but have failed to demonstrate why this would make the book any more special than any other writing. Even more importantly, why it would be divine.
For example, you indicate it has sixty-six books…excuse me…”SIXTY-SIX Books.” What is significant about 66? Would it be less special if it had 65? More if it had 67? You list this fact, but it sits in a vacuum outside any criteria as to why this number holds significance. Or “FORTY different WRITER”—why 40 (give or take a few)? I’ll wager I hold to more authors involved in writing these 66 books, do I therefore find it of greater significance?
There are merely items about the Bible. And even if you did hold them as significant, you cannot stay consistent in this methodology.
2. Inconsistent Method
Presumably, the numbers within the description are meant to convey meaning. Value. As if the Bible is more important because of how many books, authors, countries and years are involved.
But if 66 books is significant, wouldn’t divine writing that held more be even more special? More worthy as qualification for “God’s word”?
Your listed criteria:
a) 66 books
b) 40 (+/-) different writers
c) Over 1500 years
c) Many different countries (at least 12)*
d) 2 Major Languages**
e) Miraculously preserved over centuries of attacks.
*I wonder whether the demarcation of countries was at the time of writing or current countries.
**Actually it was 3 languages—Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
What happens if we find a set of divine writings with more than every one of your criteria? Shouldn’t we look at them as better than the Bible, using your own method?
The Mormons include the Bible, plus the Book of Mormon within their divine writings. By default, they already have every one of these requirements. However, by including the Book of Mormon, they get more authors (another what, 10-12?), more years—2500, more countries (heck, they get one and possibly two more Continents!), more languages—at least one more, and it was also miraculously preserved over centuries.
If we consistently used this method, we would be forced to find the Mormons are more correct in determining what are the Words of God. This is exactly the problem with an ad hoc argument—it fails to consider other, equally valid claims using a similar method.
What makes it almost humorous is that none of these factors are what a Christian uses to claim the Bible is the word of God!
3. Wrong Reason
Christians claim, based upon 2 Tim. 3:16, the Bible is theopneustos--a combination Greek word of “god” (theo) and “spirit” or “breath” (pneuma). This was translated as “inspired” in the KJV. There are concerns about this, but we will reserve this for another discussion.
What is important is that the doctrine of Inspiration claims the words were inspired at the time of the original autographs—the original writing. So go to the moment the very first words were penned that eventually came to be in our Bible. If you wish, imagine Moses writing around 1500 BCE, and the first words he writes (in Hebrew, of course), “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Stop.
Now…according to the doctrine of Inspiration, these words were as special, as divine, as inspired, at that moment as at any other time in history.
Instead of 40 (+/-) writers—we have one. Instead of 12 countries—we have one. Instead of 3 languages—we have one. Instead of 1500 years, and centuries of controversy, we have about 1 minute and no controversy whatsoever.
Yet the Christian still holds this one phrase as being just as special as any other phrase, verse, chapter or division of the rest of the Bible.
Simply put—the Christian isn’t using any of these factors in making their determination anyway, since none of these factors are required for inspiration!
In the end, this claim may make someone who is already convinced the Bible is special as confirming their belief, but to anyone who contemplates it for even a brief skeptical instant, the claim shreds apart.
