Why the Bible is not the “word of God”

[KingLeo]

LOL
A YouTube video?
Not convincing at all.

 

[LittleNipper]

Books like the Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, and Dharmapada have more.

The fool says in his heart there is no GOD. How is that for a wise statement? So, how do you go to heaven?

 

[Michael Cole]

The fool says in his heart there is no GOD. How is that for a wise statement? So, how do you go to heaven?

Only a fool thinks the heart is the center of thought. The Hebrews, like the Egyptians, weren't aware of the functions of the brain. They believed thoughts emanated from the heart.

The heart doesn't think. Not rationally nor emotionally. No one says anything in his heart. The heart isn't the source of mind. The reason we use the word is because of this ancient lack of knowledge.

The Bible was written by men ignorant of human anatomy.

 

[ataraxia]

The fool says in his heart there is no GOD. How is that for a wise statement? So, how do you go to heaven?

I don’t know how that’s a wise statement. Why do you think it’s wise? How does it help anyone live a better life? Judging by the “Christians” I see, it doesn’t seem to be helping them here in this world- even a little bit.

And as far as the next, for all you know Allah could be upset you didn’t pick the right God to worship- and you still wouldn’t get into heaven. Now that would suck for any wisdom you would claim, wouldn’t it?

Not only don’t Christians seem to be more morally insightful or wise than anyone else- if anything, a case can be made that they have been worse and more blind than everyone else.

“But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?“
-John Adams

 

[Loulit01]

Ruth 1 KJV
16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17. where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me

Ruth 1 New World Translation
16 . But Ruth said: “Do not plead with me to abandon you, to turn back from accompanying you; for where you go I will go, and where you spend the night, I will spend the night. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
17. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May Jehovah do so to me and add to it if anything but death should separate me from you.”

Ruth 1 NIV
16. But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
17. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

The KJV is striking, poetic, beautiful. Other versions are dumbed down, wordy, lacking impact. The KJV rules.

 

[LittleNipper]

I don’t know how that’s a wise statement. Why do you think it’s wise? How does it help anyone live a better life? Judging by the “Christians” I see, it doesn’t seem to be helping them here in this world- even a little bit.

And as far as the next, for all you know Allah could be upset you didn’t pick the right God to worship- and you still wouldn’t get into heaven. Now that would suck for any wisdom you would claim, wouldn’t it?

Not only don’t Christians seem to be more morally insightful or wise than anyone else- if anything, a case can be made that they have been worse and more blind than everyone else.

“But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?“
-John Adams

You just seem to be having a hard time. Read what is likely the oldest book in the Bible ------- JOB.

 

[Loulit01]

You just seem to be having a hard time. Read what is likely the oldest book in the Bible ------- JOB.

I read the book of Job last night, I don't think God comes out well in it.
Virginia Woolf

 

[bongsaway]

Bongs, that is true. the Bible says that many will say Lord have we not prophesied in your name, and the Lord will say, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity


good one Bong, and that is from Matthew 7, a chapter not taught very much. here is a Sample of the Conversation you mentioned in that chapter....

• Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
• Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
• And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Bongs, this will be a very sad and frightening day, not just for atheists, but for christians too that are not truly christians inside. the Ai Bot had a few words to say about these people that were discarded....

This passage emphasizes that outward religious acts and miracles are not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead, what matters is truly doing the will of the Father and having a genuine relationship with Jesus. The warning is that even impressive spiritual accomplishments, if done without true obedience or relationship with God, are insufficient. Jesus stresses the importance of authentic faith and obedience over mere outward displays. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/kjv-matthew-7-full-chapter-J18GA2Q8SLeqcPxd8FS9sA



blessings. get ready for that Judgement day, now the Orange has changed his mind on 50 days, it is now 2 weeks in the Fake News.

which means that WW three is closer than you think, so don't wait for the Fall, as they may start sooner this year. we will lose our cities a few at a time on a daily basis or all at once, depending on yur Interpretation.

Trump doubles down on threats against Russia, shortening deadline for Putin to 'make peace' with Ukraine or face more sanctions

.

Is the judgement day like the end of the earth day, it too is right around the corner and has been for hundreds of years.

 

[LittleNipper]

I read the book of Job last night, I don't think God comes out well in it.
Virginia Woolf

However, Job is rewarded in the end. Satan is the loser, and so GOD wins.

 

[Loulit01]

However, Job is rewarded in the end. Satan is the loser, and so GOD wins.

So the end justifies the means?

Satan won.

 

[LittleNipper]

So the end justifies the means?

Satan won.

Nope! The means justifies the end. And Job and his friends all learned that bad things also happen to good people and not imagine they did something to deserve problems. And Job proved to be a righteous man. You better read that book again...

 

[Loulit01]

Nope! The means justifies the end. And Job and his friends all learned that bad things also happen to good people and not imagine they did something to deserve problems. And Job proved to be a righteous man. You better read that book again...

The first time I heard of the idea that God had made a pact with the Devil was from Iaakov Malkin, author of Epicurus & Apikorsim. The relevant passage is Job 1:8-12. It shows Satan tempting God’s ego and succeeding (Job 2:3), as a result of which Job lost all his animals, sons and daughters, and most of his slaves, and later even his health–yet Job still praises God (1:21). This is not a matter of atheist interpretation of the text. In the text, God plainly and clearly admits that he was not just tempted, but incited by Satan, and God admits causal responsibility for his unjustified tyranny (“without any reason”):

“And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” – Job 2:3

The Book of Job places before our eyes the psychological abuse and humiliation that characterizes primitive (and, often, modern) monotheism. In fact, the book’s role seems to be to persuade worshipers to praise their divine wrong-doer in spite of the admitted moral problems implied in this.

Job has four “friends” who offer him advice in the text. I place the word “friends” in quotes because they all engage in “blame-the-victim” behavior (8:4), although from the get-go we see that Job was blameless and was scared of his god (1:1), and that his god behaves like a cruel bully.

From an Epicurean perspective, the Book of Job is a work of impiety. It accuses God of so many cruelties and crimes, that he’s indistinguishable from a demonic figure (Job 16.9). Job tells God’s advocates: “Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?” (13.7), as this seems to be what is required to defend God.

The Book of Job is the most honest (and possibly the only) treatment in the Bible of how harmful the idea of the God character is. It’s a great existentialist and philosophical work. Its authors are the most anti-theist of all the Bible book authors–and in fact this book is being read today as atheist literature by many ex-Christians. It’s possible that some of the authors or sources of the book were atheists, even if they were scared of going too far in their criticism of their god idea. This makes Job unique in the Biblical canon.

I close this essay with Epicurus’ Trilemma, which is actually of unknown origin, but which beautifully and clearly articulates many of the problems that the Book of Job uncovers.

If God is unable to prevent evil, then he is not all-powerful.
If God is not willing to prevent evil, then he is not all-good.
If God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?

The Book of Job: an Indictment of the God character

Many have tried to justify the existence of God in light of all the evil in the world. The Book of Job–uniquely refreshing among Bible books in its honesty–makes it clear that the monot…

theautarkist.wordpress.com

 

[LittleNipper]

The first time I heard of the idea that God had made a pact with the Devil was from Iaakov Malkin, author of Epicurus & Apikorsim. The relevant passage is Job 1:8-12. It shows Satan tempting God’s ego and succeeding (Job 2:3), as a result of which Job lost all his animals, sons and daughters, and most of his slaves, and later even his health–yet Job still praises God (1:21). This is not a matter of atheist interpretation of the text. In the text, God plainly and clearly admits that he was not just tempted, but incited by Satan, and God admits causal responsibility for his unjustified tyranny (“without any reason”):

All that is recorded in the Bible is TRUE. Now the question is why regarding Job? The answer is that GOD was teaching Job, his Friends an future generations that just because a person is "righteous" doesn't mean that trouble will no come his way. And just because troubles come doesn't mean that individual was deserving of some sort of punishment.

Job 1:8-12​

​

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

The Book of Job places before our eyes the psychological abuse and humiliation that characterizes primitive (and, often, modern) monotheism. In fact, the book’s role seems to be to persuade worshipers to praise their divine wrong-doer in spite of the admitted moral problems implied in this.

GOD did nothing wrong.
Who posed the test? Satan
Who said that Job would curse GOD? Satan
Who messed with Job's family and possessions? Satan
Who stood behind the integrity of Job in the face of trouble? GOD

Job has four “friends” who offer him advice in the text. I place the word “friends” in quotes because they all engage in “blame-the-victim” behavior (8:4), although from the get-go we see that Job was blameless and was scared of his god (1:1), and that his god behaves like a cruel bully.

From an Epicurean perspective, the Book of Job is a work of impiety. It accuses God of so many cruelties and crimes, that he’s indistinguishable from a demonic figure (Job 16.9). Job tells God’s advocates: “Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?” (13.7), as this seems to be what is required to defend God.

Satan did it.

The Book of Job is the most honest (and possibly the only) treatment in the Bible of how harmful the idea of the God character is. It’s a great existentialist and philosophical work. Its authors are the most anti-theist of all the Bible book authors–and in fact this book is being read today as atheist literature by many ex-Christians. It’s possible that some of the authors or sources of the book were atheists, even if they were scared of going too far in their criticism of their god idea. This makes Job unique in the Biblical canon.

I close this essay with Epicurus’ Trilemma, which is actually of unknown origin, but which beautifully and clearly articulates many of the problems that the Book of Job uncovers.


If God is unable to prevent evil, then he is not all-powerful.

GOD will allow evil to occur to further HIS will to save the souls of as many as will trust in HIM.

If God is not willing to prevent evil, then he is not all-good.

GOD will end evil; however, because of man's failure to obey GOD man is faced with a damaged environment which brings repercussions. The alternative would be to destroy everything and begin anew. However, GOD loves all us and wishes to save as many as receive HIS forgiveness...

If God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?

Evil exist as a result of Adam's bad choice to listen to Satan's lies and not believe GOD. And believing as Satan that man may become exactly like GOD.

 

[Loulit01]

All that is recorded in the Bible is TRUE. Now the question is why regarding Job? The answer is that GOD was teaching Job, his Friends an future generations that just because a person is "righteous" doesn't mean that trouble will no come his way. And just because troubles come doesn't mean that individual was deserving of some sort of punishment.

Job 1:8-12​

​

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

I've read the Bible. Quoting it at me is a waste of time.

GOD did nothing wrong.
Who posed the test? Satan
Who said that Job would curse GOD? Satan
Who messed with Job's family and possessions? Satan
Who stood behind the integrity of Job in the face of trouble? GOD

God took the bet. He didn't have to. And isn't God omniscient? So didn't he know what Job would do?

Satan suckered God into this bet and enjoyed watching God make one his loyal subjects suffer and suffer and suffer. Satan had a real good time. God comes off bad.

 

[LittleNipper]

I've read the Bible. Quoting it at me is a waste of time.

Nothing concerning understanding the Bible is a waste of time. Understanding the Bible and reading it are two different things.

God took the bet. He didn't have to. And isn't God omniscient? So didn't he know what Job would do?

If GOD had not allowed Satan to have his way with Job, we wouldn't have that marvelous piece of ancient literature and Job nor I would have learned the facts of life in a fallen world.

Satan suckered God into this bet and enjoyed watching God make one his loyal subjects suffer and suffer and suffer. Satan had a real good time. God comes off bad.

Satan didn't win Job's soul and he didn't destroy GOD's plans. GOD fully knew the thoughts of Job... GOD is good.

 

[LittleNipper]

NOW read the book of JONAH! It's smaller but no less poignant...

 

[Daisy]

What makes integrity so vital that each of us needs it? You need integrity because Satan has challenged Jehovah, and he has challenged you. That rebellious angel made himself Satan, or “Resister,” back in the garden of Eden. He smeared Jehovah’s good name by implying that God is a bad, selfish, and dishonest Ruler. Sadly, Adam and Eve sided with Satan, rebelling against Jehovah. (Gen. 3:1-6) Life in Eden had given them countless opportunities to strengthen their love for Jehovah. But at the time of Satan’s challenge, their love was not complete, sound, or whole. Another question arose: Would any humans remain loyal to Jehovah God out of love for him? In other words, are humans capable of showing integrity? That question came to the fore in the case of Job.

Job lived in the days when the Israelites were in Egypt. His integrity was unique. Like us, the man was imperfect. He made mistakes. However, Jehovah loved Job for his integrity. It seems likely that Satan had already taunted Jehovah about human integrity. So Jehovah called Satan’s attention to Job. That man’s life course exposed Satan as a liar! Satan demanded that Job’s integrity be put to the test. Jehovah trusted his friend Job, and He allowed Satan to test him.—Read Job 1:8-11.

Satan is cruel, and he is a murderer. He attacked Job’s belongings, robbing him of his wealth, his servants, and his reputation in the community. He attacked Job’s family, robbing him of his ten beloved children. Then he attacked Job’s body, robbing him of his health by afflicting him with painful boils that covered him from head to foot. Job’s wife was distraught and overwhelmed with grief; she urged him to give up, to curse God and die. Job himself wished for death, but still he kept his integrity. Then Satan tried a different method of attack. He used three men who were companions of Job. The men visited Job for days, but they offered no comfort. Instead they heartlessly lectured and scolded him. They claimed that God was behind his troubles and cared nothing about his integrity. They even suggested that Job was a wicked man who deserved the terrible things that were happening to him!—Job 1:13-22; 2:7-11; 15:4, 5; 22:3-6; 25:4-6.

How did Job handle all that adversity? He was not perfect. He angrily rebuked his false comforters, and he uttered what he admitted was wild talk. He defended his own righteousness more than he did God’s. (Job 6:3; 13:4, 5; 32:2; 34:5) However, even in his worst moments, Job refused to turn against Jehovah God. He refused to believe the lies of those false friends. He said: “It is unthinkable for me to declare you men righteous! Until I die, I will not renounce my integrity!” (Job 27:5) That is a statement of vital importance. Job refused to give in; we can do the same.

Satan makes the same charges about each of us. How are you involved? In effect, he says that you do not really love Jehovah God, that you will stop serving him to save yourself, and that any integrity you have is false! (Job 2:4, 5; Rev. 12:10) How does that make you feel? It is hurtful, is it not? However, think about this: Jehovah trusts you enough to offer you a marvelous opportunity. Jehovah is allowing Satan to test your integrity. Jehovah is confident that you can keep your integrity and help to prove Satan a liar. And He promises to help you do that. (Heb. 13:6) What a privilege to be trusted by the Sovereign of the universe! Do you see why integrity is so important? It enables us to refute Satan’s lies and to uphold our Father’s good name and support his way of ruling.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2019281#h=13:571-16:578

 

[LittleNipper]

Date of Writing: The date of the authorship of the Book of Job would be determined by the author of the Book of Job. If Moses was the author, the date would be around 1440 B.C. If Solomon was the author, the date would be around 950 B.C. Because we don’t know the author, we can’t know the date of writing. Full article: When was Job written?

Purpose of Writing: The Book of Job helps us to understand the following: Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God’s permission. God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. It is beyond our human ability to understand the "why’s" behind all the suffering in the world. The wicked will receive their just dues. We cannot always blame suffering and sin on our lifestyles. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach, or strengthen the soul. God remains enough, and He deserves and requests our love and praise in all circumstances of life.

Key Verses

Job 1:1, "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil."

Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 38:1-2, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said, 'Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?'"

Job 42:5-6, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Brief Summary: At the beginning of the book of Job is a scene in heaven where Satan stands before God. God asks Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8), and Satan immediately accuses Job, a righteous man, of fearing God only because God had prospered him. “Strike everything he has,” Satan says, “and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:11). God grants Satan limited permission to put Job to the test. Why do the righteous suffer? This is the question raised after Job loses his family, his wealth, and his health. Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to “comfort” him and to discuss his crushing series of tragedies. They insist his suffering is punishment for sin in his life. Job, though, remains devoted to God through all of this and contends that his life has not been one of sin. A fourth man, Elihu, tells Job he needs to humble himself and submit to God’s use of trials to purify his life. Finally, Job questions God Himself and learns valuable lessons about the sovereignty of God and his need to totally trust in the Lord. Job is then restored to health, happiness, and prosperity beyond his earlier state.

Summary of the Book of Job - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Can you summarize the Book of Job? Who wrote the Book of Job? What is the Book of Job all about?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[LittleNipper]

Foreshadowings: As Job was pondering the cause of his misery, three questions came to his mind, all of which are answered only in our Lord Jesus Christ. These questions occur in chapter 14. First, in verse 4, Job asks, "Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!?" Job’s question comes from a heart that recognizes it cannot possibly please God or become justified in His sight. God is holy; we are not. Therefore, a great gulf exists between man and God, caused by sin. But the answer to Job’s anguished question is found in Jesus Christ. He has paid the penalty for our sin and has exchanged it for His righteousness, thereby making us acceptable in God’s sight (Hebrews 10:14; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Job’s second question, "But man dies and lies prostrate; Man expires, and where is he?" (vs. 10), is another question about eternity and life and death that is answered only in Christ. With Christ, the answer to ‘where is he?’ is eternal life in heaven. Without Christ, the answer is an eternity in “outer darkness” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

Job’s third question, found in verse 14, is “If a man dies, will he live again?” Once again, the answer is found in Christ. We do indeed live again if we are in Him. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

Practical Application: The Book of Job reminds us that there is a "cosmic conflict" going on behind the scenes that we usually know nothing about. Often we wonder why God allows something, and we question or doubt God’s goodness, without seeing the full picture. The Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. We must trust God, not only WHEN we do not understand, but BECAUSE we do not understand. The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. It is true that we can’t expect to understand His mind perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.

Summary of the Book of Job - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Can you summarize the Book of Job? Who wrote the Book of Job? What is the Book of Job all about?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[LittleNipper]

I find it interesting that GOD speaks to Job and his friends from a whirlwind. In essence a TORNADO or TWISTER. I can almost picture this funnel cloud slowly moving across the sky and edging closer and closer to Job ------ almost imperceptibly as they are all talking away... And suddenly, it drops down from the sky to the ground and the roar begins! Elihu seems to be even eluding to the approaching storm beginning in chapter 36 and into 37. I can imagine that the clouds are darkening and the wind is picking up...