Why is the bible needed at all?

[nobspeople]

Nothing existed but God. One 'day' God decided to make everything. Thus life began, based on the biblical story.
Over time, things happened and God seemed to say to himself, 'Y'all know what? I think I need to start appointing people to write this junk down!"
Thus the bible began.
Over the years, he appointed more people to write down, not only what he said, but what he did.
Later, it was edited and translated and distributed throughout the planet.

Today, us lowly humans, have almost instant communication via the internet.

So it brings to question, why did God need the bible written down at all? Why doesn't God simply download what he wants us to know directly into our brains? Even before the wheel, God could have directed what he wants us to know in to our brains. He made our brains, our desire to know, think and understand many claim.
Surely this would have been better than an old fashion written word!
And yet, here we are (robots on other planets, DNA being sequenced, desiring to explore the universe) yet we still must rely on an old style, written word.
Why?
Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

[brunumb]

[W]hy did God need the Bible written down at all? [. . .] Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

The following is taken from Chapter 1, paragraph 1, of the Westminster Confession of Faith in modern language (emphasis mine): "Our natural understanding and the works of creation and providence so clearly show God’s goodness, wisdom, and power that human beings have no excuse for not believing in him. However, these means alone cannot provide that knowledge of God and of his will which is necessary for salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare that this revelation contains his will for his church. Afterwards it pleased God to put this entire revelation into writing so that the truth might be better preserved and transmitted and that the church, confronted with the corruption of the flesh and the evil purposes of Satan and the world, might be more securely established and comforted. Since God no longer reveals himself to his people in those earlier ways, Holy Scripture is absolutely essential.

Nice hypothesis, but assumes facts not in evidence. Opinions are not facts.

[John Bauer]

Nice hypothesis, but assumes facts not in evidence. Opinions are not facts.

Which facts are assumed that the OP didn't already assume? It was the OP I was responding to, after all, not you.

[Miles]

So, play on Macduff. Let's see what happens around the next corner of mishaps, sin, and corruption.

But the Christian God already knows everything. How boring would it be knowing exactly what's around the next corner all the time.

"Tis a conundrum to be sure. Kind of like a loving god who kills women, children, and infants.


.

[brunumb]

Nice hypothesis, but assumes facts not in evidence. Opinions are not facts.

Which facts are assumed that the OP didn't already assume? It was the OP I was responding to, after all, not you.

OK. I guess answering opinions with other opinions is valid.

[2ndRateMind]

...Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

Seems God thinks it better for us to work it all out for ourselves. At the very least, it stops us getting bored.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[nobspeople]

[W]hy did God need the Bible written down at all? [. . .] Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

The following is taken from Chapter 1, paragraph 1, of the Westminster Confession of Faith in modern language (emphasis mine): "Our natural understanding and the works of creation and providence so clearly show God’s goodness, wisdom, and power that human beings have no excuse for not believing in him. However, these means alone cannot provide that knowledge of God and of his will which is necessary for salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare that this revelation contains his will for his church. Afterwards it pleased God to put this entire revelation into writing so that the truth might be better preserved and transmitted and that the church, confronted with the corruption of the flesh and the evil purposes of Satan and the world, might be more securely established and comforted. Since God no longer reveals himself to his people in those earlier ways, Holy Scripture is absolutely essential.

Thanks for the response.
I just can't shake the feeling that this, as well worded as it may be, is nothing but yet another excuse for God not being totally present in the lives of people. Sure he can be as 'pleased' as he wants (if he exists and he's all powerful, what are we gonna' do about it?!?), that doesn't cause his exemption for allowing a flawed testament, that can cause doubt, can be twisted and requires faith in him, when he 'no longer reveals' himself 'to his people'.
I'm sure millions upon million of people are OK with this. I'm just not one of them, expecting much more from a supreme being that's said to love me.

[John Bauer]

I just can't shake the feeling that this, as well-worded as it may be, is nothing but yet another excuse for God not being totally present in the lives of people.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with confessional documents like the Westminster Confession of Faith. What it presents is a systematic presentation of biblical theology; it is not speculative theology, which is where the charge of making excuses might have some traction. It describes the absence of God's manifest presence among his people because that's precisely what the Bible says. After making the statement, "Since God no longer reveals himself to his people in those earlier ways," a footnote references the biblical passage this is drawn from, Hebrews 1:1-2: "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son" (NLT). The WCF is not making excuses, it is presenting what the Bible says about a specific subject.

And even when you get into the theological details of this particular point, it likewise doesn't smell like excuse-making. What's being addressed is the paradigm shift in how God deals with his people. He formerly spoke to his people through the prophets, indicating the need for a mediatorial office for revelation from God. This old covenant prophetic office was a precursor of the coming messianic prophet, the Word of God incarnate (in the flesh). This is why God doesn't speak today in the way that he formerly spoke. The offices of prophet (e.g., Moses), priest (e.g., Eli), and king (e.g., David) always pointed to the promised Christ who would embody those roles and fulfill them.

Anyhow, that's kind of a tangent. So, moving on.

I'm sure millions upon millions of people are okay with this. I'm just not one of them, expecting much more from a supreme being that's said to love me.

Fair enough. There are some tasty morsels there worth chewing on, but I've got too much on my plate at the moment to give this the attention that it would be due.

[Tcg]

...Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

Seems God thinks it better for us to work it all out for ourselves. At the very least, it stops us getting bored.

Best wishes, 2RM.

Seems that God does absolutely nothing at all. Of course this kind of God is no different from a God that doesn't exist at all. This kind of God needs philosophers to explain why he is mute, inactive, and useless.


Tcg

[2ndRateMind]

...Why didn't God tell us directly what he wanted us to know and ignore the need for a written word at all?

Seems God thinks it better for us to work it all out for ourselves. At the very least, it stops us getting bored.

Best wishes, 2RM.

Seems that God does absolutely nothing at all. Of course this kind of God is no different from a God that doesn't exist at all. ...


Tcg

Apart from creating and sustaining the universe, inspiring the good, and delivering justice at the end of our days, which all seems to me to be a pretty full agenda.

Best wishes, 2RM

[Purple Knight]

To test and prove the character of men suitable to live with, God gave man the choice to choose between light and darkness.

What is the point of a test when you know the result in advance?

I can see that there could be a point to it. It all depends on what you think you can do if you know, positively, that someone is going to commit a crime. Now I'm not asking if you think you can go there and try to stop him; I'm asking if you think you can punish him when he hasn't done anything wrong yet.

I'd hate to find myself at the Seat of Judgement, not having lived my life, asking, "Wait, Hell? Why?"

And God says, "Because you committed adultery."

To which I reply, "Adultery? How? I never became an adult. I'm a newborn soul, never having had a body. I committed no such thing."

"Yes," God replies, "but you would have."