What is Scripture?

[McCulloch]

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Assuming that there is a God who has chosen to reveal at least part of his will to humans and assuming that the Protestant Christian Bible is essentially true, then what is meant by All Scripture in the passage above? What is in? What is out? And most importantly, who gets to decide and on what basis is this decision made?

[Coyotero]

Logic might lead you to believe that the various councils (man) were deciding what to believe and what not to believe but they were simply affirming what God had already given thru His Word.

That's a wonderful opinion, but give me something to show that this is true. Proof, evidence, I'll even accept a scriptural reference that indicates this. Just please give us something more than "It's true because I said so". Thanks.

[Heir]

That's a wonderful opinion, but give me something to show that this is true. Proof, evidence, I'll even accept a scriptural reference that indicates this. Just please give us something more than "It's true because I said so". Thanks.

I am confident that the Lord guided those at the various councils to recognize the scriptures that were truly His Word, the scriptures that the church had already been following for hundreds of years. Do I have proof or evidence of this? Can I point to some scriptural reference? No, but I have faith in God and how He has worked, in days gone by, to reveal Himself to us thru the prophets and thru His Son, Jesus and how He continues to work in our lives today thru the Holy Spirit. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

At some point, finite knowledge ends and faith must begin. Faith is not equivalent to finite reasoning or debating. Faith is beyond debating. Faith is about accepting the ample evidence that the Lord gave us thru His living Word, Jesus, and in His written Word, the Bible. It is not just saying, I will believe as long as you can point out some reference.

Faith is about becoming One with His Spirit. It is about the leading of the Holy Spirit in all things. It is about asking Him thru prayer for spiritual discernment. It is about knowing that you live each day for Him. It is knowing that He lives inside of you and guides and directs you.

We must get beyond being as a small child, who for each answer to every question asks “why, why, why………�. We must not be as Thomas who said “I will only believe if I see the nail holes……�.

The Jews continued to ask Jesus for one more miracle and one more sign. Jesus responded in Luke 16:31 “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead�.

If you truly seek Him, you will find Him.

[McCulloch]

If you truly seek Him, you will find Him.

This kind of statement is quite insulting. Everyone, according to you, who seeks but does not find the answer that you found, is a liar, someone not truly seeking for truth. Ask too many questions and that means that you have not got sufficient faith. Not having faith is a moral failing.

[todd_vetter33]

People try to pass off written text as God's word. This is false for God's word is living. Some have captured on paper words God's has spoken.. and this is simply a recording of truth. at some points in history men have perverted recordings.

God's word however is truth from heaven. God's children hear God's voice. If people today are only reading about God's word interacting with God's children of the past.. they are not yet God's children for they are only reading about God's word...

God's word is real and living.. per the new covenant it can only be found within you if your temple (body) is clean to receive it.

repentance washes you clean like water. The baptism of spirit is a fire that purges you to a state of perfection where you will walk in the day and no longer stumble in the night.

Repenting from sin is a choice based on wisdom from God. If you reject this wisdom where is your salvation. Jesus said if you love him keep his commandments.. he did not say if you love me my grace will save you.

This is the doctrines of men in opposition to the plan of salvation for not even God can forgive sin unless a man repent and go and sin no more.

God Bless

[Coyotero]

I am confident that the Lord guided those at the various councils to recognize the scriptures that were truly His Word, the scriptures that the church had already been following for hundreds of years. Do I have proof or evidence of this? Can I point to some scriptural reference? No, but I have faith in God and how He has worked, in days gone by, to reveal Himself to us thru the prophets and thru His Son, Jesus and how He continues to work in our lives today thru the Holy Spirit. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

All evidence points to the contrary, that the current bible was constructed by a group of people that wanted to refine it into a strict dogmatic work that could be put to use for political reasons. Simply saying you believe it is so doesn't make it true, and doesn't hold water in a debate.

At some point, finite knowledge ends and faith must begin. Faith is not equivalent to finite reasoning or debating. Faith is beyond debating. Faith is about accepting the ample evidence that the Lord gave us thru His living Word, Jesus, and in His written Word, the Bible. It is not just saying, I will believe as long as you can point out some reference.

The problem here, is this is a debate site. It's what we're here to do. If you don't like your ideas challenged, this isn't the right place to be. We're not here to say "Well, Heir says he has faith, let's default to his opinion.". I'm not trying to be rude, mind you, just pointing out the lay of things around here.

I, for example, have faith that there is more than one god, and in fact there are many. I have faith that Christianity is but one facet of the universal religion of mankind. I'd be willing to bet you'd disagree with me, so whose faith trumps whose? It's not a suitable soapbox to stand upon in debate.

Faith is about becoming One with His Spirit. It is about the leading of the Holy Spirit in all things. It is about asking Him thru prayer for spiritual discernment. It is about knowing that you live each day for Him. It is knowing that He lives inside of you and guides and directs you.

Glad that's working so well for you, verify it.

We must get beyond being as a small child, who for each answer to every question asks “why, why, why………�. We must not be as Thomas who said “I will only believe if I see the nail holes……�.

I disagree. I think questioning and investigating things leads us to a higher place, mentally and spiritually. Why would your god desire blind followers? What place is there for people who refuse to question and seek higher understanding. Small children are willing to accept a simple answer to the "why" question and walk away without deeper understanding.

The Jews continued to ask Jesus for one more miracle and one more sign. Jesus responded in Luke 16:31 “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead�.

If you truly seek Him, you will find Him.

I truly sought him, and found only silence.

[Student]

The church did not claim to decide, they simply recognized that these Words are of God.

Sure they claimed it. Council of Nicea and all that.

What did Nicaea have to do with determining the Canon [of Scripture]? No Ecumenical Council ever pronounced on the matter of the Canon.

[justifyothers]

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Assuming that there is a God who has chosen to reveal at least part of his will to humans and assuming that the Protestant Christian Bible is essentially true, then what is meant by All Scripture in the passage above? What is in? What is out? And most importantly, who gets to decide and on what basis is this decision made?

This is part of a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. This is actually Paul's view on "the word". And as part of that view, he considers himself a messenger. I, however do not.

Paul seemed to take it upon himself to add to/take away from "the scriptures", depending on what suited him/his mission.

The wierd thing is that his writings were not included in "the scriptures" originally - so, he wasn't even speaking of his own stuff- he was talking about the OT. I say this because christians today include the NT in the idea of "the scriptures". But even Paul meant the OT, which was all Jewish text and traditions.

So, to answer the OP - I think that scripture's 'truthfulness' will be obvious, or not. God has no need to hide things from or deceive his people. It is open for our own interpretation and perception. We are quite capable of this.

[Goat]

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Assuming that there is a God who has chosen to reveal at least part of his will to humans and assuming that the Protestant Christian Bible is essentially true, then what is meant by All Scripture in the passage above? What is in? What is out? And most importantly, who gets to decide and on what basis is this decision made?

This is part of a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. This is actually Paul's view on "the word". And as part of that view, he considers himself a messenger. I, however do not.

Paul seemed to take it upon himself to add to/take away from "the scriptures", depending on what suited him/his mission.

The wierd thing is that his writings were not included in "the scriptures" originally - so, he wasn't even speaking of his own stuff- he was talking about the OT. I say this because christians today include the NT in the idea of "the scriptures". But even Paul meant the OT, which was all Jewish text and traditions.

So, to answer the OP - I think that scripture's 'truthfulness' will be obvious, or not. God has no need to hide things from or deceive his people. It is open for our own interpretation and perception. We are quite capable of this.

To be more accurate , this is one of the 'pastorals that is a psuedographical work that claims to be from Paul, but the large percentage of biblical scholars think it is written as if it was from Paul.

[justifyothers]

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Assuming that there is a God who has chosen to reveal at least part of his will to humans and assuming that the Protestant Christian Bible is essentially true, then what is meant by All Scripture in the passage above? What is in? What is out? And most importantly, who gets to decide and on what basis is this decision made?

This is part of a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. This is actually Paul's view on "the word". And as part of that view, he considers himself a messenger. I, however do not.

Paul seemed to take it upon himself to add to/take away from "the scriptures", depending on what suited him/his mission.

The wierd thing is that his writings were not included in "the scriptures" originally - so, he wasn't even speaking of his own stuff- he was talking about the OT. I say this because christians today include the NT in the idea of "the scriptures". But even Paul meant the OT, which was all Jewish text and traditions.

So, to answer the OP - I think that scripture's 'truthfulness' will be obvious, or not. God has no need to hide things from or deceive his people. It is open for our own interpretation and perception. We are quite capable of this.

To be more accurate , this is one of the 'pastorals that is a psuedographical work that claims to be from Paul, but the large percentage of biblical scholars think it is written as if it was from Paul.

OK - but, does being more accurate change the meaning/content of what I was saying?

[Goat]

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Assuming that there is a God who has chosen to reveal at least part of his will to humans and assuming that the Protestant Christian Bible is essentially true, then what is meant by All Scripture in the passage above? What is in? What is out? And most importantly, who gets to decide and on what basis is this decision made?

This is part of a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. This is actually Paul's view on "the word". And as part of that view, he considers himself a messenger. I, however do not.

Paul seemed to take it upon himself to add to/take away from "the scriptures", depending on what suited him/his mission.

The wierd thing is that his writings were not included in "the scriptures" originally - so, he wasn't even speaking of his own stuff- he was talking about the OT. I say this because christians today include the NT in the idea of "the scriptures". But even Paul meant the OT, which was all Jewish text and traditions.

So, to answer the OP - I think that scripture's 'truthfulness' will be obvious, or not. God has no need to hide things from or deceive his people. It is open for our own interpretation and perception. We are quite capable of this.

To be more accurate , this is one of the 'pastorals that is a psuedographical work that claims to be from Paul, but the large percentage of biblical scholars think it is written as if it was from Paul.

OK - but, does being more accurate change the meaning/content of what I was saying?

Yes, it does.. since it is not what Paul's opinion was, but rather someone writing many years later, in the name of Paul, saying what they think Paul should have said.