In my honest opinion – I would have to say “No the Bible is NOT the Word of God.”
Now before you rip my head off please read ahead and then decide whether or not I am wrong.
To begin with we do not even have the originals – we have copies of copies of copies which have been translated an transliterated. Secondly the scripture tells us that JESUS is the WORD MADE FLESH – which kind of implies that the word can be FLESH or SPIRIT – and that Jesus is the FLESHLY incarnation (and in my opinion the Holy Spirit is the SPIRITUAL incarnation).
For me the Bible is SCRIPTURE but no the WORD – what is the difference you may ask? Well I believe that the words written down were inspired but not dictated. I believe that the Bible can and does contain errors and contradictions because it is not perfect. The writings are scripture and as such came from God through man – who is imperfect.
Now this has some very interesting implications if you follow the argument all the way through. For example:
1] I believe that God can and does inspire people today to write scripture.
Here is an example of what I would call modern-day scripture: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25141
2] The Word of God is not confined between the leather covers of a book collection. It is alive and still speaks to us in real-time today. Don’t get me wrong – there are still aspects of God’s word in the Bible – but there are also aspects of man’s words and God’s (and man’s) words continue beyond the Bible.
3] I believe that there are messages in the Bible that are for the people of those times, and in that place, and we are taking and applying the messages to ourselves today when in fact God has a relevant message for us right now in our situation and predicament and we must hear it.
For those of you who have difficulty with this, let me ask you this question: In Acts Ch15 when the Apostles held a council to decide how to deal with Gentile converts into their Jewish-founded faith – what book of the Bible did they turn to, to get an answer? Did they look to Ephesians or Corinthians? No of course not! They listened to the Spirit and Word of God in real-time to guide them and give them wisdom – how come we do not do the same thing today?
If God could inspire those people at that time – why would he not do it now?
The common objection I get is that we need a FOUNDATIONAL document to keep things in line – really?
Do you know that the scriptures have been used to justify slavery? Yes anybody can twist anything – and the system I am proposing is potentially just as dangerous. But I am speaking to those who, like myself are truth seekers.
Anyone who truly submits to God, uses discernment. tests the spirits and subjects their life to Christ in complete surrender will HEAR his WORD today and stay in truth and will not need to keep looking back to find the message that God has for us right now.
Please note that I am not advocating the removal of scripture or relegating it to obsolescence or any such rubbish. It is still God breathed scripture that we can learn from. I believe that I can learn from the Bible but I do not take instruction from it. Whoa!!!!! Did he just say that he does not take instruction from the Bible? Yes I did. I take instruction from the Holy Spirit revelations that I receive. Let me ask you this – if the 10 commandments never said it was wrong to murder, would you then murder someone? Do you love and serve and live humbly just because it is written in the Bible? I hope not. I hope that you have been given a revelation by the Lord that this is how he wants us to live. It just so happens that this particular topic is in the Bible so I can learn from it – but I do not live humbly BECAUSE it is in the Bible – I do it because I have revelation of its truth. And as I walk and grow in my faith and relationship with God I am learning all the time – yes from scripture (old and new) and from the WORD of God as given to me through revelation in real-time everyday. Christ said we need to live by EVERY word that proceeds from God – including those today!!!!!! He is still speaking – his inspiration is not closed now.
And before anyone says that I am attacking the WORD of God – I am not – I am saying that the Word of God is more important than ever! It is just that the Bible in its entirety is not it – there is more to it. Yes there are parts that are from God but there is more that God is giving us every day – let’s listen to it.
God knows my heart for the truth on this.
Ontologist.
PS: If I am in error then please pray for me since God’s truth is the most important thing in this world.