Authority of Scriptures to me?
- HouseFire
- Aug 16, 2023
- 11 min read
Why do I give Bible "Final Authority"?
One can look around to find many articles that promote the Bible and many articles that devalue the Bible and its "Authority".
My conversion started when I was in the Religion of Atheism and wanted to debunk the Bible to get my wife out of church and stop wasting our time in something mythical false and fake. At first, I was just observing certain churches to see what's going on until finally I decided to goto prophecy as I thought this would be the best approach to debunk the Bible. At first, I didn't know of Quora, never heard of it, was mainly looking around on Google and YouTube for more information on Biblical Prophecy and different views of it. I was starting this journey roughly about 2017ish, maybe little earlier, and when I found Quora back in 2018 was when I had my first big jump as Quora made researching easier and with dialogue and could I also say peer-reviews?
Thru comments and posts etc. I was able to research more and more and when wrong, people would comment and that would help me out cause I didn't want to be wrong. Tho I am bad at making questions, I do enjoy learning about the Bible but at first, I didn't like it cause I was trying to debunk it but wanted to do it fast. Not everyone has this mindset to simply research, people rather stay where they are cause they feel "Comfortable" in their world view and/or Religion.
One of my first questions on Quora:
I had a lot of searching around to do since I was new to this, one of my first questions to myself was how old is the Bible that makes it so worthy to read and give any credibility or any "Authority" to? The age of the scrolls and the prophesies within means a whole lot more to me than anything else, cause if the Bible was written at any time after like 10th century AD for example, much of the prophesies would fail cause it already happened and so Bible becomes just a historical book and not a Prophecy book of anything or a Godly book.
In 1955 D. Barthélemy published two scroll fragments: 1QDana and 1QDanb (Barthélemy and Milik 1955:150–52). These contain parts of 22 verses from Daniel 1–3, that is, Daniel 1:10–17; 2:2–6 (1QDana) and 3:22–30 (1QDanb).
In 1962 Maurice Baillet published a papyrus fragment from Cave 6, containing possibly parts of Daniel 8:16, 17, 21, 22; and clearly 10:8–16; 11:33–36, 38 (Baillet and Milik 1962:114, 115; pl. 23).
The most extensively preserved scroll of the book of Daniel from Qumran is one from Cave 4: 4QDana, which contains large portions of Daniel. Preserved are parts of Daniel 1:16–20; 2:9–11, 19–49; 3:1, 2; 4:29, 30; 5:5–7, 12–14, 16–19; 7:5–7, 25–28; 8:1–5; 10:16–20; 11:13–16. Scroll 4QDanb contains Daniel 5:10–12, 14–16, 19–22; 6:8–22, 27–29; 7:1–6, 11(?), 26–28; 8:1–8, 13–16; and 4QDanc has Daniel 10:5–9, 11–16, 21; 11:1, 2, 13–17, 25–29 (Ulrich 1987:18).
A reconstruction of 4QDanc., the oldest manuscript of the book of Daniel (second half of the second century BC). Shown are the positions of the fragments of 4QDanc across four columns of the original scroll (reading was from right to left). Linda Manies.
This picture link (above) provides this link: https://brill.com/view/journals/vt/55/3/article-p304_3.xml
The age of Daniel means a lot, cause that means there is prophecy, predictions of future events. Now any man can predict something, the TV show Simpsons people claim provides a lot of predictions.
When you have a TV show that has been running since December 17, 1989, and touch on many different topics, obviously you will have some shows that come true by accident. Does this cartoon show mean they have the ability to prophecy? Yes and no. Man is able to make predictions but that's all it is. Whether or not it comes true doesn't mean much because it's common sense when looking at the over 750 shows they created. Man predicts the weather, and still gets it wrong when trying to be exact. Those weather apps have to adjust and update every hour. Weatherman also tries to show you directions of weather and make predictions and when they claim rain is coming tomorrow and you get a bright sunny day with or without clouds, but no rain means that prediction failed cause it's mainly set on mathematics and cloud direction, air pressure/temp etc etc. Weather predictions are educated guesses, sometimes right and sometimes wrong. When we try to learn more about the scrolls of Daniel, the age of the scrolls, and the prophesies come true hundreds and even thousands of years later means what to you?
You can try and research yourself to try and find old texts and Scriptures of the scrolls they once had which we read in the Bible today.
Archeology for example is one way to see and compare as you learn more and dig more.
Even Bart Ehrman makes claim and acknowledgment of Daniel being long before the time of Jesus. You must research for yourself on the age of the Bible, and I pray these links above are helpful in your investigation. Below are some more links I have made concerning this very topic about age of Daniel/Bible.
But "Why" is the question. Why do I consider Bible as "Final Authority"?
I consider Bible as "Final Authority" because thru my research I have found that the words and translations are as close as they can get and are enough for me to use and trust when researching prophecy in Bible. The book of Daniel is why I am a Christian, and this book of prophecy is why I started in on Biblical Apologetics. This book is completely UnBunkable my opinion for I have tried and tried to find anything to discredit it but I have failed and so now I spend most my time promoting something I believe and found to be trustworthy.
The Bible as a whole has been thru much debate for centuries as each New Generation asks the same type of questions concerning the "Authority" and reliability and creditability of the Bible as a whole.
The Bible is strong enough to take all criticism and strong enough to be placed under "Scrutiny" since the beginning of its creation by man and inspired by God.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
With this verse, all Doctrines are debatable but only because there is a "Final Authority" in the Religion(s) that holds onto the Bible. Many Religions do not value the Bible and even some like the Catholic church rather hold Traditions of man over Bible, and many Denominations also do the same thing, but even with this, the Bible is "Final Authority" as each Denomination tries to argue the Bible to promote their actions and Traditions. With the argument of "Final Authority", one can debate translation with which translation is best? Yes, there are many translations with the Bible mainly because it's the most translated book on Earth, and so translation isn't a problem to a Christian, but one must have more than 1 Bible translation for a study or at least access to a concordance. These things are not necessarily needed if that is all you have but 1 Bible, and no you don't even need a Bible at all as God finds His way to you where you are at.
Example: Before Scriptures were written, there was no Bible, no Torah, nothing. God used man and made prophets and led the God's people to where they needed to go. God's people kept rebelling but that's a whole different topic. Point is: Yes, we don't need a Bible, but God allowed us to write things down and what is written down is for our edification and knowledge. This written down words is the "Final Authority" man uses when trying to go back and find out what was said at such time.
Example: Sanctuary setting and duties. What if Moses forgot anything?
After Moses, where are they to get the details? God even wrote down on Tablets for Moses, twice. Why did God write anything at all if He could just simply talk to the people every day? God instructed writing down for a reason, and so we read what we can. Also understand how God's people went thru much destruction and so not everything will be found.
We have found much evidence for the stories in the Bible and found much written documents and artifacts of written scrolls, but we cannot and will not find everything, but that's ok, because we have found enough and the Jews have done a good job at preserving what they can thru time, and we still keep finding more and more. Why do I hold Bible as "Final Authority"? Evidence. Prophecy. And thru much study on Bible, I have found much truth and those people on the ground digging up so much evidence of what I read in the Bible gives people like me much more faith in what we read in the Bible and more faith in God for allowing us the privilege of having such a wonderful historical book with such accuracy and not forget to mention prophecy.
(There are times where even God tells us to write down).
Jeremiah 30: Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
What other religious book out there has so much ground facts and prophecy and so much more? In this post are many links to help jog the mind and hopefully, God willing, give you the "Desire" to investigate for yourself while we still have the luxury of internet. Internet is a wonderful tool to use that most people don't use cept for evil and selfish pleasure. The internet is a must learn how to use tool which makes all this available and easy to find. Gov't however is about to censor so much more while the end comes to a close, but the end isn't here yet. Before internet, people had libraries and books and much study was required, especially when it comes to translation and comparison etc. Usage of our time needs to be governed more by our self-control. (Not Gov't control).
Now I'm not telling you that you need to give Bible "Full Authority", I'm just saying why I give it "Authority" over man's Traditions. You'll have to figure it out yourself on what direction you want to go and who has more "Authority" in your eyes. Man or Bible.
I hope these links help you in your research as when it comes to the Bible, we must show ourselves approved.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
So, what about other Religions that also make this claim that their book is of God or some
man-made book that we all can agree upon that could also provide "Authority"?
If the "many many many many many Qurans" are "Final Authority", then the many Qurans must be accountable for what is said inside it right?
Just like any book or the Bible, the Author must be accountable as we are to place the books from each Religion under extreme "Scrutiny" to further understand what is being said. Right?
• Sahih International: And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
• and [also for] those who have not menstruated???
• Mohsin Khan: And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubts (about their periods), is three months, and for those who have no courses [(i.e., they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death]. And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced, or their husbands are dead), their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is until they deliver (their burdens), and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.
• According to Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, man may satisfy his sexual desires with a minor girl as young as a newborn. He should not, however, penetrate. Lustful touch with a newborn is permissible under Islamic law. If the male penetrates and harms the girl, he should be held financially liable for her whole life. This is mentioned in Tahreer al-Waseelah, vol. 2, pages 221-222.
• As Ayatollah Khomeini says, it is not permissible to have intercourse before the age of nine, whether in nikah (permanent marriage) or temporary marriage. However, it is stated that all other pleasures like as amorous touch, hugging, and thighing are permitted even with a breastfeeding child.
Perhaps some videos I made can help you learn how to do simple research without getting too deep or bored?
(Aisha Research playlist on YouTube)
Some people are A-Okay with this as Sharia Law comes to America and many other nations,and Normalized.
In the Religion of Hinduism, they have no "Final Authority", and so each man can take whatever scripture he agrees with and leave out whatever scripture he does not agree with. For example: Sex with a child.
They have inside where you must marry 1/3 of your age. So, if you're 30, you must marry a 10 year old? It doesn't so much say anything about prepubescent or girls with menstruation cycles, but perhaps I forgot already or didn't research that far on if that action is frowned upon or not. Allowed or denied.
But if each man can do what he likes and none can judge him cause they have zero "Authority", then I would assume permission from family would be good enough if said family have any legal rights or if, they are slaves or whatever.
I wrote on this topic of people having the desire and legal rights to have sex with a child topic here in this post.
Here I tried to break down the definition and world wide practice and touched on if the Bible allows it or not. Summary: Bible doesn't allow it, everyone else does.
What about prophecy from Hinduism?
Quick review on this website and it talks about the Millions of Years Theory. Millions of Years Theory has already been debunked by many different people. Answers in Genesis for example has done a lot of research on this topic which I enjoy sharing to all who want to learn more.
During their excavation, as reported in the journal Journal of Field Archaeology, researchers from Ibaraki University in Japan found that many of the children sacrificed to the Gods were buried alongside obsidian, a form of glass created when felsic lava from a volcano cools rapidly.
Mayans were a wonderful culture of people doing many good works, ... and bad works. You'll have to dig more into these people and their child sacrifices to idols, to Baal/Molech.
As for prophesies to find that I can use I could not find but random saying from someone that anyone could of said. I predict this world is coming to an end. If this that I said comes true, does that make me a wonderful prophet?
If there is any prophecy like Daniel that gives us a starting point and ending point inside any of the Hindu scriptures that Hindus don't give any "Authority" to? I would like to check it out.
I can go on and on but just making some points on why we should question the Religion that we are in. Whether you are in the Religion of Atheism, or Religion of Pedophile Muhammad and the many many Qurans, or in the Religion of Hinduism or any of its many branches, or any other Religion out there, we must question our faith, our beliefs, our traditions, our Religion. If your Religion kills you for asking questions, then you'll know the answer right?
You have any questions on any of my posts, plz feel free to comment either here on Wix or on my Quora Space: Exposing False Doctrines.
I hope this post provides any help at all on Why I believe Bible over Tradition and other Religions and why Bible thru prophecy gives "Authority" to Bible to encourage further research on Bible topics.
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