I know as confessional Lutherans, we profess that we can only come to faith in Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit through God's Word and Baptism. We are very careful to insist that we cannot "accept" Christ as our Savior, but only reject him. But can you explain the repeated use of the word "accepts" in the context of John 13:20? Does this passage assume an action of the Holy Spirit, or is this a translation inconsistency?
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What you say is true. Not only "confessional Lutherans" but also other professing Bible students (all Reformed or Calvinist theologians for example) are convinced that the Bible clearly teaches we cannot participate in our own conversion or our own coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Bringing us to receive or accept Jesus by faith is from start to finish a gracious work of God.
It appears you are citing the NIV translation of John 13:20 with its use of "accept." The Greek verb translated here can and should often be translated "accept." In English the word "accept" usually implies or emphasizes that the will or approval of the person is active in the decision making. But the same Greek verb can be and is often translated with a word like "receive" which, in English, leads the reader to understand a more passive role of the person on the receiving end of something. When translating this Greek verb the translator must wrestle with the choice between "accept" (with the person's will being more active) or "receive" (with the person's will understood as more passive or even completely so).
In this particular verse we believe the NIV translators ignored the wider context of the rest of Scripture and chose the wrong kind of word in translation. The NIV translation, just as it did with you, can lead people to assume or conclude that sinful people have an active role to play in being converted or "accepting Jesus." The rest of Scripture forbids this understanding, so to use the more passive "receive" kind of word would have been clearer and more accurate. Other translations, including the King James Version and the newer English Standard Version use "receive" rather than "accept."
When Scripture speaks clearly and completely on any given subject, we can certainly base our theological convictions on what Scripture says (even it occurs only in a single place). In cases where a passage of the Bible is not entirely clear or complete, or in cases where the translation may be in doubt, we follow the Lutheran principle of "letting Scripture interpret Scripture." That means we look to other clear portions of Scripture to help understand and explain something that may not be clear. So we let the whole of the Bible clarify what the truth is. Let us grow in our familiarity and emphasis on the whole Bible and let that determine what we believe and teach. And let us give thanks that when this is done, the truth centered in Christ will shine forth in our hearts and minds. That also is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
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How do you know which denomination is correct in their interpretation of the Bible?
Many people know that different professing Christians (and Christian denominations) understand the same Bible passages differently. And, like you, many of these wonder if there is a way to know which understanding or "interpretation" is correct.
Our starting point is the privilege and responsibility to know what the Bible really says on any given subject. Only when we know what the Bible itself tells us are we qualified to judge or appraise people's understanding or interpretation of the Bible. And this also applies to our own understanding or interpretation of the Bible—we must continually examine ourselves and appraise our own convictions in the light of the Bible text.
To use an analogy: we grow to recognize the true (biblical) and the false (non-biblical) much like bank tellers learn to recognize genuine and counterfeit money. They get to know the genuine or real money better and better. They study and focus on the real so often and so carefully that when the counterfeit appears, they can more quickly and more efficiently recognize it. This is a very important starting point. Too often when people say that "It's simply a matter of interpretation," they are admitting they are clueless about what the Bible itself says; they have never taken the time or made the personal and serious effort to know what the Bible itself has declared. Inadequate or inaccurate grasp of Bible messages is perhaps the primary cause for such diverse "interpretations."
Also of utmost importance when we undertake a thorough study of Bible teachings is the use of fitting principles of interpretation that apply to the Bible just as they do to any other writing. The purpose of using these principles is to safeguard that the meaning derived from the Bible text is really derived from the Bible itself rather than a meaning imposed on the Bible because of personal, church, or cultural assumptions; prejudices; or traditions. Incidentally, this is the other significant reason why there are so many so-called interpretations of the Bible. People and churches too often prefer their own ideas, traditions, or what is culturally or politically correct over what the Bible text itself says. -
Why is it that it seems the Bible doesn't give definitive answers to so many questions we as Christians struggle with? Am I wrong being frustrated when it seems every time I ask my pastor a difficult question, he answers, "The Bible doesn't say"?
I am very sorry that you frustrated. What you say about partial information revealed in the Bible and an incomplete grasp of knowledge and understanding on the part of his people is quite accurate. The Bible itself affirms this. "We know in part and we prophesy (proclaim, preach) in part . . . Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then (in glory) we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12). The many questions of Job directed at God (see the book that bears his name, and in particular ponder Job 28:1-28) coupled with the response of the Lord to Job (Job chapters 38 through 41) impress on us that God has no intention of answering many of our questions and owes us creatures nothing in this regard.
While God has not asked me to defend his chosen course of action in this regard (nor does he need it), allow me to make these additional brief observations.
- God has revealed the really important or essential things to us with great clarity. I speak of the messages of human sin and divine grace, of our need for and our receiving a Savior, Jesus Christ, and a lot of additional information that is centered in Christ and his perfect saving work on our behalf. Since this information is so much more important and necessary than other things that may pique our interest or curiosity, we do well to be gratefully content. His primary focus is that we be and remain citizens of heaven headed for glory. When we get there, the other information can be shared with us. Besides, by limiting the information he shares us with us now, he leads us to focus on what he HAS revealed, and we are the richer because of that.
- We humans have often fallen victim to the idea that exhaustive information and knowledge solves all problems and automatically enriches our lives. While we do not wish to be advocates of willful ignorance, it should be noted that our obsession with having curiosity satisfied, searching the Internet for answers to all questions, and assuming that knowledge will solve humanity's and our own greatest problems deserves to be reconsidered. Knowledge is not always a blessing (see Ecclesiastes 1:18), while relying on God's revealed words and promises does give blessing (see Luke 11:28). Again, what God has shared with us, Christ-centered exposition of human sin and divine grace, is what meets our deepest needs.
- Let us consider ourselves amply warned that any desire to be like God (in knowledge and answered questions) is a dangerous attitude (see Genesis 3:4-7), while being faithful as creatures and forgiven sinners with all our limitations is the path of true wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6). Let us give God all glory, rejoice in the gift of forgiveness and heavenly citizenship, entrust our limitations to him, and humbly offer ourselves as his servants and servants of each other (see Romans 12:1-5).
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How can we trust that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God when some translations include sections that were not part of the early manuscripts (like the conclusion of Mark 16)?
We believe that the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament are the inspired Word of God. Although the original documents themselves have been lost, we believe that the Lord in his providential care has accurately preserved the Hebrew and Greek texts through the many hand-copied manuscripts that exist. Although there are minor differences or "variants" between the various hand-copied manuscripts, these variants do not cause any changes in doctrine.
This does not have anything to do with the verbal inspiration of Scripture. "Verbal inspiration" refers to the giving of the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21, and 2 Timothy 3:16), not to its copying and printing. God gave the Bible to us through the prophets and apostles in an errorless form. Minor human mistakes can be detected, however, as a result of the centuries-long process of copying the Bible by hand, and even later on after the invention of printing. For example, there was a famous printed Bible that was nicknamed the Wicked Bible because the printer left the word "not" out of the sixth commandment. Such mistakes are easily corrected through a study of the context and of the many other copies of the Bible that can be found.
Some slight differences or "variants" are apparent among the many ancient, handwritten copies of the Bible that are available. However, when we study the early variants, such as the end of Mark chapter 16 where editors disagree about which reading is the original, we find that none of the variants affect the doctrinal content of the Bible since the same information can be read in other parts of Scripture.
In both scrolls and books, pieces are most easily lost at the beginning and the end of a document. Apparently some ancient copy of Mark lost the end page. Certain manuscript copiers who were aware of this may have supplied a replacement for the missing page.
The opinion of the note in your English translation of Mark, which says that the longer ending is not the original, is just that—an opinion. A better editorial approach probably would be to print the longer form of the text and then note that it is not in all manuscripts. In either case, the length of Mark 16 does not affect our knowledge that Jesus rose from the dead, appeared to his disciples, and then sent them out to preach the gospel.
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Several people have asked me, "How do Christians know the Bible is true?" Most of them want proof. How can I answer them?
Your observation is accurate that people often want proof that the Bible is true. That shouldn't surprise us since we live in a society that is strongly influenced by science and the scientific method. However, the demand for proof is nothing new. St. Paul had to contend with this attitude in his day. He writes to the Corinthians, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (1 Corinthians 1:22-25; please read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16).
We make a mistake if we think that we can argue people into heaven or that if we only present some proof that the Bible is true, people will believe. The Bible is self authenticating—it has the power in itself (the power of the Holy Spirit) to convince people of its truthfulness. I know that the Bible is true because the Holy Spirit has worked that conviction in my heart. When we proclaim what the Bible teaches, the Holy Spirit will work through our proclamation (see Isaiah 55:10-11).
When speaking with skeptics and unbelievers we make a mistake if we begin by trying to prove that the Bible is true. Rather we are to begin with a proclamation of law and gospel, sin and grace. We proclaim the law to show people their sinfulness and to show them that they deserve eternal punishment because of their sins. We proclaim the gospel to show people that God has forgiven them in Christ Jesus. Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb who was punished for the sins of the world. God has declared us not guilty, forgiven, because he declared Jesus guilty in our place. Through faith in Jesus we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. When the Holy Spirit leads people to believe in Jesus he begins to open their understanding of Scripture as a whole. He leads them to recognize that what the Bible says is true.
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Exactly what are the Dead Sea Scrolls all about? I know they are from around the birth of Christ and found in a cave. I have also heard many controversial things about what is in these scrolls.
There are two main types of documents among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first type is manuscripts of the books of the Old Testament. Most of these are just fragments of the books, but these manuscripts are of great importance. They are 1,000 years older than the previously known copies of the Hebrew Old Testament. They show that the Old Testament was faithfully and accurately copied and transmitted from the time of Christ to us. During 1,000 years of copying it was faithfully transmitted.
The other type of documents is religious writings of the Jews of that time, some of them perhaps of the sect called the Essenes. The exact nature of these documents is disputed. These documents help us understand the beliefs and practices of some groups among the Jews at the time of the New Testament, but they do not add anything significant to the understanding of the New Testament. Claims to find Jesus, John the Baptist, or Paul in the documents are not well founded. Many extravagant claims have been made for the documents, but their value is limited to providing background to the New Testament period.
The major documents have been available for study for a long time. Some were initially held back to give certain scholars exclusive rights for publication, but all of the documents are now available.
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How do I know the bible is the Word of God?
You've asked an extremely important question. "Because the Bible says it's God's Word" is the short answer, but one that most people won't be satisfied with. It's certainly true that the Bible says it is God's Word (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Just think of how many prophetic books in the Bible begin with, "The word of the LORD came to" or how often the prophets introduce their words with, "This is what the LORD says."
On the other hand, most people who pose the question want corroboration from an independent, outside source that proves that the Bible is God's Word. And that, of course, is the problem. What independent outside sources are there? God is one, of course—but the Bible is the only Word of God that we have, and the Bible itself tells us not to expect any other (Isaiah 8:20, Revelation 22:18, 19). God isn't going to speak from heaven and tell us, "This is my book. Believe it!"
Human beings are the only other possibility. But human beings are hardly unbiased or impartial. As they are by nature, they have every reason not to believe the Bible's claims about itself. That's one reason why arguments that believers find persuasive—like biblical prophecies that were clearly and obviously fulfilled, or the fact that the Bible is still around despite centuries of being vehemently attacked and suppressed—don't necessarily convince unbelievers.
Fortunately, the Bible doesn't need independent corroboration, because it is self-authenticating. The best advice we can give to someone who is wondering whether the Bible is God's Word is, "Read it, and you'll find out." You'll discover a book by people you've never met, and yet who know you better than you know yourself. And you'll find them leading you straight to your loving Savior. That is finally the only "proof" that the Bible really needs.
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Do I have to believe the whole Bible?
Your chest feels as if an elephant is dancing on it. You're gasping for air. Sweat is glistening on your face. You are in the emergency room of a hospital. Nurses are hooking wires all over your chest. Another nurse is searching for a vein to start an I.V. Another nurse is putting a small pill under your tongue. After looking at the monitor and the EKG tape, the doctor informs you that you are having a heart attack. It's a frightening scene. Other tests prove that there is a blockage in your heart. The doctor tells you what has happened to your heart and then proceeds to explain what needs to be done to repair your heart so that you can continue to live.
Are you going to believe everything he says? Or are you going to pick and choose what you want to believe and disregard the rest, which could cost you your life? Your life depends on believing everything the doctor tells you.
There are people who believe the whole of the Bible. There are people who don't believe anything in the Bible. But how can a person believe just some of the Bible? How does a person pick and choose what parts of the Bible are true and what parts are not true? How can a person believe that Jesus died on the cross to take the sins of the world away and yet not believe that Jesus rose from the dead? How can a person believe that Jesus did miracles, but that Jonah could not have spent three days in the belly of a great fish?
What is true and what is not true? The Bible is God's Word. Not believing some of the Bible will lead to doubting all the Bible. The Bible is not a collection of human ideas and thoughts. The Bible is God's Word, given word for word by the Holy Spirit to human writers. If any part of the Bible is merely human thoughts, and not God's Word, then all of God's Word can't be trusted. If it is God's Word, then all of it is true and is to be believed.
We believe the entire Bible is God's Word and it is true. Our belief is not founded on shaky ground. First, there is more evidence for the documents of the Bible than for any other ancient book. Second, all the writers of the New Testament wrote within the first century of Christ's birth. They all knew Jesus. Third, even historical facts cited by the writers have been proven to be true. Fourth, God promised that the writers would tell the truth. The Holy Spirit guided them so that they did just that.
We believe all of the Bible because in it God tells us that he loves us sinful human beings so very much that he sent His Son Jesus to live, suffer, die and rise for us so that we could be with him in heaven. That is why God tells us that his words "are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
God's Word is all true. You can trust every word of it from beginning to end.
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Who wrote the Bible?
Picture this: the CEO of the company is dictating a letter to the secretary. As the CEO speaks, the secretary takes down every word. When the CEO is done, it's clearly the CEO's letter.
At the same time, the secretary's abilities, skills, etc., are sure to show through. For example, if the secretary has poor eyesight, the letter will probably be typed in a larger font. Yet, the letter remains the CEO's.
Although simplistic, that basically illustrates how we got the Bible. God is the "CEO," various human writers are the "secretaries." God gave the writers the exact words which He wanted them to use. The Bible describes it this way: "All Scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16 ). Similarly, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21 ). Often in the Old Testament (written about 1400-400 B.C.) you'll hear God say something like, "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you" (Jeremiah 36:2). These words are God's words.
Does Jesus agree? Yes! One time Jesus quoted a passage from the book of Psalms. After he did, he made a parenthetical, yet important, remark: "The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). He was saying, "These words are God's words."
The New Testament makes the same claim. One example is found in 1 Thessalonians: "When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Again, these words are God's words.
And yet God in mercy chose to work through human writers, more than 35 of them. God used people like Moses, Isaiah, Luke, John, and Paul to write down his words, to be his secretaries, and indeed their personality/talents shine through. For example, Luke was a physician. In his books, we see lots of details, as you might expect from a physician. Paul was a learned man, so the books he wrote are often quite deep, even a bit more difficult to understand.
To summarize, God gave the Bible through human writers; we can learn a few things about them by reading their books. Yet they remained merely the secretaries. The words, finally, are God's.
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