Bible inspiration/authenticity

[KGM]

I have a sister who has left the Catholic church believe it or not because she found out at a catholic university that the bible is not a reliable historical account of the life of Jesus, therefore it can not be trusted. She wrote me a nice little letter basically asking me to respect her point of view of what she has come to believe. Though I do respect that she has a point of view I obviously do not agree with it. Therefore, we are forced to agree to disagree, but I would like to respond to her letter and give her some reasons why the bible can be considered an inspired work of God. I truly believe in my heart that it is, but trying to explain why is not so easy. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks
KGM

 

[patg]

KGM:

I have a sister who has left the Catholic church believe it or not because she found out at a catholic university that the bible is not a reliable historical account of the life of Jesus,

This should be common knowledge to all Catholics who have studied and compared the gospels.

therefore it can not be trusted.

The teachings and truth in the gospels can be trusted. There is no relationship between what one should “trust” and the history, since the gospels are not history in any of the ways we determine history.

She wrote me a nice little letter basically asking me to respect her point of view of what she has come to believe. Though I do respect that she has a point of view I obviously do not agree with it. Therefore, we are forced to agree to disagree, but I would like to respond to her letter and give her some reasons why the bible can be considered an inspired work of God. I truly believe in my heart that it is, but trying to explain why is not so easy. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Yes, read “And God Said What?: An Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms” by Margaret Ralph (a Catholic bible scholar) published by Paulist Press. Its in paperback and widely available

 

[patg]

As Pope Paul VI said:

To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to “literary forms.” For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture.

In other words, it isn’t all history…