Bible is inspired – what does this mean?

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NoelFitz

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I learned in school that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and he is truly its author. What does this mean? What version is inspired?

Is it the Vulgate, if so which one, or the KJV, Luther’s Bible, Erasmus’ Bible, or some other version?

[I heard that if the KJV was OK for Jesus Christ it is OK for Protestants now.]

We do not have any original Bible texts and no one know what Jesus actually said (the ipsissima verba).

What does it mean to say the Bible is inspired, if we do not know the inspired words?
 
See catechism of the Catholic church, paragraphs 105 though 108
 
The Bible IS inspired. Various translations can be incorrect though. The above answers are good resources.
 
NoelFitz said:
What version is inspired?

What does it mean to say the Bible is inspired, if we do not know the inspired words?
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I was listening to a “encore version” of Catholic Answers Live last night, and the exact same question was posed to the guest. His response (which I’m paraphrasing from memory) was an anecdote from his academic training. The instructor (a Jesuit, IIRC) told them, “it’s not a question of this version or that version. It’s not even a question of the original manuscripts. What is inerrant is the Word of God, who pre-existed time and space, and who inspired human authors to write down his self-revelation.”

So, it’s not that “this version is inspired but that one isn’t.” Clearly, some translations are better than others, in terms of vocabulary or renderings or accuracy to particular codices. However, the Word of God is inspired. Period.
 
Pianistclare,
thanks.
Do you think the KJV and Luther’s Bible are good resources?

I have looked up ‘alone’ in the KJV and it does not occur in any of the Solae.

I note:

Salvation is by grace through faith alone. (WWW)
_ _
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;g (Eph. 2:8 NAB).

All Protestant theology is based on the Solae (alone), yet it is not in Bibles I looed up.
Accuracy in the Bible is vital. Protestantism is based on the Bible, so an accurate one is needed.

Which Bible version is inspired?

Your post does not tell me.
 
The inspiration is to the Scripture writers! Not to editions. I am CATHOLIC,
so I prefer the Catholic editions. I use the NRSV CE. SOme prefer the Know or the DR, but I don’t care for the flowery language.
 
Gorgias said:
The instructor (a Jesuit, IIRC) told them, “it’s not a question of this version or that version. It’s not even a question of the original manuscripts. What is inerrant is the Word of God, who pre-existed time and space, and who inspired human authors to write down his self-revelation.”
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It is a question of ‘which version’. I should know I asked it.

I am reminded of three things God does not know. How many rosaries the Dominicans say, how rich are the Franciscans and what the Jesuits mean.

I am reminded of Lewis Carroll

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – – that’s all.”

I am also reminded of Prof Joad - ‘it all depends by what you mean by …’.

When I say which version of the Bible is inspired. It is clear what I mean.

I am not talking about the Logos, the Word of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, (Jn. 1:14 NAB)
 
Pianistclare,
I know you are a solid Catholic and I appreciate your posts.
In fact I also use for English versions the NRSV CE, but I use the Anglicized Version. I also use the NAB.
 
" Roma (CCC) locuta; causa finita est “Rome has spoken; the cause is finished”.

The CCC must be treated with great respect.

Let me summarize 105 – 108.

105 Scripture is inspired, The Church accepts this.
106 God chose certain men as its authors. (What about Ruth - Samuel?? and Esther Mordecai??).
107 Scripture teaches the truth.
108 Christianity is the religion of the ‘Word’ of God. Christ through the Holy Spirit opens our minds.
Thus 108 is the difficult part.

There is not attempt here to answer the question I asked. A different question was addressed. So I repeat.

What version of the Bible is inspired?

I would say NA28 is the best currently available version.

I read in Wikipedia, so it must be correct:
The Catholic Church affirmed the Vulgate as its official Latin Bible at the Council of Trent (1545–63), though there was no authoritative edition at that time.[2] The Clementine edition of the Vulgate of 1592 became the standard Bible text of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and remained so until 1979 when the Nova Vulgata was promulgated.
 
The only true version that is inspired is the “original text”, whether it be Hebrew for the OT or for the most part Greek for the NT.

Yet none of the original texts exists. All we have are copies of the originals. And those are subject to copying errors, as these were hand copied.

As for english translations, trust the DRB and then the KJV with strongs numbers. Yet these are not inspired, as they each contain translation errors based on the slant of the translator.

PM me about a resource.
 
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A well read Catholic does often refer to various (good) translations in their scholarship.
 
Well it’s pretty clear for Catholics, one that lines up with our doctrines.
 
JoshuaIsLord said:
None of the translations are inspired. Each one is subject to the translators own bias.
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JoshualsLord,
I read that the Joseph Smith Translation is the only inspired one (according to Mormons), being the exact words of God, as is, it is claimed, the Qur’an.
You say only the original versions of the Bible are inspired, which we do not have.
You imply we have no inspired Bible.
 
NoelFitz said:
There is not attempt here to answer the question I asked. A different question was addressed. So I repeat.

What version of the Bible is inspired?
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Me thinks you worry too much…all mainstream catholic bibles are considered to be the inspired word of God, whether NABRE. RSV2CE, DR, Vulgate, New Jerusalem.

Inspired interpretation is not based on the literal construct of the version or translation, but on teachings of the Magesterium, Apostles, and Sacred Tradition.

An example is the difference in the readings from the NABRE and RSV2CE on the Anunnciation…you may have a strong opinion whether “Hail, full of grace” or “Hail most favored one” is best, but if you adhere to the spiritual message as taught by the Church, the difference then becomes only a matter of personnel preference.
 
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NoelFitz said:
It is a question of ‘which version’. I should know I asked it.
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I know you did. I’m asking you to re-think the question; the question’s foundation is unsound.
When I say which version of the Bible is inspired. It is clear what I mean.
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I know what you mean. My answer is “you cannot say ‘this translation is inspired’ or ‘that translation is not inspired’”.
I am not talking about the Logos, the Word of God.
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You should be. 😉
 
I think its the other way around. The doctrines are supposed to line up with the Bible.
 
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