How can we know if someone in the bible was a real person?

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Guest1

New member
For intercession of the saints.

For example - how can I know if Daniel or Job were real or not?

Any advice?
 
Well, we have Daniel’s writings- and the consensus is that Job has spiritual meaning, but not historical meaning (it didn’t happen). A decent translation of the Bible will have introductions with this information.
 
Last edited:
Um…pretty sure Job was a real guy who lost everything and was doubly blessed. Did it happen exactly that way?i don’t know. But we have to believe he’s real
 
Biblical archaeology has a very good track record of verifying the existence of lots of biblical characters. The tombs of many Old Testament saints are known places where people still go to pray. Signet rings and other personal effects have been found for many biblical kings and others, like Pontius Pilate. We know where the apostles are buried. These are real people. Don’t let your doubts paralyze you.
 
Guest1 said:
how can I know if Daniel or Job were real or not?
Click to expand...
I am confident that all were real and existed. There are skeptical and a believing scholars. I would ignore the introductions in the NAB.
Jesus, speaks of what Daniel the prophet wrote. Matthew 24:15 RSV "So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand). Many don’t believe Daniel wrote Daniel because his prophesy are so accurate 300+ years before the events which they don’t believe is possible. But Jesus believe in him!
 
Historical criticism is very skeptical, denying anything supernatural, as a starting point. Usually scholars examine “internal evidence” to see if there are consistencies or inconsistencies. They also look at language to correlate with the custom of different historical periods.

People of faith usually look at the weight of evidence for the existence of each person. While some people are skeptical, the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. You just can’t make up a lot of stuff in the Bible.

Personally, I put a lot of weight on the fact that someone is named in scripture. So often you gotta say that the readers/listeners did not dispute the existence of the various personages.

Obviously the story endured about an angel guarding the path back into Eden to the tree of life. Nobody question what an angel was, etc.
 
The tomb of Daniel the prophet is located in Shush (Susa), Iran.
 
I think it makes sense that all of the Biblical figures and early Christian legends are real - even if their stories are embellished for different reasons - because God is a very personal God (not a deist God) and it doesn’t seem in his nature to have stories based on people who aren’t living creatures with souls.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top