How does one know that the Bible is inerrant?

[itsjustdave1988]

Richard_Hurtz:

Thank you for your reply.

You have made the assertion that there are examples in both the OT Scriptures AND in oral tradition. I see that you have cited an example from Scripture, but not from oral tradition. Do you have an example from oral tradtion that speaks to how the Israelites could recognize the Authority to which they were to be in obedience?

The reason I included oral tradition is because the Torah (and indeed the rest of the OT) was oral tradition before it was written tradition.

Nonetheless, the Israelites recognized the authority of the OT Church when it prescribed the details of the tradition of the Passover Seder meal. For example, there were 4 cups of wine prescribed in the Seder meal since even before the advent of Christianity. Yet, this appears not in Sacred Scripture, but in Jewish tradition.

The tradition that the Messiah would be "called a Nazarene " (Matt 2:23) seems to be a reference to an oral tradition, as this prophesy does not appear in Sacred Scripture. Matthew doesn’t seem compelled to explain this tradition, but instead it seems he understands the crowd to know full well that this was indeed an authoritative, yet oral prophesy.

Infant baptism (Heb “tevilah”) is another example. Jews practiced baptism of entire households of converts to Judaism, even prior to the advent of Christianity, to include the baptism of infants. This is still practiced today in Judaism, yet there doesn’t appear to be an explicit text of the OT that prescribes this practice.

There are probably other examples, but the above Judaic practices show that Jews considered oral tradition as prescribed by prophets and ecclesial authorities to be authoritative.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Marilena:

Daniel, are you interested in Catholicism? Are you any particular
belief? If so, do you mind outlining for us what you believe? I know it
seems nosey, but may I know? Thank you. Also, did you look up those scriptures I posted for you on the Trinity?

Hi Marilena, I am interrested in what and how catholics think because I am a teacher by trade and I consider catholics my elder brothern in Christ. Theology wise, I accept the earily councils and creeds. Concerning the free will vs calvinist thing I am an eternalist — one must read each scripture from its perspective, is the scripture text from God’s vantage point or from mankinds vantage point. I am also interrested in how and what fundamentalists think too. I try to look at an arguement from both sides which frankly upsets people at times. I tend to bounce arguments off people to see how they handle them. I got the 38 volume of church fathers that eerdmans publishes and I am reading through them at a slow pace.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

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