On a Deserted Island With Nothing but a Bible

[Scoobyshme]

If the castaway finds himself only with the Gospel of John, do you think he can still be saved?

-Prophecy

Let’s take your scenario one step further. Say he was on the island with NO Bible or anything else.

It is “possible” to be saved without the Bible or anything else. IF that person were to live according to the truths of Christ which are written on every man’s heart, and IF they had no chance to know Christ, etc., then they MAY yet be saved.

Otherwise, God would be unjust to create a soul with no chance of salvation whatsoever.

 

[po18guy]

All things are possible to God. However, the bible must be authoritatively interpreted for the believer (Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 8:27-31). An individual’s interpretation of scripture might also make them a fully formed Jehovah’s Witness. This is the danger of bible alone and private interpretation.

 

[Prophesy]

Let’s take your scenario one step further. Say he was on the island with NO Bible or anything else.

It is “possible” to be saved without the Bible or anything else. IF that person were to live according to the truths of Christ which are written on every man’s heart, and IF they had no chance to know Christ, etc., then they MAY yet be saved.

Otherwise, God would be unjust to create a soul with no chance of salvation whatsoever.

I already know the answer from the Catholic perspective, but based on his question I wanted to see his answer. Thanks though. =]

-Prophecy

 

[Scoobyshme]

I already know the answer from the Catholic perspective, but based on his question I wanted to see his answer. Thanks though. =]

-Prophecy

Ooops! Sorry! I thought I was answering him. I confused myself as to whom it was I was talking.

 

[PLeeD]

All things are possible to God. However, the bible must be authoritatively interpreted for the believer (Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 8:27-31).

I don’t buy into that interpretation of those scriptures at all. Authoritative interpretation is helpful, but that it must be is unreasonable. Those passages don’t command anything. They only describe events that happened.

If the castaway finds himself only with the Gospel of John, do you think he can still be saved?

I’m not familiar enough off the top of my head with what is and what isn’t in John to make the call. It would take a couple of days for me to come to an opinion on that.

Since anything is possible with God, why does the Bible need to be in the castaway’s language or why does he even need one at all?

It is not the Bible that saves but God.

I think that’s true, but we don’t have any guidelines for how that would happen. Without quoting any particular scripture or authority, I could see how those who have never heard the Gospel might have the opportunity to be presented with the truth after death, and to either accept or reject it at that time.

 

[Prophesy]

I’m not familiar enough off the top of my head with what is and what isn’t in John to make the call. It would take a couple of days for me to come to an opinion on that.

So what needs to be contained for it save the man?

-Prophecy

 

[SonCatcher]

So what needs to be contained for it save the man?

-Prophecy

It has the most quoted and translated phrase in the whole Bible. Isn’t that enough?
[BIBLEDRB]John 3:16[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[SonCatcher]

I think that’s true, but we don’t have any guidelines for how that would happen. Without quoting any particular scripture or authority, I could see how those who have never heard the Gospel might have the opportunity to be presented with the truth after death, and to either accept or reject it at that time.

That phrase is key here. Isaac Asimov studied the Bible cover-to-cover. He even wrote books on it. Yet, he never came to believe during his life.

Answering my own rhetorical question, it is not enough to read the Bible.

The Word of God must be proclaimed so that it can be heard. It must be heard so that it can be believed. (understanding that God does make provision for those who are deaf)

The castaway has nobody to proclaim the Word to him. Thus, Bible or not, he would only be saved through a grace that is unique to his situation.

 

[PLeeD]

So what needs to be contained for it save the man?

It seems like the starting point would be to confess that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead. After that it gets sticky!

 

[VetA]

That phrase is key here. Isaac Asimov studied the Bible cover-to-cover. He even wrote books on it. Yet, he never came to believe during his life.

Answering my own rhetorical question, it is not enough to read the Bible.

The Word of God must be proclaimed so that it can be heard. It must be heard so that it can be believed. (understanding that God does make provision for those who are deaf)

The castaway has nobody to proclaim the Word to him. Thus, Bible or not, he would only be saved through a grace that is unique to his situation.

^this

 

[PLeeD]

The castaway has nobody to proclaim the Word to him. Thus, Bible or not, he would only be saved through a grace that is unique to his situation.

That seems most reasonable to me. That the written word would give the person a good idea about the character of God, and what is expected of us. If the person chooses to follow his understanding of the written word to the best of his ability, then considering his unique situation, we might expect him to be welcomed in heaven with open arms.

 

[Prophesy]

It seems like the starting point would be to confess that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead. After that it gets sticky!

Making it sticky. If the castaway finds a sticky note and it is only him and the sticky note on the island and it reads “Confess that Christ is Lord, He was crucified, died and rose again for you”. Can he be saved?

-Prophecy

 

[Barbkw]

The KJV?

No, if the person attempted to read the KJV Bible front to back, the person would have used the Bible for fire starter after attempting to read Numbers, maybe even Leviticus.



Thank you Jesus for the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, the Doctors of the Church, the Magisterium.

 

[crazzeto]

The KJV?

No, if the person attempted to read the KJV Bible front to back, the person would have used the Bible for fire starter after attempting to read Numbers, maybe even Leviticus.



Thank you Jesus for the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, the Doctors of the Church, the Magisterium.

I understand you’re trying to be humorous, but I would hope no one would ever do such a thing. Numbers and Leviticus aren’t that hard to read.

 

[SonCatcher]

I understand you’re trying to be humorous, but I would hope no one would ever do such a thing. Numbers and Leviticus aren’t that hard to read.

no, but I think a few pages in First Chronicles might

It’s an excellent point, though. Starting at Genesis and reading through from there would likely confuse a reader who has no clue of the context.

 

[Mark77]

**PLeeD,

Excellent question!

Short answer; yes.

Long answer;

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches us;

“God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”: that is, of Christ Jesus. Christ must be proclaimed to all nations and individuals, so that this revelation may reach to the ends of the earth:” (CCC 74)

Jesus didn’t dictate Sacred Scripture, He left His Apostles & their successors (Apostolic Tradition), to determine the canon of Sacred Scripture, to provide teaching (the Magisterium of the Catholic Church) & Sacred Tradition;

"This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, “the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes.” “The sayings of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing how its riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her prayer.” (CCC 78)

"Jesus freely offered himself for our salvation. Beforehand, during the Last Supper, he both symbolized this offering and made it really present: “This is my body which is given for you” (Lk 22:19). (CCC 621)

"The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator. (CCC 27)

"Still, the Christian faith is not a “religion of the book.” Christianity is the religion of the “Word” of God, a word which is “not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living”. If the Scriptures are not to remain a dead letter, Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, “open [our] minds to understand the Scriptures.” (CCC 108)

“The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what “Bible Christians” teach; see Jas. 2:24).” from the CA booklet “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth” found here;

catholic.com/library/pillar.asp

“Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.” (CCC 847).

Search the Catechism here; scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
**
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark