Where is the Bible?

[Dave_Noonan]

So as not to derail a different thread on "What is the Bible? I will begin a new one with the question: “Where is the Bible?”

I’m particularly interested in Catholic responses—but others would certainly be interesting as well. Does the Bible exist in time and space? If you think so, please provide specifics as to its location–GoogleMaps would be fine Or does it exist in the imagination of a particular scholar or pope? And if so, who? Can we access this imagined Bible? Or are there different ideas of the Bible depending on who you ask, but no ONE Bible?

 

[Alizarin]

So as not to derail a different thread on "What is the Bible? I will begin a new one with the question: “Where is the Bible?”

I’m particularly interested in Catholic responses—but others would certainly be interesting as well. Does the Bible exist in time and space? If you think so, please provide specifics as to its location–GoogleMaps would be fine Or does it exist in the imagination of a particular scholar or pope? And if so, who? Can we access this imagined Bible? Or are there different ideas of the Bible depending on who you ask, but no ONE Bible?

You made me laugh With the Google Maps thing…

But on to the question.

There’s no consensus among the three houses of Christianity (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism) is there? Three groups, three different ideas, three different appeals to different authority.

And we haven’t even skimmed the surface of what the Jewish people think…

 

[concretecamper]

Use the historical approach. Do some unbiased research about when the “bible” came in existence…then look at the christian religion(s) around at that time. You will answer your own question pretty definitively.

Posted from Catholic.com App for Android

 

[Dave_Noonan]

You made me laugh With the Google Maps thing…

But on to the question.

There’s no consensus among the three houses of Christianity (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism) is there? Three groups, three different ideas, three different appeals to different authority.

And we haven’t even skimmed the surface of what the Jewish people think…

No, no consensus as to the Table of Contents even among these groups (or even within them, for that matter, except for Catholics I suppose).

I think most Jews would point to the Leningrad Codex which is located at the National Library in St. Petersburg, Russia and the closest thing to a “THE Bible” for them. But even then, there are some reading emendations…but maybe someone who is Jewish will weigh in?

But what I’m really going for is whether people think the Bible exists now, in time and space, and if so, where it is for them.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Use the historical approach. Do some unbiased research about when the “bible” came in existence…then look at the christian religion(s) around at that time. You will answer your own question pretty definitively.

Posted from Catholic.com App for Android

Lots of different Christian groups; lots of different Bibles. Believe me, I done a lot of research into how the Bible came together and continues to come together.

But I’m more interested in the present for purposes of this particular thread.

 

[concretecamper]

Lots of different Christian groups; lots of different Bibles. Believe me, I done a lot of research into how the Bible came together and continues to come together.

But I’m more interested in the present for purposes of this particular thread.

Maybe then it is under trinity Lutheran church at the intersection of Wall St and Broadway.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Maybe then it is under trinity Lutheran church at the intersection of Wall St and Broadway.

You mean on W. 65th St.? Or do you mean Trinity Wall Street? That’s an Episcopal Church.

So that’s the official Catholic Answer?

 

[George_Stegmeir]

There is a complet bound New Testament dating from the third century A.D. in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They acquired it from the ancient Monestary of St. Catherine’s which is located at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It is one of the oldest New Testaments known.
Since you list your self as Christian and not Catholic, I will not debate you or anyone else about the Bible because even when the historical existance of the books of the New Testament is prooven, many Evangelical and Pentacostal Protestants refuse to believe history.

 

[MartinJordan]

It doesn’t matter where “it” is. The Bible isn’t everything. The Church came first.

Early Christians (The Church) who knew and were with Jesus, worked with and spread the message to the next generation of believers (The Church) who again passed on the Good News and continued to spread the True message of the Risen Christ, before any compilation of a book that we know today as the Bible.

It is the Holy Spirit that continues to guide us (The Church- Catholic) believers of today.

MJ

 

[bzkoss236]

The Bible is not an abstract concept. It is a written form of Sacred Tradition, but does not contain all of God’s word, as can be indicated from Scripture itself.

There is only one Bible, the original manuscripts of the writers. Copies of which were made and assembled into the Canon we know today (though again, differing opinions as to the correct Canon), as well as translations. Modern translations are not THE Bible, but attempted translations and copies. The original manuscripts I believe are lost, but copies still exist, some, if not most, of which reside in the Vatican vaults to be protected from deterioration.

 

[marlap2]

The bible is in several places. One is downstairs in a bookshelf. The biggg one with all the family things and looks as large as a lectionary. Another is in my bathroom. It’s a simple not so fancy. I know. Not the nicest place, but I’m ill, and in there a lot. Another one is in my bookshelf that has all my catholic books. It’s nestled beside the catechism. The bible study bible is still in my cloakroom. Really have to bring that one in.

 

[marlap2]

Sorry for being facetious. It’s just the very first thing that came to my head after working too much overtime.

 

[jimmy]

So as not to derail a different thread on "What is the Bible? I will begin a new one with the question: “Where is the Bible?”

I’m particularly interested in Catholic responses—but others would certainly be interesting as well. Does the Bible exist in time and space? If you think so, please provide specifics as to its location–GoogleMaps would be fine Or does it exist in the imagination of a particular scholar or pope? And if so, who? Can we access this imagined Bible? Or are there different ideas of the Bible depending on who you ask, but no ONE Bible?

I am not sure what the point of this thread is. What do you mean by ‘where is the bible’? On my bookcase. Is that a good enough answer? Are you looking for the most trustworthy sources for scriptural texts? Or are you looking for an argument about the context of scripture study and the reading of scripture?

The CC teaches that the bible is primarily a liturgical text that is read in context of the liturgy and the community worship. It isn’t meant for personal interpretation, and a guide for the individual to determine what the truth is. Rather, it is a guide for the people as a part of the Church to grow in communion with the body of Christ and to grow in holiness.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

I am not sure what the point of this thread is. What do you mean by ‘where is the bible’? On my bookcase. Is that a good enough answer? Are you looking for the most trustworthy sources for scriptural texts? Or are you looking for an argument about the context of scripture study and the reading of scripture?

The CC teaches that the bible is primarily a liturgical text that is read in context of the liturgy and the community worship. It isn’t meant for personal interpretation, and a guide for the individual to determine what the truth is. Rather, it is a guide for the people as a part of the Church to grow in communion with the body of Christ and to grow in holiness.

I’m curious as to what people think of as THE Bible. For example you think of the Bible on your bookcase as THE Bible or only as translation (with all its problems and limitations) of the actual Bible? You’re of course free to hold you own opinion–just wondering what you think.

And if you think of the Bible in the original languages as THE Bible, which manuscript is authoritative for you? Where is it located?

 

[bzkoss236]

And if you think of the Bible in the original languages as THE Bible, which manuscript is authoritative for you? Where is it located?

Don’t need a manuscript, because we have a (close to) 2000 year old Church that was given authority and has maintained its doctrines for all that time. I see the Bible as a product of that Church to aid in the teaching of others by collecting God-inspired written works of Christ’s disciples. Some of the originals are likely lost to the earth, but we have some of the copies of the originals with the inspired words. We also have the Latin Vulgate, the first translation which composed the Bible under a single language.

 

[Sam_777]

It doesn’t matter where “it” is. The Bible isn’t everything. The Church came first.

Early Christians (The Church) who knew and were with Jesus, worked with and spread the message to the next generation of believers (The Church) who again passed on the Good News and continued to spread the True message of the Risen Christ, before any compilation of a book that we know today as the Bible.

It is the Holy Spirit that continues to guide us (The Church- Catholic) believers of today.

MJ

 

[Alizarin]

It isn’t meant for personal interpretation, and a guide for the individual to determine what the truth is.

God is Our Father, but we can’t personally interpret what our father says… I’m trying to imagine what that would’ve been like growing up. Everytime my Dad said something, I should’ve asked his friends to interpret it for me, I guess. Doesn’t that kinda kill the idea of personal relationship?

 

[wmscott]

God is Our Father, but we can’t personally interpret what our father says… I’m trying to imagine what that would’ve been like growing up. Everytime my Dad said something, I should’ve asked his friends to interpret it for me, I guess. Doesn’t that kinda kill the idea of personal relationship?

2 Peter 1:20 & 21

20 Understanding this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is made by private interpretation.

21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time; but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

From the Haydocks Catholic Bible Commentary:

Ver. 20. No prophecy of the scripture is made by private interpretation; or, as the Protestants translate it from the Greek, is of any private interpretation, i.e. is not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment or private spirit. (Witham) — The Scriptures cannot be properly expounded by private spirit or fancy, but by the same spirit wherewith they were written, which is resident in the Church.

Ver. 21. For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time. This is to shew that they are not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment, because every part of the holy Scriptures is delivered to us by the divine spirit of God, wherewith the men were inspired who wrote them; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the spirit of God, which he left, and promised to his Church to guide her in all truth to the end of the world. Our adversaries may perhaps tell us, that we also interpret prophecies and Scriptures; we do so; but we do it always with a submission to the judgment of the Church, they without it. (Witham)

 

[Alizarin]

2 Peter 1:20 & 21

20 Understanding this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is made by private interpretation.

21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time; but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

From the Haydocks Catholic Bible Commentary:

Ver. 20. No prophecy of the scripture is made by private interpretation; or, as the Protestants translate it from the Greek, is of any private interpretation, i.e. is not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment or private spirit. (Witham) — The Scriptures cannot be properly expounded by private spirit or fancy, but by the same spirit wherewith they were written, which is resident in the Church.

Ver. 21. For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time. This is to shew that they are not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment, because every part of the holy Scriptures is delivered to us by the divine spirit of God, wherewith the men were inspired who wrote them; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the spirit of God, which he left, and promised to his Church to guide her in all truth to the end of the world. Our adversaries may perhaps tell us, that we also interpret prophecies and Scriptures; we do so; but we do it always with a submission to the judgment of the Church, they without it. (Witham)

Hebrews 8:10-11
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

**
Jeremiah 31:33**
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people..

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Don’t need a manuscript, because we have a (close to) 2000 year old Church that was given authority and has maintained its doctrines for all that time. I see the Bible as a product of that Church to aid in the teaching of others by collecting God-inspired written works of Christ’s disciples. Some of the originals are likely lost to the earth, but we have some of the copies of the originals with the inspired words. We also have the Latin Vulgate, the first translation which composed the Bible under a single language.

Right, but the copies don’t agree with each other. But I guess you’re saying that for you, this is not an issue. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)