Christians believe that in the pages of the biblical texts, Old and New Testaments, God has revealed himself. Preeminently, he has revealed himself in his Son (Hebrews 1,1).
What he has revealed concerns our salvation; who God is, who his Son is, who we are, what the Gospel message is – all are here involved.
That Holy Scripture for Christians is inspired, gives it authority in all matters of faith and conduct!
Does the fact that historical anomalies and problems exist, or that Israel borrowed elements of Canaanite culture (sometimes adopting, sometimes discarding them after a time) and used them in the development of their own culture and faith, detract from this authority?
Or that theological thought has evolved over time?
Or that there are discrepancies in detail between the four Gospels?
Does all this make Scripture any less inspired, or detract from its authority?
To my mind, quite the opposite!
It strengthens the integrity and authority of Scripture that it is so.
Of course, the authors of these texts – inspired by God, as we believe them to have been, were frail human beings who wrote within the limitations of their own time and culture. This is entirely consistent with God´s revelation of himself through Jesus Christ – the logos made flesh – frail, yet sinless, human flesh.
So, when I read the Bible, I read it as the inspired Word of God for me, and bring that reverence to it, with prayer! And hear God speaking to me.
