Proving that the Bible is Inspired by God

[RBerman]

What we think of as the laws of nature are as much the word of God as the special revelation of our Bible. (Psalm 19:1-4. Romans 10:17, 18.

I think you mean Romans 1, not Romans 10. Those passages do not say that "the laws of nature are as much the word of God as the special revelation of the BIble." They do say that nature speaks about God. You and I also speak about God, but not in the special, inspired way that the Bible speaks about God. Our words are words about God but not words of God. The same is true of natural revelation.

[KBertsche]

I think you mean Romans 1, not Romans 10. Those passages do not say that "the laws of nature are as much the word of God as the special revelation of the BIble." They do say that nature speaks about God. You and I also speak about God, but not in the special, inspired way that the Bible speaks about God. Our words are words about God but not words of God. The same is true of natural revelation.

I would call the laws of nature the works of God, not the word of God. We know God by both His word and His works.

According to Ps 19 and Rom 1, nature reveals God both truthfully and clearly.

[RBerman]

I would call the laws of nature the works of God, not the word of God. We know God by both His word and His works.

According to Ps 19 and Rom 1, nature reveals God both truthfully and clearly.

True enough. However God's words are more transparently propositional than God's works are. For instance, someone might argue that nature reveals to us the law of tooth and claw as the central reality of life.

[apostoli]

The Bible claims to be inspired by God and many evangelical Christians use philosophical, historical, and scientific arguments to prove that this claim is true. Other evangelical Christians believe that if these kinds of arguments are used to prove that the Bible is inspired by God, then the findings of philosophical inquiry, history, and science would have more authority than the Bible. Since they believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority, the findings of philosophical inquiry, history, and science cannot used to prove that the Bible is inspired by God.

If the findings of philosophical inquiry, history, and science are used to prove that the Bible is inspired by God, then would this mean that the findings of philosophical inquiry, history, and science have more authority than the Bible? Some Christians say, "Yes" and others say, "No."

Well, some people think that scripture was dictated word for word by God, but there is enough evidence to prove such is not realistic (at least with the redactions we have available to us). Most evangelicals run to 2 Tim 3:16-17 which is usually rendered along the lines of "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." There is a small problem here, which is, not all "scripture" is universally accepted as inspired of God. The Jews reject certain scripture that Christians accept, Protestants reject scripture that the early church accepted, various "orthodox" churches reject scripture that the West accepts etc etc And most importantly, as a direct reference 2 Tim 3:16-17 cannot be used to support the idea in the modern vernecular, as most, if not all, the NT had not been written at the time A.Paul wrote his words.

But that said, if we take a close look at the OT & NT, it is about mankinds general failure, so I agree with A.Paul "All scripture given by inspiration of God, [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". All the additions (redactions) are superfluous...(eg: Moses' ordinances & his Levitical laws).