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What about the Bible?

 

Continuing with examining the bible …

 

Was the Bible Inspired?

 

An ancient practice of bible reading called ‘lectio divina’ (Latin for ‘divine reading’) involves prayerfully reading the same set of scripture out loud 3 times – after the 1st time, see what word or phrase jumps out at you, and ponder that.  After the 2nd time of reading the same passage, ponder what that word or phrase may mean to your life.  After the 3rdtime of reading the same passage and reflecting on that word or phrase, ponder what Christ may be asking you to do in response.

 

For a good overview of lectio divina, see https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/253799/1-What-is-Lectio-Divina.pdf.

 

The power of Lectio Divina is that you not only are reading the bible, but opening yourself up to input from the divine, from Christ Himself.

 

So yes, the Bible is inspired by God.  God inspired: 

1.)   the authors, 

2.)   the receptive community, 

3.)   the collectors, copiers, translators, the editors, and finally, 

4.)   God inspires the reader.  

 

The bible is very much an ongoing communication between God and those who believe, the family of God.  And to answer a question, inconsistencies can arise because of differences of context, understanding, and intent, amongst any of the four stages mentioned above.  

 

 

What do you think of a book which intends the reader to communicate not with the author(s), but through the author to something else (in this case, God)?  Are there books other than the bible which make that claim?

 

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+David