Objections to the Bible and how a Christian should respond

  Always remember Truth and Love  People are precious to God  People are spiritually blind  Find common ground  Authority of scripture  Attributes or nature of God  Morality and will to live  Theology versus Personality or Opinion  Christians can be wrong  God is never wrong Evangelism Tips

  Ask Questions  Clarifying beliefs are key  Questions are conversation starters  Questions reveal the “heart”, challenge the mind, and expose barriers  Who is Jesus to you?  Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?  The Columbo Tactic  What do you mean by that?  How did you come to that conclusion? Evangelism Tips

An objection to the Bible

  Is the Bible the Word of God?  “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith, Chapter 1 verse 8) f/1?lang=eng f/1?lang=eng  “the Book of Mormon acts as a confirming, clarifying, unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible”  The volumes of scripture officially accepted by the Church, including the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.Book of MormonDoctrine and CovenantsPearl of Great Price  Do Mormons truly believe this? Mormonism

  Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)  Joseph Smith also declared, "I believe the Bible as it reads when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors" ( Translation of Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 327).  Apostle Mark E. Peterson said referring to the authenticity of our modern Bible, "Many insertions were made, some of them 'slanted' for selfish purposes, while at times deliberate falsifications and fabrications were perpetrated" ( As Translated Correctly, p. 4). Mormonism

  Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)  Apostle Orson Pratt stated: "If it be admitted that the apostles and evangelists did write the books of the New Testament, that does not prove of itself that they were divinely inspired at the time they wrote.... Add all this imperfection to the uncertainty of the translation, and who, IN HIS RIGHT MIND could for one moment suppose the Bible in its present form to be a perfect guide? Who knows that even one verse of the Bible has escaped pollution, so as to convey the same sense now that it did in the original?" ( Divine Authority of the Book of Mormon, pp. 45, 47) Mormonism

  Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)  LDS Apostle Orson Pratt further proclaimed, "The Bible has been robbed of its plainness; many sacred books having been lost, others rejected by the Romish Church, and what few we have left, were copied and re-copied so many times, that it is admitted that almost every verse has been corrupted and mutilated to that degree that scarcely any two of them read alike" ( The Seer, p. 213) Mormonism

  A verse from the Book of Mormon  According to 1 Nephi 13:28 “Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book…” Mormonism

  Conclusion  Mormons state that they believe both the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God. In addition to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. According to Mormonism, the Book of Mormon is supposed to expand, extend, and exalt the Bible but it does not do that. The truth is that the book of Mormon along with the statements from past prophets and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually dilute, diminish and deemphasize the Bible. Mormonism

1. The Bible was manipulated through insertions from “ignorant translators” and “careless transcribers” for slanted and selfish purposes. 2. Parts of the Bible have actually been removed by the church.

An objection to the Bible

  Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?  Yes…but…it cannot be understood without the Watchtower organization  “the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.”— The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587 The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587 Jehovah’s Witnesses

  New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures  First published in part in 1950  Later revised several times  Boasted about as “the work of competent scholars”  Translated without “the misleading influence of religious traditions, which have their roots in paganism” (Foreward, New World Translation to the Holy Scriptures, pg 7, 1950)  No known translators with recognized degrees in Hebrew or Greek exegesis or translation (Kingdom of the Cults, pg 93) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Scriptural Distortions  John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. (NWT)  John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NASB) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Scriptural Distortions  Col 1:16 - because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. (NWT)  Col 1:16 - For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. (NASB) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Scriptural Distortions  John 8:58 - Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”(NWT)  John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (NASB) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Scriptural Distortions  John 14: If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (NASB) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Scriptural Distortions  John 14: If you men had known me, you would have known my Father also; from this moment on you know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him: “Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also. How is it you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me? The things I say to you I do not speak of my own originality, but the Father who remains in union with me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me; otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Most truly I say to you, whoever exercises faith in me will also do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father. 13 Also, whatever you ask in my name, I will do this, so that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (NWT) Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Conclusion  What is your conclusion???? Jehovah’s Witnesses

1. The Bible cannot be understood without the Watchtower organization.

An objection to the Bible

  Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?  Muslims claim to believe in the torah (torat) and the writings of David, the Psalms (zabur) and the Gospel (Injil) but…Muslims declare the Bible has been corrupted. Muslims

  Why do Muslims believe the Bible is corrupted?  How can we respond to this claim? Muslims

1. The Bible has been corrupted.