"Why is the Bible so Poorly Written?"

[2ndpillar]

I don't know if you're correct or not. But I do know that if you're correct, then that canon is not the same as the versions in use today. It's been translated into Greek, into Latin, into English, with no quality control for the past thousand years. Is there any wonder that there are so many different Christian bibles in use in the present day?

Easter letter - Wikipedia


The problem is not so much the different translations, which are all quite similar, but in the canon itself. If you would read the book of Matthew, chapter 13, you will find that the “good seed” the word of the “kingdom”(of God), is mixed in with the word of the “evil one” , which is termed the “tare seed” or the seed of a weed that looks like wheat, but has no fruit. The canon, has both the “tare seed”, the word of the “evil one” (Matthew 13:38) in the same “field”/book/NT, as the "good seed".

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Funny article.

Most of it measures ancient texts by modern standards. For a number of reasons, there wasn't much need for ancient works to be:

"clear and concise, with all factual statements accurate and characters neither two-dimensional nor plagued with multiple personality disorder—unless they actually are. A book written by a god should be some of the best writing ever produced."

For one thing, there weren't many written works before the printing press was invented in the c. 16th century. Not many people could read [less than 10% of the population], and fact checking and plagiarism wasn't an issue [unless you're an author like Cicero who protested unauthorized copies]. ... Due to the lack of writing and readers, it was an authors' market. They could be as wordy and imprecise as their few readers could tolerate.

As for 'the best writing ever' - that is completely subjective. The Bible is considered by many to be a masterpiece - for 2k years.

 

[metis]

I was wondering about that since I knew there were only pieces available. How we got thousands of errors on just a few pieces was a little weird for me.

My guess is that Barclay was likely referring to the oldest full text, but since he's dead, it's pretty hard to ask him and get an answer.

BTW, it's found in his book "Introduction To the Bible", which I believe is no longer in publication.

 

[metis]

It's been translated into Greek, into Latin, into English, with no quality control for the past thousand years. Is there any wonder that there are so many different Christian bibles in use in the present day?

Which is why when it comes to Christian Bibles, I prefer the RSV because it is a more direct translation than most, which is why it reads sorta clumbsily (like the word I just invented). It can be found here on-line and as a search tool: Bible: Revised Standard Version

 

[BilliardsBall]

Hey, I'm just putting the god of Abraham on the same shelf as so many of the other gods. No higher, no lower. Want me to put him on a higher shelf where the decent Gods sit, then you have your work cut out for yourself. But as it stands any god who continues to create evil, kills countless innocent people, and lets millions of people suffer, all the while demanding love, adoration, praise, and worship, keeps him just where he is, on the Small "g" Shelf.

.

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You seem to have a lot of reasons why you shouldn't trust God that have to do with others. It sounds noble of you, but in my anecdotal experience, people who reject Jesus Christ have some personal moral sin (alcohol, infidelity, pornography) etc. that is the real reason the Bible and God are "on the shelf".

 

[Thief]

It serves a need. The need for confirmation that something greater than one's self is watching over them. That such a source is riddled with problematic issues is inconsequential to the needy. As long as they can pull a glimmer of hope and comfort from it that's all that matters.

.

has scripture failed to do so for you?

 

[`mud]

hey Skwim,
As to:
"Hey, I'm just putting the god of Abraham on the same shelf as so many of the other gods. No higher, no lower. Want me to put him on a higher shelf where the decent Gods sit, then you have your work cut out for yourself. But as it stands any god who continues to create evil, kills countless innocent people, and lets millions of people suffer, all the while demanding love, adoration, praise, and worship, keeps him just where he is, on the Small "g" Shelf."

Did I give you a star for that ? I didn't ? Well.... to you !

 

[Skwim]

hey Skwim,
As to:
"Hey, I'm just putting the god of Abraham on the same shelf as so many of the other gods. No higher, no lower. Want me to put him on a higher shelf where the decent Gods sit, then you have your work cut out for yourself. But as it stands any god who continues to create evil, kills countless innocent people, and lets millions of people suffer, all the while demanding love, adoration, praise, and worship, keeps him just where he is, on the Small "g" Shelf."

Did I give you a star for that ? I didn't ? Well.... to you !

Tack så mycket.

.

 

[`mud]

Your welcome......I think !

 

[Skwim]

Your welcome......I think !

It's Swedish for "Thank you very much."

.

 

[`mud]

Just 'cause it didn't mean upyrs, I'm glad !

 

[Kenny]

My guess is that Barclay was likely referring to the oldest full text, but since he's dead, it's pretty hard to ask him and get an answer.

BTW, it's found in his book "Introduction To the Bible", which I believe is no longer in publication.

LOL... I wonder why