# The Validity of the Bible **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 10, 2000, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942 "2000-06-10T05:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CollegeStudent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CollegeStudent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CollegeStudent)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/1 "2000-06-10T05:52:03Z")
Some believe that the bible is out of date and incorrect. Yet ALL of its prophecies have come to pass. 1. Jesus predicted in Luke that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left on top of another. In A.D. 70 the Romans invaded Jerusalem and tore down the temple taking EVERY STONE because of the value of it. 2. Old Testament prophets predicted that Israel would go into captivity. Twice Israel was taken into captivity. 3. Prophets also predicted that Israel would become a nation again which it did in 1949. So how can anyone say that the bible is not God-Inspired? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/2 "2000-06-10T06:16:17Z")
Well, CollegeStudent, which version of the Bible are you referring to? Anyway, as for whether or not the dozens of versions of the Bible are God-inspired or not… 2000 years ago, somebody said some very generalized stuff. Over the course of two millenia, there must have been dozens of events that transpired that could have matched said events. If not, how come everyone believed that the year 1000 would be the return of Christ? Maybe all the criteria mentioned in the Book of Revelations had been met, perhaps, in the eyes of our Middle-Aged brethren? The prophecies you referred to are either very generalized (in the case of the latter two), or no-brainers (in the case of the first). “People who don’t like our religion will want to destroy our center of worship.” Doesn’t take a messiah to think of that, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/3 "2000-06-10T06:19:35Z")
1. Please show evidence Luke was written prior to 70 AD. 2. Please show evidence the predictions of captivity were written prior to the captivity, not later to explain it had all been part of “God’s plan”. 3. This one is an self-fulfilling prophecy. The Zionists kept pushing for it, and eventually they got it. They were inspired to a significant degree by the very prophecies you mention. The idea of Israel was such an integral part of Jewish identity that as long as there were Jews, there would have been attempts at a homeland again. Shabbetai tried in 1665, and someone would have tried again today if they had not been successful in 1949. ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/4 "2000-06-10T09:03:42Z")
[URL="[http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/prophecy.html](http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/prophecy.html)"How about this for starters? It’s a nifty page with 46 examples of prophecies in the Bible that proved false, or promises that God made to folks that he later reneged on. Some of them are nit-picky, but others are plainly at odds with what has happened. Let’s just say that I find the power of Biblical prophecy a bit underwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/5 "2000-06-10T09:06:17Z")
[How about this for starters?](http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/prophecy.html) That link should work. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/6 "2000-06-10T09:11:10Z")
Very helpful! Thanks Ptahlis! ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/7 "2000-06-10T09:14:35Z")
I do not really want to get into the validity of the Bible as Holy Word, except that 1.the Bible is not without error, and should not be taken literally in all cases. & 2. the miracles & prophecies should be & must be taken on faith. That said, as far as the Bible as HISTORY- many used to scoff, but every time they have a major dig in the Holy land, they confirm, not disprove, the Bible. If you consider it as book of it’s times, it is pretty accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Boogarrheal\_Catastrophe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Boogarrheal\_Catastrophe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogarrheal_Catastrophe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/8 "2000-06-10T09:29:56Z")
The way the New Testament is written, Jesus seems to tell his followers that the second coming would happen during their lifetimes. (Matt. 10:23 and Matt. 16:27-28) Does that mean we all missed the second coming? Maybe there’s more to understanding the Bible than just taking things at face value. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/9 "2000-06-10T13:41:38Z")
We’re suppose to assume that **all** of its prophecies have come to pass because you can list **three** that you claim have (and even though were already dealt with here). Please. Here’s one that hasn’t come to pass: Jesus hasn’t come back yet, and it’s past the lifetime of those who were with him. Whoops! (For that matter, just the fact that Jesus hasn’t come back shows that your claim of _all_ prophecies having come to pass is bogus.) ---
**Author:** ![CollegeStudent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CollegeStudent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CollegeStudent)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/10 "2000-06-10T15:28:51Z")
BUT there are prophecies that Jesus said would come to pass that are happening today. I have heard that on June 26 of this year a bringing together of all religions will occur. It’s name is called URI. This is a fulfillment of Revelation 17 ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/11 "2000-06-10T15:55:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > BUT there are prophecies that Jesus said would come to pass that are happening today. I have heard that on June 26 of this year a bringing together of all religions will occur. It’s name is called URI. This is a fulfillment of Revelation 17 > > \*\* Yeah, and do you know how many people have been absolutely sure they were living in the “end times?” Paul, Luke, and some of the others then, all the way down to today. Interpreting Revelations to apply to the present has been a popular pastime for 2000 years. Guess what? We’re still here. ---
**Author:** ![avalongod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@avalongod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/avalongod)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/12 "2000-06-10T16:15:33Z")
Bah, Jesus HAS come back, he plays guitar for Pink Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/13 "2000-06-10T18:11:12Z")
Syd Barrett is plenty confused enough already. Leave enough alone. Have you got it yet? ---
**Author:** ![bradysg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc348/32.png) [@bradysg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bradysg)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/14 "2000-06-10T18:22:37Z")
First of all, not all of the temple stones were taken, since the Western (Wailing) Wall still remains, and it is an incredibly important religious site in Jerusalem. As far as Revelation goes, it’s not some supernatural book, its an allegory for christian persecution at the hands of the Romans. In religion class, our teacher tried to tell us that it was for “a generation not yet born,” but I believe that it is for a generation long dead. The 7 headed dragon (hills of Rome) the number 666 (The sum of the hebrew letters of Emperor Nero’s name) [btw, all this came from footnotes in my Bible] seem to point pretty conclusively to the fact that it was an allegory by a real imaginitive and powerful author. bradysg ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/15 "2000-06-10T18:23:07Z")
**David** > [@](#): > > Here’s one that hasn’t come to pass: Jesus hasn’t come back yet, and it’s past the lifetime of those who were with him. In fact, He “came back” three days after He was murdered. He then “came back” again at the Pentacost. Even before those, of course, He “came back” when the universe was created, and after all has been said and done, He will “come back” yet again when we all judge ourselves (i.e., when our cellular decay is finished). He just “comes back” over and over, all the time. As though He’d never left. ---
**Author:** ![jenkinsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@jenkinsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jenkinsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/16 "2000-06-10T22:44:29Z")
Faith. You can’t push it on people, nor can you take it from people. It’s Very interesting how this five letter word has divided the world. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/17 "2000-06-10T22:55:55Z")
Well said, JenkinsFan. Faith is the sword He brought. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/18 "2000-06-10T23:57:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Faith. You can’t push it on people, nor can you take it from people. It’s Very interesting how this five letter word has divided the world. > \*\* Words are neutral. _People_ divide the world. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/19 "2000-06-11T00:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Some believe that the bible is out of date and incorrect. Yet ALL of its prophecies have come to pass. > > 1. Jesus predicted in Luke that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left on top of another. > In A.D. 70 the Romans invaded Jerusalem and tore down the temple taking EVERY STONE because of the value of it. > > 2. Old Testament prophets predicted that Israel would go into captivity. Twice Israel was taken into captivity. > > 3. Prophets also predicted that Israel would become a nation again which it did in 1949. > > So how can anyone say that the bible is not God-Inspired? > \*\* After seeing the movie “Malcolm X”, which contains a swing dance sequence, I predicted that swing dancing would become popular again. Lo and behold, it came to pass. This is proof that my prophecies are divinely inspired, so everything I say should be taken as the absolute truth. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942/20 "2000-06-11T03:58:13Z")
I too could post a witty rejoinder to the OP. However it was already done for me by the good people at “THE ONION”. So i’ll just include the link [http://www.theonion.com/onion3616/mistranslated\_myths.html](http://www.theonion.com/onion3616/mistranslated_myths.html) here. [Link fixed by David B.] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-the-bible/21942.md?page=2)