How does the Christian confront proof that the Bible is not the word of God but the word of man? [Spirituality & Religion]
How would it affect your view of the Bible as the inerrant word of god to know that one of its most beloved passages was added in later for effect?
The Pericope Adulterae. You've all heard of it even if you don't know it by that name: John 7:53—8:11, the story of the adulteress where Jesus outwits the Pharisees and challenges the man without sin to throw the first stone.
Well it's not actually part of the bible. It's a later addition and most of the early manuscripts don't have it. And this isn't even a point of significant dispute but is agreed upon by most biblical scholars.
Is it difficult to believe that the Bible is god's word when men can change it like this?
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
SW-User
I think this is mostly a problem for Biblical literalists, which not all Christians are, and something more common among American evangelicals than Christianity at large. The Bible can be the inspired word of God while still being written by men, compiled by men, and showing the flaws of having been written by men. Biblical literalists become obsessed with details to the exclusion of the larger messages contained within.
