• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

What is the Authority of the New Testament?

Coder

Active Member
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.

This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.

I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
 
Last edited:

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
The authority is based on the belief that the NT is inspired by God and in someway true.

Objective truth is very very limited since it is compiled and edited after the fact mostly by those that are not witnesses to the life of Jesus.
 

Betho_br

Active Member
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.

This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.

I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
What Jesus lacked in recognized authority with the Jews was compensated for by the person of Paul; the Christian Bible is Paul's theology. I suspect that even the Gospels were written by Paul's assistants.
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
What Jesus lacked in recognized authority with the Jews was compensated for by the person of Paul; the Christian Bible is Paul's theology. I suspect that even the Gospels were written by Paul's assistants.
I do not believe Paul was very influential among the Jews of Palestine region he was a Hellenist Jew and more influential in the spread of Christianity among the gentiles and Hellenist Jews of Asia Minor and Rome. The Roman Hellenist influence is apparent in gospels
 
Last edited:

Betho_br

Active Member
I do not believe Paul was very influential among the Jews of Palestine region he was a Hellenist Jew and more influential in the spread of Christianity among the gentiles and Hellenist Jews of Asia Minor and Rome. The Roman Hellenist influence is apparent in gospels
Acts 24:5 KJV
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Clarifying about Paul and the "sect of the Nazarenes," there seems to be historical confusion regarding how Paul was perceived among Jewish sects such as the priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees. Paul stood out among the converted Gentiles, which led some to associate him with the "sect of the Nazarenes," which became one of the most notable Jewish sects transformed into "Christianity". This association may have occurred due to Paul's visibility among the converted Gentiles, despite his influence being limited among the churches in Judea and Jerusalem, where he ("no, the Saul") was less known. It is important to note that Paul was Jewish and observant of the law, which partly explains this association with the Nazarenes for the Jewish elite who did not fully understand "Christianity".
 

Betho_br

Active Member
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.

This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.

I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
The Sadducees, an influential sect in Judea during the Second Temple period, maintained a belief exclusively in the written Torah, disregarding the authority of oral traditions and prophetic writings. They seem to have been extinct as a significant group after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, an event that marked the collapse of the Second Temple. However, I am not a specialist in Jewish history.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, survived this catastrophe and continued to develop their traditions. They believed in both the written Torah and oral tradition, and their doctrines included the acceptance of the Psalms and the Prophets, which differentiated them from the Sadducees.

The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, played a crucial role in the formation of the Greek Christian Bible ("New Testament"). This Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, produced between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, served as a textual basis for many of the authors of the Greek Christian Bible ("New Testament"), significantly influencing how the sacred writings were interpreted and understood in the Christian context. The use of the Septuagint as a textual reference reflects the complex intersection between Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity, showing how biblical traditions were reinterpreted and applied in new religious contexts. The authority of Jesus was questioned by the Jews; it seems that Jesus belonged to the Jewish sect of the Therapeutae. Paul exploited this and "proved" to many Jews that Jesus was "the Messiah," with the support of Gentiles, particularly the Hellenists, who would prefer a Jewish "god" over the Roman gods of their conquerors.
 

Betho_br

Active Member
In the beginning was the Torah; then came the prophets, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Therapists, the Ebionites, the Nazarenes, the Nicolaitans, the Gnostics, the Jewish Catholic Circumcisionists, the Hellenistic Christians, the Church of Rome and its surroundings, the Church of Antioch, the Catholic Churches of Asia, and the African Churches. Then Constantine united the Church with the State, leading to the Pentarchy (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem). Later, the East-West Schism occurred in 1054 AD, resulting in the establishment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. After Luther, the Lutheran Church was founded, followed by the Presbyterian Church founded by Calvin and John Knox. Henry VIII, disagreeing, established the Anglican Church, and John Wesley, disagreeing with the Anglican Church, founded the Methodist Church. Joseph Smith, in turn, founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) after disagreeing, while John Smith established the Baptist Church. William Miller founded the Adventist Church due to disagreements, and Ellen White promoted this by founding the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Charles Russell, disagreeing with the Adventist Church, founded the Jehovah's Witnesses, while the followers of Charles Fox Parham established Pentecostalism and several others established Neopentecostalism. Then came "the darkness" and founded the "Abomination of Desolation"... (Let the reader understand)
 

jimb

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
In the beginning was the Torah; then came the prophets, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Therapists, the Ebionites, the Nazarenes, the Nicolaitans, the Gnostics, the Jewish Catholic Circumcisionists, the Hellenistic Christians, the Church of Rome and its surroundings, the Church of Antioch, the Catholic Churches of Asia, and the African Churches. Then Constantine united the Church with the State, leading to the Pentarchy (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem). Later, the East-West Schism occurred in 1054 AD, resulting in the establishment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. After Luther, the Lutheran Church was founded, followed by the Presbyterian Church founded by Calvin and John Knox. Henry VIII, disagreeing, established the Anglican Church, and John Wesley, disagreeing with the Anglican Church, founded the Methodist Church. Joseph Smith, in turn, founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) after disagreeing, while John Smith established the Baptist Church. William Miller founded the Adventist Church due to disagreements, and Ellen White promoted this by founding the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Charles Russell, disagreeing with the Adventist Church, founded the Jehovah's Witnesses, while the followers of Charles Fox Parham established Pentecostalism and several others established Neopentecostalism. Then came "the darkness" and founded the "Abomination of Desolation"... (Let the reader understand)
What exactly is "the darkness"? Are you seriously claiming that no living Christian can "walk in the light"?
 

RR144

Bible Student
William Miller founded the Adventist Church due to disagreements,
Actually William Miller lived and died a Baptist, believing all the tenets of the Baptist church. He simply believed that the Lord's return was imminent. Those who believed in his chronology for 1843/44 were called "Millerites". It was his followers who splintered off and created all the different sects, such as the Advent Christian Church and Seventh-Day Adventist.
and Ellen White promoted this by founding the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
While it is true that Ellen G. White was a Seventh-day Adventist, she was not its founder. This group simply called themselves "Sabbatarian Adventists" and in 1863 they adopted the name Seventh-day Adventist. She later became their prophetess. The actual founders of the SDA were Hiram Edson, Joseph Bates, James White, J. N. Andrews along with Ellen G. White.
Charles Russell, disagreeing with the Adventist Church, founded the Jehovah's Witnesses,
Charles Taze Russell was never an actual member of the Adventist, though he was influenced by the likes of George Storrs, George Stetson and Nelson H. Barbour. He founded the Bible Students movement, which still exist today. After his death in 1916, there was a schism and the publishing house he founded (and that's all it was in his day, a publishing house) fell into the hands of Joseph F. Rutherford, reorganized the movement, took control and in 1931, named those who followed him: Jehovah's Witnesses.
 

Betho_br

Active Member
Actually William Miller lived and died a Baptist, believing all the tenets of the Baptist church. He simply believed that the Lord's return was imminent. Those who believed in his chronology for 1843/44 were called "Millerites". It was his followers who splintered off and created all the different sects, such as the Advent Christian Church and Seventh-Day Adventist.

While it is true that Ellen G. White was a Seventh-day Adventist, she was not its founder. This group simply called themselves "Sabbatarian Adventists" and in 1863 they adopted the name Seventh-day Adventist. She later became their prophetess. The actual founders of the SDA were Hiram Edson, Joseph Bates, James White, J. N. Andrews along with Ellen G. White.

Charles Taze Russell was never an actual member of the Adventist, though he was influenced by the likes of George Storrs, George Stetson and Nelson H. Barbour. He founded the Bible Students movement, which still exist today. After his death in 1916, there was a schism and the publishing house he founded (and that's all it was in his day, a publishing house) fell into the hands of Joseph F. Rutherford, reorganized the movement, took control and in 1931, named those who followed him: Jehovah's Witnesses.
I appreciate! It's unfortunate that some translated books don't include these crucial details for various reasons.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.

This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.

I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
Well the fact is, it's not authoritative at all but many people are hoodwinked into thinking it is by virtue of their own belief and conviction and thinking that everybody recognizes it when that is just not the case.
 

jimb

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Well the fact is, it's not authoritative at all but many people are hoodwinked into thinking it is by virtue of their own belief and conviction and thinking that everybody recognizes it when that is just not the case.
It's not authoritative to you (which in itself means nothing). You make the bizarre statement that people believe it is "by virtue of their own belief and conviction", but of course that isn't why you believe what you do. LOL!!!

You fail to make a valid argument as to why it isn't authoritative, other than your own opinion (which doesn't mean anything; everyone has opinions).
 

jimb

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.

This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.

I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
It doesn't matter if you believe that the New Testament has some "objective truths" or not. And what is an "artificial story"?

The Bible is a collection of writings about God -- the Trinity -- and peoples' interaction with Him over thousands of years. It is not meant to be equivalent to Western journalism. Instead it is meant to convey to our minds and our spirits who God is and what He has done.

The only way to understand and accept the Bible is through faith.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
It's not authoritative to you (which in itself means nothing). You make the bizarre statement that people believe it is "by virtue of their own belief and conviction", but of course that isn't why you believe what you do. LOL!!!

You fail to make a valid argument as to why it isn't authoritative, other than your own opinion (which doesn't mean anything; everyone has opinions).
Your absolute BS is duly noted.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Why do people believe that the New Testament is authoritative? For example, what does "inspired by God" mean? Why do you believe that it is inspired by God.
This is not from an atheist perspective. I believe in God.
I believe that the New Testament has some objective truths. I also believe that it contains many artificial stories intended to serve a purpose.
2nd Timothy 316-17 tells us what Scripture is good for
Inspired by God in that God is the Author and He inspired the Bible writers to write down His thinking
Bible writers were as if God was their Boss and they were His secretaries writing down what God wanted written down
Those so-called 'artificial' stories were ' word picture parable-illustration stories ' to help people learn and remember them
 

Wandering Monk

Well-Known Member
2nd Timothy 316-17 tells us what Scripture is good for
Inspired by God in that God is the Author and He inspired the Bible writers to write down His thinking
Bible writers were as if God was their Boss and they were His secretaries writing down what God wanted written down
Those so-called 'artificial' stories were ' word picture parable-illustration stories ' to help people learn and remember them
400px-Bible_cycle.jpg
 
Top