Bible... Living Document?

[mjh0607]

Is the Bible a living document (or living book, or living book of books)?

I have an opinion on this, but I'm curious as to what others thinks. There may be something lost in the definition, but at any rate, I'm curious as to what you think when you are asked if the Bible is a living document.

 

[James Is Back]

As far as living as alive in a literal sense no as far as it being a living breathing Word of God in a metaphoric sense yes that would be true.

 

[Optimax]

Yes.

Heb 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. KJV

Heb 4:12
for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart; YLT

 

[ThatTrueLight]

Described by the LORD as incorruptible seed which grows up into its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sower of that good incorruptile seed which absolutely does live and abide for ever.

 

[topcare]

No, The Bible is a book and books are not alive. The God that inspired them is alive

 

[mjh0607]

Thanks for the responses.

I was really interested in other people's thoughts are when they hear "the Bible is a living document". What comes to mind. How is it portrayed.

I do agree that God is alive and Christ lives forever. But I don't believe the Bible is a living document.

A few years ago - I really can't remember if it was a national discussion or a dinner table conversation - it was brought up about the US Constitution being a living document. I don't really remember what the specific topic was, but an example might be the second amendment, the right to bear arms. Some, who side saying that the US Constitution is not a living document, believe that all US citizens had a right to bear arms in 1787 and they do in 2015. Others, those who believe the US Constitution is a living document, argue that in 1787 the amendment as a right to form militias, so ordinary people could take up arms against England and that in 2015 that right doesn't have any meaning.

Now, I have no idea if the US Constitution is a living document or not. I definitely don't want to get into a second amendment argument. That's not the point of telling that story. The point is that as a living document, it has the ability to shift meaning as time passes on. What had meaning in 1787 or 5AD might not apply today.

I believe the Bible is an absolute. I believe the world that it governs has a right and a wrong. I do not believe the rights and the wrongs that are portrayed in the Bible are subjected to democracy - a vote of majority. If the Bible says something is right, it's right. If the Bible says something is wrong, it's wrong. No amount of "99% of the world's population says that this activity is right - which conflicts with what the Bible says - so the Bible must me wrong" is going to change that. The world might agree that a certain activity is right, but sadly the world doesn't follow the governance of the Bible and of God. That doesn't make it right in the eyes of God.

If you allow the instructions from the Bible to sway, then you are essentially saying that sin only counts if you meant to sin. If someone gets drunk and commits adultery, I'm sorry but that is still sin. I don't think God works by saying "well, if he wasn't drunk he wouldn't have committed adultery, so he'll get a pass on this one."

I was taught that God is the same today as He was yesterday and that He will be tomorrow. This is why I feel that right and wrongs from God's word are absolutes. And if they are absolutes, they don't change. When I hear the words "living document," I think of something that can change, that can morph into something that fits the current times. I don't believe the Bible does that. But when you hear the terms "The Bible as a living document" or "The living Bible" is that what comes to mind? Or is it "The living God whose word is the Bible?"

 

[PaladinValer]

The Holy Writ is "alive" in that God the Holy Spirit continuously speaks through its words to us even today, and it is interpreted carefully, prayerfully, and communally for the edification of all Christians and the evangelism of the world.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Ah yes, the "living Constitution" vs. "Originalism" argument, I'm familiar. I think the scriptures are a bit harder to qualify either way because of the diverse nature of scripture itself. The Constitution is a singular document, written in one setting with one intention.

The scriptures were written over a much longer period of time, by different authors, in different situations with different intentions in mind. So on the one hand it is 'original' and on the other hand it's 'living'.

 

[Tigger45]

Yes but faith is the catalyst.

 

[BobRyan]

Is the Bible a living document (or living book, or living book of books)?

I have an opinion on this, but I'm curious as to what others thinks. There may be something lost in the definition, but at any rate, I'm curious as to what you think when you are asked if the Bible is a living document.

It is not a "living document" the way we use that term commonly to mean "an ever changing/editing/appending/evolving document".

But the Heb 4 statement is related to the fact that the Bible is the work of the Holy Spirit - and He is a alive, and active and can bring home to your mind certain aspects of it - that a dead book of mere history would never do.

The Bible according to 2Tim 3:16 and Heb 4 is NOT "the BEST efforts of good men living in a pre-scientific age to convey well-intended ideas as best they knew in the darkness of the ignorant age in which they lived, and so often wrong".

 

[Steeno7]

Jesus Christ is the living Word, not a book.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The bible as a set of typed words in a text isn't living until the reading of the words is made alive thru the Holy Spirit breathing life into them. I remember the first time that happened and the effect that it had on me. Not every time that I read the words is the HS speaking thru them and not every time that the HS speaks thru the word is it from the bible. That the living Word is as able to keep itself is attested to by the fact that, as all Christian's believe, it is the only book written solely by God's inspiration. When the ark was removed from the camp of Israelites and given into the camp of the Philistines there was no way that God allowed that which carried His people thru rivers of water to become a dead object that had to rely on human will. And now the biblical word carries us on living water to know God, and keep us thru the word from the enemy camp.

 

[BobRyan]

Yes.

Heb 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. KJV

Heb 4:12
for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart; YLT

NASB -
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Notice what Jesus calls "The Word of God" in Mark 7??

Mark 7

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the Commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

That is a case of Christ demonstrating the way that the magisterium is hammered "sola scriptura" in the cases where it's traditions and "doctrines of men" are at odds with scripture.

 

[topcare]

The bible as a set of typed words in a text isn't living until the reading of the words is made alive thru the Holy Spirit breathing life into them. I remember the first time that happened and the effect that it had on me. Not every time that I read the words is the HS speaking thru them and not every time that the HS speaks thru the word is it from the bible. That the living Word is as able to keep itself is attested to by the fact that, as all Christian's believe, it is the only book written solely by God's inspiration. When the ark was removed from the camp of Israelites and given into the camp of the Philistines there was no way that God allowed that which carried His people thru rivers of water to become a dead object that had to rely on human will. And now the biblical word carries us on living water to know God, and keep us thru the word from the enemy camp.

Yep, that is why it is said "that faith comes by hearing" not by reading. It is through hearing that the HS that breathes life into the words

 

[Smidlee]

Words only exist in the mind and hearts of intelligent being. Words are not made up of matter but are created by a mind to touch another mind. The Word that become flesh is the mind of God reaching down and touching the mind (soul) of man.
Just as my physical life began when the "living" code of my earthly father entered into a prepared egg to accept that code so did my spiritual life began when the "living" Code of God (preacher preach from the Bible, Jesus Christ) from my Heavenly Father enter into my heart prepared by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ and the Bible are interconnected and not to be separated.

 

[brinny]

Words only exist in the mind and hearts of intelligent being. Words are not made up of matter but are created by a mind to touch another mind. The Word that become flesh is the mind of God reaching down and touching the mind (soul) of man.
Just as my physical life began when the "living" code of my earthly father entered into a prepared egg to accept that code so did my spiritual life began when the "living" Code of God (preacher preach from the Bible, Jesus Christ) from my Heavenly Father enter into my heart prepared by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ and the Bible are interconnected and not to be separated.

Amen brother. Thank you for this edifying synopsis.