Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
... once you've validated the text and vetted the translation... to interpret the Bible...
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3 Good aspects of "inerrancy" to examine here.
Validating the texts: We have different original OT texts such as Masoretic (Hebrew) versus LXX (Greek), plus different NT codices (Alexandrinus, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, etc). In spite of variations, nothing that I can see undermines the faith. On the contrary, the variations really highlight the scrupulous work of diligent caretakers over the centuries, as faithful transmitters of the Word of God shepherded the texts. New discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which introduced original biblical texts hundreds of years earlier than previous copies, reinforce the idea of this process of continuously faithful transmission.
Translation: I love comparing different translations, because pretty much all of them allow the voice of God to speak to us. Again, variation produces reinforcement, not chaos. They are like intertwined strands of a single rope.
Interpretation: In spite of the phenomenal variety of the Christian message today, the "fact" that God loved us and sent His Son to save us and bring us back to Him is pretty clearly and universally understood. Likewise that we who believe into Jesus Christ should now love one another and obey His commands. I don't see any new "interpretation" looming on the horizon.
All of this allow a lot of "variance" while maintaining the validity of the Christian enterprise. To me it is like a human organ, which can maintain functionality within a range of temperatures, pressures and chemical gradients. It doesn't have to be "exact" in order to avoid collapse.
Likewise, the gospel message of God's love for us in Jesus Christ is actually quite robust. I love the fact that the more we "try it with fire" the more it seems to radiantly shine forth.