Man wants to believe the lie because he does not want to submit to God. Unfortunately, they will learn too late, that they are wrong. - Barbara

So which is the Bible, fiction or historical fiction? - Erik

Erik, You need to reread the last two lines of the devotion. "There is a historically accurate book about Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It's called the Bible." The devotion in no way leads anyone to think the Bible is either fiction or historical fiction. The Bible is God's truth, the full truth. I see you are still active with insincere questioning. Again, people are praying for you. - Janice

"There is a historically accurate book about Jesus and Mary Magdalene."

We've already agreed previously on this forum that the story in John 7:53-8:11 is a forgery. So how do we know the rest of the stuff isn't made up? Doesn't God want us to ask difficult questions and seek the truth? - Erik

Erik, I am always glad when we agree. Yes, God does want us to ask the difficult questions and seek the truth. Those who do so earnestly, will find Him. As far as the bible, there is unparalleled corroboration of historical events through faithfully transmitted manuscripts from multiply attested accounts, archeological support, as well as the improbability that the Christian faith would have survived, let alone gotten off the ground were the events not true. So, the most one could claim on the other side is that the bible is historical fiction, and very accurate historical fiction. Certainly not that it is fiction.

I personally believe the bible is historical, and that others who seek the truth will come to the same conclusion. The heart of the matter is whether you believe that the supernatural is possible. That is the point where faith starts, and that is the biggest stumbling block for so many, even though the evidence points to the bible being true. Certainly, if there is a creator of our universe and all in it, there would be nothing unexpected about seeing the miraculous from time to time. God gave us his word through the bible and his son, Jesus Christ. Even without that special revelation from God, deep down we all still know. As Roman's 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." - Rick Y

"The bigger the lie, the more it is believed" So true...scary, isn't it? What is it about the Truth that people have such a hard time believing? I don't get it because the Truth is so awesome and freeing. It is so frustrating to me to see so many blinded people and here's the frustrating part... they want to be blind because they are so against the Truth. - Judy

Erik:
You may believe that the story in John 7:53-John 8:11 is not accurate, but thaat does not make it inaccurate. Not all manuscripts have this passgae but enough have it to make it believable and accurate. - Larry

Erik, why do you work so hard at trying to convience yourself that the Bible is a lie. I am praying for you and I know someday your mind will finally let you believe what you protest so much against. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. - Jan-Mexico

Erik - Who agreed with you that John 7:53 was a forgery? You decided that. Besides, my Bible clearly states that the verses in John are controversial and may have been added at a later date. That makes the Bible even more trustworthy, not less. And certainly not a "forgery." - Austin

As I recall it was you, Austin, who said you tended to side with Biblical scholars regarding the pericope adulterae. And then Janice said something about she was grateful to learn something new.

BibleGateway.com (which BW uses in these devotions) reads: "The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11."

If your Bible also points this out then that's a good thing. Editions of the Bible prior to the modern ones did not point this out however, and it has become a beloved story which preachers commonly repeat even today. So ok, a fake story made it into the Bible and it's taken 1500 or so years to weed it out. Doesn't it make you wonder about the OTHER stories??? - Erik

Erik, Many of the people who visit this site put full trust in God and His Word, the Holy Bible. I understand how you want to use this controversial passage to bring discredit to the whole Bible. You are wishing to plant seeds of doubt whereas others who visit here are looking to receive seeds of faith through the devotion and also to plant seeds of faith in others. It all depends on whose side you are on. I am praying that you will become a planter of seeds of faith rather than of seeds of doubt. You have so much determination and energy in your planting. I just hope what you are doing will be beneficial to the Kingdom and not be wasted seed turned into weeds. God can make good come out of the most unexpected things. I praise God for what He can do in your life if He so chooses. - Janice

Although some Web sites and some commentaries state that this passage was not found in the oldest manuscripts, it is however belived to be a true story about Jesus that was preserved in the oral tradition and was added to the Bible because of that very reason. This is the way the Bible was conceived and written, it was done by the tradition of handing down from one generation to another. It does not mean the story was not true, it just means it hadn't been penned down yet. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. If people would take time to understand how all history events were published then they would understand that at the first day of life everything was not sitting there at the front steps waiting to be picked up and read, it took time for things to be published.
Eric good to hear from you again, and remember you dont bother us, in fact you help sometimes to get us studing. See God even use your devilish ways for his glory to get people to read his word. Keep up the good work and one day your heart may be soften to the point that you give in and believe what you read. I am praying for you and your eternal destination. - Jerry

Erik - I did say that I side with the scholars on those verses. They may not have been in the earliest versions of the Bible. That doesn't mean that the events described in John 7:53-John 8:11 didn't happen. I think it is strange that the verses describe Jesus writing in the sand - something He doesn't do in any other parts of the gospels, and apparently without meaning. That being said - maybe it did happen, I wasn't around 2000 yrs ago.
Is that the best people can find to discredit the entire Bible? That is pretty weak...especially considering so many Bibles call attention to the questionable authenticity. - Austin

Bibles haven't called attention to it until translations based on modern scholarship appeared in the last 50 years. Up until then people believed it was...ahem...gospel truth. I only mention the story because of its relevance to the devotion. There are of course many other well-know forgeries and interpolations in the New Testament. - Erik

I do know that "The Da Vinci Code" is found in the fiction category. Therefore, whatever it says in its pages is fiction. Whether people choose to believe that the author intended to make it a "true account of Jesus and his life", that is a bit of a flawed perception on behalf of the reader. Anyone that reads more into a work of fiction, intended as fiction, is, to put it mildly, quite silly. Including those who say it undermines Jesus' message.

It is a work of fiction. Nothing more.

Get over it. God indeed does have a sense of humour about Life, and I doubt that God would take this as seriously as you have... - Mel