Study Questions - Chapter 3
TAKING THE BIBLE SERIOUSLY BUT NOT LITERALLY
- Dr. Borg states that
God can be known not only in the Bible but in other ways and in other
religions. What do you think of this? What does the Bible say about this
(see Paul’s argument in the first chapter of Romans)?
- “Contemporary
Biblical literalism with its emphasis on Biblical infallibility,
historical factuality, and moral and doctrinal absolutes is an obstacle
for millions of people.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- Borg says that the
Bible is a product of ancient Israel and the early
Christian movement and tells us how our spiritual ancestors saw
things-not how God sees things. What are the strengths and weaknesses of
this perspective?
- How do you believe
that God was involved in the process of putting the Bible together, a
process in which many “gospels” were discarded that contained unusual
stories about Jesus? Is the Bible a more reliable book than other books
for encountering and experiencing God? How?
- What does it mean for
you to affirm the words of II Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is inspired
by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting
faults, and giving instruction for right living.”
- Do you have to
believe that every event in the Bible happened just as it is reported in
order to believe that the Bible is true? What do you mean by saying that
the Bible is true?
- Do you think
mainstream Christians take the Bible seriously enough? Why or why not?
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