Inspiration

Last week Kurtis was asked how Christians can know the Bible is inspired when other ancient books talk about gods and other supernatural stuff. More importantly, how can Christians believe that the Bible is inspired when other books like the Koran and the Book of Mormon also claim to be inspired? Why your book and not theirs? Being the bright and snappy little palooka that he is, Kurtis (with some mild help from the rest of us) said:

1) The claims and events of the Bible are historical ones which have made real marks on the world: history, archeology and the effects in people's lives (Jn. 10:38).

2) The Bible claims to be inspired, not all other books do. Many eastern religions and ancient near eastern ones don't claim to have accounts of the world inspired by a personal God.

3) Judaism, Islam and Mormonism all claim parts of the Bible as inspired; the fact that these parts are historically, chronologically and theologically distant from these religions prove that their writings aren't inspired.

4) Knowing that the testimony about Jesus is true requires a commitment to Him (Jn. 7:17) because no amount of evidence can overturn a person's bent to not believe (Luke 16:31). There are evidences for the Bible, but they aren't convincing if a person rules out the existence and activity of God, the possibility of the resurrection, and things like this from the very beginning.