Expert: Clifford H. Readout, Jr. - 12/11/2008

Question
Dear Dr. Readout. Thanks for your answers given to me on the above mentioned topic. You had asked me what I would do with your answers. I will keep them for my edification and also to be able to give a sound answer to those who ask me any question on such issues like these, for after all knowledge is power. One final question for now, and that is, how are we so sure that the bible is the only insspired book. I am a full bible believer, but I do not know the answers to these kinds of questions should an agnostic pose them to me. Many thanks again as I await your reply.

Answer
Greetings, David,

The question you are asking now is, “How are we so sure that the Bible is the only inspired book?” In addition to the basic question you indicate that the answer needed is one that has the potential to satisfy a questioning agnostic.

I am going to limit “inspired book” to mean those books that were “God-breathed,” that is, that God chose the words to be uttered and written, and the men through whom to record them.  Otherwise, I’d have to say there are many, many other spoken and written works that are in some way inspired.  I have, myself, experienced an unmistakably divine inspiration in some of the things I have spoken and written, but none of them have the magnitude of inspiration claimed in and by the Bible for itself.

I noticed that you addressed me as “Dr. Readout”.  I hope it does not disappoint you to learn that I have never attended a Bible college or seminary, other than as a teacher and an administrator.  The highest academic degree I have earned is a Batchelor’s degree from a major university, but was not in a theological field.  I have qualified for and been granted, by a large international ministerial fellowship, three progressive levels of theological credentials, culminating in Ordination.  Accordingly, “Doctor” is an honorific I must disavow.  The highest titles I qualify for is “Reverend” and “Pastor”, and the highest title to which I aspire is simply, “Brother.”

I mention this not only as a matter of propriety, but also because it leads me to what I consider to be the fullest and most significant answer to your question.  I will first have to write something that applies before that answer to give you something which might be meaningful to unbelievers.

First, there are many rigorous, objective, historical, documentary, and literary tests that have led many investigators to accept the idea that the Bible is divinely inspired.  Enough books have been written on this subject that I will not duplicate those efforts.  I have studied this matter myself, and gone a bit farther than what I have read, including an unusual application of probability theory.  The details are not significant to the specific answer to your question, so I will not include them here, either.  Suffice it to say that no other “sacred” writings pass the objective tests.

This fact, though, is probably not going to be meaningful to the agnostic, or to anyone else who is not willing to do the research themselves.  Most people are too committed to self and subjectivity to be willing to honestly investigate Truth, especially if it would demand self-denial or repudiation of their subjective beliefs.  Most people are first exposed to Truth by a subjective experience they cannot ignore. Unfortunately, this seldom leads them to investigate with objective methods.  People are satisfied to be in the bondage of belief, and seldom choose to do what must be done to be made free by the knowledge of the truth.

It is a simple fact that it is not possible to answer objections to Truth.  Only sincere questions can be answered.  So, I suggest that even a complete and correct answer to the question concerning the Bible’s unique status as the divinely inspired Word of God will not be helpful.  Nevertheless, I give you the summary of it:

Unbiased application of objective tests to determine the validity of the claims of the Bible about itself [and please note that this may exclude some claims that others make about it!] demonstrate its divine inspiration.  No other “sacred literature” passes the objective tests, and no other sacred literature reconciles with the ultimate teaching of the Bible.

Second, there is an secondary determining factor which has become more significant for me than the objective. I had a subjective experience with The LORD, [even though that experience is clearly and objectively detailed in the Bible, it was a personal experience, and all experiences are subjective].  That experience led me into my own objective study of the Bible.  The ultimate result of my objective investigations was a much deeper personal experience and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. All personal experience is subjective, but, again, some subjective experiences are objectively defined and detailed in the Bible, and It has been objectively validated.  This personal, intimate knowledge of the Person, identity and plan of God settle such issues for me.  I know what The LORD says He has done, is doing, and will do.  I have assurances from Him that He has preserved and provided His written Word for me in the Bible, and in no other documents. I need nothing else to settle the issue.

Understand this, I do not accept any subjective phenomena as authoritative, but, if that phenomena is objectively defined in the Bible it may be valid as supportive evidence.  There is no “extra-Biblical” revelatory authority.  All such phenomena must be judged by the objective text, rather than using the subjective experience to determine the meaning of the objective text.  This is a challenging and difficult standard, but it is the one I have adopted, and urge all others to adopt.

My subjective evidence should have no more potential to convince the unbeliever than the objective.  However, it might motivate one to begin an investigation of their own.  If they can manage the intellectual honesty required, the results will be worthwhile.

I hope this helps.

I must now take a “vacation” from the AllExperts website.  I may be able to provide answers within the mandated three day time limit.  That does not mean I will not be available for further communications.  You can always email me directly at <readout@earthlink.net>, but I cannot assure you of as quick an answer.  There are too many other demands on my time.

Yours for Truth,

CR