Verum Absolutum

Hi, I'm new here. I'm fairly familiar with Christian apologetics regarding the resurrection of Jesus and the authenticity of the Gospels. However, the Gospels are only part of the New Testament, and I've been having trouble finding arguments for the divine inspiration of the rest - the epistles of Paul in particular. Can anyone enlighten me as to the existence of Pauline apologetics and, moreover, the skeptical response? Links to sites supporting both points of view would be very helpful.

Thanks.

Peter Kirby

What are the arguments for the divine inspiration of the Gospels?

best,
Peter Kirby

Verum Absolutum

I'd imagine they'd be something along the lines of, "The Gospels record the sayings of Jesus, who was resurrected and therefore probably the Messiah. Thus, the Gospels are divinely inspired (at least when in comes to the parts about Jesus)." Since Paul wasn't the Messiah, though, I don't really see any reason why anyone, Christians included, would think that his words were divinely inspired, too.

Peter Kirby

The conclusion that the Gospels are divinely inspired does not follow at all. Even if the Gospels accurately record the sayings and deeds of the Messiah (purely an assumption), the writers need not have been divinely inspired in writing an accurate record, when the information may have come to them by natural means.

I see no reason to deduce that Jesus was the Messiah even if we assume that Jesus was raised from the dead. The idea of a 'Messiah' as a concept in pre-Christian Judaism never included the idea of dying and rising from the dead.

But, then, I see no reason to assume that Jesus was raised from the dead. And I see no reason to assume that the Gospels are purely accurate records about the life of Jesus.

So we see that the idea of divine inspiration for the Gospels is big on assumptions and small on logic.

best,
Peter Kirby

Verum Absolutum

That may be so, and if it is, it's pretty moot, anyway, since I don't think that the Gospels are God's word (considering how I don't believe in a God). I'm simply inquiring whether or not there does exist arguments for the divine inspiration of Paul and if there are secular responses directed specifically on them. I know that you're an extremely knowledgeable person about the Bible and its historicity, Peter; do you happen to be aware of any?

Peter Kirby

Well, the only way in which I could imagine an argument being made for divine inspiration would be if it were accepted that the Christian church made its selection of books with some kind of knowledge about which were inspired (presumably with the guidance of the holy ghost). So it amounts to a debate over how the canon was formed. About that you may find some information here:

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/NTcanon.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/NTcanon.html</a>

You might also find this newsgroup post to be of interest:

<a href="http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&selm=Vu%25O5.2228%24Gd7.127776%40 newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net" target="_blank">Canon and Deuterocanon</a>

best,
Peter Kirby