The Bible must be the invention of either good men or…
“The Bible must be the invention of either good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. It could not be the invention of good men or angels, for they neither would or could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, 'Thus saith the Lord,' when it was their own invention. It could not be the invention of bad men or devils, for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to hell for all eternity. Therefore, I draw this conclusion, that the Bible must be given by divine inspiration.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Bible’s moral authority suggests it originates beyond human fallibility, implying divine or supernatural authorship.
In simple terms: The Bible must be divinely inspired.
Key Takeaway
Consider the source of moral authority.
Themes
faith
divine inspiration
authority
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- religious study
- ethical debates
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy of religion
scripture criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you accept divine inspiration as the source of moral law?
- How do you address contradictions in sacred texts?
A Different Perspective
Human authorship cannot fully explain its moral consistency.