Two differences found in the Ancient Near East (ANE) literature from the Bible are conflicts between the gods throughout the ANE accounts of man’s creation. Before creation was set in order, man’s purpose was to perform the labour for their gods.[1] However, the all-supreme God faced no such rival in Genesis.[2] God simply said, “Let there be light,” without any battles between other gods to accomplish His desire of creating the world and the universe.[3] Also, God called into existence something from nothing, referred to as “creatio ex nihilo.” However, the other gods called an object from something else that originally existed into reality. For example, in the ANE literature, Marduk created the cosmos from the body of Tiamat (the sea), and Baal created the world from Yam (also the sea).[4] According to the ANE account of creation, something existed, and its form was changed to something else. However, this was not the case for God of the Bible.
Benjamin Warfield proclaimed, “Scriptures are inerrant because God inspires them.”[5] In addition, Mouse claims, “the science of textual criticism is studying the differences among the manuscripts and deciding which reading is most likely to be original.”[6] The Bible is truthful based on the external and internal evidence presented on this website. God has desired a relationship with man since the beginning of creation and still seeks the same relationship today even though God has proven Himself faithful while man has proven himself unfaithful. “But God proves His love for his creation in this way, “Yet while we were still sinners God died for our sins (Romans 5:8).” What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer (Romans 6:2)? Throughout the Bible, you will find many gods worshipped other than the one true God (Yahweh); however, Israel only worshipped Yahweh.[1]
Bibliography
Bales, W. D., & Piquero, A. R. Assessing the impact of imprisonment on recidivism. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 8(1), 2012: 71-101.
Bingaman, Kirk A. “Incorporating Contemplative Neuroscience and Mindfulness-Based Therapies Into Pastoral Care and Counseling: a Critical Correlational Method,” Pastoral Psychology 65, no. 6 (February 2016): 578.
Brown, Derek, and John D. Barry. “The Fall.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Buju, Smaranda. “Clinical Approach of Spiritual Illnesses: Eastern Christian Spirituality and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” Pastoral Psychology 68, no. 4 (2019): 361–78.
Corrigan, P.W., Steiner, L., McCracken, S. G., Blaser, B., & Barr, M. Strategies for Disseminating Evidence-Based Practices to Staff who Treat People with Serious Mental Illness. Psychiatric Services, 52, (2001): 1598-1606.
Chisholm, Robert B Jr. “For this Reason”: Etiology and its Implications for the Historicity of Adam.” Criswell Theological Review 10, no. 2 (2013).
Clinton, Tim and R. Hawkins. The Popular Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling: An Indispensable Tool for Helping People with their Problems. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Kindle, 2011.
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Entwistle, D. N. Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues. Philosophical foundations, and models of integration (3rd ed.) Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2015.
Holm, Neil. Practicing the Ministry of Presence in Chaplaincy. Journal of Christian Education, 52, no. 3 (2009): 29–42.
Kelly, Peter J., Frank P. Deane, and Megan J. Lovett. “Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Examine Residential Substance Abuse Workers Intention to Use Evidence-Based Practices.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 26, no. 3 (2012): 661–64.
Longman, Tremper. How to Read Genesis. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
Muse, S. Finding the fit: An Eastern Orthodox approach to pastoral counseling. Edification: The Transdisciplinary Journal of Christian Psychology 6, no. 2 (2012): 125.
McMinn, M. R. Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (Rev. ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 2001.
Ortberg, J. The Life You’ve Always Wanted: The Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Rev. ed.) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
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Pew Charitable Trust Pew center on the states, State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons. Washington, DC. Retrieved on Oct 20, 2020, 1. https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2011/pewstateofrecidivismpdf.pdf
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Scalise, Eric. The truth of God’s Word and the Science of Psychology. Announcements forum question and Answer Center (QAC), Liberty University, Accessed April 13, 2018. https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/discussionboard/do/message
Shivy, Victoria A., J. Juana Wu, Anya E. Moon, Shay C. Mann, Jo G. Holland, and Christine Eacho. “Ex-Offenders Reentering the Workforce.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 54, no. 4 (2007): 466–473.
Townsend, L. Introduction to Pastoral Counseling. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.
Tremper Longman, How to Read Genesis (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005), 78.
Richard J. Coleman, “Biblical inerrancy: Are We Going Anywhere?” Theology Today 31, no. 4 (1975), 297.
William D. Mounce, Greek for the Rest of Us. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003, 254.
[1] Tremper Longman, How to Read Genesis (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005), 78.
[2] ibid., 71.
[3] ibid., 78.
[4] ibid., 77.
[5] Richard J. Coleman, “Biblical inerrancy: Are We Going Anywhere?” Theology Today 31, no. 4 (1975), 297.
[6] William D. Mounce, Greek for the Rest of Us. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003, 254.
End of “The Validity of the Bible“
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