by Richard Blackford<\/p>\n
I was recently invited to join a website for Bible discussion. It didn’t take long to observe that its purpose was to bash the Bible, Christ, and Christianity. An accusation was made a few weeks ago that the Bible is composed of fables. My reaction to that is two-fold:<\/p>\n
Fables usually have a moral but are considered fiction from the very beginning. Biblical events were never considered fiction at any time, but they were genuinely believed by the writers from the start. A fable is a narrative form that highlights human follies and weaknesses. Remember, fables are fiction.<\/p>\n
Fables are short and have few characters. Many are animals or inanimate objects with human attributes. (Britannica). Since they use animals, they are considered a sub-genre of fantasy. Two examples of Aesop’s Fables are given, which we all agree are fiction and fantasy: “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” No one can keep a straight face and compare those to the lofty material in the Bible, which deals with the real problem of sin (which many want to avoid, for all have sinned). The Bible deals with man’s need for a Savior and the plan that brought Him into the world. It includes real people living at particular times in history, real geographical places, the birth of a nation, the first written law and the fulfillment of a plan that explains the meaning of life, and sublime answers to the solemn questions of “Where did I come from?, Why am I here?,” and What is to become of me?” Fables don’t do important things like that. The “Ant and the Grasshopper” or the “Tortoise and the Hare” do not compare to the Bible in content.<\/p>\n
It’s interesting that the men God used to record the Scriptures (inspired by God) knew that centuries later, future skeptics and scoffers would make the feeble fable argument. So they answered it long before it was made! This has been the case on many points.<\/p>\n
Peter said, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables<\/strong>, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty<\/em>” (II Peter 1:16).<\/p>\n
Paul: “Neither give heed to fables <\/b>and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith…<\/em>” (I Timothy 1:4).<\/p>\n
Paul: “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables<\/strong>, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness<\/em>” (I Timothy 4:7).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Bible writers knew what fables were, but they didn’t want anything to do with them, so they warned us against fables. Peter contrasted fables (fiction) with eyewitness testimony. Paul said fables don’t edify. Again, Paul contrasted fables to exercising oneself “unto godliness<\/em>.”<\/p>\n
To equate the Bible with fables and fairy tales is an unfair and gross misrepresentation. If the Bible can be dismissed that easily, then we are free to live lives of self-indulgence with no accountability. And some like it that way.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Richard Blackford I was recently invited to join a website for Bible discussion. It didn’t take long to observe that its purpose was to bash the Bible, Christ, and Christianity. An accusation was made a few weeks ago that the Bible is composed of fables. My reaction to that is two-fold: This person is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[37,219,907],"class_list":["post-83727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-apologetics","tag-bible","tag-myths"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45272,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-we-have-a-right-to-our-own-opinions\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":0},"title":"Do We Have a Right to Our Own Opinions?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When two disagree, one will say \u201cWell, everyone has a right to their own opinions.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a statement saying, \u201cI disagree with you, but that is okay. Your thoughts are just as good as mine.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In some sense this is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14315,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-you-help-me-explain-why-it-is-not-right-to-call-mary-our-heavenly-mother\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":1},"title":"Can you help me explain why it is not right to call Mary “our heavenly mother?”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 10, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can you please help me explain to a Catholic why it is not right to call Mary ''our heavenly mother''? Answer: The problem is that Mary is not our mother in any sense of the word. God is our Father because He created man. God is in heaven so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16075,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-kind-of-wood-was-jesus-cross-made-of\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":2},"title":"What kind of wood was Jesus’ cross made of?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Do we have an idea of what kind of wood the cross of Jesus was made out of? Answer: No. The Bible doesn't say what type of wood was used and to speculate would be an exercise in futility. \"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53279,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-found-your-explanation-of-alcohol-very-interesting-and-informative\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":3},"title":"I found your explanation of alcohol very interesting and informative","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Minister, As a fellow member of the church of Christ, I found\u00a0your explanation of alcohol\u00a0very interesting and informative. I've always known the Bible is the living word of God rather than a collection of fables. A salient example of how well you explained it in such a 3-dimensional\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55078,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/babylon-clay-tablet-confirms-jeremiah\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":4},"title":"Babylon Clay Tablet Confirms Jeremiah","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 9, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ben M. Shropshire via Lifeline, 7\/15\/00 The recent discovery of a cuneiform clay tablet by an Austrian scholar at the site of ancient Babylon confirms the historical accuracy of the book of Jeremiah. The recently deciphered tablet, which dates from 595 BC, refers to an official in the court\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/10\/Babylon-Clay-Tablet.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25573,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-genesis-just-a-myth-based-on-the-epic-of-gilgamesh\/","url_meta":{"origin":83727,"position":5},"title":"Is Genesis just a myth based on the Epic of Gilgamesh?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have read your Facebook writings on Adam and Eve with interest.\u00a0 However, as a Unitarian I was presented with the beautiful Genesis story, not as a biblical illustration of the origin of sin, but as an important myth long misinterpreted in the Judaic\/Christian tradition. 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