Do We Need to Defend the Bible?

[John of Japan]

No, we don't. There is nothing the Word of God that commands us to defend it. It is God's Word. He can defend His own Word.

Instead, what we have are metaphors that say we are to attack with the Bible. It is a sword (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:17). You don't defend a sword, putting it in a nice display and clobbering anyone who tries to take it. You pick it up and go out and attack the enemy with it!

Jer. 23:29, "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" You don't defend a fire or a hammer. You burn stuff up and you break things or mend things with it.

So, any KJV-Only advocate who reads this: stop defending the KJV, and go out and stab a sinner with it!

 

[Ascetic X]

No, we don't. There is nothing the Word of God that commands us to defend it. It is God's Word. He can defend His own Word.

Instead, what we have are metaphors that say we are to attack with the Bible. It is a sword (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:17). You don't defend a sword, putting it in a nice display and clobbering anyone who tries to take it. You pick it up and go out and attack the enemy with it!

Jer. 23:29, "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" You don't defend a fire or a hammer. You burn stuff up and you break things or mend things with it.

So, any KJV-Only advocate who reads this: stop defending the KJV, and go out and stab a sinner with it!

I think I understand your zeal, but may I gently respond?

You may dislike the word “defend”, but we may need to explain why we believe the Bible or why we prefer a certain version. But I don’t think we should get in bitter heated debates. I also don’t think anyone can be argued into faith. We can provide reasons for our faith, not trusting in logic to win their hearts, but hoping to disrupt their confidence in mistaken thinking.

We are never told to stab any sinners with any kind of weapon. Even stabbing a sinner with the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, sounds violent and unkind. Perhaps using the sword of the Spirit to lovingly surgically remove sin would be a nicer way to put it.

Jesus said, “Peter, put away thy sword!” when Peter cut off the ear (aiming for the neck?) of the servant accompanying those who arrested Jesus.

To my pacifist orientation, if we cannot use lethal weapons to defend Jesus, then I, like the first century church historically, cannot use lethal weapons to defend anyone or anything. As far as protecting my wife, I would hope that the shield of faith would suffice. However, I admit I would be tempted to use violent and even deadly means to safeguard my wife if she was physically attacked. I’m not comfortable even imagining such a scene.

Even sayings like “that’s killer!” and “kill them with kindness” repulse me.

My high school friend Kent Hovind had a Whack an Atheist weekly video series for a while in 2020.

Then we recall the bloody ungodly Crusades where fake churchians slaughtered Jews and Muslims in worldly armed conflict.

I Timothy 2:24,25,26

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

[Ben1445]

I think I understand your zeal, but may I gently respond?

You may dislike the word “defend”, but we may need to explain why we believe the Bible or why we prefer a certain version. But I don’t think we should get in bitter heated debates. I also don’t think anyone can be argued into faith. We can provide reasons for our faith, not trusting in logic to win their hearts, but hoping to disrupt their confidence in mistaken thinking.

We are never told to stab any sinners with any kind of weapon. Even stabbing a sinner with the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, sounds violent and unkind. Perhaps using the sword of the Spirit to lovingly surgically remove sin would be a nicer way to put it.

Jesus said, “Peter, put away thy sword!” when Peter cut off the ear (aiming for the neck?) of the servant accompanying those who arrested Jesus.

To my pacifist orientation, if we cannot use lethal weapons to defend Jesus, then I, like the first century church historically, cannot use lethal weapons to defend anyone or anything. As far as protecting my wife, I would hope that the shield of faith would suffice. However, I admit I would be tempted to use violent and even deadly means to safeguard my wife if she was physically attacked. I’m not comfortable even imagining such a scene.

Even sayings like “that’s killer!” and “kill them with kindness” repulse me.

My high school friend Kent Hovind had a Whack an Atheist weekly video series for a while in 2020.

Then we recall the bloody ungodly Crusades where fake churchians slaughtered Jews and Muslims in worldly armed conflict.

I Timothy 2:24,25,26

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Metaphorically, the idea is that you use the Sword offensively and not defensively.
Not surprisingly, offensive use of God’s Word may be seen as offensive.

Romans 9:33
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But Jesus was not metaphorical when the zeal of His house brought Him to physically drive out wickedness from the Temple with a whip.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We were not given Scripture as a pillow to make us comfortable. (Even if we would still be having pillow fights)
There is legitimate use of the Word as a sword. It is biblical.