The following question was asked in a theology group on Facebook. The one who posted it may or may not have been a professing Christian.
If you had to choose between the four written Gospel accounts, and a video recording of each and everything Jesus and said and did during His earthly ministry (with translated subtitles!), and the recording even featured the time stamps for everything, which would you choose?
The question could have been asked in genuine and innocent curiosity. But it could also have been asked in an attitude of grumbling, ingratitude and doubt. The following is what I wrote in the comments of the Facebook post. See also my blogpost:
This like asking, which would you choose, what God in His wisdom has chosen to actually do, or what you in your finitude and sinfulness would prefer?
God has chosen to give us a written revelation in the Bible for multiple reasons including these NINE reasons [among more that could be listed]:
1. To weed out those who don't really seek God seriously. As Isa. 66:2b states, "...But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word."
2. To save only the elect, such that salvation isn't ultimately grounded in random or contingent superior intelligence, superior information, or humanly & sinfully acceptable evidence [no this does not actually contradict #1 or the doctrine of total depravity and unconditional election.] Ensuring salvation is by grace rather than strict merit or due to mere fortuitous circumstances.
3. To judge the world for it's rejection of the sufficient evidence of the self-authenticating, self-authorizing, self-validating inspired Word of God which the Holy Spirit testifies to; and to which they would naturally recognize its divine orign if it weren't for their depravity and indwelling aversion to God and the things of God.
4. To leave room for inspired faith given through Holy Spirit's enlightening and regeneration.
John 6:45 ESV [[cf. John 8:47]]
[45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
John 10:27 ESV
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
5. To leave room for that kind of faith, commitment and perseverance that sticks it out with God because Christianity and its conception of God is superior to all other worldviews. Which also leads to #6 below.
Romans 8:24-25 ESV
[24] For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
6. To create space for rewards for faithfulness despite doubts and hardships due to the divinely intended measured and balanced epistemic distance versus nearness that Scripture provides.
Hebrews 10:36 ESV
[36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Hebrews 6:12 ESV
[12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
John 20:29 ESV
[29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
7. To leave room for diligent Bible study and prayer which will also be rewarded as per #6.
Proverbs 25:2 ESV
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
8. To make the homecoming of entering heaven that much more satisfyingly sweet due to the temporary anticipation that measured epistemic distance creates.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV
[9] But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV
[9] But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
1 John 3:2-3 ESV
[2] Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
9. The measured limitation of sufficient evidence that Scripture provides is actually merciful for most people. Because the more evidence given, the greater the condemnation for its rejection. Some people in history have received much more [e.g. Pharaoh] and it made their punishment worse.
Regarding the sufficiency of the written Word of God:
Luke 16:29-31 ESV
[29] But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ [30] And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ [31] He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
https://youtu.be/M0gi71-2Pok?si=btse7BZhnagLKV-7
