What is a Bible-believing Christian?

Christians of different denominations read different Bibles.  The collection of texts known as the Bible has changed over time.  The earliest Christians had the Old Testament, some letters from the apostles and oral tradition. A list of 22 books of the New Testament appeared in the Muratorian Canon around AD 180. In AD 365, Athanasius of Alexandria listed 27 books. A Latin edition of the Bible called the Vulgate appeared in AD 383 and became the standard for the Western world. In addition to the 66 books found in the current Protestant Bible, the Vulgate also had the so-called deuterocanonical books and apocrypha. Some differences persist today. For instance, the Ethiopian “narrow” canon includes 81 books.

When Christians say that the Bible is the Word of God, which Bible do they mean? Which books do they include? And in which languages? Hebrew? Greek?  English?  For example, it is well known that in the final chapter of the gospel of John, in which Jesus repeatedly asks Peter, “Do you love me?” there are multiple Greek words used for love. This subtle wordplay is absent from English translations.  So how precisely is the Word of God conveyed?

And what about the earliest Christians who did not have the Bible? Were they non-Bible-believing? Were they any less Christian than the believers of today?  Or were they more Christian than modern believers, because they participated in composing and compiling the Bible?  Recognizing the necessity of a biblical canon, they identified the four gospels that we now accept and separated them from the apocrypha. Although they did not have our Bible, they seem to have been guided by the Word of God. Where was this Word found?   In oral tradition?  If so, is this tradition still available today?

My purpose in raising these questions is not to diminish the Bible’s credibility. I am only pointing out that, when someone claims to believe in the Bible, issues of truth and authority are not automatically resolved.  Saying “I believe” is not always enough; sometimes this must be made more precise. Instead of dodging these difficult questions, we ought to be willing to face them and, in doing so, admit that our best answers might not be completely satisfactory.

The Bible is understood differently within different traditions and cultures. In some Protestant traditions, for example, it is believed that Joseph, Mary’s husband, was a young man. Some Catholics believe that Joseph was an older man and that Mary was his second wife. This latter view reconciles the Catholic tradition of Mary’s perpetual virginity with the existence of Jesus’ brothers who are named in Matthew 13:55.

Some Christians may think that Jesus is unknown to Muslims. But the Koran describes more miracles performed by Jesus than the New Testament does. Before attempting to “enlighten” Muslims with our Christian interpretations of Scripture, perhaps it would be useful to first learn something about what they believe.

Tragically, the question “Which tradition is the best one?” has provoked arguments and religious wars.  Coming back to our simple example, one may ask: Which Christian is correct?  The one who believes in young Joseph, or the one who believes in old Joseph?

It seems to me that, regardless of what one believes about Joseph, the one who is correct is the one who takes up his cross and follows Jesus (Matthew 16:24).  It is important to study the Bible.  It is even more important to obey its teachings.  Biblical knowledge does not change a person’s soul until it is actually put into practice.  In Matthew 19:21, Jesus said to a rich young man: “… go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  I know exactly what Jesus said. Yet for some strange reason, I am in no great hurry to start doing it.

What is a Bible-believing Christian?  In my humble opinion, it is one who actually obeys the Bible and one who actively follows Christ.