Objections to the Bible and how a Christian
should respond
Evangelism Tips

 Always remember Truth and Love
 People are precious to God
 People are spiritually blind
 Find common ground
 Authority of scripture
 Attributes or nature of God
 Morality and will to live
 Theology versus Personality or Opinion
 Christians can be wrong
 God is never wrong
Evangelism Tips

 Ask Questions
 Clarifying beliefs are key
 Questions are conversation starters
 Questions reveal the “heart”, challenge the mind,
and expose barriers
 Who is Jesus to you?
 Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?
 The Columbo Tactic
 What do you mean by that?
 How did you come to that conclusion?
An objection to the Bible
Mormonism

 Is the Bible the Word of God?
 “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to
be the word of God” (Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith,
Chapter 1 verse 8) https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-off/1?lang=eng
 “the Book of Mormon acts as a confirming, clarifying,
unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible”
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101#C7
 The volumes of scripture officially accepted by the Church,
including the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine
and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.
 Do Mormons truly believe this?
Mormonism

 Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)
 Joseph Smith also declared, "I believe the Bible as it reads
when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant
translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt
priests have committed many errors" (Translation of Prophet
Joseph Smith, p. 327).
 Apostle Mark E. Peterson said referring to the authenticity
of our modern Bible, "Many insertions were made, some of
them 'slanted' for selfish purposes, while at times deliberate
falsifications and fabrications were perpetrated" (As
Translated Correctly, p. 4).
Mormonism

 Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)
 Apostle Orson Pratt stated: "If it be admitted that the
apostles and evangelists did write the books of the New
Testament, that does not prove of itself that they were
divinely inspired at the time they wrote.... Add all this
imperfection to the uncertainty of the translation, and who,
IN HIS RIGHT MIND could for one moment suppose the
Bible in its present form to be a perfect guide? Who knows
that even one verse of the Bible has escaped pollution, so as
to convey the same sense now that it did in the original?"
(Divine Authority of the Book of Mormon, pp. 45, 47)
Mormonism

 Quotes about the Bible (LDS Leaders)
 LDS Apostle Orson Pratt further proclaimed, "The Bible has
been robbed of its plainness; many sacred books having
been lost, others rejected by the Romish Church, and what
few we have left, were copied and re-copied so many times,
that it is admitted that almost every verse has been
corrupted and mutilated to that degree that scarcely any
two of them read alike" (The Seer, p. 213)
Mormonism

 A verse from the Book of Mormon
 According to 1 Nephi 13:28 “Wherefore, thou seest that after
the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and
abominable church, that there are many plain and precious
things taken away from the book…”
Mormonism

 Conclusion
 Mormons state that they believe both the Bible and the Book
of Mormon are the word of God. In addition to the Old and
New Testaments of the Bible, Mormons believe the Book of
Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. According to
Mormonism, the Book of Mormon is supposed to expand,
extend, and exalt the Bible but it does not do that. The truth
is that the book of Mormon along with the statements from
past prophets and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints actually dilute, diminish and deemphasize
the Bible.
1. The Bible was manipulated through insertions from
“ignorant translators” and “careless transcribers” for
slanted and selfish purposes.
2. Parts of the Bible have actually been removed by the
church.
An objection to the Bible
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?
 Yes…but…it cannot be understood without the
Watchtower organization
 “the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the
Christian congregation as an organization, not to
individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may
believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this
reason the Bible cannot be properly understood
without Jehovah’s visible organization in mind.”—The
Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 587
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
First published in part in 1950
Later revised several times
Boasted about as “the work of competent scholars”
Translated without “the misleading influence of
religious traditions, which have their roots in
paganism” (Foreward, New World Translation to the
Holy Scriptures, pg 7, 1950)
 No known translators with recognized degrees in
Hebrew or Greek exegesis or translation (Kingdom of
the Cults, pg 93)



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Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Scriptural Distortions
 John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was a god. (NWT)
 John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. (NASB)
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Scriptural Distortions
 Col 1:16 - because by means of him all other things were
created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible
and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or
lordships or governments or authorities. All other things
have been created through him and for him. (NWT)
 Col 1:16 - For by Him all things were created, both in the
heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been
created through Him and for Him. (NASB)
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Scriptural Distortions
 John 8:58 - Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you,
before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”(NWT)
 John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
before Abraham was born, I am.” (NASB)
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Scriptural Distortions
 John 14:7-14 - If you had known Me, you would have known
My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen
Him.” 8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is
enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with
you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who
has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the
Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the
Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on
My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His
works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in
Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will
do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name,
that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If
you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (NASB)
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Scriptural Distortions
 John 14:7-14 - If you men had known me, you would have known
my Father also; from this moment on you know him and have
seen him.” 8 Philip said to him: “Lord, show us the Father, and it
is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him: “Even after I have been with
you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know
me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also. How is it you
say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in union
with the Father and the Father is in union with me? The things I
say to you I do not speak of my own originality, but the Father
who remains in union with me is doing his works. 11 Believe me
that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with
me; otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Most
truly I say to you, whoever exercises faith in me will also do the
works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I
am going my way to the Father. 13 Also, whatever you ask in my
name, I will do this, so that the Father may be glorified in
connection with the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will
do it. (NWT)
Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Conclusion
 What is your conclusion????
1. The Bible cannot be understood without the
Watchtower organization.
An objection to the Bible
Muslims

 Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?
 Muslims claim to believe in the torah (torat) and the
writings of David, the Psalms (zabur) and the Gospel
(Injil) but…Muslims declare the Bible has been
corrupted.
Muslims

 Why do Muslims believe the Bible is corrupted?
 How can we respond to this claim?
1. The Bible has been corrupted.