Is the Bible a historical document ?

“The Bible as it has come down to modern times is composed of history, legend, biography, genealogies, ethics, law, proverbial wisdom, sermons, prophesy, lyric poetry, hymns, and theology. It is not simply a book but a collection of books.” Robert B. Downs

Stephane Chauvette, pastor of Montreal’s New Beginnings Church, says yes, it is a historical document. But you don’t have to be a scientist to conclude that this is not true. I have posted this comment under the filmed lecture of this pastor:

“The Bible is not a historical document, as Pastor Chauvette teaches. It is a collection of myths, legends and history created for the use of priests like himself.”

In response to this, I received another portion of offensive remarks, instead of a factual, substantive answer.
According to the dictionary definition, this is an attitude called “Argumentum ad personam” (from Latin “argument to a person”), an informal logical fallacy that occurs when someone attempts to refute an argument by attacking the claim-maker, rather than engaging in an argument or factual refutation of the claim.

To those who consider the Bible to be a historical document, I will ask a few questions. Which reliable historical sources say about:

– the existence of Moses.
– the existence of the great, glorious kingdom of Solomon and his father David.
– the fall of the great walls of Jericho at the sound of the trumpets of the Jewish priests.
– the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven.
– global flood.
– characters such as Elijah or Samson, etc.

I could give many more examples. But that’s not the point after all. As yet, the scholars haven’t found any such sources.

Even about Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of the Christian religion, historians and chroniclers living in the first century remain silent. In any case, the records we have about him are only scant, controversial references.

Therefore, the claim that the Bible is a collection of myths, legends and history is absolutely justified. Joseph Campbell said: “The Bible is a compendium of all sorts of errors that have been made in translating the symbolic forms into historical ones. An enormous compendium.”

In any case, it is not worth arguing with biblical fundamentalists, like Pastor Chauvette. The very word “fundamentalism” is associated in today’s world with something bad, even dangerous, regardless of whether it has a Christian, Muslim or other form. And the worst thing is that it is a trend that creates divisions between people, even within families. If someone considers the Bible a great authority, I can only shrug my shoulders, but if someone considers it an infallible word of God, a book dictated by God from the beginning to the end, then I can suspect such person of a mental aberration. That’s why I repeatedly say:

If you view the Bible as a book heaven-sent
You will end up in the blind alley my friend.

God, save us from fundamentalists of all stripes. Whenever I compare the teachings of biblical fundamentalists with the theses of historians and scientists on biblical topics, to my mind come the words of a certain journalist: “Will humanity survive its own insanity? We don’t know, but we do know that it’s worth looking for a cure to it, before it is too late.

Jerzy Sędziak, February 2024

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