QUESTIONS ON BIBLE INTERPRETATION (July 15, 1999)


March 23, 1998

Eric Rasmusen

Form 2

This survey consists of a collection of questions about Bible interpretation. For each, you may only answer YES, NO, or NO OPINION, even though you will want to give more complicated answers, because the aim is not to learn precisely your personal views, but (a) to stimulate thought, and (b) to learn about average opinions across groups.

For each question, a scripture reference is given, using the King James Version for the most part. You should answer the question as stated. using all information you have, rather than just the verses that accompany the question, though the question itself may say it is limited to particular verses. (Question 7, for example)

Mark your answer using a pencil and the answer sheet provided. Fill in the circles as
(a) YES
(b) NO
(c ) NO OPINION

Leave (d) and (e) blank. Start with question 1.

Also, please fill in the following under the SPECIAL CODES section of the answer sheet.

K. Would you call yourself a Christian?
0=NO
1=YES

L. Which of the following type of religious organization do you attend, or, feel most comfortable with if you don't attend any church regularly? (Please answer even if you are not a Christian.)
0=Presbyterian
1=Methodist
2 = Roman Catholic
3= Jewish
4= Unitarian
5 = Baptist
6=Nondenominational
7=Charismatic
8=Lutheran
9 = Episcopalian

M. Which of the following type of theology would you say characterizes you best?
0= Reformed
1= Lutheran
2 = Roman Catholic
3= Jewish
4= Liberal
5 = Dispensationalist
6= Nontheological
7= Neo-orthodox
8= Conservative
9 = Progressive.

N. Have you attended any Bible study meeting or Sunday school in the past year?
0=NO
1=YES

O. Which form is this? (see the top of this page, by the date)

  1. Did Jesus exist?

    Matthew 1:1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

  2. Did Jesus really appear in front of Herod?

    Luke 23:6-8. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

  3. Did Jesus heal the leper miraculously?

    Matthew 8:2-3. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

  4. Does Galatians 3 indicate that God opposes a hierarchical relationship between men and women?

    Galatians 3:27-28. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

  5. Did God direct that women be subordinate to their husbands?

    Ephesians. 5:22-23. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

  6. Should women wear hats in church?

    I Corinthinans 11:5. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

  7. Does the Bible say in Psalm 139 that life begins at conception?

    King James Version Psalm 139:13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

    Revised Standard Version (more accurate) Psalm 139:13. For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb.

  8. Is divorce forbidden for any cause but adultery?

    Matthew 5:32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

    I Corinthians 7:15-16. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

  9. Were animal species created directly by God, rather than evolving over time?

    Genesis 1:21. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

  10. Was the world created in six 24-hour days?

    Genesis 2:2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

  11. Is the mustard seed the smallest of all seeds?

    Matthew 13:31-32. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

  12. Should someone who curses his father be executed?

    Exodus 21:17. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

  13. Did God command Joshua to kill all the Canaanite children in Jericho?

    Joshua 6:21. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

  14. Is it wrong to change ``he'' in the Greek and Hebrew to ``they'' in an English translation, with the idea of making it more appealing to women?

    King James Version, Psalm 34:19-20. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

    New International Version, ``Inclusive Language'' edition, Psalm 34:19-20. The righteous may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers them from them all; he protects all their bones, not one of them will be broken.

  15. Did Zerah the Ethiopian really bring a million soldiers and three hundred chariots to Palestine?

    II Chronicles 14:9. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

  16. Did Moses write the bulk of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuterononomy?

    Joshua 1:7-8. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

  17. When Jesus or Paul quotes the Old Testament differently from the Hebrew text we now have, should we conclude that we have the wrong Hebrew text now?

    Acts 1:20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

    Psalms 69:25. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

  18. Although II Chronicles says Ahaziah began to reign at age 42 and II Kings says he was 22, are both figures correct somehow, rather than one being due to a copyist error or some such mistake?

    II Kings 8:26. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

    II Chronicles 22:2. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

  19. Should the Hebrew word $almah$ in Isaiah 7:14 be translated as ``virgin'', rather than ``young woman''?

    Isaiah 7:14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  20. Could it really be that someone wrote the words of Isaiah 44:28 long before Cyrus was born?

    Isaiah 44:28. That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

  21. Does II Timothy 3:16 tell us that the Old Testament is inerrant, without factual or doctrinal mistake?

    II Timothy 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

  22. Is it really permitted to beat a child with a rod?

    Proverbs 23: 13-14. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

  23. Is homosexual behavior always a sin?

    Romans 1:26-27. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

  24. Did God intend to make the Gospel unclear enough that some people should not be saved?

    Mark 4:11-12. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

  25. Did Jesus intend for his teaching to bring conflict into families?

    Matthew 10:35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

  26. Is the Pope the heir of Peter and infallible in all his official pronouncements?

    Matthew 16:18-19. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  27. Is the communion wafer literally, not just symbolically, human flesh?

    Mark 14:22. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

  28. Are sincere believers in false gods damned?

    Galatians 1:9. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

  29. Does the rabbit chew its cud?

    Leviticus 11:6. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

  30. Is it wrong to work on Sunday?

    Exodus 20:8-10. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

    Colossians 2:16-17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.


URL: Php.indiana.edu/~erasmuse/unpabs.htm . Eric Rasmusen, Dept.of Business Economics and Public Policy, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, BU 456, 1309 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405-1701, (812)855-9219. E-mail: [email protected]

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