TIMOTHY

"That depends ... on how you interpret the words. What's come down to us is inspired, like 2 Timothy says: 'Scripture Is inspired by God.' There can be nothin' false in the Bible, not one word or comma." - Howard Hendershot, p. 156

Book Reviews of He Can See Heaven by critics and readers have been overwhelmingly positive save a few, including that in a recent issue of Christian News. There Reverend Andrew Simchak voices the most common criticism: that the novel's depiction of the New Testament as incomplete and much modified to the point that early followers of Jesus might not recognize it, is wrong.

As the Reverend and Howard correctly note, 2 Timothy 3, 16 clearly states that every detail of Christian scripture has been directly inspired by the Holy Spirit and is therefore complete and infallible. Any objection to such circular logic (except perhaps the obvious) is futile. When scholars present historical proofs delineating the serendipitous origin and nature of the New Testament, retorts based on Timothy can be expected: for believers his conclusions are axiomatic, thus ending any debate before it begins.

Do you believe as Howard and others, that every word and punctuation mark in the Bible is infallible, placed there by God Himself, or do you think as most scholars tell: that time, circumstance, and human nature have altered portions the New Testament's original message?