Why do unbelievers quote a Bible they do not believe?

A common mistake by numerous non-believers that is not very well thought out.

How many times have you had a conversation with somebody that will quote the bible or say Jesus said something only to find
out later that they do not believe the bible?

They may try to win a debate with you by using certain parts of the bible. Then when you bring it back into context or share
related verses in the bible they say something like "I don't believe that". I remember a conversation with a friend. She would say
that Jesus said this or that. I would share other verses in the bible on the same subject. Her comment would always be
"Well I do not believe the bible." Finally every time she said Jesus said something I would ask her. What makes you think Jesus
said that? Her answer was "It is in the bible". I then replied, but you don't believe the bible so what makes you think Jesus
said that? This really confused her and she kept saying it is in the bible. The fact is it was in the bible and Jesus did say it, but
her reasoning although sincere was not logical. It makes no sense to quote the bible as an authoritative source and then turn
around and deny the authority of the bible. This is not sound reasoning!

The Mormons make a similar mistake in their 8th article of faith. "We believe the bible to be the word of God insofar as it is
translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

Now this sounds fairly reasonable at first glance. What if there are mistakes in the translation of the bible? Now there is an
abundance of evidence supporting the accuracy of the text of the bible. There is also an abundance of evidence showing the
unreliability of the Book of Mormon. These are subjects that I have dealt with in other writings. What I want to point out here is
that this article of faith is often used as an excuse by the L.D.S members.

For example I remember talking to a bishop of the L.D.S church. Our conversation was about God. They believe that God the
Father has a body of flesh and bones. I pointed out that Jesus made both of the following statements.

Luke 24:39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you
see that I have."

John 4:23-24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such
people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Jesus said that the Father was spirit and he also said that a spirit did not have a body of flesh and bones. Therefore I do not
believe that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones.

The bishop's response was that the bible was wrong! He then referred to their 8th article of faith. He had no evidence that the
Bible was translated wrong in any place. This of course really boils down to one thing. Both the bible is what it claims to be and
it is reliable. Or it is not what it claims to be and it is not reliable. If one does not believe the text is reliable on what basis do
they believe certain parts? In other words how can we logically say this part is true and that part is not true without some sort of
factual reason to support that position? I suggest to you that most people that discount the bible do so with absolutely no
evidence at all.

Now I certainly cannot prove every point or event mentioned in the bible. However I have proven enough for myself to accept the
parts I cannot prove as factual. I have yet to see an argument against the bible that does not have holes in the argument. True
we as Christians accept some things by faith, but it is not at all a blind faith. There is enough evidence for me that I cannot
rationally throw logic out the window to deny the parts I do understand. It brings to mind something that someone once said it
goes something like this "I am not bothered so much by things that I do not understand in the Bible as I am by things that I do
understand." The truth of scripture is sobering enough in what I can prove and what I do understand!

As far as the accuracy of the bible besides the abundance of archeological evidence, manuscript evidence as well as fulfilled
prophecy one should also ask themselves some basic questions. Is God Sovereign or not? In other words does God
really have control? Can he actually preserve his written word? Or is he at the mercy of mankind to do that for him? Would God
consider it important enough to want to preserve his written word?

Jesus claimed to be from heaven. Jesus predicted his own death and resurrection. He offered us evidence of who he really
was by actually rising from the dead. How reliable did Jesus consider the scripture that they had then? Considering that the
Dead Sea Scrolls date back before Jesus and they confirm the accuracy of our text this can be an important question.

Matt 5:17-18 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. "For truly I say
to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is
accomplished.

It would seem by the statement that Jesus made that he considered the text of scripture reliable and authoritative. Since Jesus
considered the text reliable and the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the accuracy of the Hebrew text we have today why would we
reject it? Which leads us back to the other question. Is God sovereign? Is he capable of preserving his written word or is he
really at the mercy of mankind to do that for him? I believe the answer is God is sovereign and he has preserved his written
word to lead mankind to himself.

Jer 32:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"

Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

Isa 46:9-10 "Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be
established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Matt 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not
overpower it.