So which parts of the bible are true, and which parts can be ignored? How can you tell the difference?
Everything in the Bible is true. It would be up to you to prove that the bible is not true via the use of objective facts such as Applied Science (actual science..not theory).......or History Actual with testable, reproducible facts in evidence. Fact: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Its not "I"........nor anyone's duty to prove to you the faith within themselves........its up to you to prove why this faith is not in YOU. Its your bed.......sleep in it.
Go ahead........prosecute your case. Do not declare that the Bible needs to prove your prosecution.....as do most secular types who have the mule attempting to push the plow, its the prosecutor that must prove the defendant guilty, not the inverse.
However....I will enlighten you as to why I believe the scriptures are the true revelations from the God of Creation. 1. Over the last thousands of years of human history........the Bible has influenced all the civilized nations on earth in one way or another. Laws, Customs, and entire cultures are constructed around the content of the Holy Bible. History has proven that historical nations on earth have fallen based upon the prophecies found in the Bible.
2. The Holy Bible.......since translated into 3500 different languages around the world (Gutenberg).....550 years ago..........the Bible is the best selling piece of literature in world history. If the God of Creation where to reveal His will to mankind through inspired writing.........would He not make the writings........the best in world history?
3. Over the years.......some people's faith in the Bible has been so great that they have faced death and or prison for upholding the content of the Bible as truth..........this practice is still going on in some communist nations around the world (China....etc.) People are being jailed or worse because they refuse to denounce Christianity. Its beginning here in the States.......faithful Christians are being threatened with prison because they refuse to denounce their faith while working in their own PRIVATE business. Which is more than hypocritical from the left. Club owners can refuse service to anyone they please under the pretense that a membership is required.....etc.
Christians are defenders of the FAITH. One simple passage can address just how a Christian can defend his/her faith.
The Apostles declared to the members of the infant Christian Church, ".........but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery (to those who don't believe, implied), a hidden wisdom, which God predetermined before the ages to our glory; THE WISDOM WHICH NONE OF THE RULERS OF THIS AGE HAVE UNDERSTOOD; for if they had understood, they would not have crucified the LORD OF GLORY; but, just as it is written (O.T. prophesies), "Things which eye has not seen, or ear has not heard, and which have entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him". For to us (the apostles) God has revealed them through the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the spirit of man (the mind), which is in him? EVEN SO THE THOUGHTS OF GOD NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD (who inspired and revealed all the holy scriptures, that are to be used for Doctrine, Correction, Teaching making the man complete in comprehending the will/mind of God-- 2 Tim. 3:16-17)............et.al., follows
Now we (the apostles) received, not the spirit of the world (secularism), but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." -- 1 Cor 2:7-13
"AND FOR THIS REASON WE ALSO CONSTANTLY THANK GOD THAT WHEN YOU RECEIVED FORM US (the apostles), THE WORD OF GOD'S MESSAGE (which became the foundation of the holy scriptures), YOU ACCEPTED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS, THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH ALSO PREFORMS ITS WORK IN YOU WHO BELIEVE." -- 1 Thess. 2:13