If the Bible is God's literal word wouldn't you think that he would use the first person when speaking about himself rather than the third?

But it's never been suggested that The Bible is "God's literal word". Obviously that couldn't be possible anyway as The Bible has been edited and translated many times.

Update, I'm wondering if some of you idiots have ever read the Bible! Either that or you don't understand what "literal word" means. It means EXACTLY as spoken, syllable by syllable. NOT written as reported speech, not paraphrased and definitely not translated so that it's not even in the same language.

In the Book of Leviticus there are pages and pages of scripture which directly quote the words coming out of the mouth of the God of Abraham. Even though God is quoted speaking to Moses it's the same as God speaking directly to who ever is reading this scripture.

Oh yeah in many parts particularly in the OT. (Leviticus 11:44) (Isaiah 41:14) (Joel 2:27) (Deuteronomy 5:6-21) Jeremiah 32:27) (Numbers 15:41) (Leviticus 11:44) Just to name a few.

Note that the Bible itself says it was written "by men of old that were inspired by God." So are correct when you state that men did the actual writing. But that does not mean that it is not the word of God. Nowhere does the Bible claim that God himself wrote each word of it. What it DOES claim is that he takes the authority for each word of it.

If the CEO of a company has his officers/employees write up a legal document for the company, the document is considered to be the "literal word" of that CEO, even if he never typed a word of it. It was done under his instructions and guidance. If there is something incorrect in the document, the CEO is the one held liable for the information.

The Bible is no different. While God may not have been the one who moved the pen that put each word on the page, it was done under his direct guidance and supervision, so it is his "literal word." He is the one who "wrote" every part of it.

There are parts of the Bible that are in the first person. For example the first of the 10 Commandments says "you shall have no other god besides me." That is first person. And there are hundreds of other such first person examples.

There are actually seven letters in the New Testament that are directly dictated (in the first person) by Jesus himself. Those are found in the second and third chapter of the book of Revelation. He DID literally write each word of those seven letters.

Paul was an authorized and recognized "prophet" within the Christian church. Actually he had an office that is HIGHER than that of a prophet. He was an apostle. He was called to that office by God himself at the time of his conversion. See Acts chapter 9. And commissioned by the leaders of the church in Acts chapter 13. So his writings are "the word of God" because he was authorized by God to speak on his behalf.

You may want to actually READ the Bible if you are of the opinion that God does not speaking in the first person throughout it. There are hundreds of examples of when he does.

Exodus 3:14 "I AM" "First Person" is the Person speaking.

“Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh,” a phrase variously translated as “I am who I am” or “I am that I am” or “I will be who [or: what] I will be.”

In 2 tim3:16 the Bible says that " all " the word of God is inspired by him. So, yes as you said he has used prophets like Elijah for instance but he also used Kings, like King David. The apostles , some of them were fishermen, one of them a medical doctor and also Paul. God has spoken directly to Moses and the 10 commandments came directly from him. Also visions from Ezekiel for instance came directly from God. But then there are accounts with certain events that happened and were written down as an example as Romans 15:4 says : For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction,so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope....... There are accounts about Jesus that were witnessed by his apostles . What I also like is that that Bible contains names of people, places and times which can be traced back through history.

Exodus 12:12. Yahweh thinks the Egyptian gods are real and wants to judge them and hates the Egyptians.

Yes, Exodus 20. I AM the Lord thy GOD, who took you out of the land of Egypt. Thou shalt have no other gods before me!

Why would god allow some "odd parts" in his book? If god is perfect why would he allow a non-perfect bible?