I was listening to a youtube debate the other day and one person was being asked why they believed in their prophet (not Christianity). His response was that the Bible is corrupt because it says it is corrupt in Jer 8:8, and therefore if you look at what the Bible says, it proves there was a need for someone else to come along and correct things because here is what the Bible says a prophet must have.
Yes, that’s circular reasoning there. ‘I reject the Bible as corrupt and now use it to prove that my prophet is the one.’ But let’s go to this verse:
“‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?” (Jer 8:8)
If you read the context of Jeremiah, he as a prophet was going around and his scribes were writing down what he said as this was a common practice in the day. The false teachers were doing the same with their scribes following them.
Jeremiah was giving the people a message from God that judgment was coming. He kept telling them that God had enough of their sin and to prepare as they would be going into captivity.
But at the same time the false teachers were going around saying it wasn’t true. God would never do that to his people. Don’t worry as Jeremiah is fear-mongering and God and peace is God’s plan.
What Jeremiah is doing is calling these false prophets out for lying.
“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace” (Jer 6:14; 8:11).
But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” (Jer 11:14)
They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ (Jer 23:17)
This is clear. Jeremiah was opposing people who were declaring a message of peace while the other prophets were accusing him of fear-mongering so God wouldn’t do that, he is going to bring peace.
Back to the YouTube video. The guy in the video says that the Bible is internally saying it’s corrupt by Jer 8:8. Therefore we must reject the Torah.
Now let’s rip Jer 8:8 out of context entirely and let’s say it is condemning the Torah as corrupt. Does this not also go against Ezra and Daniel and Matthew and others?
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: (Ezra 1:1)
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: (Mt 2:17)
Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, (Mt 27:9)
If Ezra and Daniel believed that 8:8 meant that the Scriptures were corrupt and no longer authoritative, then they would not have affirmed these Scriptures.
The context if very clear. The attestation to authority by all the other writers in the bible who affirmed the Torah and the Scriptures is clear.