How do we know we can trust the Bible? Why do Catholics accept writings that Protestants reject? What does it mean when we say the Bible is inspired of God? These notes were prepared to answer questions like these.
Leadership Training and Development
Systematic Theology
The Doctrine Of Scripture
1. Definition Of Bibliology: A science within systematic theology which deals with the nature of the Bible; its inspiration, authenticity, revelation, canonicity, authority, illumination and preservation.
2. Preliminary Observations:
A. The key question one must answer when studying bibliology is not, “Do you believe in God?” but rather “Do you believe God?”
B. The primary attack of the enemy centers on the integrity of the Scriptures.
3. Pertinent Definitions Associated With The Study Of Bibliology:
A. Revelation: The self-disclosure of God in history whereby He communicates to mankind through various actions, events, or words, the truth about Himself, His ways and His works.
1. Natural Revelation: God’s communication of Himself to all persons (Mt. 5:45; Acts 14:17) at all times and in all places (Ps.19:1-6), particularly through creation (Rom. 1:18-20), history (Acts 17:26), and man (Rom. 1:20; 2:14-15).
A) Content:
1. Glory (Ps.19:1)
2. Power (Ps.19:1)
3. Supremacy (Rom.1:20)
4. Divine Nature (Rom.1:20)
5. Providential Control Over Nature (Acts 14:17)
6. Goodness (Mt. 5:45)
7. Intelligence (Acts 17:29)
8. Living Existence (Acts 17:28)
B) Purpose:
1. To display God’s goodness
2. To give weight to Theism (belief in the existence of God)
3. To justly condemn sinners
2. Special Revelation: God’s communication of Himself to particular persons at definite times and places through particular events with a general purpose of enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with Him.
A) Specific Examples:
1. The Urim and Thummim (Num.27:21)
2. Dreams (Gen.20:3,6)
3. Visions (Isa.1:1; 6:1; Acts 16:9-10)
4. Theophanies (Gen.16:7-14; 18:1; 32:24-30)
5. Angels (Lu.2:10-11)
6. Prophets (2 Sam. 23:2)
7. Events (Ex.7-14)
8. Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1,14,18)
9. The Bible
B) Inherent Qualities:
1. Partial (Jn.21:25)
2. Accurate (Jn.17:17)
3. Progressive (Heb.1:1-2)
4. Purposeful (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
B. Inspiration: The supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit upon the Scripture writers which rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation or which resulted in what they wrote actually being the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:13).
1. Qualifiers Of Inspiration:
A) Verbal (the inspiration was to the very words of Scripture)
1 Cor. 2:13; Mk. 12:26; Gal. 3:16
B) Plenary (the inspiration was to every part of Scripture) 2 Tim.3:16
2. Corollaries Of Inspiration:
A) Authority: The Bible carries with it the divine authority of God. It is binding upon man — on his mind, conscience, will, and heart. Man, creed, and church are all subject to the authority of Scripture.
B) Infallibility: The Bible is true and reliable in all matters that it addresses. It will not mislead or fail to accomplish its intended purpose.
C) Inerrancy: When all the facts are known, all the Scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything they teach, whether that teaching has to do with doctrine, history, science, geography, geology, or other disciplines or knowledge.
C. Illumination: The ministry of the Holy Spirit helping the believer to understand the truth of the Bible.
D. Canonicity: “Canon” = a rule, standard or unit of measurement by which a writing was determined to be inspired or not, and the compilation of those writings deemed inspired. As applied to the Bible, it means those books which have been measured, found satisfactory, and approved as inspired of God. Christians have always assumed that God guided the formation of the canon of Scripture. The Old Testament as we know it today in our Bibles had been established and formed by the nation of Israel by the time of the life of Jesus. The New Testament as we know it today in our Bibles went through a long process in the early church which determined its formation. The criteria used for determining the inclusion of a writing included the following:
1. The apostolicity test: meant that the document had to be written by an apostle or someone closely related to an apostle who might receive divine revelation.
2. The authenticity test: was the attempt to prove that the writing had actually been written by the apostle (there was much counterfeit writing circulating).
3. The inspiration test: determined whether or not the manuscript exhibited definite evidence of being inspired by God (note that every portion of the writing must pass the test, not just the parts that reflect divine ideas).
4. The analogy test: determined whether or not the writing was completely consistent with the general analogy of faith of Scripture (i.e., every statement must be consistent or the writing could not have been inspired by God).
5. The universality test: was the question of whether or not the entire church accepted the writing as being inspired.
Every writing had to pass every test before it could be admitted into the canon of Scripture!
E. Anthropic: The fact that the inspired revelation of Scripture is marked by human characteristics throughout, yet its words are the very words God wanted to be said. (Example: the virgin Mary was sinful, yet she conceived the perfect Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Human biblical authors were sinful, yet they brought forth the perfect Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.)
4. Defective Theories Of Inspiration:
A. Natural (Intuition) Inspiration: This view understands that inspiration is merely a superior insight on the part of natural man.
B. Concept Inspiration: This view understands that God authoritatively delivered conceptual revelation but left it to man to formulate the specific words.
C. Partial (Purpose) Inspiration: This view advocates that in issues of faith and practice the Bible is infallible while in other areas it may or may not be infallible.
D. Barthian (neo-orthodox, Existential, Word within the Word) Inspiration: This view understands that the Bible becomes God’s Word when the Living Word of God, Christ, speaks to us through its pages.
E. Dictation Inspiration: This view holds that the authors of the Scripture were mere pens, automatons, or robot-like machines.
5. The Consequences Of Leaving Inerrancy:
A. Doctrinal Issues:
1. Denial of historical fall of Adam
2. Denial of historical facts of experiences of Jonah
3. Explaining away some/all miracles in OT and NT
4. Denial of Mosaic authorship of Pentateuch
5. A belief in two or more authors of Isaiah
B. Life-style Issues:
1. Loose view of the seriousness of adultery
2. Loose view of the seriousness of homosexuality
3. “Cultural” reinterpretations of the Bible (role of women in church)
4. Ignoring the severity of sin (man is basically good)
6. Proofs For The Inspiration Of The Scriptures:
Proofs for Inspiration of Old Testament Scriptures:
A. The Witness of Jesus Christ:
Jn.10:35; Mt.5:18; Mk.7:10-13
B. The Witness of the Apostles of Christ:
2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb.3:7 (Ps.95:7); Acts 13:35 (Ps.16:10); Acts 4:24-25 (Psa. 2);
Heb.1:7-8 (Ps.104:4, 45:6)
C. 75% of Books of Old Testament are Cited in the New Testament
Proofs for Inspiration of New Testament Scriptures:
A. The Witness of Jesus Christ:
Jn.14:26; 16:12-14
B. The Witness of the Apostles of Christ:
2 Pet.3:16; 1 Tim.5:18 (Lu.10:7); Rev.22:18-19; 1 Cor.14:37; 1 Thess.2:13
Proofs for Inspiration of All of Scripture:
A. Prophecies of Scripture: (Josiah, Cyrus, Jewish exile, Jesus Christ)
B. Unity of Scripture
C. Biblical Writers willing To Suffer & Die For What They Wrote
D. Changed Lives
E. Confirmation of Miracles (Heb.2:3-4)
F. Weakness & Character of Biblical Writers: (unlearned, good, expose sins)
7. The Power of the Scriptures:
A. Reflects: The human heart as in a mirror, thus allowing us to see ourselves as God actually sees us (James 1:22-25)
B. Judges: The thoughts and intentions of the human heart (Heb.4:12)
C. Washes: The human heart from all sin and iniquity of every kind (Eph.5:26; Jn.15:3)
D. Reproduces: As a seed since the Word of God is the imperishable seed by which every believer is born again (1 Pet.1:23)
E. Nourishes: The child of God; the Word is the spiritual food of all true believers (1 Pet.2:2)
“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.” (from an anonymous Puritan author)
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