“GOD AND HIS WORD”

PART I: THE INSPIRATION AND THE

AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

Presentation Summary

GOD’S REVELATION

THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

ADVANCED RECOMMENDED STUDIES:

A. GOD’S REVELATION

• Definition: “An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had

been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

• God is the one who reveals himself to men (Psalms 103.7; Jn 1.18)

• 2 Types of Revelation: General & Special

General Revelation

• Revelation through God’s Creation (His Power, Intelligence, Wisdom, Providence, Love [to a certain degree])

• Key Biblical References: Psalm 19.2; Romans 1.20;

Acts 14. 16-17; Matthew 5.45

…. General Revelation

• Revelation through human conscience (Morals, Values, Good & Wrong)

• Biblical Reference: Romans 2. 15

Special Revelation

• Revelation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ (God’s Power, God’s Love, God’s Plan of Salvation)

• Biblical Reference: Psalm 144.5; Isaiah 63.19; Hebrews 1.1-3; Jn 14.9; Jn 1.18; 1Peter 1.7,13

… Special Revelation

• Revelation through the Holy Spirit (God’s Spiritual & Deep Truths and Mysteries)

• Biblical Reference: Jn 16.13; 1 Corinthians 2.9-10

… Special Revelation

• Revelation through the Holy Scripture ( 2 Timothy 3. 16-17)

• Scriptures are identified with God (John 1.1;

Galatians 3.8 vs Genesis 12.1-3; Romans 9.17 vs Exodus 9.16)

B. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE• Commonly called “Bible” and is the equivalent of the Greek word

biblia meaning originally “books.” (Cfr. Dan 9.2, Septuagint) [International Standards Bible Encyclopedia]

• Written by more than 40 authors with different Backgrounds (Fishermen, Businesspersons, Statesmen, Philosophers, Poets, Scholars, etc..), in different places, at different times, during different moods and on 3 continents (Asia, Africa & Europe)

• Written in Hebrew (OT), Aramaic (Daniel 2-4; Ezra 4-8) & Greek (NT) and translated in as many modern languages as possible

• Written over a 1,500 year span and over 40 generations;

The Inspiration of the Bible: Definitions & Concepts

• Inspiration: God’s Action through which his servants were preserved and kept from error in order to perfectly communicate his truth to men (Paraphrased from “Précis de Doctrine Chrétienne”, Prof. J.M. Nicole)

• 2 Timothy 3: 16-17: Scriptures are “God-breathed”

(“Theopneustic” from the grec “theopneustos”) • See also God’s instruction in Jeremiah 30. 2• God-breathed but also Human (Luc 1. 1-3)

….The Inspiration of the Bible: Definitions & Concepts • Dynamic Inspiration (2 Peter 1. 19-21)[Grec: Pherõ:

moved, driven, carried, etc ]

• Verbal & literal Inspiration ( Matthew 5.18; 1 Corinthians 15. 2)

• Plenary Inspiration (Proverbs 30. 5)

• Inerrancy of Scriptures (Psalms 19.8; Jn 17.17)

The Inspiration of the OT message

• Moses received his message directly from God (Numbers 12.8; Exodus 17.14; Malachi 3.22 (4.4) [ See also Jesus’ testimony in Mark 7. 9-10]

• OT Prophets were inspired by God and was instructed to communicate his Truth (Jeremiah 30.2; 36.1-3; Zechariah 1. 4-6; Micah 3.8;

Jesus Christ’s Testimony

• Jn 5.43: He declared that he was speaking on God’s behalf

• Jn 6.63: He declared his words (message) were “spirit” and that it gives “life”

• Mark 7. 9-10: He affirmed the divine nature of Moses Writings and the OT (Luke 24. 25-27)

The Inspiration of the Apostolic Message & Writings

• Jesus declared his Apostles would be divinely inspired by his HOLY SPIRIT (John 14.26; 16.13)

• Paul declared that his message was given directly from God (1 Thessalonians 2.13, 1 Corinthians 14.37; Gal 1.12)

• Paul affirmed the unity and the compatibility of the message preached by the early Apostles (1 Corinthians 15.11; Galatians 2. 7-9)

• Peter affirmed the divine nature of Paul’s writings (2 Peter

3.15-16 ; Comp. Romans 2.4)

The Authority of Holy Scriptures

• The Authority of Scriptures in OT times (Exodus 24.6-7; Joshua 1.8; Nehemiah 8.1,3,5,8; Daniel 9.2)

• The Authority of Scriptures in JC’s Life (“It is Written”)Matthew 4.1-10; 26.24,31; 26.52-54; John 13.18; John

15.25

• The Authority of Scriptures in JC’s Ministry (Matthew 5.18; John 10.34; Matthew 20.42; Luke 10.25-26;

Luke 24.25-27)

The Authority of Holy Scriptures in the Early Church

• The Apostles quoted the Scriptures to establish the authority of their message and their writings

• The Early Church considered the Scriptures to be the Absolute norm for faith, Doctrine and Conduct ( 1 Corinthians 4.6; 1 Corinthians 15.3-4; Acts 17.11 )

The Authority of Holy Scriptures in the Early Church

• The Early Church considered the Apostolic Writings & message to be Divinely Inspired and therefore Authoritative (2 Peter 3. 15-16; Colossians 4.6; Acts 2.42)

2 Important Principles of Interpretation

• Principle #1 : Capturing the SENSE of the text (if possible the original text) for a good understanding and an appropriate application (Nehemiah 8.8: Reading, Understanding, Applying)

• Principle #2: Studying a particular text in light of the whole Revelation (Matt 4.7: “The Scriptures also say” )

Suggested advanced Studies

• Answering Objections against the Original text authenticity (Scriptures preservation, etc..)

• Answering Objections against Scriptures Inerrancy (History, Archeology, Philosophy, etc..)

• Studying External Evidences that support Scriptures

Inspiration Doctrine

Some Useful Books• René Pache, The Inspiration And Authority Of

Scripture (1969)• La Théologie de Wesley by Matthieu Lelièvre; 1

edition; First published in 1924• A Ready Defense. The Best Of Josh Mcdowell (1992)• John Stott, The Foundations of the Christian Faith • Eric Gatera, Help me Understand Jesus • J.M. Nicole, Précis de Doctrine Chrétienne