TheoDoc_b.Bibliology

- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God... (1 Cor 2:12)

- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son... (Heb 1:1a,2a)

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Revelation

God has revealed Himself and His truth to mankind.

- The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law (Dt 29:29).

- ...flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven (Mt 16:17).

- For I neither received it [the gospel] from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12).

- ...that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery... ...not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit... (Eph 3:3,5)

Notes

Theological Term: Revelation (to disclose, uncover, or unveil something)

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Revelation, Necessary

Without revelation from God we will not know Him.

- ...and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Mt 11:27b).

- 'O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee… and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known...' (Jn 17:25-26a)

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Revelation, General

God has given some revelation of Himself to every person in a general way.

a. Through the innate moral nature and conscience God has given mankind:

- And God created man in His own image... (Gen 1:27a)

- For when Gentiles... do instinctively the things of the Law... show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them... (Rm 2:14,15)

b. Through creation and its preservation:

- For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made... (Rm 1:20)

- The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (Ps 19:1).

- And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Col 1:17).

c. Through providence - God controlling all things in history and life.

- [God] ...works all things after the counsel of His will... (Eph 1:11b)

- The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts (1 Sam 2:6-7).

Notes

: These are non-verbal ways God has revealed Himself and they are not sufficient for knowledge of salvation.

: God has given mankind knowledge of His existence, His eternal power, His divine nature - but in wickedness mankind has suppressed this knowledge and not glorified or thanked the God of creation (Rm 1:18-21).

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Revelation, Special

God has given revelation of Himself and His plan for mankind in a special or specific way by directly communicating His truth to certain people in times past.

- He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses... with him I speak mouth to mouth..." (Num 12:6-8a)

- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son... (Heb 1:1-2a)

- ...sacred writings... are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 3:15b).

Notes

: Special revelation gives ample and sufficient knowledge of God's plan for His people's salvation.

: Many people groups in the world still have vestiges of the special revelation God has given to mankind (i.e. knowledge of a worldwide deluge, original creation of two people, etc.). God's truth came first, then mankind perverted and veered from that. (An excellent book to read on this issue is 'Eternity in Their Hearts' by Don Richardson.)

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Revelation, Progressive

God used a progressive method to reveal His truth to mankind.

- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son... (Heb 1:1-2a)

- For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rm 15:4).

Notes

: A greatly simplified example of progressive revelation:

a. God revealed the first five books of the Bible (also called the Law) to Moses.

b. Later, God's revelation was given to individual prophets throughout the Old Testament times.

c. Finally God's revelation was given for the New Testament writings.

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Revelation, to Israel Alone

God revealed His Word to and through the nation of Israel alone.

- He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His ordinances, they have not known them (Ps 147:19-20).

- Then what advantage has the Jew? ...Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God (Rm 3:1a,2).

Notes

: This fact proves that all other writings claiming to be revelation from God are false. No writings outside the Bible contain the specific words of God to mankind.

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Revelation Avenues

God revealed Himself and His truth through various means and avenues.

- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets and in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son… (Heb 1:1-2a)

Notes

: Examples of avenues of general revelation - man's moral nature and conscience (Gen 1:27; Rm 2:14-15); creation and its preservation (Rm 1:20; Ps 19:1-2; Col 1:17); God's providence (Eph 1:11; 1 Sam 2:6-7).

: Examples of avenues of specific revelation - dreams (Mt 2:12); visions (Acts 10:9-17); an audible voice (Mt 3:17, Mt 17:5); theophanies (appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament before His incarnation) (Gen 18); Jesus' life and teachings (the four Gospels); the Bible, the written Word of God (2 Pt 1:21).

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Revelation, Not Comprehensive

God has not told mankind all there is to possibly know.

- The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law (Dt 29:29).

- God… knows all things (1 Jn 3:20b).

Notes

: God alone possesses all knowledge (He is omniscient).

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Revelation, Complete

The Bible is complete.

- ...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him... (2 Pt 1:3a)

- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Notes

: The words everything, adequate (thoroughly furnished), and every in the above verses require the completeness of the Scriptures to be able to be and do these things.

: Though God could add more to the Bible today (God being fully able to do any and everything He desires) the Bible indicates He will not be doing that.

Theological Term: Canon (measuring rod)

: The word canon (Greek kanon - a reed or a rod) denotes something to measure other things by; a rule or measuring rod. It refers to the 66 books of the Bible God caused to be collected and preserved so we would have exactly what He wanted us to have.

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Bible Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired, (breathed out) by God, and therefore of divine origin, proceeding from God.

- All Scripture is inspired by God... (2 Tim 3:16a)

God moved or carried along certain humans to produce in their own words His very Word.

- But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture... was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pt 1:20a,21b).

Notes

Theological Term: Verbal Inspiration (every word is inspired) (Not just the concepts or thoughts of the Bible)

Theological Term: Plenary Inspiration (all of Scripture is inspired) (Not just portions of the Bible)

: God's Word is inspired in the original autographs / writings / manuscripts.

: Christians accept reliable translations of the Bible today as being fully the Word of God.

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Bible Inerrancy

God's Word is without any error. It is true. It is the truth.

- ...All Thy commandments are truth (Ps 119:151b).

- ...Thy Word is truth (Jn 17:17b).

Notes

Theological Term: Inerrancy (without any error)

: The Bible does not err and contains no error. This refers to its truthfulness (its actual state, what it actually is; what is recorded is true).

: There are no errors in the original manuscripts / autographs.

: Some use the terms Inerrancy, Infallibility, and Efficiency interchangeably (or with differing definitions from person to person).

A helpful way to use the three words might be:

a. Inerrancy: without any error.

b. Infallibility: unable to err.

c. Efficiency: accomplishes its goal with a certainty.

: Inerrancy does not imply that all the Bible people themselves did or said was without error, but that what they did and said is accurately recorded without error.

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Bible Infallibility

God's Word is unable to err.

- All Scripture is inspired by God... (2 Tim 3:16a)

- ...Thy Word is truth (Jn 17:17b).

God says His Word is truth, and His word on the matter is utterly trustworthy.

- When God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself... (Heb 6:13)

- …it is impossible for God to lie... (Heb 6:18b)

Notes

Theological Term: Infallibility (unable to err)

: The Bible is incapable of erring. This refers to its trustworthiness (its potential state, what it could be; it is unable to err).

: God says all Scripture is inspired by Him, His Word is truth, and it is impossible for Him to lie, therefore it is impossible for the Scriptures to ever err.

: Some use the terms Inerrancy, Infallibility, and Efficiency interchangeably (or with differing definitions from person to person).

A helpful way to use the three words might be:

a. Inerrancy: without any error.

b. Infallibility: unable to err.

c. Efficiency: accomplishes its goal with a certainty.

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Bible Animation

The Bible has animating, life-giving, life-changing power.

- For the Word of God is living and active... (Heb 4:12a)

- For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God (1 Pt 1:23).

- ...the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe (1 Ths 2:13c).

Notes

Theological Term: Animation (the term is built upon the following word definitions)

Definitions:

* Living (Greek zao) to live, life, lively

* Active (Greek energes) operative, effectual, powerful

* Performs (Greek energeo) to be active, efficient, effectual

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Bible Efficiency

The Bible if effective to accomplish all that God desires.

- So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it (Is 55:11).

- ...the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe (1 Ths 2:13c).

Notes

Theological Term: Efficiency (it is efficient, it will do all God desires)

: Some use the terms Inerrancy, Infallibility, and Efficiency interchangeably (or with differing definitions from person to person).

A helpful way to use the three words might be:

a. Inerrancy: without any error.

b. Infallibility: unable to err.

c. Efficiency: accomplishes its goal with a certainty.

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Bible Sufficiency

The Bible is sufficient, enough for us.

- ...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him... (2 Pt 1:3)

- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Rm 12:2).

Notes

: We have been given everything we need for life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him (in the Bible). What more could we need? Therefore, the Bible is sufficient.

: The inspired Scriptures are able to make the man of God adequate (fully furnished) and equipped for every good work. What more could we need? Therefore, the Bible is sufficient.

: By being transformed by the renewing of our mind (in God's Word) we will be able to prove what God's will is. What more could we need? Therefore, the Bible is sufficient.

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Bible Authority

The Bible, being inspired by God and being the truth, has the authority to direct our lives and enforce our obedience.

- All Scripture is inspired by God... (2 Tim 3:16a)

- ...Thy Word is truth (Jn 17:17b).

- ...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you... (Mt 28:20a)

Notes

: Since the Bible is inspired by God and is the truth, it is to be taught and obeyed, because there is no higher authority than God and His Word.

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Bible Illumination

God opens our minds to understand His Word.

- Then He [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures... (Lk 24:45)

- But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth... and He will disclose to you what is to come (Jn 16:13a,c).

- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God... taught by the Spirit... (1 Cor 2:12,13b)

Notes

Definitions:

* Opened (from Lk 24): (Greek dianoigo) to open thoroughly, to expound

* Understanding (from Lk 24): (Greek nous) the intellect, mind, understanding

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Bible Clarity

God's Word is clear and understandable to the believer, but not to the natural man (the one not born again).

- From Thy precepts I get understanding... (Ps 119:104a)

- But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to Him, and He cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things... (1 Cor 2:14-15a)

Notes

Theological Term: Perspicuity (clearness, clarity)

: Some misspell and mispronounce this word. It is per spi cuity - it is not per pis cuity.

: Some religions teach the Bible is too hard for any lay person to understand on their own, and therefore someone 'with authority' needs to interpret it for them. Christians reject this false notion.

: Truly, some passages are hard to understand (2 Pt 3:16) but they are able to be understood through diligent study and rightly dividing God's Word.

: If someone continuously cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God it may be because they are not a spiritual man (not born again) (Jn 3:3; 1 Cor 2:14); blinded by Satan (2 Cor 4:4); blinded by their flesh (being babes in Christ) (1 Cor 3:1-2).

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Bible Interpretation

We must accurately handle God's Word, interpreting it correctly.

- Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

- ...no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pt 1:20b-21).

Notes

Definitions:

* Handling Accurately: (Greek orthotomeo) to make a straight cut, dissect (expound) correctly, rightly divide, cutting as if by a single stroke (versus hacking repeatedly at something)

* Interpretation: (Greek epilusis) the explanation

: Interpretation of Scripture must not come from ourselves but must be in line with the original intent of the Author (God) Who moved the authors (men) to speak and record what He desired.

: We must use proper hermeneutics and exegesis to interpret God's Word.

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Bible Indestructibility

The Bible is indestructible. It is not able to be destroyed.

- The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Is 40:8).

- But the word of the Lord abides forever... (1 Pt 1:25a)

- ...the Scripture cannot be broken... (Jn 10:35b)

Notes

Definitions:

* Broken: (Greek luo) to loosen, break (up), destroy, dissolve

* Cannot Be: (Greek dunamai) able or possible and (Greek ou/ouk/ouch) not, negative... an inability to be destroyed

: A related concept is 'Preservation' which means God has preserved His Word, the Bible, throughout all the ages.

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