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#4 Holy Scripture
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. . . . Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands."
Millions and millions of dollars have been spent on the SETI (Search for Extra- Terrestrial Intelligence) Project that was featured in the 1997 Jodi Foster movie Contact. Huge dishes scan the skies for any sort of signal that might be coming from intelligent life somewhere in the recesses of the cosmos.
The only reliable information we have on intelligent life attempting to contact Planet Earth is in the Bible. The God of the Universe has spoken for centuries past through prophets and has finally spoken to us through Jesus:
Hebrews 1:1-3: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, {2} but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. {3} The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
These verses make it abundantly clear that religious authority is from God and not from man. Notice that "God spoke" and "he has spoken." This is not some mysterious or occult revelation from God. We don't have to find a guru on top some mountain to tell us what God said. It is abundantly clear that what God has spoken to us by his Son is written in the New Testament.
A few dollars would get any one of us a copy of the communique, but we seem determined to ignore it.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Consider some situations.
The scriptures of the early first century church were the Old Testament scriptures. When the first century was half over, most of the New Testament had not been written. It was more than a hundred years after the letters were written that they were generously accepted as scripture and declared to be a part of the Bible.
What is your image of a Christian in 45 AD studying the word of God? It is likely that no New Testament writing that you and I have in our Bible was even written in 45 AD--the books you and I study so much had not even been written a decade after Jesus' resurrection. No Christian teacher would say to a class, "Read the book of Philemon this week and we will discuss it in class next Sunday." No Christian would say, "Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5..."
If you were a Jewish Christian, you had heard what we call the Old Testament discussed in the Jewish synagogue all your life. If you were not a Jew, but a fourth or fifth generation idol worshipper, it is possible you had never heard Jewish scripture. To remind yourself of the importance of Old Testament scripture in the early church, go back and examine how often a writer like Paul, or James, or the author of Hebrews used the Old Testament to give authority to his statement.
Let me use just the example of Paul's writing we know as Romans. Paul used the Old Testament to prove the Jewish people of the first century misrepresented God's intentions in Romans 2:17-29.
He used Old Testament history and quotations to prove God's love for people who were not Jews in Romans 3.
He used Old Testament history and quotations to prove the power and importance of faith in Romans 4.
He used Old Testament history and quotations to prove that God was not unjust to first century Israel in saving people who were not Jews in Romans 9.
He used numerous Old Testament quotes to verify the importance of faith in Jesus Christ and his word in Romans 10.
He used Old Testament quotes to prove that God had not rejected Israel by making Jesus Christ Lord in Romans 11.
He used the Old Testament's ten commandments to verify the power of love in Romans 13.
He used an Old Testament quote to verify that it was wrong for Christians to pass judgment on each other in Romans 14.
He used Old Testament quotations to verify that Jewish Christians should change the way they looked at Christians who were not Jews in Romans 15.
Let me direct your attention back to 2 Timothy.
In 1:5 Paul said he remembered the sincere faith that existed in Timothy that first lived in his grandmother Lois and then in his mother Eunice. Question: how did that sincere faith come alive in his grandmother and mother? By studying what you and I call the New Testament? That is very unlikely in his mother. That is nearly impossible for his grandmother. The faith that Paul so admired in Timothy began with his grandmother's acceptance of the message of Old Testament Scripture.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
If we want to be the righteous people who belong to God, we dare not neglect a proper understanding of Old Testament scriptures.
2 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to his dear friend in order to warn, motivate, and direct Timothy in his ministry in Ephesus (see 1 Tim 1:3; 3:14-15). It was not an easy ministry because Timothy was probably somewhat young and timid (cf. 2 Tim 1:7) and yet he had to face a fair amount of opposition from other men (cf. 2 Tim 2:25; 3:8)—“deceivers” as Paul refers to them—who wanted to draw off people after themselves (2 Tim 4:3-4) and pervert the gospel of Christ, both its doctrinal and ethical aspects (see 1 Tim 1:3-11, 19-20; 4:1-5; 6:3-5; 2 Tim 2:16-19; 3:1-9, 13).
From where did Timothy’s competency for ministry come and how was he to recognize the dangers in ministry and avoid them? Well, there are several things that the apostle tells him to be mindful of.
First, he needed to remember the gift of God that was given him (2 Tim 1:7) and the purpose for which God had saved him (1:9, 2:10). Then, he was to be conscious of all that ministeral ministry entails (2:1-6) and to remember and reflect on the gospel (2:8).
Further, he also had the example of the apostle Paul himself (as well as his mother and grandmother; 2 Tim 1:5) to draw on for help and encouragement (3:10, 11).
In short, Timothy had the Spirit of God, the people of God, and he also had the Word of God. It is the Word of God that Paul emphasizes in 3:16-17 (Judging by Paul’s use of the OT in his writings, they had been a significant encouragement to him) and it is to this that we now turn our attention. The Word of God gives us strength to minister and live for the Lord.
All of us at one time or another (some of us continually) are called on by the Lord to minister in difficult circumstances in which we feel very dependent on the Lord. Sometimes these situations do not last a long time, but in many cases they last years or even a lifetime. It could be at our workplace, or on the mission field, in a far away land, so to speak, or even in our home.
Like Timothy we too can draw on the Spirit of God and the people of God for encouragement and strength. We can also turn to the Word of God. Because Paul knows that the Spirit of God used his word to strengthen and direct believers he encourages Timothy with a comment about the nature and purpose of Scriptural revelation.
In considering 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it is difficult not to think that Paul had almost certainly told Timothy about the importance of Scripture before, perhaps on several occasions. Why is he emphasizing it now once again?
The reason may be that often times, when we get into the heat of battle, as Timothy is, we tend to forget what is central and, therefore, move away from the most important things. Paul has already reminded Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God (which is probably his gift of leadership and administration) and so he now turns to remind him of a truth central to Christianity and indeed Timothy’s ministry.
These verses may come as a reminder to you too, but do not let that keep you from entering even further into the solemnity of the truth they espouse. Do you see the importance of the Word of God for your life and ministry? How do you express that conviction?
We start out in our meditation then, noting that the first word is “all”: All Scripture is inspired…. Now there may have been some false teachers (maybe connected to an incipient form of gnosticism) in Timothy’s midst that denied certain aspects of Scripture as being not from God or authoritative.
Perhaps they viewed certain portions of God’s word as unimportant or unnecessary for spiritual growth and development. They would rather substitute their own teaching for those of Scripture. Paul says that that idea is patently false. He says that the whole thing is from God…yes, including the genealogies!
There are even some of us who, as Christians claiming to love the Lord, are not really committed to the truth Paul is affirming here. We show our defection when we read only those portions we like and give no attention to the other books or letters. For example, I have often heard people say that they just can’t get into Leviticus; it doesn’t do anything for them. Or, some refuse to listen to verses that do not fit their preconceived theological biases.
This is dangerous ground, indeed, that may someday open and swallow its tenants whole. In sum then, we must carefully evaluate what we are subscribing to when we readily confess that all Scripture is inspired by God.
Paul refers to the Bible as “holy Scriptures” (I{eraV gravmmata) in 3:15, but “Scripture” (grafhv) in 3:16. Some have argued that there is a difference here wherein the former refers only to the OT writings while the latter refers to the OT writings plus written apostolic instruction which we now call the New Testament.
This distinction is probably not correct for while there is some idea of a canonical process in the first century (cf. 1 Timothy 5:18, Deut 25:4 and Luke 10:7) it is probably anachronistic to see as much in 2 Tim 3:16 as this thesis requires. It is perhaps better to see both as referring to the Old Testament and the reference to “holy” then is to be understood as a polemic against those in Timothy’s midst who would deny otherwise. Further, the different Greek terms for “Scripture” are to be regarded as synonymous.
By analogy though, as those who now possess the NT, we may apply this passage to all of sacred Scripture, including the New Testament.
Paul says that all Scripture, the entire OT (and by implication the New Testament as well), is “inspired by God.” The expression “inspired by God” is a translation of one Greek term, the adjective qeopneustos (qeovpneusto"). What Paul is telling Timothy is that he ought not be ashamed of the Scripture or hold a low opinion of it (as did the false teachers) because it was produced by the very breath of God, the Spirit of God.
The Scriptures were spoken forth by God as he guided human instruments to accomplish the writing of His Book. In 2 Peter 1:20-21, Peter says that men were carried along, much as a wind fills the sails of a ship and moves it forward, by the Holy Spirit. The personality of the authors can be seen in their works, but ultimately it is a book supremely correct in what it affirms and without error because God is the superintending author. It is the very revelation of God himself.
The fact that the Scriptures are useful simply follows from the fact that they are divinely inspired. According to Paul the Scriptures are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. The Scriptures teach us who God is and who we are. They teach us what the problem is as well as the divine solution. They teach us how to live a life pleasing to God and what we are to believe.
They taught Timothy how to live uprightly and avoid the errors of his opponents, and they will do the same for us. But, as sinners, we often fail in living according to God’s revealed will in the Bible. It is at this point that the Scriptures are able to rebuke us and show us where we’ve gotten off the path. Once we realize where we’ve gone wrong, the Scriptures are able to correct us and show us the way to repentance and how to get back on the right track.
Finally, all of this teaching, rebuking, and correcting can be summarized as “training in righteousness.” Thus the Scriptures are able to train us in righteousness, the ultimate goal of which is to be fully equipped for every good work. God is training us through his word so that we might be suitable vessels for his work. It is this very thing that Paul had just finished telling Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20-21.
As we meditate on these verses, let us think seriously about our commitment to the Word of God. Do we understand the nature of divine Scripture? Have we therefore committed ourselves to God in his Word? Do we act on what it affirms? Paul told Timothy that he must cling to the Scriptures and we should do no less, for the Scripture is still inspired and useful and the times in which we live are not altogether unlike those of that young minister in Ephesus.
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Not only does the Bible claim to be inspired and sufficient for our needs, it also claims to the the only authority we need.
John 16:13 -- But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
This Jesus said to his apostles. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide his apostles into all truth. His apostles would come to possess all truth because Jesus would send the Spirit to them. Therefore, the apostles' writings are Scripture (see 2 Peter 3:14-16, 1 Cor 2:9-13, & Eph 3:1-3). Since this is clear, we need no writings other than the Bible to inform us how to please God and go to heaven.
Jude 1:3 -- Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh, also writes about "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." Jude knows of no second or third revelation, or any occult apostolic tradition. Rather he speaks of that which had already occurred, that which was "once for all," and that which had already been entrusted to the saints. This is the revelation we have in the New Testament. We need no other revelation.
Why We Need the Bible
The spirit of our time is more receptive to conversations about and more open to actively searching for spirituality than any generation in a while. There is very little of the I'll-believe-only-what-I-can-see-and-touch sentiment of the materialistic worldview surviving into the twenty-first century. If anything, in fact, there is an overt craving for anything that can loosely be termed "spiritual" nowadays. There is even a movement in the direction of gullibility that frightens me.
I have had versions of the following conversation with countless people:
"Preacher, I've got no doubt at all of the existence of God. I've felt his
presence, watched him work out difficult things in my life, and know he exists.
But that's why I'm not interested in church or religion or the Bible. To anybody
who has met God in the grandeur of nature or in the agonies of real life, all
that stuff seems pretty tame and small."
With my profound appreciation for Alcoholics Anonymous, other twelve-step
groups, and the general phenomenon of connecting via small groups, I confess to
a bit of fear about the direction some of these groups have gone. They have
defined their "higher power" in such vague, subjective, and self-magnifying
terms that they have simply found a way to legitimize unbelief in the name of
spirituality. The only "higher power" that can rescue and redeem a life for
eternity has a name and an address, Jesus of Nazareth.
Yes, you can know God's existence without the Bible. Yes, you can experience the presence of God through people made in his image who truly care about you. And, yes, you can make a distinction between the trappings of "religion" over against the healing power of "spirituality" that is legitimate.
But you cannot know the will of God unless it is revealed to you. You cannot know about salvation and eternal life apart from Scripture. You cannot be sure you have a relationship with God that will see you through time and eternity except through the Bible.
The apostle Paul quoted from Isaiah and added his own comments on those Old
Testament lines when he wrote: As it is written:"No eye has seen, no ear has
heard, no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" — but God has revealed it to us by
his Spirit. . . . For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's
spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the
Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:9-10, 12).
When you are planning to make a trip, the smart thing for you to do is to get
out a good road atlas. Find where you are, identify where you want to go, and
mark out the best route from your present location to your destination. Pay
attention to interesting sites along the way. Be realistic about how far you can
travel in a day or with the baggage you have to carry. Realize that it will cost
you something to make the trip, and be ready to pay the tolls and expenses that
are involved. Then, when you finally get on the road, keep the road atlas close
at hand and check your journey against it frequently.
Isn't that something of the role Holy Scripture plays in the life of a believer? Unless I "turn the tables" of creation and make God in my own image, I need the Bible to guide my spiritual journey.
I have to be honest about where I am right now, fix it in my heart that I really do want to go to heaven, and find the way that connects where I am to where I want to be. So I turn to the Bible and find Jesus saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Thus I go deeper into the four Gospels to learn about Jesus. I find out everything I can about him and watch other people as they react to and attempt to follow him. I find people who remind me of myself, learn from their experiences, and see how gentle and patient Jesus is with them.
From studying Jesus and his earliest disciples, I get a glimpse of the road my life must take to be his follower. So I begin walking by faith — not by sight, not by feelings, not by subjective guesses — and know I am making progress as my actions become more consistent with my beliefs about Jesus.
Oh, there are lots of interesting places along my route. Some of them are downright treacherous roads that circle back and take me off the highway to the destination I want. So I have to keep checking the map often. I can't travel far in a given day. There is baggage that makes my trip slow and consumes a lot of energy. And there are toll places all along my route marked with the word "repentance." But the Bible is absolutely indispensable to the journey! I can't travel with confidence without it!
The Problem With the Bible
People who don't know better sometimes hesitate to take the Bible too seriously as an atlas or road map for negotiating life. "It was written so long ago," says one. "It describes a world so different from mine," says another. " And I've heard we don't even know what was in the original Bible," objects somebody else. "This one has been handed down over centuries and has gone through so many hands that we can't be sure what we are reading is what those prophets and apostles originally gave us as the Word of God."
No single science has done as much as archaeology to confirm the reliability of the Bible. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible available to scholars were from about A.D. 900. In startling agreement with the text already known to us, the Dead Sea Scrolls pushed our knowledge of the biblical text back to about 100 B.C. In that thousand-year interval, what was so remarkable was not the changes, omissions, or revisions of the text but the inviolability of it. We know that the people who received these books as Spirit-given Scripture took elaborate care to protect them from tampering.
Indeed, we do have a reliable text of the Bible as originally given. When I study the marvelous dialogues of Plato with my students in university classes, I seldom bother to remind them that we know his writings through only seven extant manuscripts — none of which is closer than 1,200 years to the time of their writing. By contrast, we have well over 5,000 copies of the New Testament in separate units from as early as 50 years from the time of writing (i.e., Gospel of John) and the complete corpus from within 300 years of its composition.
The biblical story of King David — with its adultery, murder, and political deceit set over against his extraordinary faith and courage — was considered "too fantastic" to be anything other than myth. King David must have been a made-up character. In 1993, Israeli archaeologists digging in the Golan Heights unearthed a piece of stone from an ancient monument dated in the ninth century B.C. Inscribed in Aramaic were the words "King of Israel" and "House of David." Critics of the Bible insisted the find was faked or the inscription incorrectly translated. In 1994, more fragments of the stele were found with additional references to the ancient king. Newspapers around the world quoted Seymour Gitin of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in East Jerusalem in calling it "one of the greatest finds of the twentieth century." The skeptical claim that King David never existed except as a dramatic character has been essentially dropped.
The French unbeliever Voltaire once boasted that it had taken twelve men to set
up Christianity, but he would show that a single man was enough to overthrow it.
He said that in a hundred years the Bible would be a forgotten book. How many
books from Voltaire have you read? How many books of the Bible?
The Bible is anything but an archaic millstone around the necks of modern
people. It is the rock-solid foundation on which faith is erected. It has
withstood the test of time and survived the violent attacks of unbelief. It is
an absolutely reliable source of information about the most important character
and issue in human history — Jesus Christ and the salvation that comes through
him alone.
I think our "problem" with the Bible is not the proffered issues of textual reliability, formation of the canon, or translation. The problem is that it challenges parts of our thinking and behavior that we don't want to change.
A professor stood up on the first day of his freshman Bible class at a Christian college. He looked down his student roster and called a name at random. "Mr. Gillespie," he asked, "do you have any problems with the Bible?" The student replied immediately and confidently, "No, sir."
"This semester I am going to challenge you to read your Bible very, very carefully," said the teacher. "And if you do that, you will have problems with it. I guarantee it."
I have often had occasion to recall or cite the words of Samuel Clemens. "It isn't the parts of the Bible that I don't understand that bother me," he said. "It's the parts I dounderstand that cause me problems."
Honoring the Word of God
For anyone who does believe the Bible or for someone who is simply curious to
know the difference Holy Scripture can make in his or her life, I would make the
following elementary suggestions.
First, worship with a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. It is far less
important what name is on the church's sign or letterhead than to discern its
attitude toward the Word of God. It matters less that its building is new,
convenient to where you live, or comfortable than that it is a place where Jesus
is lifted up by the preaching of the Word of God. It is faithfulness to
Scripture that legitimates a church's existence.
Second, if you are really serious about knowing God, get with a few like-minded
people to study the Bible regularly. Get a copy of a really good study Bible — I
use The NIV Study Bible published by Zondervan Publishing House — that has maps,
footnotes, and cross-references. You'll probably want to organize your regular
study times around a study guide that will focus your attention on a theme or
allow you to work through a section of Scripture systematically.
Third, spend one-on-one time with the Word of God every day. Don't turn this into a "school assignment" or burden. Here I'm just speaking of a disciplined time of five to fifteen minutes a day for reading the Bible — maybe the Gospel of John or the Psalms for starters. I typically give a One-Year Bible to couples I marry and ask that they read just the section from the Psalms together for the first few months of their marriage. It takes about 30 seconds. Then I encourage them to pray together over a word, phrase, or thought that comes to them from that brief reading. Do I really think anybody can get something meaningful from such a small portion of Scripture each day? Absolutely! The Word of God is that powerful.
Fourth, obey all you understand of the will of God at any given moment. Some people apparently think they need to be theologians before they can be Christians. No! The Bible is God's appeal to your mind and heart to follow him. If you yield yourself to follow him today in whatever he has shown you so far, he will show you more tomorrow. At the point where you balk at or disobey something you know to be his will, your ability to discern and live the truth diminishes.
Scriptures contain severe warnings about changing that which "was once for all entrusted to the saints." If we change the gospel from that which was "once for all" revealed, we will receive eternal condemnation.
Galatians 1:8-9 -- But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
The point is this: God never let anyone--neither men, nor apostles, nor angels--change his Word. So if you see a friend, an elder, a priest, a bishop, a pope, or a minister who changes God's Word or teaches a different gospel, do not become partners in that falsehood, or you will suffer the same eternal condemnation.
1 Corinthians 4:6 -- Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”
Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
Again the apostle Paul warns us, "Do not go beyond what is written." Although we do not know the source of this quotation, the fact that Paul uses it is pregnant with meaning. We cannot escape the obvious meaning, namely, that we may not go beyond what we find in Scripture.
The apostle John says it another way:
2 John 1:9-11 -- Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
We must not run ahead of Christ's teachings. Rather, we must continue in the teaching of Christ. Time and again we hear the same warning: Do not change God's inspired revelation! The punishment for changing it is extreme.
Revelation 22:18-19 -- I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
So we must not preach another gospel, we must not go beyond what is written, we must not run ahead of Christ's teachings, and we must not add or take away anything from God's Word. I hope it is abundantly clear that we have no authority other than the God-breathed, inspired, revealed and written Word of God.
I think it is reasonable to believe that the Bible is God's word. Consider some of the rather phenomenal facts about the Bible. It was written by 40 men over a period of about 1600 years. In spite of that, there is a clear line of prophecy leading up to Christ, and there is no disagreement in message. To have 40 men agree on anything is quite a task. To have these men be separated by centuries of time and still agree would be quite unrealistic, if not impossible. Yet, they do. This within itself is a miracle of unmeasurable dimensions! How can we account for this in any way other than by the inspiration of God?
The Bible is different than any other religious book. In the Bible, the so-called "heroes" are treated with brutal honesty. Adam and Eve fail, and their first-born son is a murderer. Noah gets drunk. Abraham says his wife is his sister to save his own skin. Jacob lies to his own blind father. Lot's daughters get him drunk and then sleep with him and have children by him. Jacob's sons sell their brother Joseph into slavery. Moses was a murderer. Aaron built a golden calf. David was an adulterer and a murderer. The examples go on and on.
Even in the New Testament, we find the "heroes" were people with feet of clay. Peter doubted, and sunk in the water. Peter denied Jesus three times. Thomas did not believe that Jesus was resurrected until he saw him face-to-face and examined his wounds. Paul had to publicly confront Peter for hypocrisy. There is no other religious book that treats its major characters with such brutal honesty. It shows no partiality in its treatment of people.
As I hinted above, one of the most phenomenal things about the Bible is its prophetic aspects. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament, and they all came true. There are numerous prophecies about the Christ in the Old Testament. They are all completely fulfilled in Jesus. The mathematical probability of that happening by random chance is so small that it is beyond comprehension!
The Bible, as the Word of God, makes itself vulnerable and verifiable by such things. If it says that something happened at a particular place at a particular time, such things become verifiable. Simple fact is, the Bible is not wrong in its details.
Admitting that God has spoken through the Scriptures, of necessity it follows that He expressed Himself accurately. The very nature of God demands that this be so. It is unreasonable to imagine that God would even allow His communication to man to go unguarded.
Because the Scriptures came from God Himself, they must, like their Author, be inerrant. Inspiration and inerrancy are inseparably linked together. There is no point in claiming inspiration for the Scriptures if they do not possess the quality of freedom from error or if they are liable to mistake. To say that there are errors in the Bible is to say that there are errors in God Himself. The very nature of the case demands inerrancy.
Religious liberalism and Neo-orthodoxy hold to their own brand of inspiration which has in it no need for inerrancy. They judge the Bible inerrant insofar as man sees inerrancy. They assume a half-way position but will not agree to the full and complete inerrancy of all portions of Scripture. One liberal went so far as to say that "the theory of inerrancy that adopts the slogan, 'The Book, the whole Book, and nothing but the Book,' is blinded by a superstitious bibliolatry."
We answer such a charge by asserting that the Bible, rather than man, is and must be its own judge. The Scriptures must stand or fall together. Holy Scripture is established upon the highest pinnacle of inerrancy. It is blasphemous to say that the original Scriptures have in them errors of any kind.
God Himself is in this Holy Book, the Bible. It is the only Book in all the world that is thus inspired.
The Bible is called "the holy Scriptures," a term which characterizes it and its contents as sacred (II Timothy 3:15).
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace, purified seven times" (Psalm 12:6). "The law of the Lord is perfect. . . " (Psalm 19:7).
These statements apply to all of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts, for all of Holy Writ is the Word of God. To say that the Word of God is in the Bible is a half-truth which might imply a lie. The Bible is the record of what God actually said, not what fallible human beings thought He said. Inspiration demands inerrancy, the only view of the original Scriptures which accords with the nature of the God of the Bible.
Conclusion
At a teen gathering, a fresh-from-college youth minister was trying to impress his young charges with the wonderful relevance of the Word of God to their lives. He got the teens in a circle, put a chair in the middle, and handed out cards with Bible verses on them to everyone in the group. The idea was to blindfold someone in the middle chair, have them tell the group some concern he or she was experiencing, and then have someone in the group to read an appropriate Bible verse — as though God himself were answering the question through the words of Scripture.
The idea appeared to be a bust. The kids thought their new youth minister was
pretty goofy. And nobody in the group was going to sit in that chair and raise a
question more profound than how to get an A on Mr. Bentley's math test or how to
avoid dangling participles in English composition.
Then a new girl who hadn't been in the group very long volunteered to take the
"hot seat" in the middle. The giggling died down a bit as they blindfolded her,
for she was new. They were sensitive enough that they didn't want to make her
too uncomfortable. Then she spoke up and said, "I don't know if I want to go on
living any longer. Life's too hard for me, and I just can't stand it."
Now the room was deadly silent. No one knew what to say or do, and most just looked down in embarrassment. Then one boy read his Bible verse out loud: "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
"But nobody cares about me," said the girl. Then another girl in the outer ring
of chars read these words: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jer. 31:3).
"You don't understand," said the girl in the blindfold. In a desperate and
tearful voice, she said, "My own mother kicked me out of the house today!" And
someone read: "God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake
you' So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid' "
(Heb. 13:5-6).
In this church, we take the Bible seriously because we believe it is the Word of God. We believe there is a true and appropriate word from God in this Holy Book that addresses every human need.
We believe the counsel and instruction you need for your life is within these covers. And we believe the journey we are on as we follow The Way revealed to us in Scripture is going somewhere. We'd like you to go with us.
The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is the only revelation of God’s nature and will; it alone is “profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteous” (2 Tim. 3:16). It can make us wise unto salvation, and the Word is able to save our souls (2 Tim. 3:15; Jas. 1:21). In this week's penpoints, Jason Jackson discusses the importance of reading God's Word, and he offers some proven methods to boost your Bible reading.
Who needs to read the Bible? Kings were commanded to read the Scriptures all the days of their lives (Deut. 17:19). The Scriptures have been read aloud for the benefit of the various groups of people (Ex. 24:7; Deut. 31:9-13; Josh. 8:34-35; Neh. 8:1-3,8,18; Lk. 4:16-21; Acts 15:21; Col. 4:16). God’s word needs to be taught to families (Deut. 6:4-9; 2 Tim. 3:15). It must be read individually as well (Ps. 1:2; 119:11,105; Acts 8:28-32).
The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is the only revelation of God’s nature and will; it alone is “profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteous” (2 Tim. 3:16). It can make us wise unto salvation, and the Word is able to save our souls (2 Tim. 3:15; Jas. 1:21).
Standing alone amidst the world’s literature, the Bible especially ought to be read. The skills for Bible reading are identical, mechanically, for reading a secular document. But a keener appreciation applies to the Divine Revelation, and additional considerations for the Heavenly Message are required. Our devotion to the Sacred Word must be as special as the Book itself.
We ought to read the Bible regularly. John Stott was right when he wrote to preachers, “Sporadic and haphazard dipping into the Scriptures is not enough” (Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century, Grand Rapids: Eerdmanns, 1982, p. 182). Neither is it enough for any Christian. Any child of God who needs convinced that he ought to read the Bible regularly is in spiritual peril already.
We need to read the Bible analytically. God intends for us to understand the Bible, and we ought to analyze the Word’s component parts to better understand it as a whole. For example, the Bible student needs to understand the two major parts of the Bible - the Old and New Testaments. The differences between the Old and New Testaments are critical to “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
A good Bible dictionary will facilitate this rule. For instance, if we plan to read the book of Genesis, we ought to consult a Bible dictionary article on “Genesis.” An introduction to the content increases our ability to understand and retain the material. Give the mind an advantage by knowing as much as you can about your reading before you read. This is true with respect to the Bible as a whole, and in connection with chapters and verses. Halley’s Bible Handbook is a useful tool for this; its chapter summaries are a helpful reader's guide.
We would profit more, I believe, if we read the Bible systematically. A well-organized plan facilitates any objective – even Bible reading. Reading calenders, study aids, and valuable suggestions are numerous (note: Take advantage of a method and use it. Devise your own and tenaciously work through it. The most prolific Bible readers, with whom I am familiar, are people who are systematic in method and time. A designated pattern and time of day, interrupted only because of absolute necessity, establishes a way of life; there is no need to “fit it in” to one’s schedule. Other things may be postponed. We have our Bibles to read!
We must read the Bible persistently. Bible reading can be discouraging for some, especially the new Christian. He or she may be distracted by what is not readily understood, rather than absorbing what could have been easily grasped. I recommend that you keep a notebook nearby while reading the Bible. Write down the reference of a verse that perplexes you, and keep on reading. Schedule another time for a more exhaustive study to research the difficult text. Avoid interrupting your plan, as a general rule, to ponder about an obscure thought to the neglect of much that could have been understood. Don’t allow discouragement to set in. Keep reading, and press on.
I do not imply that the Bible should be read sloppily. We ought to devote separate time and proven methods for deeper study. This is indispensable to our growth as well. Such projects, however, usually cannot be accomplished in short periods of time. We need an entire morning, evening, or Saturday afternoon, to devote uninterrupted hours for these special studies. With perseverance and planning, we can devote ourselves to persistent Bible reading with thirty minutes to an hour per day.
The previous guidelines help us accomplish this one: Read the Bible completely. A plan best accomplishes this, and it certainly ought to be our resolve. Some books of the Bible captivate our attention more than others. Some are more immediately relevant to our spiritual needs. Yet neglect none of them. Read it. Read it all – 1,189 chapters. And read it over and over again, for “Man does not live by bread alone,” (Matt. 4:4).
The next several suggestions involve a mind set more than methodology. They are vital for effective Bible reading.
We must read the Bible reverently. Bible reading is not a matter of Pharisaic self-congratulation. It should not degrade into a mere routine. For reverent readers, Bible reading and prayer are inseparable (see Acts 6:4). The regularity of our reading should not diminish our respect for the words breathed out by God. To the contrary, I believe that the persistent reader will become more reverent through the passing of time.
Because this book is from God for our utmost good, we ought to read the Bible expectantly. We must realize that the Bible will do for us what it can do for any person (2 Tim 3:16-17).
It is useful for teaching - what we need to know. It is profitable for reproof – what we must reject and refute. It is beneficial for correction – what we must turn away from and avoid. It is good for instruction in righteousness – what we must consider about our lives and duties with respect to God and man. Expect to grow stronger, be encouraged, and more fruitful, through regular contact with God’s Word.
Conversely, spiritual atrophy is the expectation for those who do not open the Good Book. Confident that it is true, but void of its power, defines the complacent attitude toward the Bible in which the Devil, no doubt, rejoices.
Read the Bible fervently. Mortimer J. Adler in his work, How to Read A Book, begins his chapter on “How to be a Demanding Reader” with a yawning observation. By the way, get comfortable, and enjoy this quotation.
“The rules for reading yourself to sleep are easier to follow than are the rules for staying awake while reading. Get into bed in a comfortable position, make sure the light is inadequate enough to cause slight eyestrain, choose a book that is either terribly difficult or terribly boring—in any event, one that you do not really care whether you read or not—and you will be asleep in a few minutes. Those who are experts in relaxing with a book do not have to wait for nightfall. A comfortable chair in the library will do any time” (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1972, p. 45).
We must stay awake to effectively read the Bible. But more than that, we must read it with focus and fervency. It doesn’t matter if the brain wanders while reading the latest editorial in the paper. The Bible matters. The kind of effort we expend in reading, comprehending, retaining, and applying God’s Word, eternally matters. Choose a time of day when you are alert. Select a place where you will not become easily fatigued. Provide yourself with adequate lighting. And focus. It is work; it is soul-saving work – your own!
We need to read the Bible collectively. As friends, dating couples, married couples, entire families, small groups, congregations – we can read the Bible together and all be better for it. On October 4, 1982 Ronald Reagan signed a Joint Resolution passed by the United States Congress.
While it is worthy of being quoted in its entirety, I cite only the final paragraph:
“Resolved the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to designate 1983 as a national ‘Year of the Bible’ in recognition of both the formative influence the Bible has been for our Nation, and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures” (William J. Federer. America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations, Np: Fame Publishing, 1996, p. 709-10).
We desire and pray that our nation’s leaders would resolve to do what this august body resolved. We, however, who are not wavered by infidelity nor distracted by the entanglements of the world – what have we resolved? The Bible demands more than lip service from members of the Lord’s church. It requires our attention in addition to our affection (Ps. 1:2). Become, or continue to be, an effective Bible reader. That is exactly what God wants you to be.
It is God-breathed (inspired--2 Tim 3:16).
It is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13).
It is the Word of God, not men (2 Pet 1:20-21).
Until the end of time (Matt 28:19-20).
Forever (1 Pet 1:24-25).
It will be our judge (John 12:48).
It cannot be broken (John 10:35).
It testifies of Christ (John 5:39-40).
It proves Christ's identity (Acts 18:28).
It is a lamp to our feet (Psalms 119:105).
It thoroughly equips us (2 Tim 3:16-17)
It saves us (James 1:21).
It makes us free (John 8:31-32).
It makes us wise (2 Tim 3:14-15).
It purifies us (1 Pet 1:22), (John 15:3).
It gives us hope (Rom 15:4).
It spiritually feeds us (1 Peter 2:2).
It guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
It is all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
It is the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
It was given to the saints "once for all." (Jude 3).
We must not go beyond it (2 John 9).
We must not pervert it (Gal 1:6-7).
We must not drift from it (Heb 2:1-4).
God never permits an angel, man, or apostle to change it (Gal 1:8-9).
We must not add to it (Rev 22:18).
We must not take away from it (Rev 22:19).
We must preach the Word (2 Tim 4:2).
We must regard it as the oracles of God (1 Pet 4:11).
We must do all in His name (Col 3:17)
It will judge us (John 12:48).
Satan (Matt 4:6).
Hypocrites (Matt 22:23-29).
False teachers (2
Cor 2:17).
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April 18, 2006
