The Word of God 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God maybe thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I.
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Goals of this study a. To see Christ’s perspective concerning Scripture b. To see that the Bible is God’s Word. As B.B. Warfield said, “The Bible is the Word of God in such a way that when the Bible speaks, God speaks.” c. To not just rest on this reality, but to cultivate the same respect and admiration that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has for the Word. i. That every time we read the Word we would reflect on the reality of God directly speaking to us individually and to allow Him God to transform us into to be the men that He intended us to be. ii. That we would know Him better and relate to Him always in an intimate and personal way. That through His Word we would fall more and more in love with Him. Studying the Word is not an end in and of its self; it is a means of knowing God and having a deep and personal relationship with Him (John 5:37-40). How do we know that the Bible is God’s authoritative, inerrant, infallible Word of God? a. Doctrinal evidence i. One of the Roles of the Holy Spirit is to allow us to understand what God has given us (1 Cor. 2:10-16) and guide us to all truth (John 16:13). Therefore, only the Holy Spirit enables us to grasp the reality that God has given us the Bible. If that is true then we can rest assured that whatever the Bible says is true and trustworthy. Since passage after passage say that Scripture is God’s Word (Matt. 15:1-6 cf. Mark 7:9-13; 2 Tim. 3:16; etc.) then such a reality must be true. ii. As well, Christ said that those who belong to Him listen to His voice (John 10:27). Therefore, the Bible being the very Word of God is a spiritual issue and only those who are His (i.e. those who are saved) can only truly recognize this fact. b. Historical evidence1 i. We must treat the Bible as any other document and examine its claims; one is that is claims to be a historical document describing historical truth. ii. Then we show that Bible consists of reliable historical documents by using ordinary historical criticism tests2. iii. Once we show that it is historically reliable3 we focus on Jesus (the central Character of the Bible) and examine what he professed. iv. Over and over again He made unique claims of deity4 which he based on His resurrection from the dead5. v. Next we must look and see if the Resurrection is a historical fact6. vi. Since there is overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection, His claims to deity are vindicated and He is God. vii. Since Jesus is God, He alone has absolute authority to speak on the nature of Scripture (cf. John 8:38). viii. Looking at what He said concerning Scripture: 1. Old Testament a. He considered the Old Testament to be the very word of God (Matthew 15:1-6 cf. Mark 7:9-13; Matthew 5:17-18) i. While quoting Ps. 110:1 in Mark 12:36, Jesus doesn’t attribute this quote to David but to the Holy Spirit. Hence, Christ is saying Scripture is God-Breathed, being the very words of God. ii. Mark 7:9, referring to the Pharisee, Jesus accused them of “rejecting the commandments of God”. b. Not just some of the books but the entire OT i. (Luke 11:50-51, cf. Matthew 23:35). Here Jesus is saying that this generation will be held responsible for the killings of Abel, the first martyr (Gen 4:8), to the last martyr
Josh McDowell, Answers to Tough Questions, p. 147-148; James M. Boice (editor), The Foundation of Biblical Authority, p. 135 The three main tests are: 1) bibliographical 2) internal 3) external. Further explanations of these tests are given in: John W. Montgomery, Christianity and History; J.P Moreland, Scaling the Secular City; Steven Collins, Championing the Faith; Dan Story, Defending Your Faith; Josh McDowell, More Evidence that Demands a Verdict; etc. 3 Due to time restraints I will not get into this lengthy subject. But from the limited research I have done, I am fully convinced that the NT it is the most reliable document in antiquity. References: Craig Bloomberg, The Historical Readability of the Gospels; F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable?; Norman Geisler and William Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible; Josh McDowell, More Evidence that Demands a Verdict; A Ready Defense; Simon Greenleaf, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence … etc. 4 There may not be an explicit saying of Jesus claiming “I am God” but the indication are very clear. The two most explicit are: John 10:25-33 and John 14:8-10. Look at John 8:57-58 cf. Exodus 3:14; here Jesus is avoiding being stoned for blasphemy (Lev. 24:16). 83 times in the Gospels Jesus refers to Himself as Son of Man (a deity claimed that the Jews noticed referring to Daniel 7:13-14). He tells the Sanhedrin that He is God (Matt. 26:62-68) and is crucifixion is to due to blasphemy. Compare the focus of the Father in Matt. 5-7 versus His focus on Himself in John 14-16. He puts His own words over scripture in Matt. 5: 21-22, 27-28, and doesn’t follow phrasing of prophets (eg. Jer. 1:11; Ezek. 1:3). Has power over death in John 5:21 and 11:25 that is only attribute to God (cf. Ps. 119). Look at Matthew 13:41 (compare to Luke 12:8-9; 15:10); 25:31-46; 26:24, 22:41-45 (cf. Ps. 110:1)); Mark 2:1-12; John 3:13, 14:23. In John 20:28-29, Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for calling Him God. Claims authority over the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28) that is only given to God (Ex. 20:8-11). Perphaps a stretch: Matt. 19:16,17; Mark 10:17-18; Luke 18:18; 5 Matthew 12:38-40, 16:1-4, 17:14-23, 20:17-28, 26:61; Mark 9:31; 14:58; Luke 9:18-22,11:29-32; John 2:19-21,20:24-31; Look at Paul’s comment concerning the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 6 This is the most important event in the history of mankind. I urge you all to look at it because everything we believe hinges on this reality. References: Lee Strobel, Case for Christ; Frank Morrison, Who Moved the Stone?, Josh McDowell, A Ready Defense; The Resurrection Factor; More than a Carpenter; Gary R. Habermas, The Resurrection of Jesus: An Apologetic; James Orr, The Resurrection of Jesus; William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith; Knowing the Truth about the Resurrection; Norman Geisler, The Battle for the Resurrection; In Defense of the Resurrection; John W. Montgomery, Christianity and History; There are many more books than this. 2
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Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:21). Since the Hebrew canon (our OT) was ordered with Genesis being the first book and 2 Chronicles the last, Jesus was in affect declaring the whole Old Testament to be the Word of God.7 ii. As well in Luke 24:44 Jesus is telling two disciples that “everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms”. Since these components made up the threefold structure of the Jewish Scriptures, Jesus is again validating the entire OT that we know of it today.8 c. OT history verified by Christ (this is not an exhaustive list) i. Noah’s Ark and the flood (Matthew 24:38,39; Luke 17:26,27); Jonah and the fish (or whale) (Matthew 12:40; Luke 11:29,30,32); Abel and Zechariah (Luke 11:50-51); Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac (Matthew 22:32); Abraham (John 8:56); Isaiah (Matt. 13:14); circumcision (John 7:22), Sodom and Gomorrah (Matt. 10:15; 11:23,24; Luke 10;12); manna (John 6:31,49,58); Snake in the desert (John 3:14); David (Matt 12:3,4; 22:43; Mark 2:25,26; 12:36; Luke 6:3,4; 20:42); Solomon (Matt. 6:29; 12:42; Luke 11:31; 12:27), Elijah (Luke 4:25, 26), Elisha (Luke 4:27); Moses (8:4; 19:8; Mark 1:44; 7:10; 10:5; 12:26; 12:26; Luke 5:14; 20:37; John 5:46; 7:19); Genesis 1 and 2 (Matt 19:4, 5; Mark 10:6-8); Himself in the OT (Luke 24:25-47) etc. d. OT doctrine verified by Christ (just in Matthew) i. Creating of male and female by God and uniting of the two (Matthew 19:4-5, cf. Gen 1:27; 2:24); God desires mercy (Matthew 9:13, 12:7, cf. Hosea 6:6); Messenger of Christ (Matt. 11:10, cf. Mal. 3:1), God’s people will harden their hearts (Matt. 13:14-15, cf. Isaiah 6:9,10), the Decalogue (Matthew 15:3-4, 19:19 cf. Ex. 20:12-16, 21:17; Deut 5:1620; Lev. 19:18, 20:9), dealing of sin against you (Matt. 18:16, cf. Deut. 19:15), e. Jesus quoting the OT in other contexts (just in Matthew) i. Matt. 26:25, cf. Zech 13:7; Matt. 23:39 cf. Psalm 118:26; Matt. 24:15 Cf. Daniel 11:31, 12:11; Matt. 24:29 cf. Isaiah 13:10, 34:4; Matt. 23: 44 cf. Psalm 110:1; Matt. 22:42 cf. Psalm 118:22,23; Matt. 21:13 cf. Isaiah 56:7, Jer. 7:11; 21:16 cf. Psalm 8:2; 27:46 cf. Psalm 22:1; f. Question: What is the point of all of this? g. “If, then, Jesus was mistaken in regarding the Old Testament as completely trustworthy, reliable, and inerrant in matters of doctrine, history, and science, it must follow that God himself was mistaken about the inerrancy of the Hebrew Scriptures.”9 2. New Testament a. John 14: 25-26 and John 16:13-14. Here Jesus tells His disciples that by the Holy Spirit they will remember all His words and teachings, and guide them to truth. Here Jesus is giving the disciples authority to write scripture. i. Later in 2 Peter 3:2 his tells his readers to remember “the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles”. As well, he puts Paul’s letters on the same level as OT scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). That the apostles’ authority is equivalent to OT prophets (whom God spoke through). ii. As well we see in Acts 5:2-4 that lying to the apostles is the same as lying to the Holy Spirit and God. iii. Paul puts his writings on the level of the command of the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37; cf. Rom. 2:16; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:8, 15; 5:27; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14), and will give proof that Christ is speaking through him (2 Cor. 13:3). iv. Paul quotes Luke in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 putting it on the same level as other scripture. So since we have a better understanding that Bible is indeed God’s Word now what? What does that mean for you and me? Who even cares? a. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 i. Verse 14: “continue in what you have learned”. There is an obligation from Paul to Timothy to continue to learn from the scriptures. It is an ongoing process that never ends. We can never know enough scripture. ii. Verse 14: “from whom you learned it”. That which Timothy learned was concerning the Holy Scriptures (verse 15) which was from God (verse 16). Therefore, what Timothy learned was directly from God. The reality that God is teaching us needs to be on our minds constantly as we study the Word. iii. Verse 15: “the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”. That studying the Bible we attain more wisdom concerning the greatest choice we will ever make. That should excite us and give us a deep desire to study our Bibles on a continual basis. iv. Verse 16: “All Scripture is God-breathed”. The idea is that God breathed out all of Scripture. Its origin is ultimately from God. The Lord of the Universe has spoken. Therefore, the very lest that we can do is respond by knowing what He has spoken. v. Verse 16: “[All of Scripture] is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”
Josh McDowell, Evidence that demands a Verdict vol. I, 33-36 Norman Anderson, God’s Word for God’s World, 1981, p. 112. James M. Boice (editor), The Foundation of Biblical Authority, p. 92
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teaching: Mentioned first, teaching is perhaps the most import benefit to us. God teaches us first and foremost about Himself and what He has done concerning His creation. As well, He teaches how to live in light of what His as done, to live in accordance with His commands and the way His has structured the Universe. 2. rebuking: He shows us where and how we fall short 3. correcting: He doesn’t just point to where we went wrong, but shows us how to make things right with Him and others in spite of our constant failings 4. training in righteousness: He enables us to live a righteous life. He trains us by providing the necessary information, but ultimately we need to put everything into practice. vi. Verse 17: “so that the man of God may thoroughly equipped for every good work”. That without constant time studying and mediating on the Word we won’t be equipped to be adequate followers of Christ (2 Tim. 2:15). There is no short cuts in living a righteous life. It begins by having a proper view of God, which in turn He has revealed Himself through His Word. 1 Peter 2:2: “Like new born babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (NASB) i. We need to long for the Word of God. That it should be our passion; that we can’t wait to come home from class to read it. Psalm 19:10 describes the Word as sweeter than honey. That we should have cultivated a taste for it, realizing that it is more satisfying than anything this world has to offer and that we should crave it with all of our being. ii. That it helps us grow to become mature men of God and instruments of righteous (Rom. 6:13). That is one of its main purposes. God hasn’t given it to us to just know theological jargon or ideas. He has spoken to us to transform us. Hebrews 5:11-14 i. Again we see that the Word helps us to become mature man of God ii. “The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use it. In the Spiritual realm, the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge but obedience.”10 The temptation of Christ Matthew 4:1-11 (cf. Luke 4:1-13) i. It is very important to see that Jesus combats Satan not with His own logical reasoning, powers, etc., but the He uses the very Word of God. Three times he quotes Scripture. In verse 4, the first quote is from Deut. 8:3 saying, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. He is declaring to Satan that we can only truly live by what God says; it is our fuel to get through the day. The other two times are in verse 7 (Ps. 91:11, 12) and verse 10 (Deut. 6:16). If the Son of God relied so heavily on God’s Word, there is no question that we need to do so as well. ii. Notice Satan’s coning use of Scripture. Compare Jesus’ temptation with Eve’s (Gen. 3:1-6). Eph. 6:17 i. The only offense weapon against Satan (Eph. 6:12) is His Word. The more we study it and allow it to transform our lives the more we will be able to attack Satan; look at Christ’s Temptation. ii. Here we see a very strong link between God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Looking at John 14:26; 15:26; and 16:13 we see that some of the Holy Spirit’s functions are to teach, remind, testify, guide and tell. How does that affect the way you read your Bible? Joshua 1:8; Deut. 6:6; Ps. 119:97 i. We need to mediate on God’s Word day in and day out. We should never just read the Bible for ten minutes a day and then go on our way. But we really need to think about what it is that God is speaking, revealing and teaching to us. ii. That while our minds are in neutral mode that we wouldn’t be worried about upcoming events, thinking about what is on TV later on, etc.; but that our minds naturally drift to think about God’s Word. 2 Tim. 2:7 i. To apply and understand scripture we must reflect and mediate on it, as well as humbly submitting before God, asking Him for the wisdom to do so (Prov. 2:1-10; James 1:5-8). Ps. 119:18; John 12:16 i. We aren’t sufficient enough to understand the Word by ourselves; we need the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13) to do so. Psalm 12:6 i. We see that God’s Word purify us, through which we become righteous. Read all of Psalm 119 and mediate on it. Other passages to look at: Deut. 4:6; Neh. 8:13; Psalm 1; Romans 3:1-2; 15:4; 1 Peter 1:23-24; 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2; Hebrew 4:12; etc. Seven Key Assumptions for Studying the Bible11 i. God speaks to His People through His Word (2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 15:4) ii. All of Scripture testifies to the story of the Redemption in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-22; Acts 10:38-43) iii. The Holy Spirit enables us to understand and live out His Word (Ps. 119:18; 1 John 2:20, 27) iv. We approach Scripture in humble submission to its Author (Isaiah 66:2; Ezra 10:1-3) v. We approach Scripture not to master it but to be mastered by its Author (Ezra 7:20; Ps. 119:1-5)
Howard Hendricks, Living by the Book, p.21 Taken from the OSU Bible Study Workshop
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vi. We approach Scripture from within a community (Ps. 78:1-7; 1 Cor. 10:11) vii. We approach Scripture with an attitude of diligence (1 Timothy 4:13-16) Biblical History concerning the Word of God12 a. God spoke Creation into existence (Gen. 1:3; Ps. 33:6) b. Through prophets God spoke (Deut. 18:18-20; Jer. 1:7, 9; Ex. 4:12; Num. 22:38; 1 Sam. 15:3, 18, 23; 1 Kings 20:36; 2 Chron. 20:20; 25:15-16; Isa. 30:12-14; Jer. 6:10-12; 36:29-31; etc. c. The beginning of the Canon was the Ten Commandments (Ex. 31:16, 18; 34:1, 28) where they were written with the finger of God d. Moses then wrote the Law for the Israelites so that they might hear and fear the Lord (Deut. 31:9-26) e. Then “Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God” (RSV) (Josh. 24:26), which is very surprising because God has said, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you” (Deut. 4:2; cf. 12:32). Therefore, Joshua must have been convinced that God authorized his actions. f. God commanded Isaiah to “go now, write it on a tablet for them, and inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness” (Isa. 30:8). Here we see the Hebrews scriptures coming into fruition. g. To Jeremiah God said, “Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you” (Jer. 30:2). The Canon continues. h. Other additions by prophets were: 1 Sam. 10:25; 1 Chron. 29:29; 2 Chron. 20:34; 26:22; 32:32. i. Then, as mentioned above, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would allow the disciples to remember His words (John 14:26; cf. 16:12-13). j. Therefore, Paul can say his words are a “command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37; cf. 2 Peter 3:2; 3:16) k. Though written by humans, these words are from God and are authoritative and absolute because to disobey or disbelieve them brings judgment from God (1 Cor. 14:37; Jer. 36:29-31). l. We see a continual view in the NT that the scriptures of the OT was God’s very words: Acts 1:16 cf. Ps. 69:25, 109:8; Acts 3:18, 21; Acts 4:25 cf. Ps. 2:1, 2; etc. m. Closing of the Canon: Heb. 1:1-2, now God speaks through His Son, where the Son’s revelation far exceeds all other OT prophets. This indicates a finality in the revelation of God which ends with the perfect revelation of His Son. As well, since Revelation must come last in the Canon, Rev. 22:19-19 could not only be referencing the book of Revelation but the entire Bible. Characteristics of the Bible a. Inerrant i. “The inerrancy of Scripture means that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.”13 ii. Since God is the author of the Bible, then it most follow that it is inerrant. He has sovereignty over all, therefore it does not seem unreasonable to believe that God guided the processes of copying His Word, allowing us to have a Bible that is without error.14 iii. Biblical claims of its own inerrancy: Ps. 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; Ps. 119:89; Matt. 22:29; 24:35; Num. 23:19 iv. Dangers in denying the inerrancy of the Bible15 1. If the Word of is not completely true that either means it is completely false and nothing it says can be trusted or that God is a liar. If the Bible isn’t God’s Word we are still lost in our sins (1 Cor. 15:17). If God is a liar there is no end to what it is that He has lied to us about. 2. We make ourselves a higher standard of truth than God and His Word. Instead, the benefit of the doubt should go to Someone who can call anything into existence and knows infinitely more than us. If we are a higher standard of truth than God, disaster is evitable. b. Infallible i. “Infallible denotes the quality of never deceiving or misleading, and so also means ‘wholly trustworthy and reliable’.”16 1. As opposed to inerrancy, which meaning entirely true. 2. Since God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) the same characteristic must be attributed to His Word. 3. In John 17:17 Jesus claims to the Father that “your word is truth”. c. Authority i. Definition: “that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God”17 ii. “The Bible’s being the Word of God is the only foundation for full biblical authority. If the Bible is no the Word of God, it has no divine authority.”18 iii. Matt. 5:17-18; cf. Matt. 26:54,56; Luke 16:17
12 This section is taken from Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology. As well. I could recommend looking at the history of the Bible and how it was canonized. References: D.A. Carson and John Woodbridge, Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon, Roger Beckwith, The Old Testament Canon of the New Testament Church and Its Background in Early Judaism, Bruce Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance, F.F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture, etc. 13 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 90. 14 Since the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, any English version that we possess is errant. As well, there are variants throughout our Bibles. These are places where our manuscripts do not match up entirely. There is no need to worry because they only encompass less than .5% of our Bibles and there are many capable scholars that make sure we choose the best option. 15 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 100 16 J.I. Packer, Fundementalism and the Word of God, p.95 17 Ibid p. 73. I will not go into detail in showing why exactly this is so. I think that this is self-evident; that is God has commanded us to obey His Words, and that the Bible is His Word, therefore disobeying God’s Word is disobeying God Himself. 18 James M. Boice (editor), The Foundation of Biblical Authority, p. 23
Inspiration19 i. Means the “supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on 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”20 1. Inspiration translated from the word in Greek (theopneustos) meaning “God-Breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). “God breathed out the Bible. Just as we must expel breath from our mouths when we speak, so ultimately Scripture is God speaking.”21 (Juxtaposition of God breathing life into us (Gen. 2:7)) 2. 2 Peter 1:20-21 ii. Process of Inspiration 1. Some (but few) instances of direct dictation: Rev. 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; Isa. 38:4-6. 2. But in most cases this was not God’s typical means of Inspiration. In fact there were many different ways (Heb. 1:1). 3. Luke 1:1-3: here we see that God inspired Luke’s words through historical research 4. Others instances are in dreams, visions, hearing God’s voice (Num. 12:6-8), taken up to Heaven (2 Cor. 12), those that were with Jesus and whom the Holy Spirit enabled to remember His words (John 14:26), etc. Conclusion a. “Almost everybody in the world would agree that if the one and true God has spoken, then people who ignore his Word can have no lasting happiness.”22 b. Even more importantly if we chose to ignore God’s plain revelation (and the passage here is talking about natural revelation) we dishonor God and fail to glorify the Person that is ever worthy of our praise (Rom. 1:18-21). Consequently we experience God’s wrath (Rom. 1:18) and He gives us over to our sinful and pathetic selves (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). Look at all of the evil that results from suppressing the truth in verses 22 to 32. Ignorance of God resutls every time into evil, while knowledge of God always bears fruits of righteousness. c. The Bible is the Word of God. The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, loving, merciful, graceful, righteous, holy, etc., etc., etc., God has decide to speak to us throw the Bible. If we are not reading His absolute authoritative, infallible, inerrant Word on a regular basis we are saying to the King of Kings that I don’t care about what you have to say to me and I have enough knowledge of life to get by on my own. We are literally, by our actions, saying to the God of the Universe that I don’t need you. d. Instead, lets trust Him over the world and ourselves. Lets live our lives in light of the greatest reality (besides God Himself) that God loves us and truly wants to communicate to us and have a personal relationship with us. Lets throw off any fetters that hinder our time getting into His glorious Word and truly mediate on it day and night. Lets do it out of love to Him, for who He ultimately is and for what His has and will do for us. Lets let His Word change us threw and threw making us more holy like His precious Son, so that we see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face we can embrace Him, worship Him, and hear those wonderful words, “Well done my Son”. d.
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For more information see any evangelical systematic theology book (Wayne Grudem’s, Millard Erickson, Louis Berkoft, Charles Holdge, etc.). References: B.B. Warfiled, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible; J.I. Packer, Fundamentalism and the Word of God; etc. 20 Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 1998, p. 225. 21 R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, p. 15. 22 John Piper, Desiring God, 1996, p. 124.