01.B Doctrine of Scripture

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Being Witnesses of Christ

The Doctrine of Scripture

See also:
Bringing Theology Back to Life
01 Revelation

Key Passage: Luke 24:44-49

Contents 1 Summary 2 Guided Reflection 3 Essential Truths Regarding Scripture 4 Core Issue: Why We Accept and Believe the Bible as the Inspired Record of the Revelation of God 5 Common Errors 6 Connecting Points to 5Cs 7 Connecting Points to 4Ds 8 Essential Truths (Conclusion)

Summary

Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Scriptures, explaining that all which was written pointed to Him (v. 44-46). We also are called to point to the life and atoning death of Jesus, following Christ as His witnesses – both in our words and in our manner of living (v. 47-49). Just as the Scriptures speak of Jesus, so He desires that our lives should speak of Him.

Guided Reflection

It has been said that you may be the only “Bible” some will ever read. Many people form their opinions about God based on what they see in the lives of Christians, whether good or bad. How often have we heard the complaint that Christians are all hypocrites! Yet the lives of godly Christians have also earned respect and admiration among unbelievers. Our lives are to be a letter that God is writing to the world (2 Cor. 3:3).

We are all aware of famous Christians throughout history whose exemplary lives have been a declaration of the character of God. Think of Christians you know whose lives demonstrate something of the nature of God. What particular aspects of God’s nature did you see?

Ponder how God uses our lives to reveal Christ, just as the Scriptures point to Christ. The Son of God perfectly reveals the Father and our lives are to testify of the Son (John 5:19-47). Pray that God will use you today to reveal Himself to others.

Essential Truths Regarding Scripture

Scripture refers to that record of the special revelation of God which He has directed to be written in an inerrant collection of documents accepted and recognized by His Church as the ultimate standard of Truth.

Core Issue: Why We Accept and Believe the Bible as the Inspired Record of the Revelation of God

God discloses himself generally in nature and more fully and clearly through His revelation in the inspired Scriptures. These serve to teach, correct, comfort, and equip (2 Tim. 3:15-17; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:5-11).

Christians and Jews both study the same collection of Hebrew Scriptures as the revelation of God. The followers of Jesus adhere also to an additional group of books called the New Testament, which describes the ministry of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Church. Meanwhile, other religions have their own sacred writings. Why should we accept the sixty-six books of the Bible as the authoritative inspired “Scripture?” With so many other “sacred” writings, how do we know that the Bible alone is truth, the right book for all people all over the world? Why the Bible?

a) The Bible is confirmed by prophecy, what it says about the future.

Scripture abounds with predictive prophecy that is more than mere generalized prediction of trends in human history. Biblical prophecies are very specific and detailed, and are uttered in many cases hundreds of years in advance of the events they predict. The following examples of prophecy are common in the Scripture:

• Predictions about the Messiah specifically fulfilled in the Person, life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
• Predictions about Israel, its downfall and restoration.
• Predictions about various nations and the condition of the world.

b) The Bible is confirmed by its historical accuracy.

Biblical narrative about the past has been repeatedly corroborated by archaeological evidence and other written records. Some notable examples are:

• Ancient Empires: for hundreds of years it was asserted that the Hittites had never existed, but within the past century their wide-ranging empire has been uncovered. Similarly, the existence of the city of Nineveh was denied until its discovery in the mid nineteenth century.
• Ancient Place Names: a noted skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, became a believer by examining the record of Acts in light of the archaeology of Asia Minor. Discoveries such as his confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible.
• Ancient Architecture: Hezekiah’s water tunnel was found in Jerusalem, with an inscription describing the construction, exactly as stated in the Bible (2 Kings 20:20).
• Ancient Wars: an ancient monument raised by Sennacherib boasts that the king of Israel was “shut up like a bird in a cage” in the siege of Jerusalem (2 Chron. 32:9-16).

c) The Bible is confirmed by science.

Biblical statements about the natural world are true and correct, including many ideas that have been only recently established as scientific fact.

Evidence of the biblical Flood (Gen. 7; 2 Pet. 3:5-7) is found all over the world in billions of fossils, such as sea creatures in the highest mountains, all of which were buried by sediments from flood action. The Bible speaks of “the circle of the earth” (Is. 40:22), the earth hanging in space (Job 26:7) and “the paths of the sea” (Ps. 8:8) and the heavens being stretched out by God (Job 9:8; Is. 45:12; 51:13). Science now concurs that the earth is round, the oceans have significant identifiable currents, and the universe is expanding.

d) The Bible has been reliably preserved through history.

In spite of persecution and criticism, the writings of Scripture have survived virtually unaltered.

For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls (200 BC to AD 70) show the accuracy of Old Testament texts. The accuracy of the New Testament is confirmed by more than 5000 copies of various portions, as well as extensive quotations in other ancient literature, and numerous early translations. While there are minor differences in ancient Biblical manuscripts, none of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith are affected. The vast majority of the manuscripts support the text used in modern translations. We can be confident that the Scriptures have remained reliably preserved from antiquity and that the Scriptures we read are the same as those originally written.

e) The character of the human writers is testimony of the inspiration of their writings.

Those used by God as authors of the Bible, along with other figures in history have been willing to die for its declarations. It is rare that a man will die for something he knows to be untrue. Even though they were often opposed and persecuted, most of the New Testament writers died for refusing to deny the account they had reported.

Moreover, in telling their story, the writers do not shrink from including embarrassing details about themselves, flaws in their own character, and their lack of confidence in Jesus. This candor would be highly unlikely if the accounts presented were fiction or myth.

f)The Bible identifies itself as the inspired Word of God.

The Scripture clearly asserts its divine, inerrant authority as God-breathed revelation with universal application to all of humanity. The Bible claims to be the Word of God: absolutely authoritative and given by God, even its very words, letters, and pen strokes (Matt. 5:18; Luke 4:4; Gal. 3:16). Jesus said the Scriptures must be fulfilled and that His own words must be believed and obeyed. This sentiment was echoed by other New Testament writers, who recognized as Scripture both the words of Jesus and their own writings (John 20:31; 2 Pet. 3:16).

g) The Bible works effectively in the lives of people who accept it by faith.

Millions of people throughout history have read the Bible and found satisfactory answers for difficult issues of life, and in following its teachings they have experienced a remarkable change in their lives.

While these evidences are strong confirmation of the authority of Scripture, it is by faith that we embrace and experience the truth of God. Faith is the basis for holding to the Scriptures. When the Bible is taken as it is in truth, the Word of God, it “effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13 NKJV; Heb. 11:6). Our transformed lives are a loud proclamation that the Scriptures are the powerfully creative voice of God (2 Cor. 2:14-17; 3:3).

Common Errors

1. Since fallible men wrote the Bible, then the Bible must be fallible.

This idea incorrectly presumes that men alone wrote the Bible, and that God was not involved. It presumes further, that God is unable to overcome men’s fallibility.

The Bible declares itself to be the product of human authors under divine direction, so that the Scriptures are inerrant in all that they affirm (2 Pet. 1:21; John 17:17-20).

2. The Scripture is no better than the sacred writings of other religions.

Around the world many people follow various writings as authoritative, such as the Koran (Islam), or the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita (Hinduism), the Avesta (Zoroastrianism), the Tripitaka (Buddism), the Five Classics and Four Books (Confucianism), the writings of Marx and Mao (Communism), or Daozang (Taoism).

However, other religious writings convey ideas that are contrary to what the Bible teaches. It is not possible for both messages to be correct. Logically, two different assertions, each of which contradicts and rejects the other, cannot both be true. The Bible itself requires that all revelation and truth be in accord with what has been revealed elsewhere in Scripture (Is. 8:20; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 John 4:5-6). Revelation that is contrary to the Scripture is viewed in the Bible as a lie coming from the father of lies (Gen. 3:1-6 with John 8:43-44; 2 Cor. 11:3-4).

3. The Scripture obscures truth rather than revealing it.

Some contend that the Bible is too hard to understand, so it should be read and studied only by scholars and religious leaders. Scriptures are not seen as disclosure, but as obscuring truth.

a) Although the Scriptures are sometimes difficult to understand (2 Pet. 3:16), Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give us understanding (John 16:13; 1 John 2:27). The true Author of Scripture is always present to teach us His Word as we live in union with Him.

b) Jesus wants all people everywhere to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45; Mark 12:24; Rom. 16:26). Even children should be guided by the Scriptures (Deut. 6:4-6, 29:29; 2 Tim. 3:14-15). God also provides gifted teachers to help us understand (Eph. 4:11) and when Scriptures are understood in their intended sense, there will be great joy (Neh. 8:1-12).

4. The Bible is irrelevant.

Opponents of Christianity assert that the writings of the Bible are irrelevant to the cultures of today. For example, it is asserted that distribution of the Bible is an imposition of Western culture upon the rest of the world.

a) The Bible is not Western; it originated in the Middle East and reflects that cultural background and history. Westerners who embrace the teachings of the Bible must confront their own cultural mindsets and practices, and interpret the Scriptures according to the Middle Eastern context in which it was written.

b) Everyone needs to be transformed by the Scriptures regardless of culture or nationality. Jesus establishes within His people a new kingdom that is not of this world (John 18:36; Phil. 3:20). The truth of Scripture transcends all earthly cultures (Acts 17:24-31; Rev. 5:9).

5. The Bible’s claim of inspiration cannot be trusted.

Some feel it is logically improper to use the Bible to provide evidence of its own inspiration.

a) However, police officers routinely require people to identify themselves in addition to providing corroborating documents. Similarly, art experts would examine a painting itself to verify its authenticity. Likewise, it is vitally important to find out what the Bible says about itself as a starting point.

b) Scripture is clear in its testimony of divine authorship and authority (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It would be significant if the Bible never claimed to be divinely inspired, but on the contrary, the Bible declares itself to be the Word of God (Ps. 12:6; 119:89; Matt. 5:17-18; 24:35; 2 Pet. 1:20; 3:16). The Old Testament prophets repeatedly claimed to be uttering the word of God (Ezek. 3:10-11; Hosea 1:1). The New Testament writers saw themselves as writing the words of God under divine direction (John 12:49-50; 17:8; Rev. 1:18-19; 22:18-19).

c) The Bible further shows that godly believers were devoted to the Scripture, subjecting themselves and their doctrines to its authority (Ps. 19:7-11; Ps. 119; Gal. 3:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-4; Jude 3). The way early Christians are depicted in their handling of the Scriptures is testimony of the divine authority and inspiration of the Bible (Acts 1:16-20; 17:11; 23:5; 24:14).

6. Incorrect methods of reading and interpretation

Various incorrect methods of reading the Bible will cause people to be distracted from actually reading, studying, and following the Bible as God intends. Erroneous approaches include spiritualizing historical accounts, treating them as mythology, allegory, or folklore, and looking for secret codes as in Kabala. Other wrong methods involve lifting passages out of context; either viewing the Bible as a rule book, or overemphasizing positive promises apart from consideration of the teachings about suffering in the rest of the Bible.

a) The mystical approaches may seem intellectually superior or spiritually profound, but they will not result in transformation of life (Col. 2:7-9). Imbalanced biblical interpretation leads to either legalistic bondage (Col. 2:23) or a shallow self-focused existence (Rom. 2:5-11).

b) There is a proper way to understand the Scripture: Essentially, we need to take it in the sense intended by its human writers, considering grammar, history, the type of literature, and the manner in which various Scriptures are used elsewhere in the Bible. The Bible needs to be taken as a whole. From Genesis to Revelation it is the story of redemption, God’s mercy and grace toward a broken and rebellious world. Further instruction on the proper approach to Scripture can be found in “What Does the Bible Say?” by Dr. Malcolm Webber.

Connecting Points to 5Cs

Connecting Points to 4Ds

Essential Truths (Conclusion)

The Scriptures are from God, accurate and authoritative in all they affirm. We can have confidence in the Scriptures as they proclaim that salvation comes exclusively through Jesus of Nazareth.

The Scriptures are a declaration of Christ, proclaiming His life as an example of righteousness and His atoning death as a sinless sacrifice. The message of the Bible is redemption through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus saves us, our redeemed lives are a powerful witness to the truth of Scripture. Just as the Scriptures speak of Jesus, so He desires that our transformed lives should speak of Him.