The Bible

1. The Bible God’s Special Way Of Speaking

2. Objectives I. Answer the question: “Can we trust the Bible to be completely true (inerrant)? II. Identify how we know we have the right books (canonicity) and what if any attention should be paid to other books.

3. Introduction What would we have to establish in order for it to be reasonable for us to say: “We can trust the Bible to be completely true” A. The writers claimed inerrancy: Inspiration B. The Bible contains no proven contradictions: Reliability C. We have all the right books: Canonicity D. We have an accurately preserved text: Transmission

4. We can trust our Bible because: • Our Bible is inspired by God. Four strands of Biblical evidence that the writers believed the Bible to be without error: 1. The Bible makes direct claims to its own divine origin: a. 2 Tim 3:16- inspired or God-breathed b. 2 Peter 1:21- Moved or guided and guarded by HS c. Scripture “quotes” God more than 2000 times example: Isaiah 8:1,11: “The Lord said to me..” d. In some cases God tells the biblical authors, “Write down My words.” ex. Jer 30:2, Ex 17:14 e. Acts 28:25-27

5. Jesus viewed the scriptures as unbreakable and authoritative. A. John 10:35: “The Scripture cannot be broken” B. On two different occasions, Jesus quoted Ex 20:12; on one occasion He introduced the quote by declaring, “Moses said..” and on the other by stating that, “God said..” Mark 7:9-10 and Matt 15:4.

6. The NT writers believed that what they were writing was “Scripture”. Paul: • 1 Cor 14:37 “…the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. • 1 Cor 2:4-5 “And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” Peter: 1. 2 Peter 3:15-16 “Always think of our Lord’s patience as salvation, just as our dearly beloved brother Paul, with the wisdom granted him, wrote you to do, speaking of ti as he does in all his letters. In them are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsteady twist to their ruin, as they do the rest of the Scriptures.”

7. We can trust our Bibles because: • Our Bible includes the right books 1. The term ‘canon’ literally means ‘measuring rod’. 2. Which books should be included? What was the process? Three tests were used by the early church councils.

8. A. Authority of the writer. Was the writer of the book in a position of recognized authority as a legitimate carrier of God’s message. In the NT, was he an Apostle or a close associate of an Apostle? B. Edifying content. Was there an awareness of blessing and guidance when the book was read? C. Test of widespread acceptance: Did the early church as a whole accept it? Many of the rejected books were written by Gnostics or other heretical teachers promoting their own agendas.

9. 3. Forming of the Canon A. Old Testament: usually ascribed to Ezra. B. New Testament: credited to Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria. A series of councils endings with council of Carthage in 397 A.D. C. Confirmation: The Dead Sea Scrolls contain parts of every OT book Except Esther. Jesus quoted from every OT author, but never from the Apocrypha.

10. Important Perspective • The church councils did not create the Canon, rather they simply recognized the canon established by God. Church leaders were faced with many Gnostic and other false gospels and needed a firm and authoritative basis to exclude the heretical works and thereby protect their flock. • The Spirit’s illumination helps us understand what God has revealed. A. Illumination: The Holy Spirit's helping those in a right relationship with him to understand the meaning of and gain applicational insight to the inspired writing. B. A brilliant non-Christian might be able to answer the question, “What did it mean to the original reader?” C. Only a spirit-filled believer can hope to appropriately discern, “What is God trying to say to us today?” I Cor 2:9-3:2

11. Summary • Inspiration of men by God determines the canon. • Recognition of God’s inspiration by men identifies the canon. • Providential superintendence by God through men collects and transmits the canon. 4. The words of Scripture are self –attesting: They cannot be “proved” to be God’s words by appeal to any higher authority. For if an appeal to some higher authority were used to prove that the bible is God’s word, then the Bible itself would not be our highest authority.

12. Inspired: made up of words given by the Holy Spirit in partnership with humans authors. • Infallible: does not fail us. • Inerrant: free from error in any subject on which it speaks. • Authoritative deserves the submission of our hearts and minds. • Canonical: chosen by God to be included in the scriptures. • Reliable: trustworthy as a copy. The existing manuscripts are highly accurate copies of the originals.

13. Discussion Questions • Why is it important to know which writings are God’s word and which are not? How would your life be different if God’s words were contained not only in the bible but also in the official declarations of the church throughout history? • Some cults have claimed present-day revelations from God that they count equal to the Bible in authority. What reasons can you give to indicate the falsity of those claims? • Have you had doubts or questions about the canonicity of any of the books of the Bible?