“GOD AND HIS WORD”

1. “GOD AND HIS WORD” PART I: THE INSPIRATION AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

2. Presentation Summary • GOD’S REVELATION • THE HOLY SCRIPTURE • ADVANCED RECOMMENDED STUDIES:

3. A. GOD’S REVELATION • Definition: “An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary) • God is the one who reveals himself to men (Psalms 103.7; Jn 1.18) • 2 Types of Revelation: General & Special

4. General Revelation • Revelation through God’s Creation (His Power, Intelligence, Wisdom, Providence, Love [to a certain degree]) • Key Biblical References: Psalm 19.2; Romans 1.20; Acts 14. 16-17; Matthew 5.45

5. …. General Revelation • Revelation through human conscience (Morals, Values, Good & Wrong) • Biblical Reference: Romans 2. 15

6. Special Revelation • Revelation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ (God’s Power, God’s Love, God’s Plan of Salvation) • Biblical Reference: Psalm 144.5; Isaiah 63.19; Hebrews 1.1-3; Jn 14.9; Jn 1.18; 1Peter 1.7,13

7. … Special Revelation • Revelation through the Holy Spirit (God’s Spiritual & Deep Truths and Mysteries) • Biblical Reference: Jn 16.13; 1 Corinthians 2.9-10

8. … Special Revelation • Revelation through the Holy Scripture ( 2 Timothy 3. 16-17) • Scriptures are identified with God (John 1.1; Galatians 3.8 vs Genesis 12.1-3; Romans 9.17 vs Exodus 9.16)

9. B. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE • Commonly called “Bible” and is the equivalent of the Greek word biblia meaning originally “books.” (Cfr. Dan 9.2, Septuagint) [International Standards Bible Encyclopedia] • Written by more than 40 authors with different Backgrounds (Fishermen, Businesspersons, Statesmen, Philosophers, Poets, Scholars, etc..), in different places, at different times, during different moods and on 3 continents (Asia, Africa & Europe) • Written in Hebrew (OT), Aramaic (Daniel 2-4; Ezra 4-8) & Greek (NT) and translated in as many modern languages as possible • Written over a 1,500 year span and over 40 generations;

10. The Inspiration of the Bible: Definitions & Concepts • Inspiration: God’s Action through which his servants were preserved and kept from error in order to perfectly communicate his truth to men (Paraphrased from “Précis de Doctrine Chrétienne”, Prof. J.M. Nicole) • 2 Timothy 3: 16-17: Scriptures are “God-breathed” (“Theopneustic” from the grec “theopneustos”) • See also God’s instruction in Jeremiah 30. 2 • God-breathed but also Human (Luc 1. 1-3)

11. ….The Inspiration of the Bible: Definitions & Concepts • Dynamic Inspiration (2 Peter 1. 19-21)[Grec: Pherõ: moved, driven, carried, etc ] • Verbal & literal Inspiration ( Matthew 5.18; 1 Corinthians 15. 2) • Plenary Inspiration (Proverbs 30. 5) • Inerrancy of Scriptures (Psalms 19.8; Jn 17.17)

12. The Inspiration of the OT message • Moses received his message directly from God (Numbers 12.8; Exodus 17.14; Malachi 3.22 (4.4) [ See also Jesus’ testimony in Mark 7. 9-10] • OT Prophets were inspired by God and was instructed to communicate his Truth (Jeremiah 30.2; 36.1-3; Zechariah 1. 4-6; Micah 3.8;

13. Jesus Christ’s Testimony • Jn 5.43: He declared that he was speaking on God’s behalf • Jn 6.63: He declared his words (message) were “spirit” and that it gives “life” • Mark 7. 9-10: He affirmed the divine nature of Moses Writings and the OT (Luke 24. 25-27)

14. The Inspiration of the Apostolic Message & Writings • Jesus declared his Apostles would be divinely inspired by his HOLY SPIRIT (John 14.26; 16.13) • Paul declared that his message was given directly from God (1 Thessalonians 2.13, 1 Corinthians 14.37; Gal 1.12) • Paul affirmed the unity and the compatibility of the message preached by the early Apostles (1 Corinthians 15.11; Galatians 2. 7-9) • Peter affirmed the divine nature of Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3.15-16 ; Comp. Romans 2.4)

15. The Authority of Holy Scriptures • The Authority of Scriptures in OT times (Exodus 24.6-7; Joshua 1.8; Nehemiah 8.1,3,5,8; Daniel 9.2) • The Authority of Scriptures in JC’s Life (“It is Written”) Matthew 4.1-10; 26.24,31; 26.52-54; John 13.18; John 15.25 • The Authority of Scriptures in JC’s Ministry (Matthew 5.18; John 10.34; Matthew 20.42; Luke 10.25-26; Luke 24.25-27)

16. The Authority of Holy Scriptures in the Early Church • The Apostles quoted the Scriptures to establish the authority of their message and their writings • The Early Church considered the Scriptures to be the Absolute norm for faith, Doctrine and Conduct ( 1 Corinthians 4.6; 1 Corinthians 15.3-4; Acts 17.11 )

17. The Authority of Holy Scriptures in the Early Church • The Early Church considered the Apostolic Writings & message to be Divinely Inspired and therefore Authoritative (2 Peter 3. 15-16; Colossians 4.6; Acts 2.42)

18. 2 Important Principles of Interpretation • Principle #1 : Capturing the SENSE of the text (if possible the original text) for a good understanding and an appropriate application (Nehemiah 8.8: Reading, Understanding, Applying) • Principle #2: Studying a particular text in light of the whole Revelation (Matt 4.7: “The Scriptures also say” )

19. Suggested advanced Studies • Answering Objections against the Original text authenticity (Scriptures preservation, etc..) • Answering Objections against Scriptures Inerrancy (History, Archeology, Philosophy, etc..) • Studying External Evidences that support Scriptures Inspiration Doctrine

20. Some Useful Books • René Pache, The Inspiration And Authority Of Scripture (1969) • La Théologiede Wesley by MatthieuLelièvre; 1 edition; First published in 1924 • A Ready Defense. The Best Of Josh Mcdowell (1992) • John Stott, The Foundations of the Christian Faith • Eric Gatera, Help me Understand Jesus • J.M. Nicole, Précis de Doctrine Chrétienne