THE BIBLE
A. NAMES AND TITLES OF THE BIBLE:
1. THE BIBLE: “Bible” is derived from the Greek “biblia” and means “the books.” Ancient books were written upon the biblus or papyrus reed and from this custom came the Greek word, which finally came to be applied to the sacred books.
It is not merely a book - it is the book, which stands as high above all other books as the heaven is high above the earth.
References: Mark 12:26; Luke 3:4; Luke 20:42; Acts 1:20; Acts 7:42; Psalm 7:42; and Hebrews 10:7.
2. SCRIPTURES: This word is derived from Latin and means “the writings.”
References: Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:27; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Romans 1:2; II Timothy 3:15; and II Peter 3:16.
3. WORD OF GOD: This term is most significant and complete. It expresses the thought that the Bible is God speaking to man. References: Mark 7:13; Romans 10:17; and Hebrews 4:12.
Both “Word of God” and “Scriptures” were favorite titles with our Lord.
4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS: “Testament” means “Covenant” and is the term by which God was pleased to designate the relation that existed between Himself and His people. Old Testament: Calling and history of the Jewish nation. New Testament: History and application of the redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ.
References: Luke 22:20; II Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15; and Hebrews 12:24.
B. SYMBOLS OF THE BIBLE:
1. A critic or discerner - Hebrews 4:12. Who would dare to be a critic of the Bible when it is our critic.
2. A lamp or light - Psalm 119:105 & 130; Proverbs 6:23. Like the star in the East it will lead any honest seeker to Jesus. Like the seven-branched candlestick in the tabernacle it shines with a perfect light upon divine things. Like the fiery pillar it lights up the whole pathway of the child of God throughout his wilderness journey. II Peter 1:19 - shineth in a dark place.
3. A mirror - II Corinthians 3:18; James 1:25.
4. A laver - Ephesians 5:26.
5. Food - Job 23:12; Matthew 4:4.
(a) Milk for babes - I Corinthians 3:2.
(b) Bread for the hungry - Deuteronomy 8:3; Isaiah 55:1-2.
(c) Strong meat for men - I Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14.
(d) Honey - Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:103.
6. Gold - Psalm 19:10.
7. Fire - Jeremiah 20:9 & 23:29.
8. Hammer - Jeremiah 23:29. Some men’s hearts are as hard as rock and it takes the steady beating of the Word to break them.
9. Sword - Ephesians 6:17.
10. Seed - Luke 8:11; Isaiah 5:10; and I Peter 1:23.
(a) We should sow in all places. Isaiah 32:20.
(b) We should sow at all times. Ecclesiastes 11:6.
(c) Soil should be prepared by love and compassion. Psalm 126:6.
11. Rain and snow - Isaiah 55:10-11.
HOW THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN
A. THREE TIMES GOD WROTE: We have a record of Deity writing only three times.
1. Ten Commandments - on tables of stone - Exodus 31:18.
2. On Belshazzar’s wall - Daniel.
3. On the floor of the Temple of our Lord - John 8:6.
First was with the giving of the law - broken by man. Last a special act of grace - trampled under foot by man.
B. HOW WAS THE BIBLE WRITTEN? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (II Timothy 3:16). “Given by inspiration of God” comes from one Greek word meaning “God-breathed.” “But above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet’s own prompting; for never did prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20, 21; Weymouth).
C. DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION: “Inspired” means literally “God-breathed.” It comes from the Greek word “theopneustos” or God breathed out. It is the strong, conscious inbreathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to truth. It is God speaking through men, and the Bible is therefore just as much the Word of God as though God spoke every single word of it with His own lips.
The Scriptures are the result of divine inbreathing just as human speech is uttered by the breathing through a man’s mouth. “Holy men of God, qualified by the infusion of the breath of God, wrote in obedience to the divine command, and were kept from all error, whether they revealed truths previously unknown or recorded truths already familiar. (Evans).
D. DEFINITION OF REVELATION: “Revelation” is that act of God by which He directly communicates truth not known before to the human mind. Revelation discovers new truth while inspiration superintends the communicating of that truth. All in the Bible has not been “revealed” but all “inspired.”
E. DEFINITION OF ILLUMINATION: “Illumination” is the influence of the Spirit upon the minds of men that they might understand spiritual things. References: I Corinthians 2:14; Matthew 16:17.
Revelation - A divine revealing of the mind of God. Illumination - A divine action on the mind of men.
F. WHY WE BELIEVE IN THE FULL INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE:
1. Jesus gave the Old Testament His full sanction (Matthew 5:18).
2. It is the product of one Master Mind. Although it contains 66 books, written by 40 writers over 1600 years, it has ONE AUTHOR.
3. The types, symbols, and ceremonies reveal it as divine. e.g. Christ in the tabernacle.
4. Bible Prophecies stamp it as divine. (I Peter 1:10-11).
5. Moral standards of the Bible prove it to be divine. (I Peter 1:16).
6. Creator of man is the Author of the Bible - reveals man to himself.
7. It reveals the only way of Salvation - so plain but yet deep.
8. By its fruits we know the Book is divine (Romans 11:33). It always brings good.
9. Bible will outlast the universe (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:18).
10. The world recognizes it as divine. It is “THE BOOK.” It has been translated into more languages than any other book. Whole libraries have been written to interpret it and before it sages bow.
VERBAL INSPIRATION
A. DEFINITION OF VERBAL INSPIRATION: Verbal Inspiration means that each word was inspired in the original writings. Mistakes could have been made by the translators but impossible in the original. If the Bible is verbally inspired, there should be - there can be - no errors in it; God could not make a mistake. If on the other hand it is not fully and verbally inspired, then the assumption is that some parts are from God, while other parts are purely human; in these latter parts we should naturally expect to find errors. If the thoughts only are inspired, then the Bible contains the Word of God but is not such in its essence. This, of course, is error. We believe absolutely in Verbal Inspiration.
B. REASONS FOR VERBAL INSPIRATION:
1. The writers themselves say so.
(a) Moses
(i) Exodus 20:1 - God spoke these words.
(ii) Exodus 24:4 - Moses wrote all the words of the Lord.
(iii) Exodus 35:1 - These are the words that the Lord commanded.
(b) David