02.02. Bibliology (Bible)
BIBLIOLOGY (BIBLE)
I. Revelation Strong: {ἀποκάλυψις} 1)a laying bare, making naked 2)a disclosure of truth, instruction 2a)concerning things before unknown
2b)used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all 3)manifestation, appearance (Strong)
General Revelation: Psalms 19:1-3; Acts 14:15-17; Romans 1:18-20.
Special Revelation: Concerned with the redemptive plan of God. Special revelation is both personal and propositional.
Bible: The Written Word. All historical information (genealogies, covenants, law, events), literature (prose, poetry), prophecy, exposition (e.g, epistles) connected with and necessary for the complete understanding of the redemptive plan of God that He desires and intends us to have.
Visions, Dreams, Prophetic Word. Must accord with the Written Word (Galatians 1:8-9).
The Lord Jesus Christ: The Finality of the Revelation of God (Hebrews 1:2-3)
Illumination: The Holy Spirit’s revelation of the rhema to the human spirit, whereby man comes to an understanding of the Truth and responds to it through the help of the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith. The subjective aspect of Revelation. This illumination accords with the totality of the Written Word and the Finality of Revelation in Christ (John 14:26; John 16:15). Necessary (1 Corinthians 2:11).
II. The Purpose of Writing (Woodrow Kroll)
Precision: The Bible records the exact words in which God wanted to communicate with us.
Propagation: The written word spreads the message.
Preservation: The words are preserved in writing.
III. The Reliability of Bible
Historical Veracity
Prophetical Accuracy
TeChristual Authenticity
Pragmatic – It works when put to practice.
Scientific Accuracy
Philosophical Consistency.
IV. Inspiration Theories of Inspiration
1. Mechanical or Dictation: The biblical author is a passive instrument in the transmission of the revelation of God. His personality is set aside to prevent its fallible intrusion.
2. Partial Inspiration: Only doctrines unknowable to the human authors are inspired. God revealed ideas which the writers penned in their own words.
3. Degrees of Inspiration: Certain portions of Bible are more or differently inspired than other portions.
4. Intuition or Natural Inspiration: Gifted individuals with exceptional insight were chosen by God to write the Bible. Inspiration is like an artistic ability or a natural endowment.
5. Illumination or Mystical Inspiration: Human authors were enabled by God to write the Scriptures. The H.S. heightened their normal powers.
6. Verbal, Plenary Inspiration: Both divine and human elements are present in the production of Scripture. The entire teChrist of Scripture, including the very words, are a product of the mind of God expressed in human terms and conditions.
2 Timothy 3:16 (Theopneustos): God-breathed
Neither mechanical nor dictational inspiration but organic; i.e, the personality of the writers was involved. The writers were Spirit-borne, led, moved (Phero) (2 Peter 1:21)
The inspiration is verbal; i.e., it eChristends to the words and not just the ideas.
The inspiration is plenary; i.e., full –"All scripture…" equally.
V. Infallibility: It is open to verification and falsification and is entirely perfect in its communication of the revealed Truth.
VI. Inerrancy: It contains no errors. Complete Inerrancy: The Bible is fully true in all it teaches or affirms. Other Views: Limited Inerrancy: Inerrant in salvific doctrines; Teleological Inerrancy: Inerrant in accomplishing its purpose of reconciling man to God; Irrelevancy: The doctrine is irrelevant; the spirit or purpose of Bible should be considered.
VII. The Bible is eternal and complete.
VIII. Canon: Lit. measuring rod, rule. Canonicity, canonical, canonize. This word is derived from a Hebrew and Greek word denoting a reed or cane. Hence it means something straight, or something to keep straight; and hence also a rule, or something ruled or measured. It came to be applied to the Scriptures, to denote that they contained the authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary).
5-fold Criteria: Authorship (Prophet, Apostle, Holy Man), Local Church Acceptance, Recognition by Church Fathers, Subject matter (Sound Doctrine), Personally edifying. The OT canon is accepted as accepted by Christ and the apostles. The NT canon is accepted on the basis of apostolic authorship and recognition of the same by Church Fathers.
During the 3rd Council of Carthage (AD. 397) 27 NT Books were declared canonical. St. Athanasius (AD 297-373) in his 39th Paschal letter (AD 367), listed the books of the NT as we know them.
VIII. Symbols of it used in the Bible
1. Sword (Hebrews 4:12) 2. Hammer (Jeremiah 23:29) 3. Seed (1 Peter 1:23) 4. Mirror (James 1:23-25) 5. Fire (Jeremiah 23:29; Jeremiah 20:9) 6. Lamp (Psalms 119:105) 7. Food (1 Peter 2:2) 8. Water (Ephesians 5:25-27) 9. Milk (1 Peter 2:2) 10. Meat (Hebrews 5:12) 11. Bread (Matthew 4:4) 12. Silver (Psalms 12:6)
IX. Other Names The Lord’s Book (Isaiah 34:16); The Book of Truth (Daniel 10:21); Scriptures (John 10:35; Matthew 21:42); Holy Scriptures (Romans 1:2); Sacred Books (Daniel 9:2; Hebrews 10:7); The Oracles of God (Romans 3:2); The Word of God (Hebrews 4:12); The Living Oracles of God (Acts 7:38).
X. The Bible Influences our: Thinking, Living, Values, Destiny.
XI. The Bible has Authority over: Human Wisdom, The Church, Our Experience, The Christian.
Reliability
’As to the question, How shall we be persuaded that it came from God without recurring to a decree of the Church? it is just the same as if it were asked, How shall we learn to distinguish light from darkness, white from black, sweet from bitter? Scripture bears upon the face of it as clear evidence of its truth, as white and black do of their colour, sweet and bitter of their taste.’ (John Calvin, Institutes)