I. The Revelation through God’s Word.
A. By tradition.
1. God revealed Himself in many ways.
a. Directly; through dreams, visions, trances; by angels; in signs and wonders.
b. Through His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. Nor was all of this revelation recorded.
a. More was revealed than was recorded (Jn. 20:30, 31; 21:25).
b. Revelation was passed on through tradition.
1) This was true til the days of Moses; it was possible because of the long lives of the saints of that day.
2) Now we need the Word written.
B. In written form: Holy Scripture.
1. This is the Word of God.
a. Many deny this:
1) Roman Catholics deny the sufficiency and sole authority of Scripture.
2) Modernism denies that the Bible is the Word of God.
a) They speak of the Word of God in the Bible.
b) This is their idea of the “human factor” of Scripture.
3) This is questioned even in orthodox circles:
a) The first chapters of Genesis are denied to be literally true.
b) Scientific and historical errors are “discovered” in Scripture.
c) Differences are discovered in Scriptural passages; lack of harmony.
b. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God by faith.
1) One can never “prove this to the satisfaction of natural man and human reason.
2) But the Christian believes by faith through the testimony of the Spirit.
2. God is the Author of Scripture.
a. He uses men as instruments–but the product is wholly His Word.
b. And this we need for knowledge and assurance of our salvation.
II. The inspiration of Scripture.
A. This treats the subject of how God recorded His Word for us.
1. II Tim. 3:16 emphasizes that Scripture is “inspired,” literally: “God-breathed.”
a. The text uses the singular “all Scripture”–allowing for no exception.
b. Scripture is all the result of God’s “in-breathing”, hence, infallible.
2. I Pet. 1:20-21. Prophecy is not of “private interpretation” but holy men were moved by the Spirit.
a. The Bible presents the facts and explains them. This explanation is not private interpretation of the writer, but is also itself inspired revelation of God.
b. Thus emphasizes that prophecy is not by the will of man but of God.
B. Proper understanding of inspiration:
1. Negatively (views which desire to maintain a “human factor” in Scripture.)
a. Mechanical inspiration–presenting the human “authors” as dictation machines.
b. Dynamic inspiration–The Spirit gave the thoughts, the writers expressed these in their own words and style.
c. Dualistic inspiration–That the Spirit simply preserved men from writing the error.
2. Positively:
a. Organic inspiration:
1) God determined all of Scripture eternally with Christ as its center.
2) God likewise determined the writers of Scripture eternally.
3) In time God prepared His ordained writers from birth on to prepare them for their task of writing His Word.
4) Thus Scripture is recorded in the distinctive style of the specific writer–yet is wholly God’s Word.
b. Plenary inspiration: the whole and all of its parts is inspired.
c. Verbal inspiration: the words and the style is also part of inspiration.
d. Graphic inspiration: God’s Word is written for the sake of the Church in the evil day.
Worksheet
A. Supplementary reading: (First read the questions below–then these recommended passages.)
1. Genesis 3; II Peter 1
2. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day VI; question 19
3. Canons of Dordt, V:B:5
4. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter I
B. Prooftext to be committed to memory (Proof for inspiration): II Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
C. Questions for study and consideration: (use supplementary reading list above–but the questions are not necessarily limited to that material.)
1. Was the gospel published already in Paradise? Explain.
2. How is the gospel represented in the sacrifices and ceremonies of the law?
3. Give reasons why Scripture was committed to writing?
4. Why does Peter believe he is called to record Scripture?
5. Why is it so important to insist upon the infallibility of Scripture?
6. According to the Westminster Confession, from what is derived the Authority of Scripture?
7. In what way is prophecy a “more sure word?”
8. Criticize the statement: The Word of God is contained in the Bible.
9. Are the words of Genesis 3:4b and 5 also the inspired Word of God?
10. Does the Christian need some special revelation apart from Scripture to give him the assurance of perseverance in this life? Explain.
11. What is the infallible rule for Scriptural interpretation?