A. The names and Titles of the Inspired Book
I. The Bible
Greek word Biblios simply means book. There are many books often referred to as the bible.
The book of Moses – Mark 12:26
The book of Isaiah – Luke 3:4; 4:17-18
The book of Psalms – Luke 20:42; Acts 1:20
The book of The Prophets – Acts 7:42
The book of The Law – Galatians 3:10
The volume of the Book – Hebrews 10:7
The book to the 7 churches – Revelation 1:11
The little book – Revelations 10:1-10
The seven sealed book – Revelation 5:1-10
The prophecy of this book – Revelations 22:7,9,10,18
II. The Word of God
Though written by man the scriptures are Gods word to man. Over 2000 times they are spoken of or alluded to as the Word of God.
1. The Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17; mark 7:13; Colossians 1:25; John 10:35; Luke 8:11)
2. The Word of the Lord (Jeremiah 1:2,11; Ezekiel 1:3; Isaiah 1:10; Hosea 1:1; Acts 8:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; 1 Peter 1:23-35; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 4:15; Acts 13:48)
3. The Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16)
4. The Word of Life (Philippians 2:16)
5. The Word of truth (Ephesians 1:13)
6. The Word of faith (Romans 10:8)
7. The Word (James 1:21-23; John 1:1-3; Luke 4:4; 1 timothy 4:5; Romans 10:17 Acts 4:31; 6:4)
III. The Scriptures
The word scriptures mean “writings”.
1. The Scriptures of Truth. (Daniel 10:21)
2. The Scripture (Mark 12:10; 15:28; Luke 4:21; John 2:22; 7:38; 10:35; Romans 4:3; 2 Timothy3: 16; Galatians 3:8,22; 4:30; Acts 1:1,6; John 19: 24,28,36,37; 20:9)
3. The Scriptures (Matthew 21:42; 22:29; 26:54, 56; Mark 12: 24; Luke 24:27; John5: 39; Romans 16:26; Acts 13:27; 17:11 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corin 15:3 John 7:38,42; Romans 1:2 2 Peter 3: 16)
IV. The Oracles of God
The word Oracles “The speaking place” Our Christian faith arises out of a God who has not been silent but has spoken to us through His Son among other ways. The Bible is His speaking place. Romans 3:2; Psalms 28:2
Romans 3:2 Great in every respect. First of all that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Psalm 28:2
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary.
The first principles of the doctrine of Christ are also called the first oracles. (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Believers when they minister are to speak the Oracles of God 1 Peter 4:11
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
V. The Old and New Testament
The Testament simply means Covenant. The Bible is divided into two divisions the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
B. The symbols of the Inspired Book
I. The Word is like Fire
Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
II. The Word is like A Hammer
Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
III. The Word is like A lamp
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
IV. The Word is like A mirror
James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
V. The Word is like Milk
1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
VI. The Word is like A Rod
Rev. 11:1-2 And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2"And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
VII. The Word is like A Seed
1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
VIII. The Word is like A Sword
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
IX. The Word is like Water
Ephes. 5:26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.
Psalm 119:5 Oh that my ways may be established To keep Thy statutes!
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.
X. The Word is like Gold
Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Job 28:1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine gold.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
XI. The Word is like Honey
Psalm 19:10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Rev. 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
XII. The Word is like An Ox-goad
Eccles. 12:11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
XIII. The Word is like A nail
Eccles. 12:11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
XIV. The Word is like Bread
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' "
Deut. 8:3 "And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Isaiah 55:10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
XV. The Word is like a Pearl
Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
XVI. The Word is like an Anchor
Hebrews 6:18-19 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
XVII. The Word is like a Star
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Rev. 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.
XVIII. The Word is like Meat
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
C. The Definition of Inspiration
2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
“Treopneustos” is translated Inspiration means “God Breathed.”
Gen 2:7 God Breathed on Adam and he became a living soul.
Acts 17:25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things;
Job 32:8 "But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
Ezekiel 37:8-9 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life." ' "
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
God Breathed is the act of “act of drawing air into the lungs” and the influence it has on the mind and soul of man.
D. The Mode of inspiration
1. Revelation:
Revelation is the communication of truth that couldn’t be discovered by natural means. The difference is: the bible is God’s thoughts and not man’s thoughts revealing himself and his purposes.
The things written by Moses could not be anything that Moses knew before hand such as Gen 1 & 2. There are things that have been revealed that are no less revelation for God to man.
2. Inspiration:
Is the way the process that revelation is recorded. Revelation has to do with the imparting of divine truth Inspiration is recording that truth.
3. Illumination:
The process of the Holy spirit enlightening man’s understanding to be able to receive God’s revelation
E. Revelation concerns the discovery of Truth, Illumination concerns the understanding of Truth and Inspiration concerns the communications of truth.
Discuss the following:
a. Inspiration [Communication the Truth] without revelation [Discovering the Truth]
Luke 1:1-3 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
b. Inspiration [Communication the Truth] including Revelation [Discovering the Truth] Rev 1:1-11
Rev. 1:1-11 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 9I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
c. Inspiration [Communication the Truth] without illumination [understanding of Truth] 1 Peter 1:11
1 Peter 1:11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
d. Inspiration [Communication the Truth] including illumination [understanding of Truth]
1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
e. Revelation [Discovering the Truth] without inspiration [Communication the Truth]
Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
Exodus 20:22 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
f. Illumination [understanding of Truth] without inspiration [Communication the Truth]
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
E. The False Theory of Inspiration
1. The Natural Theory of Inspiration – The bible written by human Genius by men of superior mental insight
2. The Illumination Theory of Inspiration – The Heightening of man’s religious perception.
3. The Mechanical Theory of Inspiration – God dictated the scriptures like an executive dictates words to a secretary
4. The trance theory of Inspiration – Writers of the Bible were caught up in a Trance-like state and wrote word for word or picture.
5. The partial Theory of Inspiration – Only parts of the bible are inspired.
6. The thought Theory of Inspiration – God gave the writer thoughts or concepts and they expressed themselves.
F. Plenary- Verbal inspiration
Plenary means “full, complete in every part.” Verbal means Words. This would mean the writers were fully inspired even to the choice of word.
1. God wrote the Bible – For forty different men to writhe 66 books in three languages over a period of 1600 years and have them become on harmonious book is humanly impossible.
2. Men of God wrote the bible – Since the bible was written to man, God used men to write it. And God used individual frame of reference to get across what God wanted to say.
3. Thus the Bible is a product of Both Man and God – Miracle of inspiration is that
a. God could Channel his Revelation through man with detracting from it perfectness;
b. Men could use their consciousness and write divine truths
c. The Holy Spirit could cause men to write infallible word God without violating their personalities.
G. THE PROOF OF INSPIRATION
a. Miracles of the Bible
1. Miracles under Moses
2. Miracles under Joshua
3. Miracles under Samson
4. Miracles under Elijah & Elisha
5. Miracles under Christ
6. Miracles under The Apostles
a. Prophecy and Fulfillment
PREDICTIVE PROPHECY MUST MEASURE UP TO FOUR DIFFERENT TEST TO BE APPROVED AND AS AND VALID
1. Uttered before events come to pass
2. Explicit and Specific
3. Utteror has no part in fulfillment
4. Event that transpire are exactly as spoken
Look at the fulfilled Prophecy page 30,31,32,33
THE RESULTS OF INSPIRATION
A. Genuineness – Something really is what it claims to be
B. Credibility – if it is entirely truthful on the matter it treats.
Jesus himself confirmed the writing of the Old Testament. [see pages 36 & 37]
THE APOCRYPHA – Veiled, Secret or Closed
Most of Christendom [except the Catholic Church] rejects these books as having a place in the canon of the scripture.
- It is universally acknowledged that they never had a place in the Hebrew canon.
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