Statement of Bibliology

BRIEF STATEMENT OF BIBLIOLOGY

The Bible is in its entirety has been Inspired or God-Breathed by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) Inspiration has come by Dual Authorship, by the guiding of the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21) The Bible is as written in the original language, without error. (Psalm 119:160) Scripture as written is the authoritative words of God (John 17:17) and are his written authority here on earth (2 Timothy 3:16). Scripture is sufficient to provide all of mankind’s needs to understand the nature of God (Romans 1:19-20) the need for salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28) and how we are to live and treat one another (Romans 12:10) The Bible Is made up of sixty-six books, thirty-nine in the old testament and twenty-seven in the new testament These sixty-six books make up the entirety of the completed inspired books God has given to mankind.

DETAILED EXPOSITION ON BIBLIOLOGY

Inspiration

2 Timothy 3:16 says “all scripture is inspired by God”[i] ,“All scripture is God Breathed”[ii] or “All scripture is breathed out by God”[iii].  The Greek word that is translated Inspired or God-Breathed is qeopnemotoV (Theopneustos) and 2 Timothy 3:16 is the only verse in the bible where this word is found.[iv]  The word is a combination of two Greek words “Theos” God, and “pneustos” “To breath or blow”[v].  Therefore meaning “breathed out by God”[vi].  I believe that “The Bible is completely the Inspired Word of God, and at the same time, the words of the human writers.”[vii] [viii]

Inerrancy

I believe in the Inerrancy of scripture “Simply, that the Bible is without error; it does not contain mistakes.”[ix] The Bible tells us “The sum of your Word is truth”[x] “Every one of your righteous rules endures forever”[xi], “all his precepts are trustworthy”[xii] and that “Every word of God proves true”[xiii]

Authority

The scriptures as written are the Authoritative words of God.  They derive their authority from their own declaration of being the word of God.[xiv] [xv] [xvi] God’s word can be used to judge our thoughts and actions and is the highest authority in matters of faith and practice.[xvii] [xviii] God’s word will endure forever as God promised that his word be preserved and is relevant to everything all the time. [xix] [xx] [xxi] [xxii]

Sufficiency

I believe that in the Bible alone God has granted us all that is necessary to understand our maker[xxiii] and redeemer.  And while the scriptures tell us that we can see God through nature[xxiv] [xxv] We can see all we need to know about God through His word he gave us. We can learn this through proper exegesis and study of the scriptures.[xxvi]

Canonicity

I believe that God has given us His word in the 39 books of the Old Testament, and the 27 books in the New Testament.  Just as God, through the Holy Spirit, inspired men to write the books of the Bible.  God used men to finalize the canon using criteria such as: apostolic authorship or authority, early church usage and acceptance, and uniqueness of the message.[xxvii]

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BIBLIOLOGY

MINISTRY EMPHASIS: TEACHING/ADULT MINISTRIES

The word of God is so very important in so many ways.  We live in a time of instant communication, we can send a message to anyone instantaneously, but with instant communication also comes constant change.  However, know that God, through the ages, gave his message to us through the writers of our scripture, and it Is there for me to read, study, and learn from.  Knowing that God breathed out his word, that what I read comes from God.  Is comforting to me.  I once heard a pastor tell a teenage boy that he did not have to listen to his father who was going through a divorce, that he did not have to listen to his father, because his father was not “in the Lord”  I immediately called him on what he told this young man, telling him that that was not what scripture was saying.

To hold on to the promises in scripture it helps to know that the words were written at the inspiration of God, That the words as originally written are infallible.  That they are authoritative and sufficient.   And knowing the books in our canon have been vetted.  I’d like my ministry to focus on men that are hurting and broken.  Sometimes broken on what others have done to them, sometimes broken due to what they have done to others.    I want to lead them through the scriptures, going over what they instruct us to do, knowing that the scriptures are here for “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16b-17

Dr. Svigel tweeted the following recently.  “Losing confidence in the Word of God leads to grasping for truth, groping for answers, and grieving in despair”.  Having a solid foundation in Bibliology helps me with my confidence in the Word of God, and this will help me to not grasp for truth, and hopefully help others to not grieve in despair.

[i] 2 Timothy 3:16 NASB, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

[ii] 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

[iii] 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

[iv] Cite

[v] Saucy, Robert L. and Bruce L. Shelley. The Bible : Breathed from God. The Victor Know & Believe Series. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1978. 44

[vi] Ibid

[vii] Ibid, 49

[viii] Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. 8 vols. Dallas,: Dallas Seminary Press, 1947. Vol 1 Pg 72

[ix] Saucy, Robert L. and Bruce L. Shelley. The Bible : Breathed from God. The Victor Know & Believe Series. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1978. 78

[x] Psalm 119:160 ESV,  The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

[xi] Ibid

[xii] Psalm 111:7 ESV, The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;

[xiii] Proverbs 30:5 ESV, Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

[xiv] Romans 3:1-2

[xv] John 10:35

[xvi] John 17:17

[xvii] 2 Timothy 3:17

[xviii] Hebrews 4:12

[xix] Psalm 33:11

[xx] Psalm 12:7

[xxi] Matthew 5:18

[xxii] 1 Peter 1:23

[xxiii] 1 Corinthians 2:10

[xxiv] Romans 1:19-20 ESV,  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

[xxv] Psalms 8:3-4 ESV 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place. 4 what is man that you are mindful of him,    and the son of man that you care for him?

[xxvi] Jack Deere, Surprised By The Voice Of God, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan). 251-269. I feel that Mr. Deere’s paints everyone that trust the Word of God as a “Bible Deist” while I do believe there are people that do worship the Bible, I do not believe everyone that holds the Bible as the word of God a Bible Deist.

[xxvii] Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999. 122-123