Survey of Bible DoctrineSurvey of Bible DoctrineDoctrine of the BibleDoctrine of the Bible

Stephen E. LaFleur, ThDStephen E. LaFleur, ThD

I.I. Inspiration – How did God produce the Bible?Inspiration – How did God produce the Bible?A. Definition – God’s superintending of human A. Definition – God’s superintending of human authors so that, using their own individual authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without personalities, they composed and recorded without error in the words of the original autographs His error in the words of the original autographs His revelation to man.revelation to man.

B. Theories of InspirationB. Theories of Inspiration 1. Natural inspiration – there is no supernatural 1. Natural inspiration – there is no supernatural element. element.

The Bible was written by great men, who often The Bible was written by great men, who often erred. erred.

2. Partial inspiration – the bible contains 2. Partial inspiration – the bible contains God’s word butGod’s word but

must be sorted out to find them. Other parts are must be sorted out to find them. Other parts are purelypurely

human and may be in error.human and may be in error.

Doctrine of the Bible

3. Conceptual inspiration – the thoughts of 3. Conceptual inspiration – the thoughts of scripturescripture are inspired but the actual words used are are inspired but the actual words used are not. not. There are factual and scientific errors.There are factual and scientific errors.

4. Dictation theory of inspiration – All writers 4. Dictation theory of inspiration – All writers passively recorded God’s words without passively recorded God’s words without any any participation of their own styles or participation of their own styles or personalities.personalities. 5. Verbal, plenary inspiration – all of the 5. Verbal, plenary inspiration – all of the actualactual words of the Bible are inspired and words of the Bible are inspired and withoutwithout error. This fits the Bible’s description.error. This fits the Bible’s description.

Doctrine of the Bible

C. Defense for verbal, plenary inspirationC. Defense for verbal, plenary inspiration 1. The Bible claims it (II Timothy 3:16)1. The Bible claims it (II Timothy 3:16)

2. The Bible describes it2. The Bible describes it a. “God-breathed” writings (II Timothy 3:16)a. “God-breathed” writings (II Timothy 3:16) b. “Spirit-enabled” writings (II Peter 1:20, 21)b. “Spirit-enabled” writings (II Peter 1:20, 21) c. “God-superintended” writings & writersc. “God-superintended” writings & writers d. Scripture describes “God-Spirit-Man” d. Scripture describes “God-Spirit-Man”

interactioninteraction 1) Zech 7:121) Zech 7:12 2) Acts 4:24, 252) Acts 4:24, 25

Doctrine of the Bible

3. God uses several methods of inspiration3. God uses several methods of inspiration A. Direct dictation (Deut. 9:10)A. Direct dictation (Deut. 9:10) B. Superintending human research ( Luke B. Superintending human research ( Luke

1:1-4)1:1-4) C. Spoken revelation (Gal. 1:12)C. Spoken revelation (Gal. 1:12) D. Inspiration is “verbal” – the very words areD. Inspiration is “verbal” – the very words are inspired (I Cor. 2:12,13, Gal. 3:26, Matt. inspired (I Cor. 2:12,13, Gal. 3:26, Matt.

22:31)22:31)

Doctrine of the Bible

II. Inerrancy – How do we know the Bible is completely II. Inerrancy – How do we know the Bible is completely true?true? A. Definition: “Scripture is without error. It tells the A. Definition: “Scripture is without error. It tells the truth”truth” B. The problemB. The problem 1. Inerrancy is an issue because some religious 1. Inerrancy is an issue because some religious scholarsscholars have repeatedly redefined such terms as have repeatedly redefined such terms as “infallible”“infallible” to mean the Bible could still have factual historical to mean the Bible could still have factual historical errors.errors. 2. When inerrancy is not held, one by one, certain 2. When inerrancy is not held, one by one, certain BibleBible doctrines (deity of Christ), historical facts (literal doctrines (deity of Christ), historical facts (literal creation),creation), and other Biblical views are denied.and other Biblical views are denied.

Doctrine of the Bible

C. The Bible claims inerrancyC. The Bible claims inerrancy 1. Logical reasoning1. Logical reasoning a. The Bible is God’s Word (Matt. 4:4-11)a. The Bible is God’s Word (Matt. 4:4-11) b. God is always truthful (Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18)b. God is always truthful (Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18) c. Therefore the Bible is completely true (inerrancy)c. Therefore the Bible is completely true (inerrancy) 2. The teachings of Christ2. The teachings of Christ a. Matt 4:4a. Matt 4:4 b. Matt 5:18b. Matt 5:18 c. John 10:35c. John 10:35

Doctrine of the Bible

D. Clarification of InerrancyD. Clarification of Inerrancy 1. Inerrancy still allows for approximation, 1. Inerrancy still allows for approximation, freefree quotations, figures of speech, language of quotations, figures of speech, language of appearances (appearances (the sun set, etc.the sun set, etc.) and ) and different different but not contradictory accounts of the same but not contradictory accounts of the same event.event. 2. As inerrantists, we acknowledge that there 2. As inerrantists, we acknowledge that there areare sometimes apparent contradictions but we sometimes apparent contradictions but we affirm affirm that with further knowledge, the seeming that with further knowledge, the seeming discrepancy would disappear. This is discrepancy would disappear. This is continuallycontinually the case as archaeology repeatedly the case as archaeology repeatedly confirms confirms Bible statements.Bible statements.

Doctrine of the Bible

III. Illumination – How does the Scripture change lives?III. Illumination – How does the Scripture change lives? A. Definition – the ministry of the Holy Spirit helping theA. Definition – the ministry of the Holy Spirit helping the

believer to understand and apply the truths of the believer to understand and apply the truths of the BibleBible B. DescriptionB. Description

1. Illumination is the work of the Spirit (John 16:12-1. Illumination is the work of the Spirit (John 16:12-15)15)

2. Illumination is the Holy Spirit’s work in believers 2. Illumination is the Holy Spirit’s work in believers andand

not in some mystical function of the words of thenot in some mystical function of the words of the scripture. (I Cor. 2:12-15, Eph. 1:18)scripture. (I Cor. 2:12-15, Eph. 1:18) 3. The Holy Spirit will use our study and meditation 3. The Holy Spirit will use our study and meditation

toto help us understand AND to apply to our lives.help us understand AND to apply to our lives. 4. The reader’s accuracy will affect the Spirit’s 4. The reader’s accuracy will affect the Spirit’s

illumination.illumination. 5. The spirit uses those with gifts of 5. The spirit uses those with gifts of

teaching/exhortation forteaching/exhortation for aid in illumination.aid in illumination.

Doctrine of the Bible

IV. Canonicity – How do we know the right books are there?IV. Canonicity – How do we know the right books are there? A. Definition – the collection of 66 books were properlyA. Definition – the collection of 66 books were properly recognized by the early church as the complete recognized by the early church as the complete authoritativeauthoritative scriptures not to be added to or to be subtracted scriptures not to be added to or to be subtracted from.from. B. Tests of CanonicityB. Tests of Canonicity 1. Is it authoritative (thus saith the Lord) – OT must 1. Is it authoritative (thus saith the Lord) – OT must have authority from a spiritual leader of Israel, NThave authority from a spiritual leader of Israel, NT must have authority from original apostle.must have authority from original apostle. 2. Is it prophetic (II Peter 1:20)?2. Is it prophetic (II Peter 1:20)? 3. Is it authentic (consistent with other revelation)?3. Is it authentic (consistent with other revelation)? 4. Is it dynamic (life-changing)?4. Is it dynamic (life-changing)? 5. Was it accepted and used by the first believers?5. Was it accepted and used by the first believers? Doctrine of the

Bible

C. Formation of the CanonC. Formation of the Canon 1. How the OT books were determined1. How the OT books were determined a. The NT refers to the OT as “scripture” (Matt. a. The NT refers to the OT as “scripture” (Matt. 21:42)21:42) b. The Council of Jamnia (AD 90) recognized 39 b. The Council of Jamnia (AD 90) recognized 39 booksbooks c. Josephus (AD 95) recognized 39 books.c. Josephus (AD 95) recognized 39 books. 2. How the NT books were determined2. How the NT books were determined a. The apostles claimed authority for their a. The apostles claimed authority for their writingswritings b. Their writings were equated with OT scripturesb. Their writings were equated with OT scriptures c. The Council of Athenasius (AD367) and Council c. The Council of Athenasius (AD367) and Council ofof Carthage (AD 397) recognized 27 books as Carthage (AD 397) recognized 27 books as inspiredinspired

Doctrine of the Bible

D. The Apocrypha were initially regarded as D. The Apocrypha were initially regarded as ScriptureScripture 1. The Apocrypha was initially quoted as 1. The Apocrypha was initially quoted as authoritativeauthoritative in scriptures but was “disallowed” in that they in scriptures but was “disallowed” in that they werewere only found in the Greek Septuagint text and only found in the Greek Septuagint text and not innot in the Hebrew or Aramaic texts.the Hebrew or Aramaic texts. 2. The 1611 KJV included the Apocrypha but was 2. The 1611 KJV included the Apocrypha but was laterlater deleted for the reasons stated above. Since deleted for the reasons stated above. Since then,then, copies in Hebrew and Aramaic have been copies in Hebrew and Aramaic have been foundfound which give credence to reconsideration or at which give credence to reconsideration or at thethe least, time in study.least, time in study.

Doctrine of the Bible

3. In contrast, however, Jesus mentions in 3. In contrast, however, Jesus mentions in Matthew 23:35 that the close of the OTMatthew 23:35 that the close of the OT historical scripture was the death of historical scripture was the death of ZechariahZechariah in 400 BC. This excludes any books in 400 BC. This excludes any books writtenwritten after Malachi and before the NT.after Malachi and before the NT.

Doctrine of the Bible

There is just one way to fully understand the Bible and to There is just one way to fully understand the Bible and to gaingainall there is from it . . .all there is from it . . .

““Study to shew thyself approved unto Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. “word of truth. “ II Timothy 2:15II Timothy 2:15

Doctrine of the Bible