What is Truth?  Relativism (truth is subjective)  Pluralism (many equal “truths”)  Agnosticism (truth cannot be known)  Superstition (truth is contrary to evidence)  Revelation (truth has been revealed by God and can be known by man)

The DIVINE INSPIRATION of the BIBLE

INSPIRATION  All Scripture is inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16)  Scripture [graphe] – a writing; in the technical sense, scripture; an oracle of God  Inspiration [theoneustos] – lit. God-breathed Verbal – every word is inspired of God Plenary – every part is inspired of God “…it is breathed out by God, ‘God-breathed,’ the product of the creative breath of God. In a word, what is declared by this fundamental passage is simply that the Scriptures are a divine product…No term could have been chosen, however, which would have more emphatically asserted the divine production of Scripture than that which is here employed.” (B.B. Warfield, ISBE, rev. ed., Vol. 2, p. 840)

God Spoke in Time Past – Men Spoke and Wrote Word  Prophets – holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit [inspiration] (2 Pet. 1:20-21) Prophetic word more sure than eyewitness testimony (vv ) Spoken word came by inspiration, not by “private interpretation” [human origin] (vv ) Predictive prophecy is one of the greatest evidences of the inspiration of Old Testament scripture (Isa. 46:9-11)

“Thus Saith the Lord”  Phrase, or equivalent, occurs more than 2000 times in the Old Testament  2 Sam. 23:1-2; Isa. 1:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-2  Zech. 7:12 – words = verbal inspiration; Jer. 36:1-6, 32 – written, preserved  Divine inspiration of OT reflected in NT quotations (Heb. 3:7 & 4:7; Acts 28:25; Heb. 10:15; Matt. 22:43 & Mk. 12:36)

Testimony of Jesus  John 10:34-35 Psalms = Law, Scripture “Cannot be broken” – cannot be undone, loosed, or deprived of its binding authority

Testimony of Jesus  Matthew 5:17-18 Not one “jot” (yod -smallest letter in Hebrew alphabet) or “tittle” (smallest stroke, or projection, of a letter to distinguish it from another letter) will pass away until fulfilled All of word is preserved, protected, and given authority by God – plenary [full] inspiration

INSPIRATION  God communicated in times past by the prophets (Heb. 1:1)  God now speaks to us by His Son (v. 2)  New Testament!  Now investigate the inspiration of the New Testament

The Revelation of the New Testament  Divine authority of the words of Jesus (Matt. 7:24-29; Jn. 12:48-49)  Revelation of all truth by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and prophets Remembrance of what had already been taught and revelation of all truth (Jn. 14:25- 26; 16:12-13; cf. Matt. 10:19-20)

Revelation Recorded in Words – Verbal Inspiration  God – revelation of the mystery by the Spirit – to His holy apostles and prophets – written in words – readers understand the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:1-6)  God revealed His will through His Spirit in words (1 Cor. 2:7-13)  This is why we are not to go “beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6), but rather hold fast to the traditions of truth preserved in inspired writings (2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13 – “pattern [sketch, mold] of sound words”)

NT Claims of Inspiration  Paul – Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 7:40; 14:37  1 Timothy 5:18 – OT & NT quoted and identified as inspired Scripture  Paul’s epistles included among the “Scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:15-16)

Affirmations of Jude 3  Organized and formal body of truth “the faith”  Complete, unalterable, sufficient “once for all delivered”  Given from heaven to men “delivered to the saints”  Contend earnestly for “the faith”! NO need for latter-day revelations!! NO need for doubt about books of Bible!!

Bible – All-Sufficient and Authoritative  2 Timothy 3:16-17  Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness  Makes man of God complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

The Inspiration of the Bible Additional Evidences

Unity of the Bible  Bible written by about 40 different writers over a period of about 1600 years Writers lived in different parts of the world and had varied social, occupational, and educational backgrounds Written in three separate languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek  In spite of this, the Bible message demonstrates great harmony – alleged contradictions have never been shown to be legitimate  Writing style is unique – brevity, non- emotionalism, no cover-up of sin

History/Archaeology/Geography  Hittites were thought to have never existed (Gen. 15:20); capital discovered in 1906  Hezekiah’s tunnel has recently been radiocarbon dated to the time of Hezekiah  Identify Biblical sites: Gibeon, Gezer, Dan, etc. Other archaeological examples: “House of David” inscription, Cyrus Cylinder, Pilate inscription, numerous Bible figures found named in ancient inscriptions and records

History/Archaeology/Geography  Accurate in geography (Lk. 2:42 – “up to Jerusalem”)  Where Bible history can be checked, it has been found accurate; encourages our faith in those areas which cannot be checked – lends additional credibility to the claim of inspiration

Scientific Accuracy  Life is in the blood (Gen. 9:4)  Earth suspended in space (Job 26:7)  The Bible is not a scientific textbook, but where it touches on science it speaks accurately

Prophecy (Isa. 46:9-10)  Isaiah (700 BC) prophesied of Cyrus, king of Persia allowing Jews to return to Palestine after Babylonian captivity (Isa. 44:28-45:7; fulfilled in 536 BC – Ezra 1)  Babylon would never be rebuilt (Isa. 13:20 – 700 BC; still true today)  Over 300 Old Testament prophecies about Jesus – all fulfilled Born of a virgin in Bethlehem (Isa. 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matt. 1:18-23; 2:1-6) Suffer and die (Isa. 53; Lk. 24:25-27; Acts 13:29) Rise from the dead (Psa. 16:10; Acts 2:31)

Denials of OT Inspiration  Apocryphal books and “lost books” Included in some versions, but never accepted by Jews as Scripture (cf. Rom. 3:2)  Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP theory; source criticism) Denies Mosaic authorship of Pentateuch; four human traditions compiled at a later time  Denial of predictive prophecy – denial of stated truths of prophetic books and fulfillments Example: Daniel is said to be written after prophesied events – 165 BC

Man’s Denials of NT Inspiration  Human councils “determined” canon of New Testament and some books were “left out” God’s grace and providence has always provided and preserved His truth for man As early writings circulated, inspired scripture was identified (1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15-16); false teachings and writings were also identified (2 Thess. 2:2) Holy Spirit, by the apostles and prophets, guided early church into all the truth (Jn. 16:13; Jude 3), not fallible men or denominational councils!

Man’s Denials of NT Inspiration  Some books of the New Testament claimed not be “authentic” (not completely genuine or written by stated author – ex. Gospels, Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, Jude, 2 & 3 John) Such arguments derive from human wisdom – modernistic and dangerous to our faith  Only a small portion of what is written is actually “historically true” (Jesus Seminar) Denial of miracles and other bothersome passages – unsubstantiated claims

Affirmations of Jude 3  Organized and formal body of truth “the faith”  Complete, unalterable, sufficient “once for all delivered”  Given from heaven to men “delivered to the saints”  Contend earnestly for “the faith”! NO need for latter-day revelations!! NO need for doubt about books of Bible!!

Bible – All-Sufficient and Authoritative  2 Timothy 3:16-17  Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness  Makes man of God complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.