1. The Doctrine of the Scriptures
Inspiration, Inerrancy, Infallibility, Clarity, Sufficiency, And Necessity
The Doctrine of the Scriptures

2. Introduction
Authority and Inspiration of Scripture are directly tied together .
If the Scriptures are not inspired, then we have no reason to trust the Scriptures.

3. Inspiration of Scripture
To believe that the Bible affirms something false would be to disbelieve God himself. To disbelieve God himself is to place yourself as a higher authority with a deeper, more developed understanding on a topic or topics than God himself.
Thus, the authority of Scripture is tied to the inspiration of Scripture.

4. Inspiration of Scripture
Inspiration – The process by which God worked through the human authors of the Bible to communicate His revelation.
Or In referring to the Scriptures, this is the work of the Holy Spirit in enabling human authors of the Bible to record what God desired to have written in the Scriptures
Key things to notice:
(1) Process – over thousands of years
(2) God – ultimate author
(3) His revelation – not man’s, but God’s

5. Inspiration of Scripture
As Christians we believe God was active in the process of communication of the Scriptures.
Paul talks about the inspiration of the Scriptures in 2 Tim. 3:16.
All Scriptures
What does Paul mean by all Scriptures? He uses the word “graphe”
Does mean the Old and New Testament?
Paul is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures.

6. Inspiration of Scripture
God – breathed
Theopneustos
Metaphor for speaking the Words of Scripture
This is important to note because we are not saying man invented these words, but God, himself, breathed out these words.

7. Inspiration of Scriptures
Peter in 2 Peter 1:21,
Scripture does not come by impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoken from God.
Both Paul & Peter affirm the OT are God’s words.

8. Inspiration of Scripture
3 Views:
Dictation View – God dictated the words to human authors
Mechanical View – We are automatons (robots); the author is taken over by the Holy Spirit
Verbal-Plenary View – God’s superintendence of the writers of Scripture down to the very choice of words, not merely, to overarching themes, or concepts;

9. Inerrancy of Scripture
What is inerrancy?
Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact or the Bible contains no falsehood.
In recent years, the inerrancy of Scripture has come under fire!
Those who opposed “inerrancy” said it was a poor term.
Others said it was too precise of a term to use for Scripture.

10. Inerrancy of Scripture
International Council of Biblical Inerrancy
Group of Evangelical Christians from all different denominations, met to affirm what compile of a set of affirmations and denials about Scripture.
In 1978, they met in Chicago and out of that came the “Chicago Statement of Inerrancy.”
Article(s) I, II, III, VI, VII, VIII

11. Inerrancy of Scripture
Inerrancy – does not err
No falsehood of any sort
Inerrancy does allow for literary devices, metaphors, hyperbole, round numbers, and other literary expressions

12. Inerrancy of Scripture
Problems with Denying the Inerrancy of Scripture: If we deny inerrancy…. 1. A serious Moral Problem Confronts Us: May we Imitate God and Intentionally Lie in small matters also? 2. We Begin to Wonder if we can really trust God in Anything he says 3. We Essentially make our own human minds a higher standard of truth than God’s Word itself 4. Then we must also say that the Bible is Wrong Not only in Minor details but in some of its doctrines as well.

13. Infallibility of Scripture
Infallibility – Cannot Err
The position that the Bible cannot err or make mistakes, and that the Bible “is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose”
This doctrine is based on the perfection of the divine author, who cannot speak error.

14. Summary
If the Bible is inspired, it is infallible. If it is infallible, it is inerrant. If it is inerrant, then it is trustworthy. If it is trustworthy, it is authoritative.

15. Characteristics of Scripture: Clarity
Question: Can only Bible scholars understand the Bible rightly?
Can you, an 11th grader, open up the Scriptures and understand them?
Confession: not all parts of Scripture are able to be understood easily. 2 Peter 3:15-16 affirms this reality.

16. Characteristics of Scripture: Clarity
However, that does not mean we cannot understand the Scriptures, while some passages may be difficult to understand, that does not mean they are impossible to understand.
This is the truth of the clarity of Scripture.

17. The Bible affirms its own clarity
Deut. 6:6-7 The Character of Scripture is said to be such that even the ”simple” can understand it rightly and be made wise by it. Ps. 19:7; Ps. 119:130. In the NT, Jesus never affirms that Scripture is not clear. In fact, Jesus places the blame of misunderstanding of the Scriptures not on the Scriptures themselves but on those who misunderstand or fail to accept what is written.

18. The Bible affirms its own clarity
Scripture always interprets Scripture. And always let Scripture interpret difficult passages of Scripture.
It is important to realize that in many instances in the New Testament epistles were written to churches that had large proportions of Gentile Christians.
Importance: They had no previous background in any kind of Christian society and little to no prior understanding of history and culture of Israel.

19. The Moral and Spiritual Qualities Needed for Right Understanding
The NT writers frequently state that the ability of understanding the Scriptures relies not on intellectual ability but a moral and spiritual ability. (1 Cor. 2:14)
The NT writers affirm that the Bible in itself is written clearly. They also affirm that it will not be understood rightly by those who are unwilling to receive its teachings.

20. Definition of Clarity
The Clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.

21. Why Do People Misunderstand Scripture?
Sin – Sin blinds us to the truth of Scripture.
Lack of faith or hardness of heart – we simply don’t believe or want to believe it.
How can we properly understand the Scriptures?
Proper ”principles of interpretation”
Called Hermeneutics, it is defined as “the study of correct methods of interpretation”

22. Why Do People Misunderstand Scripture?
Another term used is “exegesis.” This term refers to the “process of interpreting a text of Scripture.”
In exegesis, we are drawing out the meaning of Scripture. This is contrary to eisegesis, which is we put meaning into the Scripture.
When disagreements about the meaning of Scripture throughout history happen, it reminds us that the clarity of Scripture does not imply or suggest that all believers will agree on all the teachers of Scripture.

23. Ten Common Mistakes In Reading the Bible
1. We assume that the Bible doesn’t need to be interpreted.
2. We assume that the Bible applies uniquely to us.
We make the mistake of individualizing the text. (You’re David and you slay your Giants, You’re Joshua and you can tell the walls of your jericho to be torn down)
3. We ignore passages that don’t fit our theology
We often try to ignore or explain away sections of the Bible that we don’t like or understand.
To fix this, we must come to the Scriptures making ourselves fit the Scriptures instead of the Scriptures fitting us.

24. Ten Common Mistakes in Reading the Bible
4. We Treat the Bible Allegorically
5. We feel our study is fruitless if we have not discovered a new truth.
Scripture exists to reveal the character and nature of God, not to make us feel smarter or better than others.
6. We focus on what the text “means to me.”
We have to understand what the text means, before we apply it to out lives
Interpretation always precedes Application

25. Ten Common Mistakes in Reading the Bible
7. We assume the Bible isn’t relevant to us today.
8. We take the Bible out of context
We have to take note of where the Scripture falls in the passage and look at the context of the passage in order to see what the passage means.
What are some passages that are taken out of context?
9. We interpret the Bible based on contemporary moral standards
The Bible is eternally relevant and also historically particular
10. We try to make the Bible fit contemporary standards for political correctness
A text can never mean what it never meant

26. Ten Steps to Reading the Bible Well and Truly
1. Commit to reading the Bible and studying it.
What is your biggest obstacle in reading the Bible? Why?
2. Read the Bible in context
3. Choose a translation
Formal equivalence translation(s) (Word – for – Word from the Hebrew and Greek) Examples: KJV, NASB, ESV
Functional equivalence translation(s) (Thought – for – Thought) Examples: NIV, NRSV, NLT
Paraphrases. Example: The Message

27. Ten Steps to Reading the Bible Well and Truly
4. Understand the genre.
Is it Narrative, Writings, Apocalyptic, Gospels? Each genre will require a better understanding.
5. Understand the context.
Both Historical (the cultural, societal, historical setting) and Literary context (what comes before and after the passage).
6. Understand the content.
A Commentary will help you in this matter.

28. Ten Steps to Reading the Bible Well and Truly
7. Look for relationships
8. Study words
Example: What does Paul mean by ”works of the law?” Or “grace” or “mercy”
9. Bring your experience to bear
10. Courageously pursue a response
A descriptive passage – a passage that describes specific events
A prescriptive passage – a passage that prescribes how we ought to think

29. Application Journal what you are learning Share what you are learning
Live what you are learning.

30. Why Do People Misunderstand the Scriptures?
However, the problem always lies with us and not the Scriptures.
The teachings of Scripture are clear and able to be able to be understood, but also recognize that people often (through their own shortcomings) misunderstand what is clearly written in Scriptures

31. Encouragement from this doctrine
In the case of doctrinal or ethical disagreement (i.e. over baptism or church government). There are two possible causes:
(1) we may be seeking to make affirmations where Scripture itself is silent
(2) it is possible we have made mistakes in our interpretation of Scripture.
However, in no case are we free to say that the teaching of the Bible on any subject is confusing or incapable of being understood correctly.

32. Encouragement in this doctrine
We can be encouraged that if there is a genuine concern for some such subject arises in our lives, we should seek God’s help and then go to the Scripture.
James 1:5
It should encourage us to read our Bibles daily.
It does not matter that you do not know Greek or Hebrew or have not been in Biblical studies classes for years, you can read the text of the Bible and understand it.

33. The Role of Scholars in the Clarity of Scripture
1. They can teach the Scripture clearly, communicating its content to others and thus fulfilling the office teaching.
2. They can explore new areas of understanding the teachings of Scripture.
3. They can defend the teachings of the Bible against attacks by other scholars or those with specialized technical training.
4. The can supplement the study of Scripture for the benefit of the church.

34. Characteristics of Scripture: Necessity
The Necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the Gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.

35. The Bible is Necessary for the Knowledge of the Gospel
Romans 10:13-17.
(1) One must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved
(2) People can only call upon the name of Christ if they believe in him
(3) People cannot believe in Christ unless they have heard of him
(4) They cannot hear of Christ unless there is someone to tell them about Christ
(5) The conclusion is that saving faith comes by hearing and this the hearing of the gospel message comes about through the preaching of Christ

36. The Bible is Necessary for Knowledge of the Gospel
So, what about the innocent person in Africa who never hears about Christ? Do they go to heaven?
The Bible is necessary for salvation in one sense: either read the gospel message in the Bible for oneself or hear it from another person.
So if people can only be saved by faith in Christ, how were people in the Old Testament saved?

37. The Bible is Necessary for Knowledge of the Gospel
Those saved under the old covenant were also saved through trusting in Christ, even though their faith was a forward-looking faith based on God’s word of promise that a Messiah or Redeemer would come.

38. The Bible is Necessary for Certain Knowledge of God’s Will
Two views:
We can know some knowledge of God’s will
If there is no written Word of God, we could not gain certainty about God’s will

39. The Bible is Necessary for Certain Knowledge of God’s Will
God has revealed his words to us that we might obey his laws and thereby do his will.
If we are to have a certain knowledge of God’s will, then, we must attain it through the study of Scripture.
It is appropriate for us to be more certain about the truths we read in Scripture.

40. But the Bible is not necessary for knowing that God exists
What about people who do not read the Bible? Can they obtain any knowledge of God?
People can obtain a knowledge that God exists, and a knowledge of some of his attributes. (Ps. 19:1; Acts 14:16-17)
Romans 1:19-21
Even without the Bible all persons who have ever lived have had evidence in creation that God exists, that he is a Creator and they are creatures, and have also had some evidence of his character.

41. The Bible is Not Necessary for Knowing Something About God’s Character and Moral Laws
Romans 1.
The knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law, which comes through creation to all humanity is often called “general revelation” (comes to all people generally)
Special Revelation (God’s words addressed to specific people)

42. Characteristics of Scripture: Sufficiency
Sufficiency of Scripture: Scripture contains all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.

43. The Sufficiency of Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Psalm 119:1
There is nothing that we must do in addition to what God commands us in Scripture to be morally perfect. Why? Because Scripture is sufficient.

44. The Sufficiency of Scripture
The truth of the sufficiency of Scripture is of great significance for us as Christians because it enables us to focus our search for God’s words to us on the Bible alone.
The Sufficiency of Scripture gives us confidence in knowing that we will be able to find what God requires us to think or to in these areas (i.e. doctrinal issues)

45. The Sufficiency of Scripture
This doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture does not imply God cannot add any more words to those he has already spoken to his people.
It implies man cannot add on his own initiative any words to those that God has already spoken.
It also implies that in fact God has not spoken to mankind any more words which he requires us to believe or obey than those which we have now in the Bible.

46. Practical Applications
1. The Sufficiency of Scripture should encourage us as we try to discover what God would have us think or to do.
2. This doctrine reminds us that we are to add nothing to Scripture, and that we consider no other writings of equal value to Scripture.
3. This doctrine tells us that God does not require us to believe anything about himself or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture

47. Practical Applications
4. This doctrine shows us that no modern revelations from God are to be placed on a level equal to Scripture in authority
5. With regard to the Christian life, the sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that nothing is sin that is not forbidden by Scripture either explicitly or by implication.
6. This doctrine tells us that nothing is required of us by God that is not commanded in Scripture either explicitly or by implication

48. Practical Applications
7. Our doctrinal and ethical teaching should emphasize what Scripture emphasizes and be content with what God has told us in Scripture.