Whose writing style and words does the Bible contain?
(2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Exod. 17:14; John 1:14; 1 Thes. 2:13) Blog Apr. 5-11, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The Bible is unique for it is always up to date and has the power to make people holy when approached in faith. The major portion of Sacred Scripture is historical narrative relating the mighty acts of God in history and how they are moving towards a glorious climax. It also includes a significant amount of predictive prophecy that is 100% accurate making it like no other book in the world.
Its Origin (2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
1. Who does Peter say was the “Mover” of sacred Scripture? The Holy Spirit — not personal intuition.
2. Upon whom does Peter say that the Holy Spirit moved in the creation of sacred Scripture? Holy men — not unbelievers.
3. Why did God go to all the effort of communicating his will to us? Because like any loving parent he wanted to inform his children of the best way to live & have a wonderful future.
4. According to 2 Timothy how much of Scripture is divinely inspired? 100%.
5. Was everything in the Bible directly or supernaturally revealed? No, some authors carefully investigated reports or other existing documents to compile what they wrote (see Josh. 10:13, Luke 1:1-3)
6. Whose writing style and words does the Bible contain? Those of its various authors.
7. If the words and writing style of the Bible are those of its various authors why do we call it “The Word of God”? Because as a whole it is God’s infallible Word to humanity & all its thoughts are of divine origin (notice how the terms “words” & “word” are uses in the first few verses of Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, & in 2 Kings 23:16; 2 Chron. 34:21; Acts 10:44)
8. What would be our predicament if all the words in the Bible were dictated by God? Then we would have to learn Greek, Hebrew, & Aramaic or be dependent on linguistic scholars to tell us what the Bible means.
Its Nature (2 Tim. 3:15-17; Ex. 17:14; Deut. 32:46; Psa. 119:140; Amos 3:7; John 1:14; 1 Thes. 2:13; Heb. 4:2; 11:3)
9. Primarily what is the Bible? A written revelation in human language of God’s knowledge (acts & secrets).
10. In Psalm 119:140 what are we told about the nature of the Bible? That it is pure.
11. What makes the bible “holy”? The Bible is holy because God who inspired its production is holy & he communicated holy thoughts for holy men to record that we might be made holy.
12. How is the incarnation of Jesus an illustration of the Word of God? As the eternal Son of God Jesus took on our human nature making him divine & human at the same time just like the Word of God written in the words of men becomes a divine/human production.
13. Because God inspired and guided holy men to write the Bible what can we say about its reliability? That the Bible is “infallible” but not “inerrant” meaning that the minor discrepancies due to human weakness do not affect its entire reliability.
14. Besides showing the way to be saved, what other functions of Scripture does Paul list for Timothy? For doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness so that we may be made perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
15. If the Bible were written in some angelic language how would that affect us? We would be unable to understand it – that’s why God gave it to us in human languages.
16. Why do many Bible students and scholars entirely miss the message of the Bible? Because it can only be understood by those who believe it all for they are the only ones who have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Its Necessity (Jer. 10:23; 2 Tim. 2:15-17; Eph. 2:11-12; Isa. 40:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:18-19)
17. According to Jeremiah 10:23 what do we not inherently have? A knowledge of how to live.
18. What do Paul and Peter say that we need the Scriptures for? To understand how to be saved — we need them to light our walk into God’s kingdom.
19. What is the condition of human beings apart from the Word of God? They are without Christ, outside of God’s covenant, without hope, & without God in the world.
20. What human attitude works in opposition to the idea that we need the Bible? Rationalism.
21. What comparison does Isaiah make between human beings and the Word of God? Humans are like the flower of the field that withers & is gone but God’s Word stands forever.
22. What does Peter say that Holy Scripture is more reliable than? Personal experience, imaginations, & visions.