Bible
Authority
Lesson
Three: The Bible
Having dwelt with various sources
of authority that do not settle the issue nor are the bottom-line. We come to the Bible. But before we can appeal to the Bible as the
authority concerning good and evil, true and false, right and wrong, we must
first persuade others that it is the Word of God.
The Bible
Claims to be the Word of God: 2 Timothy
3:16-17
The phrase, “All Scripture is
inspired of God”, is from one single Greek work theopneustos, which
means, “God”, “to breathe”. Therefore,
the source of all Scripture is the mouth of God. The term Scripture is used 51 times in the New Testament
and always refers to the authoritative books that compose the Old or New
Testament. Peter referred to the books
written by Paul as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16).
The Old
Testament:
The Old Testament prophets
spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). Peter makes it clear that such prophets
did not speak their own opinions. Jesus
viewed the Old Testament that existed in His time as being authoritative and
the Word of God right down to the smallest letter or mark of punctuation (Matthew
5:17-18). Jesus
considered the OT Scriptures to be the Word of God, regardless of whether
people believe in it or not. “Have you
not read that which was spoken to you by God” (Matthew 22:31); then He
quotes from Exodus 3:5. The
Sadducees had never really understood the full significance of “I am the God
of...”; and yet that didn't make Exodus 3:5 any less inspired. What makes something the word of God is not
some experience man has when he reads it, but that God said it in the first
place. See also John 12:48-49;
5:46-47. Notice, Exodus 3:5 was still the Word
of God, or God speaking, even though the events in that chapter happened some
1400 years before these Sadducees had been born.
People
need to realize that the New Testament, and especially Jesus, endorses a
tremendous amount of what is recorded in the Old Testament as being
historically accurate and trustworthy:
1. The Creation of the Universe (Genesis 1): John 1:3; Col. 1:16
2. The creation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2): 1 Tim. 2:13-14
3. Marriage of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2): Matthew 19:4-6
4. Temptation of Eve (Gen. 3): 1
Tim. 2:14
5. Disobedience of Adam (Gen. 3): Romans 5:12
1 Cor. 15:22
6. Abel and Cain (Gen. 4): Hebrews 11:4
1 John 3:12
7. Birth of Seth (Gen. 4): Luke 3:38
8.
Translation of Enoch (Gen. 5): Hebrews
11:5
9. The Flood/Noah (Gen. 6): Hebrews
11:6
Matthew 24:39
10. Eight people saved (Genesis 5-9): 2 Peter
2:5
1 Peter 3:18-21
11. Geneology of Shem (Gen. 10): Luke
3:35-36
12. Birth of Abraham (Gen. 11): Luke
3:34
13. Call of Abraham (Gen. 12-13): Hebrews 11:8
14. Tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14): Hebrews 7:1-3
15. Ishmael (Gen. 16): Galatians 4:21-24
16. Lot and Sodom (Gen. 19): Luke
17:29
17. Offering of Isaac (Gen. 22): Hebrews
11:17
18. The burning bush (Ex. 3): Luke
20:32
19. Exodus through Red Sea (Ex. 14): 1 Cor. 10:1-2
20. Provision of water and manna (Ex. 16): 1 Cor. 10:3-5
21. Lifting up the serpent (Num. 21:9): John 3:14
22. Fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:22-25): Hebrews
11:30
23. Miracles of Elijah (1 Kings 17-19): James 5:17
24. Jonah and the great fish (Jonah 2): Matthew
12:40
25. Three friends of Daniel (Daniel 3): Hebrews 11:34
26. Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6): Hebrews 11:33
27. Slaying of Zechariah (2 Chron. 24:20-22): Matthew 23:35
“In
this sample survey, several things should be noted. 1. Most of the
controversial passages of the Old Testament (controversial to unbelieving
scholars) are referred to, for example, the Creation, fall, flood, miracles of
Moses and Elijah, and Jonah and the great fish, are not just alluded to, they
are authenticated as historical events by the New Testament. If these major miraculous events are
authentic, there is no difficulty in accepting the rest of the events of the
Old Testament. 2. Virtually every one of the first twenty-two
chapters of Genesis, and each of those prior to Abraham (1-11), has either a
person or an event that is confirmed by an authoritative New Testament
quotation or reference. If these people
and events are authentic, then it may be argued a fortiori that the rest of the
Old Testament is authentic” [1]
Jesus
promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all the truth
(John 16:13), and that the apostles would not be left to their fallible
human memories in telling the events of Jesus’ life (John 14:26). Peter states that the apostles did not
follow cleverly devised tales in preaching the gospel (2 Peter 1:16). Other proofs for the fact that the New
Testament is Scripture and is the Word of God would include:
·
Peter calls Paul’s letters by the term Scripture (2 Peter
3:16).
·
Paul claims that what he preached was the Word of God, which
specifically included the commands of Jesus (1 Corinthians 14:37; 1
Thessalonians 2:13).
·
Members were marked for not heeding the words of the
apostles (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Hence,
to reject the teaching in a letter from an apostle was to reject God.
·
Peter says that Jesus speaks through the apostles (2
Peter 3:2).
·
Paul said that the Holy Spirit revealed through the apostles
and New Testament prophets, the gospel message (Ephesians 3:3-5).
·
In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and
Luke 10:7 “The laborer is worthy of his wages”, and applies the term
“Scripture” to both passages.
Therefore, Paul recognized the gospels as Scripture.
·
Therefore, we must reject the claim that the term
“Scripture” only applied to the Old Testament writings and that the New
Testament is not as authoritative as the Old Testament.
1. The Biblical Writers:
A.
Their Honesty About Themselves:
The word “integrity” is
defined as: “the quality or state of
being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity: (Webster p. 732)
“Integrity-- a strict adherence to a stern code of ethics…based on an
undeviating honesty” (Use The Right Word,
S.I. Hayakawa, p. 251). Such a word
describes their writings. Their sins
and mistakes are admitted with perfect candor and without any excuse (Numbers 20:12; 1 Samuel 8:5; Psalm 51;
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; Ezra 8:22; 1 Timothy 1:13-16).
B.
Sin, Even Of Biblical Heroes Is Exposed:
If the Bible is simply a
production by Jewish men with the purpose of glorifying the Jewish race, then
the writers of this book did a very bad job in the editing process. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is
often rebuked for her sins (Isaiah
1:4,10,21). The great heroes of the
Bible are still pictured as imperfect and fallible men (Genesis 9:21; 12:13; 16:2-6; 26:6,9; 27:19; 2 Samuel 11:2-5; 13:21;
14:28; 1 Kings 11:1-9; Galatians 2:11-14).
The only exception to this is Jesus (1 Peter 2:22).
C. Church Problems Exposed:
If the purpose in writing
the New Testament was to give a glorious history of Christianity, then the
following should have been deleted: 1.
Deception among Christians (Acts
5:3). 2. Incest in the Church,
which was being tolerated (1 Corinthians
5). 3. Members that gave up (2 Timothy 4:10). 4. Congregations which nauseated God (Revelation 3:16). 5.
Congregations living on nothing more than a reputation (Revelation 3:1). 6.
Preacheritis (1 Corinthians 1:12). (6)
Christians who were suing each other (1
Corinthians 6:1,6).
Point to Note:
Some have tried to use
“problems in the Church” as a reason to discount Christianity. But actually, these problems verify and
confirm the truthfulness of the Biblical account. The Bible states that 1. All men sin (Romans 3:23). 2. Even
Christians sin (1 John 1:8). 3. Religious abuses, even within the
Church will exist (3 John 9). 4. There will be Christians who will
renounce Christianity (2 Peter 2:1). Hypocrites in the Church only confirm
the truthfulness of the Biblical account.
2.
The Detail Found In The Bible:
A.
Political Detail:
Luke gives a tremendous
amount of historical and political detail.
The Bible isn’t a book that attempts to remain vague. The writers deliberately cited a number of
details whereby others could check their accuracy. Numerous Roman governors appear in Luke’s writings including
Pilate, Sergius Paulus, Gallio, Felix and Festus. The descendants of Herod the Great—Herod Antipas, Herod Agrippa I
and II, Bernice and Drusilla. Leading
members of the Jewish priestly caste, Annas, Caiaphas, Ananias, and the famous
Rabbi Gamaliel. Luke mentions the
proconsul of Achaia, Gallio (Acts 18:12),
who came to prominence, according to the Dephi Inscription, in July of A.D.
51. Luke places the gospel that bears
his name and the history of the early church (Acts) within a specific time
frame. It’s either true or false, it
either happened then, at that time, or it didn’t. There is no room for error.
One of the most minute and amazing details is the mention of Erastus (ih RAS tus). This man was a Christian, who was also an official in the city of
Corinth (Romans 16:23 ‘Erastus, the city
treasurer greets you..’). In 1929,
while excavating the ruins in Corinth, Professor T.L. Shear found a pavement
bearing the following inscription, ‘Erastus, procurator and aedile, laid this
pavement at his own expense.’ The
pavement dates from the first century A.D.
The word ‘aedile’ is a Latin term, and research has shown that the
duties of such men, included responsibilities concerning the financial affairs
of the city.
B.
Geographical Detail:
Deut. 11:14 “the early rain and the late rain”-The early rain begins in October or November, it
continues to rain throughout the winter with the late rain arriving in early
April. Joshua 2:16 “Go to the hill country”-Just two-and-a-half miles west
of Jericho the land abruptly arises. Luke 8:23 “and a fierce gale of wind
descended upon the lake”-Such storms are not uncommon on the Sea of
Galilee, due to the elevation of the sea and the rifts in the surrounding
mountains. Luke 19:4 “a sycamore tree”-This type of tree only grows along the coast and in the Jordan Valley in
Palestine. Jericho is located in that
valley. This statement would have been
inaccurate if Zacchaeus had been in a sycamore tree located in Jerusalem (some
20 miles away). Hundreds of other
minute details could be cited on this point.
Such detail is so impressive that it even has changed the minds of those
who were at one time prejudiced against the accuracy of the Scriptures. Sir W.M. Ramsay wrote, “I may fairly claim to have entered on this investigation without
prejudice in favour of the conclusion which I shall now attempt to justify to
the reader. On the contrary, I began
with a mind unfavorable to it…It did not then lie in my line of life to
investigate the subject minutely; but more recently I found myself brought in
contact with the book of Acts as an authority for the topography, antiquities
and society of Asia Minor. It was
gradually borne in upon me that the various details the narrative showed
marvelous truth…I gradually came to find it a useful ally in some obscure and difficult
investigations” (St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, pp. 7f).
In view of the above facts,
we must conclude: (1) The writers were
themselves eyewitnesses (2 Peter 1:16; 1
John 1:1), or recorded the testimony of eyewitnesses. (2) They were greatly concerned with
accuracy (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:25). (3) If the time was real time, and if
the place was a real place, and both can be confirmed, then without any
evidence to the contrary, how anyone say that the event wasn’t a real event?
C. Very Candid And Honest About Life:
The Biblical writers give a
very honest and truthful picture of life.
Unlike man-made religions and philosophies, they didn’t view this world
or its trials as an illusion. They
don’t teach an easy way to instant happiness or wealth, and neither do they
advocate or justify unethical means to spread their teaching (2 Corinthians 10:5; 4:2 ‘not walking in
craftiness’). Consider the
following passages (1 Peter 4:12,15; James 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 6:9-10; Colossians
4:1; Phil. 2:3-4).
C.
What Did They Gain?
“All that is known about the apostles testifies to
their honesty and integrity. That they
taught honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness, is abundantly clear from their
writings. What is recorded of their
lives clearly supports their teachings:
(1) They did not fear men, even under threat of death (Acts 4:18f;
5:27f). (2) They did not tolerate lying
(Acts 5:1f). (3) They refused to be
bought with money (Acts 8:18; 24:26).
(4) And on top of all of it, they remained steadfast in their testimony
under extreme persecution, even to the point of death (Acts 12:1-2; 1
Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Men will sometimes die for what they believe
to be true, but never for what they know to be false. A man becomes extremely honest and truthful under the threat of
death” (Christian Apologetics, Norman Geisler, p. 315).
What the above writer says
is basically true, even though there are people who are too stubborn to admit
their errors, even when faced with death.
Added to the above, I am impressed that the apostles didn’t fall into
the vices or errors that have entrapped various religious leaders. They weren’t ascetics (1 Tim. 4:1-4), neither did they practice polygamy (1 Cor. 9:5). They didn’t become millionaires at the expense of the members (Acts 3:6), and neither did they endorse
terrorism, isolationism or communal living (1
Corinthians 5:10; 10:27).
3.
The Bible’s High Moral Standard:
And right up front, let us
be impressed that the Bible stresses inward as well as outward purity (2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 1
Corinthians 13:1-3). The writers
have no tolerance for hypocrisy or religion that is merely external or from
ulterior motives (Matthew 6:1-4). While other books may have a flash of
moral teaching (the Koran, Bhagavad-Gita (Hindu), Tripitaka (Buddhist). The Bible is the only book that sums up the
totality of all religious and moral truth (2
Peter 1:3; Jude 3; John 16:13). Justin
Martyr noted, “Whatever things were rightly said among all men, are the
property of us Christians” (Apology, II). The point is that when people hit the nail
on the head concerning some moral issue, they are only agreeing with what God
has already said. Geisler argues, “A book that sums up and transcends the best
morality of all books of all time is best explained as God’s Word. The Bible is such a book. Therefore, the Bible is best explained as
God’s Word” (A General Introduction to
the Bible, Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, pp. 120-121).
4.
The Bible’s Unity:
Although written over a time span of 1500 years, by
about 40 different human authors, on three continents, there exists not even
one contradiction in doctrinal teaching from Genesis to Revelation. A. Doctrinal Unity: Most sermons that you will hear confirm this
truth, as a preacher will cite passages from various books in both Testaments
to make his point. For example, the
subject of homosexuality (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:27 and 1
Corinthians 6:9). B.
Organic Unity: That is, that
all parts of the Bible are necessary to the complete whole. Every book of the Bible is essential. What book of the Bible could we afford to
discard? Genesis? Exodus?
Leviticus? Psalms? Proverbs?
Jeremiah? Matthew? Acts?
Romans? Or, in other words,
which book of the Bible has proven fruitless in promoting your understanding of
God and His will? C. Unity In Style: The Bible is a very condensed collection
of books. The Creation of the universe
and mankind, in only two chapters. Sin
enters the world is contained in one chapter.
The birth of Jesus, Matthew 2 and Luke 2. The death of John the Baptist, Matthew 14:10. The whole life of Jesus Christ upon this
earth is found in four short Gospels.
Throughout the Bible, the reader can perceive the divine restraint that
prevented the human authors from elaborating or rambling. Any human writer, relying upon his own
inspiration, would have written volumes concerning the Creation, what God was
doing before the Creation, the flood, the birth, and the life and death of
Jesus (John 21:25), as well as the
lives and deaths of each one of the apostles and so on. Thus, we must conclude, that the extreme
brevity of the Biblical record reflects the truth, that “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21).
5.
The Bible Meets the Needs of Man For All Time:
On
reading the Bible, we learn that man faces today exactly what man has always
faced, that is the matter of sin. Jesus
Christ is still the remedy for sin and modern man is just as enslaved to sin as
men from any previous generation (Romans 1:28-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).