UNIT I
THE DOCTRINE OF INSPIRATION
BIBLIOLOGY
Section I
THE BIBLE ITSELF
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
I. BASIC PRESUPPOSITIONS
A. God Is: The existence of God is the number one fact of history
NOTE: But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him Hebrews 11:6
B. Four Sources Used To Try To Find God
1. Reason
2. Mysticism
3. The Church
4. The Bible
C. God Has Spoken, i.e., Revealed Himself
1. God has spoken in: Nature
NOTE: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalms 19:1
NOTE: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse
Romans 1:18-20
2. God has spoken in: The conscience of people
NOTE: For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Romans 2:14-15
3. God has spoken in: Scripture
NOTE: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1:21
II. THE CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE
By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
A. The Bible Is One Book
1. It bears witness to one God
NOTE: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD Deuteronomy 6:4
2. It forms one continuous story
3. It predicts the future
4. It has a progressive unfolding of truth
5. It has one plan of redemption
6. It has one central theme: THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
NOTE: The New is in the Old concealed; The Old is in the New revealed Augustine
B. The Bible Is A Library Of Sixty Six Books Divided Into Two “Testaments” 1. The Old Testament
a. It contains thirty-nine books
b. It is written in Hebrew except parts of Daniel and Ezra which are in Aramaic
NOTE: The word “Testament” means:
1. Covenant
2. Agreement
3. Contract
c. The Jews divided it into:
1) The Law
2) The Prophets
3) The Writings
2. The New Testament
a. The New Covenant
1) Term used by Christ at the Last Supper
NOTE: Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20
2) Used by Paul
NOTE: After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. I Corinthians 11:25
NOTE: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. II Corinthians 3:6
b. Contains twenty-seven books
c. Written in Greek
d. Matthew was probably written in Aramaic
NOTE: By the end of the second century the Old Covenant and the New Covenant were the established names of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures
C. The Meaning Of “Bible”
1. From the Greek word: Biblos
NOTE: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1
2. Biblos is the outer coat of the papyrus reed used to make writing material
3. One book (singular), not books
D. The Meaning Of “Scripture”
1. From the Latin
2. The writings
NOTE: The most common term for the Bible by the early Christians was: Scripture(s)
E. THE WORD OF GOD
1. Logos
NOTE: Reason, Account
2. Rhema
NOTE: Statement
III. THE CANON
A. Definition
1. The word “canon” means measuring rod; thus we measure or judge by the canon
2. Applied to the Bible the canon means those books which have been measured, found satisfactory, approved as inspired of God, and considered to be the rule of faith and practice for the church
NOTE: And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians. 6:16
B. New Testament Usage
1. … according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us… II Corinthians 10:13
2. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them… Galatians 6:16
3. … let us walk by the same rule… Philippians 3:16
C. When Did The Books Become Canonical?
1. The books of the Bible, as far as God is concerned, were canonical when written
NOTE: And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Deuteronomy 31:24-26
NOTE: Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:7-8
a. Joshua read the law of Moses to the people
NOTE: And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
Joshua 8:33-35
NOTE: Then the people were without excuse
b. Peter accepted Paul’s writings as Scripture
NOTE: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Peter 3:15-16
2. After the writing of books there was the collecting and grouping of these books
a. This was a gradual process for both the Old Testament and the New Testament
NOTE: “It is a remarkable fact that we have no early interference of Church authority in the making of a Canon; no Council discussed this subject; no formal decisions were made. The Canon seems to have shaped itself… Let us remember that this non-interference of authority is a valuable topic of evidence to the genuineness of our Gospels; for it thus appears that it was owing to no adventitious authority, but by their own weight, that they crushed all rivals out of existence.”
George Salmon
“A Historical Introduction To The Study Of The Books Of The New Testament”
b. The Old Testament was completed by the time of: Ezra in the fifth century B. C.
NOTE: Christ accepted the Old Testament canon
NOTE: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:44
c. The New Testament was accepted by 397 A.D. and the twenty seven books of our present Canon were adopted at that time
NOTE: The Third Council of Carthage
C. The Principles Or Guidelines Used For Determining Which Books Should Be Adopted
1. Apostolicity
a. Was it written by an apostle?
b. Was it written by someone closely related to an Apostle?
1) Mark
2) Luke
3) Acts
4) Hebrews
2. Test of Contents
a. Are the contents on a spiritual par with the apostolic books?
b. This test eliminates the Apocrypha and the Pseudepigrapha
3. The ultimate test: THE TEST OF INSPIRATION
a. Did the book give evidence of being divinely inspired?
b. Does it edify the saints?
NOTE: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. I Corinthians 14:26
IV. ANCIENT BIBLICAL MANUSCRIPTS
A. Manuscripts Of The Old Testament
1. Masoretic Text (MT)
a. Secured by Jewish scholars
b. Between 700 and 1000 A. D.
2. Septuagint
a. The Hebrew Old Testament translated into Greek
b. Translated in the 3rd century B.C.
c. Jewish tradition says seventy Hebrew and Greek scholars did the work in three years
NOTE: LXX is the abbreviation for Septuagint
d. The “King James” of the Greek speaking Jews and Christians
B. Manuscripts Of The New Testament
1. All but possibly one of the books of the New Testament were originally written in Greek
2. At least 4000 ancient manuscripts, in whole or part, exists on the New Testament
NOTE: The division of the New Testament into the present chapters and verses
a. By Robert Stephens in the Greek New Testament in 1551
b. The first English Bible with these divisions was the Geneva Bible in 1560
V. ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
A. John Wycliffe
1. Translated in: 1382 A. D.
2. Translated from the Latin Vulgate
3. It appeared in manuscript form only and was not widely circulated but it reached the people
4. It was one of the main factors in paving the way for the Reformation
B. William B. Tyndale; 1526
C. The Great Bible
1. Translated in 1539
2. The first authorized copy of the Scriptures
NOTE: Definition of “authorized:” Approved or authorized by the State and State Church of a country. For example: Authorized King James Version
D. The Geneva Bible; 1560
1. The Bible of the Mayflower and Plymouth colony
2. Chosen over the KJV because it was not an authorized translation
3. The favorite translation of the non-conformists of England and Europe
E. The Authorized King James; 1611
1. Large portions of the Old Testament were not translated but taken from the Bishop’s Bible
2. Became the standard translation for several generations in America
F. The Revised Version; 1881-1884
1. Translated in England
2. Considered by many in Biblical studies to be a masterpiece of scholarship
G. The American Standard Version
1. Translated in 1901
2. Possibly the best modern translation for many years by main line theologians
NOTE: The favorite translation of Noel Smith, founder of the Baptist Bible Tribune. Used in many Tribune articles by him.
H. The Revised Standard Version
1. The New Testament appeared in 1946, the Old Testament in 1952
2. Translated primarily by modernists and liberals
3. Noted for translating Isaiah 7:14 as “young woman”
4. Theological bias evident in stance on textual criticism of the Bible
I. New American Standard Bible 1971
J. New International Version 1978
K. The New King James 1982
L. The Net Bible
1. A “first” in showing the process of translating Scripture in light of the textual basis of a passage
2. Contains over 60,000 translators’ notes showing their rationale for choices in translation of particular passages
3. An excellent tool for those versed in Biblical languages
M. English Standard Version
N. Holman Christian Standard Bible
Section II
INSPIRATION
By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
I. DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION
A. God Breathed
1. Theos: God
2. Pnein: To Breathe
B. That power which the Holy Spirit put forth on the authors of the Holy Scripture in order to guide them even in the use of the words they chose and to preserve them from all error and all omission
NOTE: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
II Peter 1:20-21
NOTE: The communicating of truth from God to humanity
1. It limits inspiration to the authors of Holy Scripture
NOTE: There has been no other inspiration in this sense neither before nor since the Scripture was written
2. This definition insists that the authors were kept not only from all error but also from all omission
NOTE: The original documents were not only accurate but were also complete in the sense that they contained all that God wanted to have as Scripture
3. This definition gives inspiration only to the autographs of Holy Scripture
C. The Bible Alone And the Bible In Its Entirety Is The Word Of God Written And Therefore Inerrant In The Autographs
II. THE HISTORY OF INSPIRATION
A. Before The Reformation
1. The Jews believed in the complete infallible authority of the Old Testament
2. The New Testament church believed in a strict, verbal inspiration of the Bible and held it as the final authority
3. This doctrine continued until the 16th century (except the Roman Catholic Church)
B. During The Reformation
1. Inspiration was the backbone of the Reformation
2. The Reformers held the strictest views concerning inspiration
C. After The Reformation
1. The 17th century: There was a tendency to eliminate the human element and to reduce inspiration to a mechanical dictation by God
2. The 18th century: Rationalism denied the infallibility of Scripture and asserted the existence of errors in the record
3. The 19th century: Excluded the supernatural element in inspiration
4. The 20th century: All previous views are held with many variations
D. Modern Day Positions On Inspiration
1. The Liberal or Modernist
a. Their language must be closely watched because they may say they believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
b. The Bible contains the word of God
2. Neo-Orthodox
a. Those places in the Bible which speak to your heart become the Word of God to you
b. The whole Bible is potentially the Word of God although not actually the Word of God
c. Much closer to liberalism than to fundamentalism
d. More dangerous than liberalism; not so easily recognized
3. Evangelical, Conservative or Fundamental
a. The Bible is the Word of God
b. The cardinal doctrines of fundamentalism
1) The inspiration of Scriptures
2) The deity of Christ
3) The substitutionary atonement of Christ
4) The bodily resurrection of Christ
5) The bodily return of Christ
6) Doctrinal Separation
c. The teachings of Jesus as to fundamentalism
1) Christ believed in the full inspiration of the Scriptures
NOTE: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18
NOTE: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:44
NOTE: The Scripture cannot be broken
NOTE: Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken
John 10:34-35
2) Christ acknowledged His own deity
NOTE: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:13-17
NOTE: And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
Luke 22:66-71
3) Christ believed in the saving power of His death and resurrection
NOTE: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
4) Christ believed in His own return
NOTE: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3
NOTE: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” … Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C. S. Lewis
III. DISTINCTION OF TERMS
NOTE: God’s truth is communicated by three methods:
1. Revelation
2. Illumination
3. Inspiration
A. Inspiration
1. In II Timothy 3:16 it is “God-breathed;” the strong conscious in- breathing of God into men qualifying them to give utterance of truth
NOTE: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness II Timothy 3:16
NOTE: God breathed life into Adam
NOTE: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7
2. It is as if God personally spoke every word
NOTE: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1:21
NOTE: “Thus saith the Lord,” “The Lord said,” etc. over 3,800 times in Scripture
3. It may include:
a. Revelation
b. Illumination
B. Revelation
1. That act of God by which He directly communicates truth not known before to the human mind
NOTE: Genesis 1
NOTE: It cannot be known apart from God communicating it. Example: The New Jerusalem
2. Supernatural communication from God to mankind, either vocal or written
3. Revelation reveals new truth that people cannot discover; inspiration has to do with the recording of that truth
C. Illumination
NOTE: Greek: Phos
1. The understanding of previously revealed truth found in the Bible by the reader of the Bible
2. The relationship of the writers’ illumination to inspiration
a. The very words were often the results of careful investigation
NOTE: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Luke 1:1-4
b. The writers both understood and were conscious frequently of their divinely inspired words, recognizing them as coming from God’s wisdom, not man’s
NOTE: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I Corinthians 2:13
c. Sometimes they did not know the importance of their own words, recognizing them as divine, but not understanding them
NOTE: Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
I Peter 1:10-11
NOTE: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Daniel 12:8-9
d. Occasionally they neither understood their words nor recognized them as divine
NOTE: And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
John 11:49-52
IV. THEORIES OF INSPIRATION
A. Natural Inspiration
1. It says inspiration comes from a genius of high order
2. It says no more inspired than Milton, Shakespeare or Confucius
3. Refutation
a. “Thus saith the Lord” by the prophets
b. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth… I Corinthians 2:13
B. Universal Christian Inspiration
1. All Christians have the same inspiration as the writers of the Scripture
2. Logical conclusion: Write a new book of the Bible
C. Mechanical Inspiration
1. Writers are mere instruments, were passive
2. How are the differences of style of the various writers explained?
D. Thought Inspiration
1. Only the concepts, or thoughts, were given by inspiration
2. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness … II Timothy 3:16
E. Partial Inspiration
1. At least some of Scripture is not inspired: “The Bible contains the Word of God”
2. Questions to be asked:
a. What part is inspired?
b. What part is not inspired?
c. Who is to decide?
NOTE: In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25
F. Plenary, Or Full Inspiration
1. The very words were given by the Holy Spirit
2. The writers were directed by God in the choice of words they used
3. All Scripture equally inspired
NOTE: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness II Timothy 3:16
V. THE BASIS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLENARY, VERBAL INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
NOTE: Plenary: Complete, without limitations
A. The Testimony Of Christ
1. The words of Christ are of absolute authority
NOTE: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35
a. The reception of His words is the great mark of discipleship
NOTE: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7
b. Christ promised the reliable recording of His words
NOTE: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
John 14:23-26
2. Once the Biblical Christ is accepted as the authoritative standard, there must follow the plenary acceptance of the Scripture
a. Christ’s statements
NOTE: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
NOTE: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18
NOTE: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:25-27
b. Christ’s attitudes
1) He accepted the Old Testament Scripture
NOTE: And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Luke 16:17
NOTE: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:44
NOTE: For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 5:46-47
2) He accepted the Old Testament as fulfilled by Himself
NOTE: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39
3) He accepted the Old Testament as the authoritative standard
NOTE: Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Matthew 21:42
NOTE: And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:31
NOTE: For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 5:46-47
B. The Testimony Of The Old Testament
1. God could and did give the exact words
NOTE: Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. Jeremiah 1:9
NOTE: And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. Ezekiel 3:4
2. Some words He commanded to be exactly recorded
NOTE: All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. Jeremiah 30:14
NOTE: And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. Exodus 34:27
3. God’s words are to be neither added to or diminished
NOTE: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2
4. “Thus saith the Lord” or its equivalent appears over 3,800 times in the Old Testament alone
C. The Testimony Of The New Testament
1. The New Testament accepts the inspiration of the Old Testament
a. To the Jews were entrusted the oracles of God
NOTE: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Romans 3:1-2
b. No prophecy came by the will of man
NOTE: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
II Peter 1:20-21
c. The Old Testament was given by the inspiration of God
NOTE: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
II Timothy 3:16-17
2. The New Testament claims equality with the Old Testament
NOTE: This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour
II Peter 3:1-2
NOTE: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Peter 3:15-16
3. The New Testament makes specific statements about itself
NOTE: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. I Peter 1:25
NOTE: If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. I Corinthians 14:37
NOTE: For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. I Thessalonians 2:13
Doctrine Notes 