The Authority and Inspiration of Scripture

-Introduction

-Today’s topic is on the authority and inspiration of Scripture. We have spent a lot of time discussing how the text came to be. What I mean is we have laid out why we have a historical case to believe what we believe about the Bible. Today is going to be about authority and inspiration based off of what we see in the text. We need to define some terms for the normal people in the room who don’t keep fancy theological words in their brain.

-Inerrancy is the doctrine that the Bible is trustworthy. So you will not find mistakes in what the Bible teaches or claims. This doctrine is explained or articulated different ways. For example , if the Bible teaches sex is sin outside of heterosexual marriage, the Bible is trustworthy regarding that teaching.

The Bible does not err in its stance on sex; it is inerrant. This $20 word will come up during this sermon but it is not the focus. We just need to be familiar with it before we press on.

-A bunch of Christians came together and signed something called the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy (1978) This statement outlines what mainline Evangelicals believe about the doctrine of Inerrancy. I believe everything we have discussed for the last three weeks and every scholar we have quoted fall inline with this statement. We are not off on the fringe of what is Christian doctrine.

-Inspiration is a claim of who caused the Bible to be. We are not talking about authorship here. Paul is the author of Galatians but God inspired Paul to write it. God actually used men to write Scripture. The teaching of inspiration claims, Genesis to Revelation came ultimately from God. We are not merely saying the Bible is inspiring but inspired by God. There is a big difference between the two.

-Today breaks from a largely apologetic discussion about textual criticism and historical evidence for the trustworthiness and historicity of the Text. With this foundation, we move on to a theological discussion about the Bible.

Hey, apologetics matters, but if you heard Brent teach, you know we need a well rounded approach to discipleship. We hone ourselves and one another spiritually, theologically, and philosophically.

We could come at authority and inspiration from two different directions.

First, we could argue from authority by citing the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy (1978) and other such creeds or confessional statements. This would allow us to draw on the work of many theologians from many different backgrounds.

We would then fit the terms Inspiration and Authority firmly into our vocabulary as we polish our system of theology.

Second, we could exegete the text. We could allow the text in its context form our theology. This way we would have an understanding of theological ideas formed by only Scripture.

Systematic theology is useful but I see a clear choice. God’s Word is our foundation. So we are going to go topically through key texts from both the OT and NT on both authority and inspiration. So lets dive in to our first text.

Close your eyes. It is back... waaaay back, during the time of the Monarchy in Israel. You have Judah and Isreal ruled separately. It is the Bronze Age and it is violent. The Temple of Solomon is still standing but it has been infested with idolatry. The king of Judah is Amon son of Manasseh and he is a wicked man. He is so wicked his servants conspired to take him out and they kill him in his own home. Now the people of Judah put the conspirators to death. Turmoil grips the people; fear is across the land. Josiah steps into his father position and takes the throne. He is a God fearing King. He walks like King David not turning to the left or the right.

Open your eyes. This is our back drop for 2 Kings 22:3-13.

SLIDE (2 Kings 22:3-13) Follow along with the Bible Verse

2 Kings 22:3–13 ESV

In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people. And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house (that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons), and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.” And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

Silde (Blacked out)

So what is this all this about? Josiah is reigning after a period of heavy Idolatry. His father was King Amon and his grandfather was King Manasseh. These two predecessors aren’t worshiping Yahweh. Manasseh throws Judah into religious practices that are so abhorrent to God, he will eventually rise up Babylon and destroy Judah. The scripture says that during King Manasseh’s rule “they (meaning Judah and Isreal) passed their sons and daughters through the fire” (2 Ki 17:17) NET. This is either a reference to child sacrifice or some other abhorrent cultic practice. In light of the prophet Jeremiah’s testimony, I am inclined to believe the worst.

Enter Josiah. “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Ki 22:2)

So what Josiah does is start to reform.

That is why we read that long passage. It wasn’t just a run of the mill, “lets do a face lift on the temple,” “the carpet needs updated.”

Josiah is removing idolatry from the Lord’s house.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary has this to say about the renovations.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 22:3–7

The temple had fallen into disrepair and had been desecrated by Manasseh who had built pagan altars and images in it (cf. 21:4–5, 7, 21). In Josiah’s 18th year as king, at age 26, he began to repair the temple and restore it to its former condition. He sent the secretary, Shaphan (perhaps like a secretary of state) along with other high government officials (cf. 2 Chron. 34:8) to begin the temple renovations.

It is here that they find it…God’s word. The high priest gives this important official God’s Word. Shaphan does what? He reads it. Next thing he does is bring it to the attention of the King and reads it to King Josiah. We can infer that since nothing separates Shaphan’s reading of God’s law and him bringing God’s law to the king that Shaphan knew what he had in his hand was of dire importance. Mind you he is the king’s secretary not his intern who gets his coffee.

So now we have it. After two generations of kings that have disobeyed the LORD, the Law is read before the king. The texts says he tares his clothes. This is ancient Mesopotamian for I am in despair, I am in trouble, I am undone.

He expresses true grief because his people have truly disobeyed God. Josiah then starts to move. He sends the High Priest and three of his Servants to include his secretary to inquire of the LORD on everyone’s behalf. Josiah understood that his nation is under wrath.

We don’t want to hear about that word wrath…Don’t talk to be about wrath…Don’t tell me I got to change…Well too bad Josiah figured it out from God’s law…This isn’t legalism. Josiah is righting wrongs before the Lord to show his allegiance to the True King.

Josiah doesn’t hear Torah like mere wisdom or good advice. He doesn’t go, “what can God do for me,” or spiritualize God’s word away. He acts on the commands of God. He doesn’t apologize to everyone in his court for a politically incorrect book being read out loud.

What Josiah?! No more idols in the temple. We are only going to worship your God? How intolerant!

He acts on God’s Word in a bold way. We need to stop apologizing for what the texts says and submit ourselves to it.

This is what a high value on God’s Word looks like. When a king bends the knee to The King, that is authority.

Josiah's actions show us how to behave like you believe God’s word is authoritative. You move, you send, you grieve…You repent.

Let us go to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

SLIDE (Luke 16:19-31) Follow along with the verse

Luke 16:19–31 ESV

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Slide (Blacked out)

The Rich Man and Lazarus experience a reversal in this parable. We see this reversal as the main theme. The Rich Man ignores Lazarus in his need regardless of the abundance he enjoys and gorges himself on his wealth. We are taught that in afterlife Lazarus is comforted while the Rich Man is tormented. However, the text shows us more than the reversal between the two men’s fortunes.

The Rich Man ignored Lazarus in his need. We even see that in the afterlife the Rich Man continues to expect Lazarus to be at his beck and call. He even uses Lazarus’s name which really removes any thought that Lazarus was unknown to the Rich Man. He shows no remorse for ways. The Rich Man begs for mercy for himself by asking Abraham to order Lazarus to comfort him. Abraham does not comply but explains to the Rich Man why he is where he is.

The Rich Man doesn’t argue with Abraham about whether or not he should be where he is but he does ask Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead and tell his brothers to repent.

This parable flows into the topic of authority.

-What is the response from Abraham to the Rich Man?

Abraham says to the rich man,

‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ 

This is truly interesting because the Rich Man was just asking for Lazarus to be a messenger. There was precedent for this way of thinking that the dead could talk to the living in both Jewish and Greek thought. Rich man’s request is rejected because the Rich Man’s brothers would be hearing the Law read aloud. The reason the Rich Man fears for his brothers is because he knows that they do not take God’s law seriously enough to recognise the Messiah.

Abraham does not stop at a spirit messenger he lays the gauntlet down with resurrection. In verse 31 it says, “neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” The allusion to resurrection is important. It sets the tone for why scripture is authoritative, so if the connection seems tenuous lets refer to scholarship.

The possibility is couched in terms of resurrection, rather than simply a messenger from the dead, and fits in with the language of Jesus and the early church. Miracles will not convince those whose hearts are morally blind and unrepentant; they will not be persuaded. The parable ends on a note of solemn warning. -(NIGTC)

Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 639). Exeter: Paternoster Press.

The crucial part of this second theme is the presupposition that someone who rejects the authority of the scripture will reject any miraculous sign. This is clear because the sign mentioned is “the” sign for the Christian faith that is Jesus’s resurrection from the dead.

We need to get this. Listen, if we reject God’s Word, we reject God’s actions.

Point to Bible The Apostle Thomas didn’t have as much evidence for the Resurrection as we have. At least until he put his fingers in the Lords hand and his fist in his side. You have every testimony Thomas got and more. We begin our belief in the Messiah from the OT and it is fulfilled in the NT. Signs and wonders won’t convince you if you reject the Bible.

Slide (Akouo)

I need to mention a word in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus

The Greek word translated in the ESV as “hear” in verse 31 is “akouō”. This word means not just to use our auditory senses but to head or understand (BDAG). Jesus uses this parable to tell the Pharisees that they must respond to what is authoritative in the text. The New English Translation actually says “Respond” instead of hear. He is telling them signs and wonders won’t convince you if you do not head God’s word. Plan and simple. God holds the authority of Scripture to this level. It is essential for us to head Moses (which is the Law) and the Prophets or we miss the big moment, the resurrection.

If Jesus holds the Pharisees to this standard, what about us? Do we get a pass, of course not!

SLIDE (Blacked out)

-So that covers the OT’s authority. What about the NT?

Slide John 1:1

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This statement is beautiful. It is about Christ but it applies to our discussion. The Word is authoritative because the Word has all authority. Yes, we are talking about the Logos. The eternal second person of the Trinity. We can have no greater authority than the living, breathing, one true God.

The opening of John’s gospel is so hard hitting we need to discuss why some have had a problem with the Gospel of John. What gets attacked? John’s presentation of Christ’s divinity. This is sometimes called the “problem of John”. The Bible Knowledge Commentary has this to say on that.

SLIDE (Commentary quote) Follow along with me

The Bible Knowledge Commentary The Glory of the Fourth Gospel

In introductions to the Fourth Gospel many writers have a section entitled “The Problem of the Fourth Gospel.” The Fourth Gospel has been the great problem in modern New Testament studies. But what is that problem? One critic claimed many years ago that Jesus in the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke) is historical but not divine, and that in the Fourth Gospel He is divine but not historical. This, however, is clearly an unwarranted distinction, for the Gospel of John begins with a plain statement of the full deity of the Word made flesh (1:1, 14). And the Gospel nearly ends with Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God” (20:28). Jesus Christ is both “divine” (Deity) and historical (One who actually lived on the earth). So what is a problem to many critics is actually the chief glory of the church.

Also, contrary to what some have argued, the Synoptic writers, as well as John, present a divine Messiah. But John’s Gospel is so clear and pointed in his Christology that his theology has greatly enriched the church. The text, “the Word became flesh” (1:14), became the central focal point of the early church fathers’ meditation and study. John presented the Incarnation—God manifest in the flesh—as the foundation of the gospel. This is the “glory,” not the “problem,” of the Fourth Gospel.

Slide (Blacked Out)

Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 268). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

So this is the issue, when the divinity of Christ is questioned it throws everything off. The Bible no longer presents a true story because the Bible clearly lays out Jesus as fully God.

But how can we question the authority of the NT. We made a good case during this Canon series that what was left behind by the Apostles was the original teachings of Christ. Any charge of corruption of the NT is dead on arrival.

We have assurance of the things protected by the early church. We cannot separate these two things, the Bible is true and from our ultimate authority, Jesus, our Lord and God. The NT takes it’s place right next to the OT as the authoritative word of God.

We know now that the Bible is our standard. Solo Scriptura, Scripture Alone. It is what guides our actions because it is the revelation of God to man.

Now let us talk about inspiration. Who was moving behind the text of Scripture? A law can be authoritative but it does mean it is inspired.

Now we ask the question; does the Bible really claim to be Inspired by God?

OLD TESTAMENT

Lets talk about the call of Moses. Yup, we are going back to the burning bush and the Angel of the Lord in Exodus 3-4.

Most of us know the story well. Moses is called by God to go back to Egypt and deliver the Israelites from slavery. God shows Moses a sign. He causes Moses’s hand to turn leprous and back again. He tells him to go to Pharaoh to show him signs and to tell Pharaoh to release God’s people from bondage.

Moses argues. Moses does not want to submit to God’s command. His excuse isn’t “ I am scared or faithless”, it is about his ability to communicate.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

If we hold this event as happening in history, which I do, we have to submit to the fact that Moses’s message is inspired by God. Who is the Author of the Torah? Moses! Who inspired him? God!

What do I mean by inspired by God? The catalyst for the message being carried to Pharaoh is God. The message that God wanted Moses to speak to Pharaoh was delivered. All of that is held in tension with the fact that the median is a fallible man.

I heard a man of God say, “God can draw straight lines with crooked sticks”. The Lord is big enough to do that. Moses is a crooked stick drawing a straight line not on his ability but God’s.

We have to understand that when we talk about inspiration and authority in regard to the Bible we aren’t making the claim that the Bible came down from heaven or the medium is supernatural. But 2 Ti 3:16 Is still true.

SLIDE (2 Tm 3:16)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

If a Christian comes up to you and says, “You can’t say the Bible is inspired,” please challenge them with Scripture. This is so important. We have God’s Word. Do not let someone trip you up with scholarship. There are too many Scholars that hold to a high view of Scripture.

SLIDE (Blacked out)

One last scripture from the NT to round out our topical study today.

SLIDE ( 2 Pe 1:16-21) Follow me reading the verse

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter writes this knowing he is about to die, see v15. We have to take note of the boldness of the Apostle. He bares his testimony of what is left behind for the Church. He emphatically states God is the author of prophecy not man. This is the reason Peter can leave his people knowing full well they have the Truth. Christianity is true. We do not have any reason to doubt or question the authority of inspiration of holy scripture.

OK, the Bible is inspired and authoritative. Will we read it? I’ll ask you this, if the Word of God is our daily bread, why does the church in America insist on starving in an age with complete access to the Word of God?

We do our best at this church to preach in depth and long. No preacher or teacher can replace a personal relationship with an all powerful and personal God. No sermon can feed you for a week straight. Daily devotion is so important. There truly is not a substitute.

You go out and try to eat a meal on Sunday that will leave you full on Monday let alone Saturday.

Remember 2 Tm 3:15-16, “all scripture”, “all scripture, is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

God isn’t putting a gold star by your name every day you read your Bible and scraping one off every day you forget. If that is what you are hearing, I am not being clear.

What I am saying is, don’t go hungry when we have what we need at our finger tips. We are a very conscious culture on many counts but we neglect our spiritual health. It isn’t supposed to be easy. Pray to God for time to read and understanding when you do.

Pray