Bible: How did we get it?

Introduction

God chose to reveal Himself.

General Revelation - God’s invisible attributes are seen in Creation.

Special Revelation - Specific communication and Actions revealing himself and his will. Preserved in the Bible.

Progressive Revelation - God revealing his plan of redemption over time with Jesus being the fulfillment.

How did we get the Bible?

God revealing himself and preserves his words.

God guiding and using people to write down and collect his Words.

God Breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 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.

All Scripture (16a)

Word “all” or “Every” could be used. It could refer to every portion of scripture or all meaning the whole of scripture.

Scripture - “scripture n. — the entirety of sacred Scriptures inspired by the God of Israel (at a specific period of redemptive history).” (Sense)

Paul is pointing them to the OT Scriptures. The NT was being written at that point.

God-Breathed (16b)

Theopneustos (x1) - a communication which has been inspired by God—‘inspired by God, divinely inspired.’ (Louw, Nida)

“From θεὸς God and πνεῖν to breathe. God-breathed. The word tells us nothing of the peculiar character or limits of inspiration beyond the fact that it proceeds from God.” (Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 4. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.)

The Scriptures they had (OT) was inspired or given by God.As God was revealing himself and his will, He was also inspiring the record of his activities.

Scriptures are used for Instruction. (16c-17)

“profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (ESV)

Profitable - pertaining to a benefit to be derived from some object, event, or state—‘advantage, benefit, beneficial.’ (Louw, Nida)

For teaching, reproof, correction, and training.

“that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work." (NET)

Capable - This word is positioned for special emphasis; it carries the sense of “complete, competent, able to meet all demands.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.)

Equipped - to make someone completely adequate or sufficient for something—‘to make adequate, to furnish completely, to cause to be fully qualified, adequacy.’ (Louw, Nida)

Romans 15:4 (ESV)

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Again, The Scriptures they had (OT) was inspired or given by God. As God was revealing himself and his will, He was also inspiring the record of his activities.

Inspired Prophets (2 Peter 1:16-21)

2 Peter 1:16–21 (ESV)

16 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. 17 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,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 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, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 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’s Experience (16-18)

2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)

16 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.

Eyewitness - one who has personally seen an event and thus has personal knowledge and can be expected to attest to the occurrence of such an event—‘eyewitness, personal witness.’ (Louw, Nida)

Majesty - majesty n. — the quality of a person or thing which inspires awe or reverence in the beholder; can be related to size, strength, power, or authority. (Sense)

Peter is talking about his encounter with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. (Matt 17:1-8) He was an eyewitness to the glory of God and hearing his voice.

Prophetic Word (19-20)

2 Peter 1:19–20 (ESV)

19 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, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

Prophetic Word - message (communication) n. — a communication that is most often spoken, but can come through other means. (Sense), prophetic adj. — of or relating to representative declarations of the mind, will, or knowledge of God. (Sense)

Fully Confirmed - pertaining to being able to be relied on or depended on—‘dependable, reliable, trustworthy.’ (Louw, Nida)

Peter is saying that we have a message given by God that is fully reliable and trustworthy.

“No Prophecy of Scripture...” (20)

Prophecy - prophecy (God) n. — a representative declaration of the mind, will, or knowledge of God; especially concerning past, present, or future manifestations of the outworking of His will or other events. (Sense)

Scripture - passage (scripture) n. — a section of text from the sacred Scriptures; especially the Old Testament. (Sense)

We have the revealed word of God, the Scriptures. They are reliable and trustworthy, why?

Holy Spirit’s Work (21)

2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV)

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 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.

Not through personal interpretation

“to explain the meaning of something, with the implication that the text in question is difficult or complex—‘to explain, meaning, explanation.’" (Louw, Nida)

They are not interpreting the meaning behind events and writing down their ideas.

Not produced by the will of man

produced - to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action—‘to guide, to direct, to lead.’ (Louw, Nida)

will - (derivative of θέλωc ‘to desire,’ 25.1) that which is desired or wished for—‘wish, desire.’ (Louw, Nida)

The scriptures were not produced by people who were trying to convince people to conform to their desires.

Holy Spirit carried along individuals.

Carried along - to so influence others as to cause them to follow a recommended course of action—‘to guide, to direct, to lead.’ Same as “produced” earlier (Louw, Nida)

The scriptures were not produced by men seeking to cause people to conform to their will, but the authors of scripture were producing what the Holy Spirit was desiring for them to write.

The scriptures are from God in that he guided the individuals and groups of people to produce the message and truths He wanted to get across to the world.

Why believe the Bible is from God?

Jesus Confirms

Who He is.

Jesus is God incarnate.

Proved it by Words and Miracles.

Jesus predicted his death, burial, and resurrection.

Jesus died, was buried and rose again.

OT Jesus spoke about the scriptures with High Regard.

Luke 24:36–49 (ESV)

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Everything in the Scriptures… (44)

Jesus speaks about and points the Disciples and Jews to the Scriptures to address what God has said and how he is the fulfillment of God’s promises.

“the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms" (44)

This is the 3 fold division of the Hebrew OT.

Jesus is addressing the entire OT.

Throughout Jesus ministry He quoted or pointed to the OT Scriptures. (“In the beginning” Genesis, “Law of Moses” Torah, “Prophet” reading from Isaiah’s scroll, “Sign of Jonah”, Jonah)

The scriptures pointed to Him and he fulfilled them.

Luke 24:25–27 (ESV)

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself

John 5:39–40 (ESV)

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Jesus spoke of the OT scriptures with high regard as the promises of God and His fulfillment.

(NT) Apostles to be taught by Holy Spirit.

John 16:4–15 (ESV)

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Holy Spirit will guide the Apostles (13)

Jesus told the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them in all truth. This gives the same guidance from the Holy Spirit to the Apostles that was written about the prophets of old.

If Jesus believed in the OT and gave the Holy Spirit to the Apostles to write the NT then based on the authority of Jesus, the Son of God, I accept the Bible as God’s Word.

Takeaways

The scriptures are God’s revelation written down and preserved for all to read and understand.

The message of the Bible is breathed out by God and is beneficial for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.

The text of Scripture is written down by individuals guided by the Holy Spirit to write what God desired.

Jesus points to the Scriptures as authoritative and from God.

What do you believe and why?