Bible - Authority, Clarity, Sufficiency

THEOLOGY FOR EVERYONE

God, the Bible, and Man Wk 4 - The Bible: Authority, Clarity, Sufficiency

1. Characteristics of Scripture

   1. Necessity

   2. Inerrancy

   3. Authority

   4. Clarity

   5. Sufficiency

• Authority: How do we know that the Bible is God’s Word?

  • Definition - “All the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”

  • All the words in Scripture are God’s words.

    • This is what the Bible claims for itself.

      • “Thus says the LORD.” (Deut. 18:18-20, Jer. 1:9)

      • God speaks specifically “through” the prophets (Zech. 7:12)

      • The NT, points out many instances where “the Lord  speaks” in the OT (Matt. 19:4-5, Acts 1:16)

      • NT affirms all of OT as God’s words (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21)

      • New Testament writers also recognize they are writing God’s Words (1 Thes. 4:15; see also 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thes. 2:13)

    • We are convinced of the Bible’s claims to be God’s words as we read the Bible and are convicted by the Holy Spirit (John 10:27)

    • The words of Scripture are self-attesting

      • They cannot be “proved” to be God’s words by appeal to any higher authority.

      • Is this a circular argument?

      • Therefore, other evidence is useful and can confirm but is not definitively convincing (such as historical/scientific/ archeological confirmation, beauty of scripture, impact on the world, etc.)

  • Therefore to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.

    • Jesus rebukes his disciples for not believing the OT (Luke 24:25)

    • Believers are to obey the apostles’ words in the NT (2 Thes. 3:14)

    • Preaching is powerful when it points to God’s words as the authority

• Clarity: Can only Bible scholars understand the Bible rightly?

  • Definition - “the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.”

  • The Bible affirms its own clarity.

    • In the OT, the people were expected to be able to understand the words of Scripture (Deut. 6:6-7, Ps. 1:1-2; 19:7)

    • In the NT, both Jesus and the apostles believe Scripture to be clear

    • Jesus never blames people’s confusion on the obscurity of Scripture (Matt. 12:3; 22:29)

    • Most of the NT epistles are written to entire congregations (Phil. 1:1, Col. 4:16)

    • Understanding scripture is a moral/spiritual issue not an intellectual one (1 Cor. 2:14, 2 Cor. 3:14-16)

  • Believers still disagree on some interpretations of Scripture

    • The early church didn’t always agree on how to understand teachings of Scripture (Acts 15)

    • They are correct and incorrect principles for reading and interpreting the Bible. All Christians should learn the basic skills in how to read the Bible

    • Two possible causes of disagreements of what the Bible means

      • It may be that we are seeking to make affirmations where Scripture itself is silent

      • It is possible that we have made mistakes in our interpretation of Scripture

  • The Role of Scholars

    • Clearly communicate the content of Scripture to others (Eph. 4:11-12)

    • They can explore new areas of understanding the teachings of Scripture and supplement current understandings

    • They can defend the teachings of the Bible against attacks by other scholars or those with specialized technical training (Titus 1:9)

• Sufficiency: Is the Bible enough for knowing what God wants us to think or do?

  • Definition - “Scripture contains… everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.”

    • Salvation (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

    • Living the Christian Life (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Ps. 119:105)

  • We can find all that God has said on particular topics and answers to our questions

    • The sufficiency of Scripture enables us to focus our search for God’s words to us on the Bible alone.

    • Although the history of the church may help us understand what God says to us in the Bible, never in church history has God added to the teachings or commands of Scripture.

  • What about other means of guidance today?

    • God uses subjective impressions of his will to guide us day by day, being “led by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25; Acts 11:12)

    • God can guide us through “prophecies” or reports of what God has brought to mind that are spoken to us by other people (1 Cor 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20-21).

    • All extra-biblical guidance is subject to discretion and should be tested against the Scriptures and with the assistance of mature believers (I Jn. 4:1)