lesson 3


The Authority of Scripture

Where does Scripture get its authority? 

     - The words of Scripture are the very words of God.

         How can we know this? 

         Scripture proves itself when we look at it in its entirety.

         Throughout the Old Testament we see the repeated phrase

         "And the word of the Lord..." in various forms. The prophets

         who spoke were under strict obligation to speak the words

         which were being given them from God. They were fearful

         to preface their statements and proclamations as words that

         had come from God.

          

         Do your homework!

           *research the Old Testament- search to see how many times 

             you can find this phrase, and look at it in the context

             it is presented. Is the author aware that God is speaking

             through him?

         Some passages that we looked at in the Old Testament included:

     Num. 22:38, Deut. 18:18, Jer. 1:9, Zech 7:17, 2Kings 9:36,

  1 Sam 10:8, Ex. 24:7, Deut. 29:21, Josh 24:26, 1 Sam 10:25

 

        When we continue on to the New Testament we can see that the 

        NT authors we in complete agreement that the OT had come from 

        the Lord, and they themselves wrote with the same agreeable authority.

        In their writings you will find them quoting the OT as well as giving 

        acknowledgement to the working of the Holy Spirit in their life

        to train them, and give them the words they were scribing.

             Acts 3:18 "but what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets that his Christ

                                would suffer, he thus fulfilled."

        The author of Acts is reflecting and thus calling to our attention that the prophets spake

        from the word of God... he knows that God was speaking through the prophets,

        and surely it must have been God instructing them, because who can know 

        time and future and events but for God...and all that the prophets spoke, came to pass.

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Paul saw all of the Scriptures as a source of hope, endurance and instruction 

including the prophetic words of the Old Testament.

       Luke 24:25-27 "Oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets

                                    have spoken."

         Even Jesus proclaims her the validity of what the Old Testament prophets

         spoke...He so far as calls those foolish who do not believe every word.

        Furthermore...the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are

        comprised of the retelling of Jesus' life and work on the earth. The authors

        were given special recollection from the Holy Spirit in order

        to remember all that He had done and said. Those who walked with Him

        recorded His very words and conversations, making the gospels most 

        profoundly the very words of God in the form of His son as a human 

        speaking.

        Our conclusion- 

        the words of Scripture, in its entirety are the very words of God. 

 

 

     - Therefore to disbelieve or disobey any word of 

      Scripture  is to disobey or disbelieve God. 

           

           It seems that Scripture holds a divine weight over our lives because the

           Creator of the Universe and the Author of our Salvation is the One who

           saw fit to compose it as our guide. If all the words in the book are directly 

           from Him and the commands are all seen as applicable to our lives, then 

           it is fitting to believe that to neglect it, to misuse it and to dishonor it

           through disbelief and or disobedience is to directly disobey and disbelieve Him.

           Therefore it is of utmost importance that we become students of it and surrender

           to it. We must recognize its value and the ultimate authority that is possesses. 

           This recognition comes when we are fully aware that Scripture IS the VERY WORD
           OF GOD. It is alive and full of power that is available each day for our use in 

           instruction, correction, reproof, godliness, guidance, comfort, wisdom, peace

           and fulfillment.

lesson 4 

The Inerrancy of Scripture

 

Inerrant

definition: Scripture does not affirm anything contrary to fact. Simply put: the Bible always tells the truth concerning everything it talks about. It is without error and without conflict or contradiction that cannot be resolved.

Scripture is Truthful

Proof:

• It is against God's character to ever lie. 

Titus 1:2 "Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago"

• He is immutable- unchanging- If He is unchanging then He cannot deny His words, change His mind or rearrange what has already been spoken. Making His words- and Scripture- perfect.

Hebrews 6:18 "so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us."

 

Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him"

 

Psalm 119:89 "Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven" 

 

Matthew 24:35  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."

• His words (the Bible) are the ultimate standard for truth- truth does not and cannot exist outside of God's Word.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."

• Nothing new will ever be discovered that has not already been covered in the Word of God. No new standard of truth will ever arise that will have power to override or contradict God's Word. 

Again, we must note the necessity to claim a final authority for truth, to do so we must first believe that truth exists and that truth is capable of having a final end... a once and for all... an only standard.

* There are 2 common themes in our world's system of belief that we will find ourselves combating: the ideas that truth is relative and that it simply does not exist at all.  The first is pluralism- this world view sets a standard for no one, it is the thought that every man determines his own truth and whatever he believes therefore is true. The second is 

post-modernism- this world view says that truth does not exist at all.

Friends... truth MUST exist! Let us be prayer warriors and instruments of the Lord to 

bring about an understanding and knowledge of truth to our lost world. Truth exists and 

it exists in the Word of God. 

 

 Sources:

Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

                                                                                  The Bible (New American Standard Version) 

Introduction to Bible Doctrines

The ladies of Blessed Hope Halifax have begun the study of doctrine.

To begin gleaning knowledge in this area we must first have a proper understanding of how to treat the Scriptures. Our first two lessons were all about HOW to approach the study of God's Word.

Below is a recap of what we have learned thus far.

lesson 1:

When we commit to studying God's Word we must recognize

 it as the final authority for life.

 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

-2 Timothy 3:16

We can begin to better our grasp on the Scriptures by understanding the practice of Systematic Theology.

What is Systematic Theology?

-collecting passages

-understanding the concept and context

-formulating organized thought about the content

-applying directly to our lives

By understanding how to “do” systematic theology…we can know HOW to study God’s Word properly.

 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 

2 Timothy 2 :15

We need to study what the Bible itself has to say, never do we want to put emphasis on man or the   knowledge of man…

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

- Col. 1:18

 …in order to do so...

For emphasis: 

We must recognize that Scripture is the final authority for life and godliness.

 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." 

-2 Peter 1:3

    "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you"

-Deuteronomy 4:2

^" For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

-Hebrews 4:12-13

  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

-Matthew 24:35 (red letter-words of Jesus)

 

Theology further defined:

Theology is studying what God wants us to believe and know in situations as opposed to Ethics which is what He wants us to do and what attitudes He wants us to have for situations.

Systematic theology will attempt to summarize the teachings of Scripture in a brief understandable statement for accessible application in our daily lives.

 

What’s important…

As students of the Word…which we all should be if we are coming to know Him…it is important to carefully organize Scripture in order to prevent inaccurate analysis.

We want to be consistent and absent of contradictions

The better we study, the more sure we can be that we are not coming to wrong conclusions

“EVERY TIME I OPEN THE WORD OF GOD I SHOULD BE CHANGED BY IT.”

 

lesson 2:

How should we study systematic theology?

1. with prayer

"Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law"

Psalm 119:18

 

example: read 1Kings 3:9-15

⁹  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³  I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴ And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

King Solomon requested of God the ability to discern and execute wisdom- granted in this context his request is for the area of his leadership and kingdom, however for our study we can note the response of God to his request and gain confidence that when we pray for wisdom and discernment with a humble heart- of any subject ESPECIALLY God's Word, He will honor that request.

**understand that it is only the Lord who has the power to help us understand. We must rely fully on Him in the discernment of His Word.

"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures"

-Luke 24:45

2.  with humility

Look back to the passages about Solomon... what quality can we recognize in his request that the Lord seems to be honoring? humility. 

  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

- 1 Peter 5:5

Recognize that we are not seeking our own when studying the Scriptures we are seeking Him. 

 

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

 -James 3:13-18

3. with reason

Take examples from Paul, in his writings in the New Testament he uses Scripture to prove points and draw conclusions.

Never make our reasoning's equal to Scripture, but use the mind you have been given to think through  the concepts presented to you by the Word.

Always continue to search and do not settle for what man has to say....again Scripture is the final authority.

4. with help from others

Part of studying is talking thoughts out with others!

5. collecting and understanding

Be a collector of Scripture!

This point takes us back to the definition of systematic theology... it is the study of Scripture in its entirety to see what the full scope of God's Word has to say. The entire Bible is fitted together to teach us in every area on every level.

6. with rejoicing and praise

We must rejoice in what the Word has to say...at times we may experience discomfort as it produces change in our lives, hearts and minds -but as we keep a joyful heart and praise Him for the work He is doing and the greatness of His Word we will find ourselves relentlessly desiring truth and pursuing further understanding and application of it.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!

-Psalm 139:17

References:

 1. Bible Doctrines by Wayne Grudem

2. The Bible- English Standard Version