220 likes | 515 Views
Inspiration of the Bible. St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Jersey City, NJ. What is the Bible?.
E N D
Inspiration of the Bible St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Jersey City, NJ
What is the Bible? • “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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
What is the Bible? • “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
Inspiration • Qeovpneustoß • Theopneustos • theh-op'-nyoo-stos • God breathed • Breath, wind, Spirit!
Inspiration • The supernatural action work of the Holy Spirit to affect the minds of the authors of the holy books of the Bible, so that what they write in not their personal memoirs but the word of God. • Perfect from God’s perspective with authority, and perfectly human so we can understand it. • The inspired authors are the harp of the Holy Spirit
What Scripture says about itself? • “the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35) • “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)
Revelation • God is love & love must be expressed • Indirect revelation (Creation, history, etc.) • Direct revelation (Prophecies, miracles, scripture books, etc.) • Inspiration is the recording of God’s revelation • Revelation without recording (do not write these things) • Inspiration without revelation (research)
Inspiration • Recording of revelation • “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning …” (Acts 1:16) • Entire Bible is inspired
Authority • Since it’s inspired, the Bible has authority over our minds, hearts & will. • “It is written …” (78 times) • “Thus says the Lord …” (3800 times) • Surely the Lord God does nothing,Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared!Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken!Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8)
Inerrancy or Infallibility • In original manuscripts • What about translations? • It is not a history book or a science book
Illumination • Same Holy Spirit who inspires the author, illuminates the reader to understand • It should not be read like another book
Illumination • “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Wrong ways to define inspiration • Natural inspiration or intuition theory • Dynamic or partial inspiration theory • Inspiration by thoughts only • Bible containing the word of God theory • Dictation theory
Also note that … • Inspiration is inexplicable • Inspiration is limited to books of the Holy Bible • The authors are inerrant only while recording the Scripture • Inspiration is plenary & verbal • Inerrancy in original manuscripts only
Why it is important? • Source of Bible • Integrity of the Bible • Power of Bible