words of scripture re· present god’s · “the "inbreathing" was into the text of...

‘the words of Scripture re· present God’s communication with and through sacred writers for teaching faithfully the infallible and inerrant truth which God purposed for the sake of salvation’

The statement above is a reworking and synthesis of the Protestant Chicago statement and the Second Vatican Council on biblical inerrancy.

What is the Bible? – a question of quiddity

Is it the word of God?

Can I trust my Bible translation?

All Scripture is inspired by God - 2 Timothy 3:16

No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God - 2 Peter 1:21

The word of God is living and active - Hebrews 4:12

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16 )

“the "inbreathing" was into the text of Scripture rather than into the men who penned the Scriptures, though, the inspired writers were under divine guidance” Calvert -- MISGUIDED

The word of God is living and active - Hebrews 4:12

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. 2 Peter 1:21

Dictation theory: God dictated the books of the Bible word by word as if the biblical authors were like dictating machines – Sort of sometimes yes, mostly not i.e. Exodus 17:14; Isaiah 8:1; Revelation 19:9

Verbal plenary inspiration: The effect of inspiration was to move the authors so as to produce the words God wanted using the "individual backgrounds, personal traits, and literary styles that were authentically theirs, but had been providentially prepared by God for use as his instrument in producing Scripture."

Dynamic inspiration: The thoughts contained in the Bible are inspired, but the words used were left to the individual writers. cf. Revelation 1:11.

“You have an anointing from the Holy…As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, 1 John 2:20, 27

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

from the Greek κανών, meaning "rule" or "measuring stick“ and that from the Hebrew (hn<Q') qaneh a reed for measuring

Historical process not an event

Canon consensus of the New Testament at the councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397, 419) ‘sort of' (Eastern and Western church schism)

“Circumstances of life”1

“Emotional state – Spirit’s prompting” 1 “Consistent with word of God” 1

“Concurrence with ‘truth-filled’ Faith community” 2 - Hebrews 13:10; 1 Corinthians 2:14

Written by a recognized prophet or apostle

Written by those associated with recognized prophet or apostle

Truthfulness

Faithfulness to previously accepted canonical writings

Confirmed by Christ, prophet, apostle

Church Usage and Recognition

‘the words of Scripture re· present God’s communication with and through sacred writers for teaching faithfully the infallible and inerrant truth which God purposed for the sake of salvation’

The statement above is a reworking and synthesis of the Protestant Chicago statement and the Second Vatican Council on biblical inerrancy.

What does your preface say?

Abbreviation Name Relative agreement

NASB New American Standard

1

ASV American Standard Version

2

NAU New American Standard (1995 update)

3

NAB New American Bible 4

ESV English Standard Version

5

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, abbreviated as BHS or rarely BH4

The 26th edition of Nestle-Aland's Novum Testamentum Graece is closely followed

“Textual criticism cannot yet produce certainty about the exact wording of the original, this uncertainty affects only about two percent of the text.”

“For over 250 years, New Testament scholars have argued that no textual variant affects key Christian doctrine.”

Why trust the Bible vs Why trust God’s Word?

“You don’t even have reliable documents” (Islam’s chant)

“You’re just reading a dead guys old mail” (a European NT scholar)

“You Christians can’t even agree on what the Bible is” (a sneering acquaintance and also the late Marcus Borg)

It’s historically wonky, take for instance all the zombie stuff like Jesus’ resurrection (a Bart Erhman follower)

“Circumstances of life”1

“Emotional state – Spirit’s prompting” 1 “Consistent with word of God” 1

“Concurrence with ‘truth-filled’ Faith community” 2 - Hebrews 13:10; 1 Corinthians 2:3-16

What is the Bible? – a question of quiddity

Is it the word of God?

Can I trust my Bible translation?

‘the words of Scripture re· present God’s communication with and through sacred writers for teaching faithfully the infallible and inerrant truth which God purposed for the sake of salvation’