Introduction to Bibliology

• Revelation • Inspiration • Illumination • Canonicity

The Bible’s History

• Revelation- from God to man • Inspiration- from man to paper • Illumination- from paper to heart

The English word bible is derived from the Greek word biblion, which

means “book” or “roll.” The name comes from byblos, which denoted the papyrus plant that grew in marshes or river banks, primarily

along the Nile.

Meaning of Bible

The word translated “Scripture” comes from the Greek word graphe, which simply means “writing.” The “writings” of the Old Testament were eventually collected into three groups called the Law, Prophets, and Writings (or Psalms), and constituted the 39 books of the Old Testament.

Meaning of Scripture

Claims of the Bible• 3800 x’s the Bible declares “God said”

or “thus says the Lord • 25% of the Bible is prophetic in nature • Paul, Peter & John, Jesus & the Father

all made acknowledgement of Scripture’s authority.

Continuity of the Bible

• Different Occupations of writers • Different Locations of writing • Different Circumstances of writers

Revelation• The word revelation is derived

from the Greek word apokalupsis, which means “disclosure” or “unveiling.”

• ”Revelation is both “general”—God revealing Himself in history and nature, and “special”—God revealing Himself in the Scriptures and in His Son.

How God reveals Himself

• He often spoke to men through angels • He spoke to men through a voice. • He spoke to men through a still, small voice • He spoke to men through nature • He spoke through the mouth of an donkey • He spoke to men through dreams. • He spoke to men through visions. • He spoke to men through theophanies.

• Romans 1:18-21 The “invisible attributes,” “eternal power,” and “divine nature” of God

have been “clearly seen” (v. 20).

• The human race is rendered guilty and without excuse through God’s revelation of Himself in

nature. • This revelation gives mankind an awareness of God but is of itself inadequate to provide salvation."

General Revelation

Revelation• God has also revealed Himself to the human

race through His providential control. • It is through His supplying people with sunshine and rain that enables them to live and

function (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:15-17). • Further, God has revealed Himself through

conscience. Romans 2:14-15 indicates God has placed intuitional knowledge concerning Himself

within the heart of man.

Special revelation involves a narrower focus than general revelation and is

restricted to Jesus Christ and the

Scriptures.

Special Revelation

Inspiration

• From man to paper • Elements of Inspiration:

–Divine Causality –Prophetic Agency –Written Authority

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Theories of Inspiration

• The Natural theory • The Mechanical Theory • The Content /Concept Theory • The Partial Theory • The Spirit-Rule Only Theory • The Plenary-Verbal Theory

Plenary-VerbalThat all (plenary), the very words (verbal)

of the Bible are inspired by God. This view alone is the correct one.

Implications of inspiration.

• Plenary-verbal inspiration does not teach that all parts of the Bible are equally important, but only that they are equally inspired.

• Plenary-verbal inspiration does not allow for any false teaching, but it does on occasion record the lie of someone

• Plenary-verbal inspiration does not permit any historical, scientific, or prophetical error whatsoever.

ILLUMINATIONIllumination is that method used by the Holy Spirit to shed divine light upon all seeking men as they look into the Word of God. Illumination is from the written word to the human heart.

Reasons for Illumination• It is necessary because of natural blindness (1 Cor 2:14) • It is necessary because of satanic blindness (2 Cor 4:3) • It is necessary because of carnal blindness ( Heb 5:12)

Results of Illumination

•People are saved •Christians are strengthened

Implications

• Need for faith • Need for explanation

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End of Class One

• review • Revelation is • Inspiration is • Illumination is

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Inerrancy & Infallibility

• Inerrant- without error in the original autographs

• Infallible- will never fail in what it declares.

1. Amazing Unity• In spite of long periods

between writings • In spite of many authors

and various occupations • In spite of geographical

places. • Different writing styles.

2. Indestructibility

• From Political Persecutions

• From Religious Persecutions

3. Historical Accuracy

• Sir William Ramsey • William F. Albright • Archaeology Facts

4. Scientific Accuracy• Earth is spherical • Suspended in space • Stars are innumerable • Mountains in the sea • Springs in sea

• Ocean currents • Hydrologic cycle • All things reproduced

after their kind • Health & sanitation

5. Prophetical Accuracy

• Dealing with Israel • Dealing with Gentile Nations • Specific Cities • Specific Individuals • Concerning Messiah (JESUS)

6. Universal Influence

• Literature • Art • Music • Law

7. It’s Care & Copy

• No book has been copied more

• Rules for copying • Number of Copies

8. Amazing Circulation

• Only 1/2 of 1% of all books published survive 7 years.

• 80% of all books are forgotten in 1 year.

• Bible is consistent best seller.

9. Absolute Honesty

• Speaks of both the successes and failures of it’s characters.

• Tells of eternal realities repugnant to the human mind.

10. It’s Life Transforming Power

• Ability to transform sinners to saints. • Ability to continue to make us more like

Jesus

Canonicity

• Definition Gk. kanon-=rod,ruler

• Synonyms Sacred Scriptures Writings

• What does NOT determine entrance in cannon:

• Age • Hebrew Language • Agreement w/

Torah • Religious value

Authoritative

• Often there is “thus says the Lord

• Teaching- divine pronouncement of what believers should do

• History- divine pronouncement of what God has done.

5 Basic Criteria

• Authoritative- does it claim to be from God? • Prophetic- was it written by a servant of God? • Authentic- does it tell the truth concerning God,

man, etc.? • Received- do people to whom it is written bear

witness? • Dynamic- does it possess life-changing power?

Prophetic

• Concerning true writers

• Concerning false writers

Gal 1:1

Heb. 1:1

2 Pt. 1-20

2 Thes.2:2

Authenticity

• True & accurate; since God can not lie, the content must match previous revelations

• The Aporcrypha is rejected due to this test.

Dynamic

• Only the truth has life changing power

• 2 Tim 3:16,17 • Heb 4:12 • 1 Peter 1:23 • 1 Peter 2:2

Acceptance by People of God

• Torah immediately accepted • Paul’s epistles- immediately

received by the church • Some book rejected due to lack

of authority • God vindicates those He

chooses.

Procedure for Canonicity

•Inspiration by God •Recognition by Man •Collection And preservation of writings

Writing materials• Clay • Stone • Papyrus • Vellum • Metal

Language

•Old Testament was written in Hebrew with some passages in Aramaic

•New Testament written in Greek

Reasons for Writing

• Precision

• Propagation

• Preservation

Old Testament• Job -2150 bc • Pentatuch-1402 bc • Joshua- 1350 bc • Judges & Ruth-1050bc • Psalms- 965bc • Prov., Ecc.,Song- 926bc • 1&2 Samuel- 926bc • 1 Kings & 1 Chron. 848bc • Obadiah- 848bc • Joel- 835bc • Jonah-780bc • Amos-765bc

• Hosea- 755bc • Isaiah- 750bc • Micah- 740bc • Jeremiah & Lam.- 640bc • Nahum- 630bc • Habakkuk & Zephaniah- 625bc • Ezekiel- 593bc • 2 Kings & 2 Chron.-539bc • Daniel- 538bc • Haggai & Zechariah- 520bc • Esther- 476bc • Ezra- 458bc • Nehemiah- 445bc • Malachi- 432bc

New Testament• James- 49ad • 1&2 Thessalonians.- 52ad • 1 Corinthians -55ad • 2 Corinthians -56ad • Galatians- 57ad • Romans- 58ad • Luke-59ad • Acts-60ad • Philippians,

Colossians,Ephesians, Philemon- 61ad

• Matthew- 63ad • Mark-63ad

• Hebrews- 64ad • 1 Timothy- 65ad • 1 Peter- 65ad • 2 Peter- 66ad • Titus- 66ad • Jude- 67ad • 2 Timothy-67ad • John- 85-90ad • 1 John- 90-95ad • 2 & 3 John- 90-95ad • Revelation- 95 ad

Human Writers• Matthew-author of Gospel • Mark- author of Gospel • Luke- author of Gospel, Acts • John- author of Gospel, 1-3 John, Revelation • James- author of epistle • Jude- author of epistle • Peter- author of 1 & 2 Peter • Paul- author of 14 New Testament books.