Greetings,
It is always nice to read and understand the Word of God. That is one of the reasons I spend so much time studying His word and does not matter how long it takes to know Him. Some Christians will say it is only head knowledge and it is a waste of time - it is better to serve Him which our time instead. It is true in way, as I have seen my fellow brother given up his secular vocation to spend a few couple years in theological school and later come out to serve Him in churches. During his services for God, he found out that Christian ministry is just not entirely different working in the secular world. He left the church after that and went back to teach in some private colleges. He puts his faith on hold and starts to question God that we should have done very much earlier.
To be a learned man, we have to be humble and patient when we spend a lot of the time listening to a Sunday messages. We will notice some of them (not most) use God’s Word for their personal agendas. Rarely do I find those who speak on behalf for God although they admit they are for God. Let us be deep rooted in the Word of God so that we are not easily swerve - but to pin point what is right and wrong. It is not necessary to have a theological degrees to know but do spend time reading the Bible and good books around our Christian bookstore.
Today, I like to share a message on Bibliology in a summary form:
1. INTRODUCTION AND ITS HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.
The term “Bibliology” (from Greek biblos meaning, "book") refers to the study of the nature of the Bible as revelation. It often includes such topics as revelation, inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, canonicity, and authority. Meanwhile, the word Bible comes from a Latin form of the Greek word Biblia that means "little books." It refers to the collection of 66 books from different authors compiled to make up what we refer to today as "The Holy Bible". Thirty-nine of the original books kept by ancient Israel in Hebrew are called The Old Testament. The second section of the Bible known as The New Testament is comprised of 27 books or letters written in Greek. The Greek used was not formal Greek but the conversational Greek used at the time of the Apostles. It took forty men shared in the writing of the Bible over a span of about 1,600 years from the time of Moses to the last book written by John. The first book written was Job and the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, was written about 443 B.C. The first book of the New Testament, Matthew, was written about 40 A.D. leaving a 500-year gap between the Old and New Testament books. It was the year God was silenced from man. A brief timeline of the Bible history would be like this below:
1,400 BC: The first written Word of God: The Ten Commandments delivered to Moses.
500 BC: Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts, which make up The 39 Books of the Old Testament.
200 BC: Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts, which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books.
1st Century AD: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts, which make up The 27 Books of the New Testament.
315 AD: Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament, which are today recognized as the canon of scripture.
382 AD: Jerome's Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced, which contains All 80 Books (39 Old Testament + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test).
500 AD: Scriptures have been translated into over 500 Languages.
600 AD: LATIN was the only language allowed for Scripture.
995 AD: Anglo-Saxon (Early Roots of English Language) Translations of The New Testament Produced.
1384 AD: Wycliffe is the first person to produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript copy of the complete Bible; All 80 Books.
1455 AD: Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books may now be mass-produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg's Bible in Latin.
1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed originally with all 80 Books. The Apocrypha was officially removed in 1885 leaving only 66 Books.
2. STRUCTURE OF THE BIBLE.
Next, we also noticed that the Bible was written in structural form. From the Old Testament to the New Testament the whole story, history and events happened in continuous one after another event without contradicting itself. We just have to know the twenty-four simple steps. Knowing these basic steps enhance our reading of the Bible more meaningful and interesting. I feel that these steps should always be memorized.
- Creation
- First Sin
- The Flood
- Confused Languages
- One Family Chosen
- A New Nation
- In Egypt
- Escape from Egypt
- The Law Given
- Judges
- Kings
- Kingdom Divided
- Captured Again
- Judah Returns
- Gap
- Birth of Jesus
- Preaching of Jesus
- Death of Jesus
- Resurrection of Jesus
- Jesus goes to Heaven
- Disciples Preach
- Churches Formed
- Letters to Churches
- Letter about the Future
3. WHAT KIND OF BOOK IS THE BIBLE?
What kind of Book is the Bible? To Gordon Fee, author of "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth" at page 21 quoted, "The Bible is the Word of God given in human words in history." It is a historical document written with a combination of the human and the divine paralleling our understanding of the person of Jesus Christ. The result of the human element of Scripture (words) is considerable diversity and uncertainty. However, when read John 1:14, it distills a special effect that "The Word became flesh" this means that the Word of God entered into the ambiguity and relativity of historical reality and becomes alive for those that read it. The process of canonicity involves the church’s recognition of the divine origin and authority of the sixty-six books of scripture.
4. REVELATION.
The discussion of religion naturally leads on to that of revelation as its origin. If God had not revealed Himself, religion would have been impossible. Man could not possibly have had any knowledge of God, if God had not made Himself known. Natural or some called it general revelation is the facts or ways we see god through the forces, and the laws of nature, in the constitution and operation of the human mind, and in the facts of experience and history. The Bible refers to it in such passages as Ps. 19:1, 2; Rom. 1: 20; 2:14, 15. While Special Revelation is addition to the revelation of God in nature, we have His special revelation, which is now embodied in Scripture. Special or supernatural revelation God used different kinds of means, for example Theophanies or visible manifestations of God.
5. INSPIRATION.
The understanding of the Bible as being inspired by God generates a great deal of debate both within and outside the Christians faith. Speaking only within the bounds generally regard the Bible as having revelatory content also regard it as being "inspired." Debate inside the faith germinates from the multiple concepts of the meaning of "inspired." Irrespective of the position taken on the nature of "inspired," the concept of the inspiration of Scripture requires an examination. The doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture is quintessential to whether the church experiences Scripture as "the Word of God." Understanding the Bible as inspired creates a unique relationship between it and the Christian faith, causing in the Bible to be the real "Word of God." The Scriptures need to be understood as inspired in order to be recognized as being the written revelation of God. The Bible is divinely inspired written revelation of God, and his redemptive purpose for humankind, acquires authority in the life of the individual believer and the Christian community as a whole. No longer have looks at it as historical literature, but as “Scripture,” the Word becomes alive or an authoritative "norm" of faith. As God gave is the Bible, it is an act pf giving revelation as we studied above. An inspiration guarantee that the Bible wrote was accurate and what God wants us to know. It is how illumination work of the Holy Spirit helps us to understand God’s revelation to us. In Dr Parker’s text, he gave us five types of theory:
Dictation theory where the Bible was dictated to the writers of the Bible exact word for word so that God guaranteed that the Bible was accurate.
Partial Inspiration theory where God inspired part of the writer writings.
Selective Inspiration theory is where it is entirely up to individual to say which parts are inspired.
Conceptual (thought) Inspiration Theory where God inspired the Bible by giving the writers the thoughts and they are free to write that thought in any way he wishes.
Natural Inspiration theory where the writers were simply put in the mood to write by the Holy Spirit.
Whatever theories comes up, what I can gather is that the Bible is the very breath of God which He breathed out through the earthly writers so that the words they wrote were at once divine and human. The word is actually a union of the divine and human too.
6. INERRANCY AND INFALLIBILITY.
Issues of diversity in the Bible inevitably lead to discussions of the concept of “inerrancy.” When talking about the issue of inerrancy, it is the belief in the internal formal consistency of all teachings within the Bible and factuality of all of Biblical words or statements. This rigid interpretation of inerrancy has resulted in fracturing inside the body of Christ, as well as forced interpretation of some passages of Scripture. Like what the text says that the inerrancy is a metaphor in which we determine to trust in God’s Word completely and it is without fallibility. The fact that the Bible never fails and cannot be contradicted is the basis for what we next called “Infallibility.” Inerrancy states that the Bible is true while infallibility states that what the Bible says will happen will surely occur and cannot be changed. Inerrancy in relation to the purpose of the Bible that highlights the conviction that it speaks the truth and not lies. Diversity in the Bible does not indicate it is a collection of disconnected statements but an assertion the purpose and steadfastness of the one true God is apparent throughout Scripture. The common redemptive purpose of God evident in the Bible provides a unified message in spite of historical and literary diversity resulting from human experience. It is this unified and inspired Revelation of God’s of redemptive message that is to be accepted as inerrant and infallible. We trust our life on it:
1. Because we know that God has many things in His spiritual universe that we cannot know since we are only men
2. Because we know that God has not revealed everything to us
3. Because we know that if we wait long enough and learn enough, many of the seeming errors will become plain to us
4. Because we know, that God is God and He is trustworthy
7. AUTHORITY.
The evidence for the authority of the Bible falls into two major categories: internal evidence and external evidence. For internal evidence, Bible claims to be the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, "All scripture is inspired by God." 2 Peter 1:21 states, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Second, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the Bible is the Word of God. John 16:13 states, "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." Third, we have evidence concerning the transforming ability of the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, "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." The Bible covers hundreds of topics, yet it does not contradict itself. It remains united in its theme. External evidences found outside the Bible it is well-known book in the history of the world, and is indestructibility when skeptics attack. No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a biblical reference. The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies, which have come to pass as we can see from Dr Parker’s list[1] as copied and pasted below.. No book in history has ever come close to the Bible when it comes to fulfillment of prophecy.
SUBJECT OF PROPHECY O.T. PROPHECY N.T. FULFILLMENT
Born of Seed of Woman (1) Genesis 3:15 Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:20
Born of a Virgin (2) Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18, 22-25
Son of God Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:17
Seed of Abraham (3) Genesis 22:18 Matthew 1:1
Son of Isaac (4) Genesis 21:12 Luke 3:23-34
Son of Jacob (5) Numbers 24:17 Luke 3:23-34
Tribe of Judah (6) Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:23-33
Line of Jesse (7) Isaiah 11:1 Luke 3:23-32
House of David (8) Jeremiah 23:5 Luke 3:23, 31, 32
To be born at Bethlehem (9) Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1
Presented with gifts Psalms 72:10 Matthew 2:1, 11
Flight to Egypt Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14, 15
Herod would kill the children Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16
Christ's existence before birth Micah 5:2 Colossians 1:17
Shall be called Lord Psalm 110:1 Luke 2:11
Shall be called Immanuel Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
Shall be a prophet Deuteronomy 18:18 Matthew 21:11
Shall be a priest Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 3:1; 5:5, 6
Shall be King Psalm 2:6 Matthew 27:37
Special anointing with Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2 Matt 3:16, 17
His zeal Psalm 69:9 John 2:15-17
Preceded by a messenger Isaiah 40:3 Matthew 3:1,2
Begins ministry in Galilee Isaiah 9:1,2 Matthew 4:12-17
Performs miracles Isaiah 35:5,6 Matthew 9:35
Teaches in parables Psalm 78:2 Matthew 13:14
Would enter the temple (10) Malachi 3:1 Matthew 21:12
Time of presentation as ruler (11) Daniel 9:25 Luke 19:28-44
Would enter Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah 9:9 Luke 19:35-37
Would be stumbling block to Jews Psalm 118:22 1 Peter 2:7
Would be a light to the Gentiles Isaiah 49:6 Acts 13:47, 48
Resurrection Psalm 16:10 Acts 2:31
Ascension to Heaven Psalm 68:18 Ephesians 4:7-10
Seated at the right hand of God Psalm 110:1 Hebrews 1:3,13
Betrayed by a friend Psalm 41:9 John 13:18
Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:13 Matthew 26:15
Money to be thrown into the Temple Zechariah 11:13 Matthew 27:5
Money used to buy a potter's field Zechariah 11:13 Matthew 27:7
Forsaken by His disciples Zechariah 13:7 Matthew 26:31
Kept quiet before His accusers Isaiah 53:7 Matthew 27:12-19
Wounded and bruised Isaiah 53:5 Matthew 27:26
Smitten and spit upon Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67
Mocked Psalm 22:7,8 Matthew 27:31
Hands and feet pierced (12) Psalm 22:16 Luke 23:33; 24:39-41
Crucified with thieves Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:36
Prayed for His persecutors Isaiah 53:12 Luke 23:34
Rejected by His own people Isaiah 53:3 John 1:10,11
Hated without cause Psalm 69:4 John 15:25
Was stared upon Psalm 22:17 Luke 23:35
Garments parted and lots cast Psalm 22:18 John 19:23,24
Suffered thirst Psalm 69:21 John 19:28
Gall and vinegar offered Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34
His forsaken cry Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46
Bones not Broken Psalm 34:20 John 19:33
Side pierced Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34
Buried in a rich man's tomb Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
Possessing authority, the Biblical witness frees the Christian from being held captive to the culture and its ruling norms. The Bible is the true, unchanging, and complete authority.
8. CONCLUSION.
In conclusion we know that the communities of Christian faith utilize the Bible as a "measuring rod" in determining we regard as the true Christian faith, just like what we read in canonicity in its book. Scripture becomes the standard by which we live our lives as Christians, evaluating our attitudes, actions, and intentions by the inspired written revelation that God provides. The Bible has unique authority in the life of our faith.
[1] Parker, James L, Bibliology, Faith Overseas Mission, Peterson, 1999
