A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Bible Interpretation

Prompter: Bibliology - Bible Interpretation (2 Tim 2; 2 Pt 1)

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(expanded)

Bible Fact: We must accurately handle God's Word, interpreting it correctly.

- Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15)

- ...no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Pt 1:20b-21)


Notes

Simple Definitions:

* Interpretation: (from 2 Pt 1) (Greek epilusis) the explanation, the exposition, the application [from epiluo - to solve]

* Handling Accurately: (from 2 Tim 2) (Greek orthotomeo) to make a straight cut, dissect (expound) correctly, rightly divide, cutting as if by a single stroke (versus hacking repeatedly at something)


Point: Scripture did not originate or spring from men (the prophets), but from God the original Author as He moved them to speak (and record) what He desired.

Point: therefore, the interpretation of Scripture did not come from the authors (the prophets), nor does it come from ourselves (our own interpretation), but is to be in accordance with the Author's (God's) intent.

Point: therefore, we must use proper hermeneutics (rules of interpretation) and exegesis (drawing out of the text what it actually says and what it actually means) to correctly interpret Scripture.

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Bible Illumination

Prompters: Bibliology - Bible Illumination (Lk 24; 1 Cor 2)

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Bible Fact: God opens our minds to understand his Word.

- Then He [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures... (Lk 24:45)

- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God... taught by the Spirit... (1 Cor 2:12,13b)


Notes

Simple Definitions:

* Opened (from Lk 24): (Greek dianoigo) to open thoroughly, to expound

* Understanding (from Lk 24): (Greek nous) the intellect, mind, understanding

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation, Complete

Prompters: Bibliology, Revelation Complete (2 Pt 1; 2 Tim 3; Dt 29; 1 Jn 3)

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Bible Fact: The Bible is complete.

- ...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him... (2 Pt 1:3a)

- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)


Notes:

: The words everything, adequate (complete), equipped (thoroughly furnished), and every in the above verses require the completeness of the Scriptures to be able to do these things.

: Though God could add more to the Bible today (God being able to do anything He desires), the Bible indicates He will not be doing that.

: Revelation is not comprehensive, though. God has not told mankind all there is to possibly know.

- The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. (Dt 29:29)

- God... knows all things. (1 Jn 3:20b)

: God alone possesses all knowledge (He is omniscient). We do not.

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation, to Israel Alone

Prompters: Bibliology - Revelation, to Israel Alone (Ps 147; Rm 3)

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Bible Fact: God revealed His words (the Word of God, the Bible) to and through the nation of Israel alone.

- He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His ordinances, they have not known them. (Ps 147:19-20)

- Then what advantage has the Jew? ...Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. (Rm 3:1a,2)


Notes

: No writings outside the Bible (which was given to and through Israel) contain the specific words of God to mankind. This means all other writings claiming to be revelation from God are false.

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation, Special

Prompters: Bibliology - Special Revelation (Num 12; Heb 1)

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Bible Fact: God has given revelation of Himself and His plan for mankind in a special or specific verbal way by directly communicating His truth to certain people in times past.

- He said, 'Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses... with him I will speak mouth to mouth... (Num 12:6-8a)

- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son... (Heb 1:1-2a)


Notes

: Special revelation gives ample and sufficient knowledge of God's plan for His people's salvation.

: Most people groups in the world still have vestiges of God's special revelation to mankind (i.e. knowledge of a worldwide deluge, mankind originating from two people, etc.) but they have veered from God's truth and perverted it. (An excellent book on this subject is 'Eternity in Their Hearts' by Don Richardson.)

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation, General

Prompters: Bibliology - General Revelation (Gen 1; Rm 2 / Rm 1; Ps 19 / Col 1; Eph 1; 1 Sam 2)

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Bible Fact: God has given a measure of revelation of Himself to every person in a general non-verbal way.

a. Through the innate moral nature and conscience God has given mankind:

- And God created man in His own image... (Gen 1:27a)

- For when Gentiles... do instinctively the things of the Law... [they] show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them... (Rm 2:14,15)

b. Through creation and its preservation:

- For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made... (Rm 1:20)

- The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (Ps 19:1)

c. Through providence (God controlling all things in history and life from 'behind the scenes'):

- And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Col 1:17)

- [God]... works all things after the counsel of His will... (Eph 1:11b)

- The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. (1 Sam 2:6-7)


Notes

: These (a, b, c above) are not sufficient for knowledge of salvation.

: God has given mankind knowledge of His existence, His eternal power, and His divine nature - but this knowledge has been suppressed by many who have not glorified (made God known so He is praised and celebrated) or thanked Him as their Creator. (Rm 1:18-21)

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation is Necessary

Prompters: Bibliology - Revelation is Necessary (Mt 11; Jn 17)

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Bible Fact: Without revelation from God we will not know Him.

- ...and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (Mt 11:27b)

- 'O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You... and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known...' (Jn 17:25-26a)

A Theological Doctrine

Bibliology - Revelation

Prompters: Bibliology - Revelation (Dt 29; Mt 16; Gal 1)

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Bible Fact: God has revealed Himself and at least some of His truth to mankind.

- The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. (Dt 29:29)

- ...flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Mt 16:17) [that Jesus is the Christ / Messiah, the Son of the living God]

- For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:12) [the gospel]

Notes

: Theological Term: Revelation - to disclose, uncover, or unveil something

A Theological Doctrine

(new series - A Theological Doctrine)

Bibliology - Bible Indestructibility

Prompters: Bibliology - Bible Indestructibility (Is 40; 1 Pt 1)

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Bible Fact: God's Word, the Bible, is indestructible. It will stand and abide forever.

- The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (Is 40:8)

- ...the word of the Lord abides forever... (1 Pt 1:25a)