All on Bible

8/14/2019 All on Bible

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7 ideas for

enriching Bible

understanding

The Bible is a rich library

to be savoredover a lifetime.

Prof. Lakshman Madurasinghe


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Place yourself in the shoes of those whoread those documents for the first time

The aim of good Biblical interpretation

is simple: to get at theplain

meaning of the text.

-- Gordon Fee TIP

A Bible passage willnot mean what it

never meant.Howdo we do that?


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As we approach the Bible we must deal

with . . .

1. The historical gap between

Bible times and today.

We do not live in 800 B.C.

We dont even live in 33 A.D.


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As we approach the Bible we must realize deal with . . .

1. The historical gap

2. Social and cultural gapsWe are not Jews, nor

do we live in

agrarian Mediterranean society


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As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .

1. The historical gap

2. Social and cultural gaps

3. Language differencesWe arent reading the Bible in the original

languages in which Jesus, Moses, Paul and others

wrote.


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As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .

1. A historical gap


3. Language differences

4. Hand copied

manuscripts

None of the originalmanuscriptswritten by Paul or Moses or

Isaiah have been found.


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Qumran Wadiwith series ofcaves

Below: Cave 4 contained15,000 fragments from

580 documents


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As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .1. A historical gap



4. Copied manuscripts

5. Incremental (or unfolding) divine

revelationWe have the entire Bible; Joshua, for example, only

had the material in the first five books.


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As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . .1. The historical gap



4. Copied manuscripts

5. Incremental revelation and growth of human understanding

6. A variety of literarygenre (types)


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Bible literary types (genre)

History

Laws

Biography

Riddles

Drama Poetry

Letters

Parables

Wisdom

Apocalypses

Sermons


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As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . .1. The historical gap



4. Copied manuscripts5. Incremental revelation and growth of human understanding

6. A variety of literarygenre or types

7. Its divine inspirationThe Bible is at the same time both human and divine.


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Interpretation of the Bible is shaped by

the tension between:

1. Eternal relevance(Gods Word never changes!)

2. Historical particularity(anchored in time)


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Key Biblical Themes

The Bible revealsthe eternal design

of Almighty God to redea wrecked andruined world.


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1. Covenant

Covenant = agreement

Testament -- from Greek word chosen to

translate the Hebrew word forcovenantGod>s commitment to make creation

succeed


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Covenant symbols

Passover and Communion --

symbolic remembering of the establishment of

a divine covenant


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2. Deliverance or

RedemptionNoah and the Flood

The Exodus event

Jonah and Nineveh

Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah


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3. Law / Righteousness

God


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4. Eschatology / Hope

For the believer . . .

the future is about hope, not fear.


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Key Biblical Themes

1. Covenant

2. Deliverance / Redemption3. Law / Righteousness

4. Eschatology / Hope


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Authority of the Bible?


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03/02/08

1. Its internal claims to be

the Word of God


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03/02/08

2. Jesus and the Apostles quoted

OT writings as authoritative


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03/02/08

3. Historical church has used it

as Gods inspired recordof Himself and of His will


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Nazarene statement on

inspiration of the BibleWe believe in the plenary inspiration of the

Holy Scriptures, by which we understand

the 66 books of the Old and NewTestaments, given by divine inspiration,

inerrantly reveal the will of God concerning

us in all things necessary to our salvation


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03/02/08

4. History and archaeology

confirm it


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03/02/08

5. Fulfilled prophecies


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03/02/08

6. Remarkable unity and

coherence

40 authors

Took 1500 years to write


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03/02/08

7. Its life-transforming power


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03/02/08

8. Has answers to lifes ultimate

questions

What is the Ultimate Reality?

What is a human being?

What happens after death?What is the meaning of human history?

What determines right and wrong?


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Inspiration


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Inspiration

American Heritage Dictionary:

2. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high

level of feeling or activity.

3. An agency, such as a person or work of art, that

moves the intellect or emotions or prompts

action or invention.

4. Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea,that is inspired.


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Inspiration

The quality of inspiring or exalting: apainting full of inspiration.

Divine guidance or influence exerteddirectly on the mind and soul ofhumankind.

The act of drawing in, especially the

inhalation of air into the lungs.


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Inspiration

Sine qua non

of evangelical theology

The watershed issue of

contemporary evangelism


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Inspiration

2 Tim. 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspiredby God and profitable for

teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in

righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate,equipped for every good work.


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Inspiration

qeo,pneustoj =

qeo,j (theos) pneustoj (pneustos)

Lit. God breathed


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Inspiration

2 Pet. 1:20-21

But know this first of all, that no prophecy

of Scripture is a matterof one's owninterpretation, for no prophecy was ever

made by an act of human will, but men

moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


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Inspiration

Refers to the

interpretation of therevelation to the author

so that he might write

the Scriptures correctly.

Refers to the

interpretation of therevelation to the readers

so that they might read

the Scriptures correctly.

Correct InterpretationWrong Interpretation


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Inspiration

fero,menoi (pheromenoi)

Lit: to carry, to bear, to guide, or to

drive along. Used of a ship being carried by the wind

(Acts 27:17).

Passive participle.


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Theories of Inspiration

Intuition /Natural: Certain people were extremelygifted through their natural God-given abilities towrite Scripture. (Man)

Illumination/Mystical: The Holy Spirit movedwithin certain individuals to write above theirnatural capacity. (Man)

Mechanical/Dictation: God simply used the hand of

man topassively write His words. (God)


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Partial: Some of Scripture is inspired, not all.

Namely, that which is profitable for

doctrine, matters of faith and practice.Matters of history and science are not

included because they are irrelevant to

Gods purpose. (50% Man, 50% God)


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Degree: All Scripture is inspired, but some are more

inspired than others. (90 % God, 10% Man). The

days of creation narrative was written in

accommodating language, a sort of baby-talk(Alister McGrath, Christian Theology, 211).

Verbal, Plenary: All Scripture is inspired by God

who utilized the human element within man toaccomplish this without error. (100% Man, 100%

God)


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See notes for chart.


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Where Does Inspiration Lie?

1. Mind of God?

2. Mind of the Author?

3. Written Words?

4. Message?

5. Message Proclaimed?

6. Message Received?

7. Message Received


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1. God1. God

3. Mind3. Mind

of theof the

AuthorAuthor

4. Written Words5. Message

6. Message Proclaimed

g


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Inspiration

Biblical Docetism: the evangelical heresy


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InspirationExamples of the Human

Element within Scripture:1.Emotion: Psalms, Roman

9

2.GrammaticalDifferences: Hebrewsand John

3.Grammatical Errors:Romans 5

4.PhenomenologicalLanguage: Josh 10:13


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Inspiration

Definition: The supernatural act in which

God guided the writers of Scripture giving

them His words all the while utilizing thehuman element within man to produce the

Scriptures without error.


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Inspiration

Inspiration is . . .

Verbal: Extends to the very words of

Scripture, not just teachings.Plenary: Extends to everything in the Bible,

not just parts that speak on matters of faith

and practice.


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Inerrancy


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Inerrancy

Definition: The doctrinal teaching that the

Scripture in the autographa (original

manuscript) is true in all that it teaches.


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Inerrancy

Deductive Defense:

Premise 1: God is truthful and therefore beyond

error (2 Sam 7:28; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18).

Premise 2: God is the author of Scripture (2 Tim

3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21).

Conclusion: Scripture is truthful and therefore

beyond error.


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Objection # 1 (deductive)

To err is human

Premise 1: Human beings err.

Premise 2: The Bible is a human book.Conclusion: The Bible errs.


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Objection #1 (deductive)

Response

Premise 1: Human beings err.

Premise 2: Christ is a human being.Conclusion: Christ errs.


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The fallacy of this argument lies in premise

that to err is human.

Human beings musterr.

Human being can err.

Error is not a foregone necessity of humanity.


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Christ

100% human 100% God

Scripture100% human 100% God


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Objection # 2 (inductive)

The Bible contains errors.

Therefore, the Bible errs.


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Alleged Error #1

2 Sam. 10:18 vs. 1 Chron. 19:18


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1 Chronicles 19:18

The Arameans fled

before Israel, and

David killed of theArameans 7,000

charioteers and 40,000

foot soldiers, and put

to death Shophach thecommander of the

army.

2 Samuel 10:18

But the Arameans fled

before Israel, and

David killed 700charioteers of the

Arameans and 40,000

horsemen and struck

down Shobach thecommander of their

army, and he died

there.


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Alleged Error #1 Solution:

Error in transcription


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Alleged Error #2Matt. 28:2, Mark 16:5 vs. John 20:12, Luke 24:4


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John 20:12

And she saw two

angels in white

sitting, one at the

head and one at the

feet, where the

body of Jesus hadbeen lying.

Mark 16:5 Entering

the tomb, they saw

a young man sitting

at the right, wearing

a white robe; and

they were amazed


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Faulty Assumption

If there were two angels, there was also one.No contradiction is present. There is no rule

that the Gospel writer cannot differ in what

they choose to include.


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Alleged Error #3Matt 26:34, 74-75; Mark 14:30, 72


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Mark 14:30

And Jesus said to

him, "Truly I say to

you, that this very

night, before a

rooster crows

twice, you yourselfwill deny Me three

times.

Matthew 26:34

Jesus said to him,

"Truly I say to you

that this very night,

before a rooster

crows, you will

deny Me threetimes."


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Faulty Assumption

One writer can be more detailed thananother.


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Inerrancy

Facts about inerrancy:2. The Bible does speak in accommodating language

(e.g. The sun went down).3. The Bible does use round numbers (7000 killed,instead of 6899).

4. The Bible does use free quotations (Old Testament inthe New).

5. The Bible does summarize (Sermon on the Mount is

longer in Mathew than in Luke).6. Consideration must be made of the genera of the

individual books (Proverbs 22:6).

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