TXT MSG: How did we get the Bible and can it be trusted? W hat is the Bible and how did we get it? Why are these sixty-six books included in the Bible we have, and not other writings? Dan Brown's bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code, challenged the composition, accuracy and authority of the Gospels of the New Testament (NT). In his story, one of the characters states as a matter of fact that more than eighty Gospels didn't make it into the New Testament because the Catholic Church wanted to suppress what those books had to say about Jesus. For some people, this claim fueled more doubts about the Bible. "For many people the most disturbing feature in contemporary reports concerning the Jesus of history is the attention given to texts outside of the New Testament, some of which are called 'Gospels.' These Gospels which are also referred to as 'extracanonical Gospels' are purported to make important contributions to our knowledge of the historical Jesus. Sometimes it is even claimed that these texts give us more reliable information about Jesus than the New Testament" (Craig A. Evans, Fabricating Jesus, p. 52). In fact, there aren't eighty extracanonical Gospels. Only five, which are said to support a portrait of Jesus different from the one in the Four Gospels, get much attention, and none of them were written in the first century. Because they were written long after Jesus and the events of the biblical Gospels, "it is unlikely that they contain information that adds to our knowledge of Jesus" (Evans, p. 52). The individual books in our Old and New Testaments were written over a long period of time by various writers. Why does our English Bible include the books it does? In answering this question, "it is essential to remember that the Bible is self-authenticating since its books were breathed out by God (2 Tim 3:16). In other words, the books were canonical the moment they were written. Neither the nation of Israel nor the Church had to wait until various councils could examine the books to determine if they were God-breathed (inspired) or not. Their canonicity was inherent within them, since they came from God. People and councils only recognized and acknowledged what is true because of the intrinsic inspiration of the books as they were written. No Bible book became canonical by action of some church council" (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, p. 119). In a similar way, great works of art called "masterpieces" are what they are. Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal is a masterpiece; but not because a council of art critics convened and made it one by calling it one. The painting has inherent qualities that make it a masterpiece. Some called it a "masterpiece" before the paint dried, others saw it later and agreed, in time there was consensus. And so it was with Scripture: the people of God could see right away the imprint of God s breath in the very words. Jesus put His own stamp of approval and authentication on the books of the OT. "His own affirmations, by statement and use, of its unqualified divine authority do certify to us its canonicity (Matt 4:4, 7, 10; 5:17, 18; 11:10; 19:4, 5; 21:13, 42; 22:29, 31, 32; 26:31, 56; Mark 12:10, 11, 24; Luke 24:25, 44; John 10:35). Unquestionably, Christ's constant quotation from the OT Scriptures and his utter reliance on them have a crucial relationship to the canon. Therefore, the NT references (many of them recorded in Matthew but paralleled in other Gospels) that establish the content of the previous Scriptures, conclusively define for the Christian a closed canon that concurs with that attested by Josephus, Philo, and the Talmud" (Milton C. Fisher, "The Canon of the Old Testament," The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 1:390). In other words, the Old Testament in our English Bible includes the very same books included in the Hebrew scriptures Jesus considered authoritative not one more, not one less. The question of canon (rule or standard of measure) for the NT is tied to the question of authority. "The early Christians had a 'canon' (rule) of unquestioned authority
before a single book of our NT was written. Unlike their Jewish brethren who did not believe in Christ, they could not, however, stop there, for the Lord, who had recognized and validated that Scripture, was himself unquestioned authority" (Andrew F. Walls, "The Canon of the New Testament," The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 632). The early Christians, who for the most part were Jewish Christians, also recognized the authority of the Hebrew scriptures, just as Jesus did. But they also recognized the authority of Christ to such a degree that "a word from the Lord" was enough to settle a question regarding marriage and divorce (1Cor 7:10, 11) or to command the remembrance of Him around the Lord's Table (1Cor 11:23-33). The authoritative nature of the Lord's words produced a need for collections of what He said and did. Luke introduced his own Gospel record by acknowledging that fact (Luke 1:1-4). The early church also recognized the authority of the Apostles who "provided a normative interpretation of the person and work of Christ and a normative repository of his teaching" (Walls, p. 633; cf., John 14:26; 16:13-15). For example, they recognized the breath of God in some of the writing of Paul, just as they did the OT, and called his letters Scripture too (2 Peter 3:15-16). So the early church collected these writings which shared the same stamp of inspiration (1Ti 4:13) the epistles as well as the Gospels. Before the end of the second century the four Gospels, Acts, and the thirteen Pauline epistles were universally recognized as canonical (Walls, p. 641), divine "masterpieces." By the middle of the fourth century the list of canonical writings in a Festal Letter of Athanasius (A.D. 367) is identical with that of our own New Testament canon; by then Christians were reading the full set of inspired revelation that has been handed down to us as well (Walls, p. 642). FOR DISCUSSION What are the next things about which you often think? Reflect on the past week and today, and be honest. ENCOUNTER read God s word so that He can speak to you. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
EXAMINE what the passage says before you decide what it means. Underline prophet s own interpretation and the will of man Put brackets [ ] around no and never Circle carried along Underline All Scripture Circle God-breathed Put brackets [ ] around so that indicating purpose/result Draw boxes around useful and thoroughly equipped and link them together Underline in the past, prophets and in these last days, his Son Put brackets around but indicating contrast Circle many and various EXPLORE God s Word by asking questions of what you saw. The notes which follow may help you to think through these questions. The notes which follow may help you to think through these questions: 1) Though we don t know the precise details of how God s Spirit superintended ( carried along ) people to write His very words, how would you describe the process from what Scripture tells us? 2) Inerrancy means that since the Scriptures are given by God, they are free from error in all their contents, including doctrinal, historical, scientific, geographical, and other branches of knowledge as they were given by God. Do you agree or not? What difference does it make? 3) Can you give any examples where the Bible has been shown to be true? (Consider fulfilled prophecy, archaeological evidence, etc.)
4) Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947-1956) have given us examples of much of the entire OT Scriptures dating from before Jesus, and show us that the OT we read today is essentially the same as over 2000 years ago. How important is it that the Scriptures have remained unchanged for millennia? What does that say to you regarding the transmission of Scripture and God s role in it? 5) Can you make this statement of faith: I believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command my belief and action? If not, why? If you can, how would somebody see it in your life? NOTES ON THE PASSAGE "Prophecy" is another word for the Word of God since it is what the Old Testament writers "spoke forth," the literal meaning of the Greek word propheteia, translated "prophecy." Verse 21 helps explain what Peter meant by the last clause in verse 20. What we have in Scripture did not originate in the minds of men but in the mind of God. "False teaching flows from the minds of men and women; truth flows from the heart and mind of the living God" (Paul A. Cedar, James, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, p. 218). The prophets did not simply give their views of how things were or would be (v. 20). They spoke as God's mouthpieces articulating His thoughts in words that accurately represented those thoughts. The Holy Spirit "moved" the prophets to do so as the wind moves a sailboat (cf. John 3:8). The same Greek verb (phero) occurs in Acts 27:15 and 17 to describe that action. This passage does not explain specifically how the Holy Spirit did this. However in view of what we find elsewhere in Scripture, we know He did it without overriding the vocabulary and style of the prophet. In some cases the writers of Scripture used other resource materials (e.g., Josh. 10:13; 1 Kings 14:19; Luke 1:3; et al.). Even though verses 20 and 21 do not describe the method of inspiration in detail, they clearly affirm the basic method and the fact of inspiration. God is the Author of Scripture (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16). He guided the writers of Scripture to record His words by His Holy Spirit. All doesn t just refer to certain doctrine, such as salvation. When the Greek word translated "all" or "every" (pas) occurs with a technical noun such as "Scripture," it is better to render it "all" rather than "every" (H. Wayne House, "Biblical Inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16," Bibliotheca Sacra 137:545 (January-March 1980):54-56). The context also points to the fact that Paul had Scripture as a whole in view. Paul had been speaking of the Old Testament as a whole in verse 15, and he naturally carried that thought over into verse 16. All Scripture is divinely inspired (Gr. theopneustos, lit. God-breathed, cf. 2 Pet. 1:21). This should be enough reason for proclaiming it. The Bible (Scripture) does not merely contain the Word of God or become the Word of God under certain conditions. It is God's Word, the expression of His person (heart, mind, will, etc.). This was the view of the Hebrew Bible that Jews in the first century commonly held (J. N. D. Kelly, A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, p.203). "Scripture" means sacred writing and applies to all divinely inspired writings (Old and New Testaments). The Greeks used the word graphe, translated "Scripture," to refer to any piece of writing, but the New Testament writers used it only of Holy Scripture. When Paul made this statement the books of our Old Testament were the inspired writings he had in view primarily. However even in Paul's day Christians recognized some New Testament books as inspired (cf. 2 Pet. 3:16).
Scripture is useful we need it. It is profitable for teaching (causing others to understand God's truth) and reproof (bringing conviction of error when there has been deviation from God's truth). It is helpful for correction (bringing restoration to the truth when there has been error) and training in righteousness (child-training type guidance in the ways of right living that God's truth reveals). This is a selective rather than an exhaustive list of the ways in which the Scriptures are useful. The key: God has spoken! He is a Self-revealing God (cf. John 1, Rom 1). God is not found as men happen to probe toward Him, but He reveals Himself as He wills. The revelation of God is continuous. Note the contrasts: a. long ago... these last days - progress of revelation b. prophets in various ways... in His Son - finality of revelation. Now one way at one time. c. to the fathers... to us - cf. 11:39-40. In our days is the completion. No former revelation was complete in itself, but now the program of revelation is coming to an end. v. 2 "in One who is Son" - (no article) The emphasis is on the nature of the Son, not His revelation. Prophetic revelation is indirect; Son revelation is direct. Son revelation is superior to prophets for it fully reveals God (cf. John 1:18). The qualifications of the Son to be the revealer: a. "He appointed Him heir of all things" - cf. Psalm 2:8 heir = being executor/administrator; the transfer of authority and the right to rule. In the Bible it doesn t have to do primarily with material things, but His rights/privileges/authority. There is a difference between an equal heir and a co-heir. An equal heir means an equal division of the inheritance. Being a co-heir means a sharing together of the total estate. We are co-heirs with Christ. b. "by whom He made the world" ( age ) He framed/arranged/ordered the ages. c. "brightness of His glory" (cf. John 1:14) He is the radiance: glory is sourced in Him; a direct outshining. He is one in nature and essence with the Father. d. "exact representation of His nature" like a "fossil impression" - corresponding to the original. He is separate from the Father, but there is such a correspondence that to study the Son is to study the Father. e. "upholds all things" -He does the sustaining work of the Creator, keeping all things in order. He also carries things along to a specific end; bringing all creation to its preplanned and purposed end (cf. Phil 2:10, 11). f. "made purification" -His priestly, redemptive work. Purification Levitical laws provided purification from defilement. But Christ purified us of sin (not just from sin, but of its very root). g. "sat down" -An official seating or enthronement, speaking of His authority and the honor due Him - associated with a God who is majestic. GOING FURTHER One thing we can do to train ourselves to remember, is to memorize a part of what our Father has said to us. The Holy Spirit can use this to change our thinking so that our heads are more like Jesus. This week, memorize.