DOCTRINE: THE BIBLE

WE WILL EXAMINE:

• The Bible as God's Word
• How inspiration works
• How books became Scripture
• Which translations are best

IS THE BIBLE THE VERY WORDS OF GOD?

THE BIBLE MAKES DIRECT CLAIMS TO ITS OWN DIVINE ORIGIN

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
- 2 Timothy 3:16

JESUS VIEWED SCRIPTURE AS UNBREAKABLE AND AUTHORITATIVE

"Scripture cannot be set aside."
- Jesus, John 10:35

"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
- Matthew 5:18

NT WRITERS KNEW THEY WERE WRITING SCRIPTURE

NT WRITERS VIEWED EACH OTHER'S WRITING AS SCRIPTURE

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, AS THEY DO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES...
- 2 Peter 3:16

ARE THERE ERRORS IN THE BIBLE?

INERRANCY VS. INFALLIBILITY

THEORIES OF INSPIRATION

ECSTATIC THEORY OF INSPIRATION

DICTATION THEORY OF INSPIRATION

NEGATIVE ASSISTANCE THEORY

ORGANIC THEORY OF INSPIRATION

IMPERFECT PEOPLE CAN'T CREATE A PERFECT WORK

IMPERFECT PEOPLE CAN ACHIEVE PERFECTION IN A GIVEN TASK

DON LARSEN

HOW DID BOOKS BECOME SCRIPTURE?

PROCESS OF CANONICITY

• Authority of the writer
• Edifying content
• Widespread acceptance

WHICH TRANSLATION SHOULD I USE?