Condensed Theology

A Primer in Systematic Theology

Bibliology: The Doctrine of Scripture

What does the Bible teach about itself?

Where Were Going

Six lessons on the Bible Addressing the following subjects:
Revelation & Inspiration Authority Sufficiency Unity Necessity Power Truthfulness Inerrancy Infallibility Clarity Illumination Hermeneutics Grammatico-historical exegesis Canonical interpretation Redemptive-historical interpretation Canonicity

Topics for Discussion

1. 2. 3. 4. The sufficiency of Scripture The unity of Scripture The necessity of Scripture The power of Scripture

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Defining Scriptures Sufficiency: What It Is

The sufficiency of Scripture may be defined as the principle that the Bible contains all things necessary for life and salvation

Defining Scriptures Sufficiency: What It Is Not

To say that the Scripture is sufficient for faith and life does not mean that it is sufficient for all knowledge of every subject You wont learn General Relativity from the Bible

Defining Scriptures Sufficiency: What It Is Not

To say that the Scripture is sufficient for faith and life does not mean that it answers every Christian religious question we may have Did Adam have a belly-button?

John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

Defining Scriptures Sufficiency: What It Is Not

To say that the Scripture is sufficient for faith and life should not be construed to imply that we do not need tools outside of Scripture for understanding it Language History Geography Culture

Defining Scriptures Sufficiency: What It Is

The sufficiency of Scripture may be defined as the principle that the Bible contains all things necessary for life and salvation

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

2 Tim 3:15-17: and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by 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.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

2 Tim 3:15: and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. It is the Scriptures that lead to salvation

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

2 Tim 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The word translated adequate does not mean enough to get by; it is a;rtioj (rtios), and means pertaining to being qualified to perform some function. Helpful glosses include fully qualified or proficient.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

2 Tim 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The word translated equipped is evxhrtisme,noj (ex rtismnos), and means to make someone completely adequate or sufficient for something. Helpful glosses include, to make adequate, or to furnish completely, or to cause to be fully qualified.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

2 Tim 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The Scripture is all that we need for obeying him perfectly; we need nothing more for the performance of good works

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Ps 19:7-11: The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Ps 119:1: How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Josh 1:7: Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. Prov 30:5: Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Deut 4:2: You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deut 12:32: Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. Deut 29:29: 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.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Rev 22:18-19: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

Christ rebukes the Pharisees for their recourse to tradition outside of Scripture. This, by implication, points to the sufficiency of Scripture to furnish one for every good work. Mark 7:5-8: The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands? And He said to them, Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.

Understanding Sufficiency Biblically

When we speak of the sufficiency of Scripture we refer to the inspired Bibles unique capacity for leading people to salvation and for fully qualifying the believer and for furnishing him or her completely with all he or she needs to perform every good work. We need nothing more and nothing less than the teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness that comes from Scripture

Sufficiency and Redemption History

Sufficiency and Redemption History

The doctrine of sufficiency does not imply that God cannot add any more words to what he has already authoritatively communicated to us in his word; instead, it implies only that human beings cannot do so This is why we can read commands in both Deuteronomy and Revelation not to add to the words which God has given The amount of Scripture given at each stage of redemption history was sufficient; that is, it represented all the words that God intended for his people to have for each era

The Unity of Scripture

Unity Inferred from Sufficiency

2 Tim 3:15: and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. If the Scripture is sufficient for salvation at each stage of redemption history, and if salvation is never by works, but by faith alone in the promises of God, then it must be that the message of the Scripture is unified, centering on the gracious saving work of God in the gospel

Unity Inferred from Sufficiency

Salvation: By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone

The Bible: Sufficient for salvation at each stage of redemption history

The Bible teaches one message

Unity Inferred from Inspiration

2 Tim 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God [= God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness Since the Bible has a single, divine author, it follows that the Bible is a unity

Unity Inferred from the Character of God

Titus 1:2: in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago. Since the single, divine author is incapable of lying or contradicting himself, the Scripture cannot lie or contradict itself

Biblical Affirmations of Unity

The unity that we may legitimately infer from sufficiency, inspiration, and the character of God only goes so far We read that we cannot add any words to Gods word, yet Scripture continued to be produced We read that certain dietary and domestic duties were necessary for Gods people to obey, and we see them roundly dismissed elsewhere in the same unified Bible. How are these not contradictions? What, then, is it that ties the two testaments together as one uniquely Christian book? Or better, who is it?

Biblical Affirmations of Unity: Unity in Christ

John 5:39-46: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity: Unity in Christ

Luke 24:27: Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:44: Now He said to them, These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity: Unity in Christ

Heb 1:1-2: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Rom 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity

Acts 8:26-35: But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, Well, how could I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth. in humiliation his judgment was taken away; who will relate his generation? For his life is removed from the earth. The eunuch answered Philip and said, Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else? Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity

Rom 4:23: Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him Rom 15:4: For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity

1 Cor 9:9-10: For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing. God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.

Biblical Affirmations of Unity

1 Cor 10:6, 11: Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Necessity of Scripture

General and Special Revelation

To understand the Bibles necessity, we must first understand that there are two kinds of revelation

General Revelation
Ps 19:1-6: The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

General Revelation
Rom 1:18-21: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 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, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Rom 1:28: And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Rom 1:32: and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

General Revelation
Rom 2:11-16: For there is no partiality with God. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

General Revelation
Though God has certainly revealed himself through creation, such knowledge of God through general revelation is not sufficient to give us the knowledge that leads to salvation. It is sufficient to condemn us in our idolatrous unbelief and to leave us without excuse at the judgment; but nothing more. Therefore, Scripture (a special revelation of God) is necessary for a saving knowledge of God. Without it, we would not be able to know God.

The Necessity of Special Revelation

Necessity of Special Revelation

Rom 1:21: For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Eph 4:17-19: So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Necessity of Special Revelation

1 Cor 1:18-23: For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever i will set aside. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness. Because of the darkness of our hearts, we would not and could not reason our way from General Revelation to the Lord

Necessity of Special Revelation

Rom 10:13-17: For Whoever will call on the name of the lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Necessary for Maintaining Spiritual Life

The Bible Is Necessary for Maintaining Spiritual Life

Deut 32:47: For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. Matt 4:4: But [Jesus] answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

The Bible Is Necessary for Maintaining Spiritual Life

Ps 19:7-11: The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. 1 Pet 2:2: like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.

The Power of Scripture

The Power of Scripture

Heb 4:12: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any twoedged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Jer 23:29: Is not My word like fire? declares the LORD, and like a hammer which shatters a rock?

The Power of Scripture

1 Cor 14:24-25: But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

The Power of Scripture

1 Thess 2:13: For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. Jas 1:18: In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

The Power of Scripture

Acts 7:38: This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 1 Pet 1:23: For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Conclusion

Conclusion
1. 2. 3. 4. The Scripture is sufficient The Scripture is unified The Scripture is necessary The Scripture is powerful

Glossary

 General Revelation: The knowledge of God that is evident in and through creation. Such knowledge is sufficient to condemn, but not sufficient to save. Special Revelation: The knowledge of God that has been made known through his word (in all its formsremember our first lecture on bibliology). Such knowledge is sufficient both to condemn and to save.