I have previously made an argument for the
Received Text of the bible. Now I would like to write a few thoughts
about how I believe we should view the bible.
( Before going into any scripture references, I want to state that I believe that the final authority of the word of God for a specific passage is always to be found in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words of the bible. The authority of a translation of the bible is as strong as it is a true and valid translation of the words of God. )
WHO IS THE AUTHOR?
First off, Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.
The phrase “is given by inspiration of God” is one word in the original Greek language. It means “God-breathed.” I always imagine God breathing out and the breath itself turns into the bible.
If we accept 2 Timothy 3:16 as true, then we know that all scripture is from God.
In Proverbs 30:5-6, it is written:
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
If we accept these two verses, we now know that all scripture is from God, and the purity extends to every single word. The acceptance of these verses, and maybe a couple of other ones is enough to defend the authenticity of the rest of the bible.
PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE
However, now the objection that we have lost some of the bible could appear. One might say “It started out perfect, but that perfection is not available to me!”
In Luke 16:17, Jesus says:
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail”
The greek word that is translated “tittle” in the KJV means “little horn”. It refers to either a single letter, or possibly a small part of a single letter. As far as to what “the law” can include, I want to point out here that in John 10:34, Jesus says:
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said “Ye are gods ?”‘”
Here Jesus is quoting Psalm 82 and refering to it as a thing that is “written in your law.”
It is written in Isaiah 40:8 that:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Also, Jesus says in Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Like Father, like Son. Jesus makes the same promise for his words as was made in Isaiah 40:31. The word of our God will stand forever. Jesus’s words will never pass away. Also, Jesus states in John 10:35b that “the scripture cannot be broken.” I love this statement. If someone really believes these words, then they believe that God has preserved his written word.
WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE?
I also want to write a couple of brief words about how God expects us to view the bible.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, in Matthew 4:4 we find:
“But he answered and said, It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’”
God states that we need every single word in the bible. We cannot pick and choose the parts we like and do not like. All of it is necessary for life.
When Jesus was walking on the road to Emmaus, he grew frustrated with those took too long to put their faith in the scripture.
“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” - Luke 24:25
Jesus called them fools!
In Psalm 119:160a it is written that “Thy word is true from the beginning.”
I do not want to talk about creation and evolution in this particular writing. I hope to write about those subjects soon. I think that it is enough for now for me to say that the bible claims that it “is true from the beginning.” The bible does not start to become true after the book of Genesis. Genesis is as true as the book of Matthew.
In Isaiah it says:
“…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” - Isaiah 66:2b
God has regard for those who tremble at his word. Who trembles at what a man writes? Who quakes in fear at something that can be explained away as the work of an editor? If you believe the word of God, then it should sometimes give you a reason to have a little godly fear and trembling. If this never happens to you, you may want to pause and pray a little about how much faith you are placing in God’s word.
In Mark 8:38, Jesus says:
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Jesus will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of his words. This is very clear.
In summary, I would like to say that God is the author of every word in the bible. The bible contains no mistakes, and it speaks with authority on every subject that it mentions. These are lofty claims indeed. My God is powerful enough to pull this off, and I believe that He has.
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” - Jeremiah 23:29
(c) Copyright Ryan Springer 2013
( Before going into any scripture references, I want to state that I believe that the final authority of the word of God for a specific passage is always to be found in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words of the bible. The authority of a translation of the bible is as strong as it is a true and valid translation of the words of God. )
WHO IS THE AUTHOR?
First off, Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.
The phrase “is given by inspiration of God” is one word in the original Greek language. It means “God-breathed.” I always imagine God breathing out and the breath itself turns into the bible.
If we accept 2 Timothy 3:16 as true, then we know that all scripture is from God.
In Proverbs 30:5-6, it is written:
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
If we accept these two verses, we now know that all scripture is from God, and the purity extends to every single word. The acceptance of these verses, and maybe a couple of other ones is enough to defend the authenticity of the rest of the bible.
PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE
However, now the objection that we have lost some of the bible could appear. One might say “It started out perfect, but that perfection is not available to me!”
In Luke 16:17, Jesus says:
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail”
The greek word that is translated “tittle” in the KJV means “little horn”. It refers to either a single letter, or possibly a small part of a single letter. As far as to what “the law” can include, I want to point out here that in John 10:34, Jesus says:
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said “Ye are gods ?”‘”
Here Jesus is quoting Psalm 82 and refering to it as a thing that is “written in your law.”
It is written in Isaiah 40:8 that:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Also, Jesus says in Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Like Father, like Son. Jesus makes the same promise for his words as was made in Isaiah 40:31. The word of our God will stand forever. Jesus’s words will never pass away. Also, Jesus states in John 10:35b that “the scripture cannot be broken.” I love this statement. If someone really believes these words, then they believe that God has preserved his written word.
WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE?
I also want to write a couple of brief words about how God expects us to view the bible.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, in Matthew 4:4 we find:
“But he answered and said, It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’”
God states that we need every single word in the bible. We cannot pick and choose the parts we like and do not like. All of it is necessary for life.
When Jesus was walking on the road to Emmaus, he grew frustrated with those took too long to put their faith in the scripture.
“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” - Luke 24:25
Jesus called them fools!
In Psalm 119:160a it is written that “Thy word is true from the beginning.”
I do not want to talk about creation and evolution in this particular writing. I hope to write about those subjects soon. I think that it is enough for now for me to say that the bible claims that it “is true from the beginning.” The bible does not start to become true after the book of Genesis. Genesis is as true as the book of Matthew.
In Isaiah it says:
“…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” - Isaiah 66:2b
God has regard for those who tremble at his word. Who trembles at what a man writes? Who quakes in fear at something that can be explained away as the work of an editor? If you believe the word of God, then it should sometimes give you a reason to have a little godly fear and trembling. If this never happens to you, you may want to pause and pray a little about how much faith you are placing in God’s word.
In Mark 8:38, Jesus says:
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Jesus will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of his words. This is very clear.
In summary, I would like to say that God is the author of every word in the bible. The bible contains no mistakes, and it speaks with authority on every subject that it mentions. These are lofty claims indeed. My God is powerful enough to pull this off, and I believe that He has.
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” - Jeremiah 23:29
(c) Copyright Ryan Springer 2013
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