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Word #2: The How of The Bible 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21 INTRODUCTION: Summary of previous broadcast I. The
Fivefold Unity of The Bible II. Four Unique Characteristics of The Bible: /Eccl. 3:14). III. How The Bible Came To Be (2 Timothy 3:16).
Three Theories among Several of how the Bible was inspired: 1. The Dynamic Theory: material is of God, but form is of man; the thoughts are of God, but the words are of men. It is claimed that The Holy Spirit directed the thoughts that the writers should have, but He allowed their own distinctive personality in the choice of words and expressions. Therefore, the Bible is infallible in faith and practice(conduct). Objection: God had to control the words of Scripture so that we might have the exact message He intended for us to have in the original languages. The Bible must be believed to be infallible in all areas, not just in faith and practice. 2. The Dictation Theory: God actually dictated to the writers every word of Scripture in the original languages just as a business man would dictate to a stenographer. The writers were mere pens (amanuenses), not human beings whose individualities were preserved or utilized.. Objections: This eliminates the distinctive styles of the writers which are obvious to the careful, studious reader. It denies the indications of the writers’ personalities which are reflected in the wording. It makes the writers machines, passive agents, mechanical pens, and not penmen of the Holy Spirit. It does not take into account nor explain the individual styles of the writers. The personal touches and salutations in the writings exclude the possibility of this kind of inspiration. 3. The Plenary Verbal Inspiration Theory: The work of God through the Holy Spirit so directing the writers in their choice of subject matter and in their choice of words so that all of their writings, equally in the entire Bible written accurately, contain exactly what God desired and all that God desired for them to contain. God so guided in the writing of the Books of the Bible that the very words used in the original languages are His words in the styles of the writers, so that the product (not the writers) is a God-breathed perfect, infallible, original record without error. God gives to us the perfect example of the perfect product of the Holy Spirit acting upon humans. A chart reflecting this process is displayed above.IV. The Reasons For Understanding The Bible 1. To Answer Questions That Constantly Plague mankind. Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going'? How do I get there? What's there? 2. Because It is God's love letter to mankind. It is the only means by which the Only True and Holy God communicates to mankind and He intended for every human to understand it. That's why God has seen fit to translate The Scriptures into so many languages. The great commission that Jesus Gave to His disciples was to journey into all the world and proclaim as an herald the good news or evangel concerning Himself, The Lord Jesus Christ and God's love in sending His Son to provide salvation from sin and to give eternal life to all who will totally commit their trust and their lives to Him. V. The Five Benefits of Understanding The Bible In light of all that we have learned about The Bible on these first two broadcasts, we, both you and I, should give careful and undivided attention to learning and understanding what the Bible says and acting upon what we learn, should we not? Log on again next time and learn more about The Worth of God's Word (Word #3). If you would like to come to know God's only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ intimately, Click on Knowing The Savior above. Until next time we meet, this is Dr. Fred Wittman bidding you, Good-bye and may God richly bless your every attempt to understand His written Word. Return To: Understanding The Bible Broadcast page... Send email to Info@HappyHeralds.org
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