The Authority of the Bible

Welcome Biography Handouts Downloads Music Videos Beliefs Guest Book Links



 

The Authority of the Bible

  1. Introduction:

•1.      Terms used for the Bible:

  • (a) Bible - from byblos, which denoted the papyrus plant that grew in marshes or river banks, primarily along the Nile.
  • (b) Scripture - from the Greek γραφηì, meaning "that which is written." See Romans 4:3; Romans 15:4; or II Timothy 3:15.
  • (c) The Word of God - from ῥῆμα meaning "an utterance." See Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12.
  • (d) The oracles of God - from λοìγιον also meaning "an utterance." See Acts 7:38.
  • (e) Testament - from διαθηìκη meaning "a covenant." See II Corinthians 3:14.
  • (f) The Law and the Prophets - from νοìμος meaning "law or precept" and refers to the Old Testament. See Psalms 37:31; Romans 3:21.
  • (g) Other less common words include: law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word, path. See Psalms 119.

 

•2.      Definition for the "authority of the Bible"

  • (a) "By the authority of the Bible we mean that the Bible as an expression of God's will to us, possesses the right supremely to define what we are to believe and how we are to conduct ourselves." Millard J Erickson, Christian Theology.
  • (b) There are two types of Authority:
  • - Imperial Authority: Having the right to enforce an action based on the position a person occupies. For example: a king over a kingdom.
  • - Veracious Authority: Having the right to prescribe an action based on the knowledge a person possesses. For example: a doctor with a patient.
  • (c) Authority is not forced. There is a distinction between authoritativeness and authoritarianism:
  • - An authoritative person has the right to define or prescribe an action.
  • - An authoritarian person is one who tries to instill his opinion in others.
  • (d) Authority may be exercised directly or it may be delegated through others.
  • (e) True authority will prove itself in the long run. Example: Galileo's ideas or Einstein's theory of relativity.
  • (f) Failure to recognize an authority does not abrogate it! "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11

 

  1. How God Exercises Authority through the Bible

  1.  
    1. Rationalistic View: Romans 1:22
  • - The mind is supreme and is the final authority.
  • - The Bible is not authoritative at all but must be rationalized as to what should be followed.
  • - The Bible's meaning is determined by examining grammar, lexicons, historical data, and so on and only what can be rationalized is accepted as authoritative.

 

  1.  
    1. Neo-orthodox View: Matthew 4:4
  • - God exercises his authority directly as an act of revelation - This revelation is as a result of an immediate encounter between God and man.
  • - The Bible is not God's word per se but an instrument through which God speaks.
  • - Through a direct encounter with God we can determine what is applicable to us.

 

  1.  
    1. Spiritist View (Mysticism): I John 4:1
  • - God exercises His authority directly to the mind of individuals through the Holy Spirit.
  • - What the Bible says is not as important as what the Spirit says.
  • - "There is no need to consult the Bible if we listen to the Spirit."

 

  1.  
    1. Roman Catholic View: II Corinthians 11:4
  • - God has delegated his authority to His Church through a series of successions.
  • - The church is God's representative on the Earth and has the authority to explain what is the intention of God to man.
  • - Although the Bible is inerrant our understanding is not. As a result the church and ultimately the Pope must give the true meaning of the Bible.

 

  1.  
    1. Contemporary Cultists View: II Peter 1:20
  • - Authority resides in the prophets or leaders of the Church.
  • - Prophets or leaders declare messages they allegedly receive from God.
  • - The canon of the Bible is still open.

 

  1.  
    1. Orthodox View: (II Timothy 3:15)
  • - God is the ultimate authority but does not exercise authority in a direct fashion.
  • - God has delegated His authority in the Bible. It alone is the final authority for our faith and practice.
  • - The Bible carries the same weight God himself would command if He were speaking to us directly.

  1. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Illumination
    1. What is illumination?
  • (a) Illumination can be defined as "the special ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He enlightens men so they can comprehend the written Word of God."
  • (b) Illumination must not be confused with revelation and inspira­tion:
  • - Revelation refers to the content of God's truth as it was revealed to the Old Testament and New Testament authors of Scripture.
  • - Inspiration refers to the accurate transmission of that content to men, first verbally (as with the prophets) and then in written form.
  • - Illumination refers to understanding of the Bible's message to believers. Unbelievers can only experience this work as it pertains to His convicting ministry in relation to the gospel message (John 16:8-11).
  1.  
    1. The Need for Illumination

(a) I Corinthians 2:11, 14.

(b) A special work of God is needed to make the Scripture understandable to both the natural man (unsaved) and to the saved.

 

  1.  
    1. The Holy Spirit is the believer's means of spiritual illumination

(a) John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-3:3; Ephesians 3:16-19; and 1 John 2:20 and 27.

(b) He is our teacher and is available to all believers.

(c) Unbelievers can only experience the illuminating ministry of the Spirit in the matter of convicting and convincing them of the truth of the gospel message (John 16:8-11).

(d) As the extent of the Spirit's illumination, it encompasses the whole council of the Bible, Genesis to Revelation and salvation to things to come.

(e) Hindrances to illumination:

- Carnality (1 Cor. 2:1-3),

- Indifference (cf. Heb. 5:1f with 1 Pet. 2:2),

- Tradition and preconceived ideas (Mark 7:7-13),

- Ignorance (Mark 12:24; Luke 24:25-32),

- Poor methods of Bible study or interpretation (2 Tim. 3:15).

 

  1. Application Questions
    1. True or false: "People can make the Bible say anything they want."
    2. How many God given ways can a particular scripture be interpreted?
    3. Why are there varying views for some Bible teachings?