Doctrine of Scripture - Part 1

All scripture have been brought to us, and through us by the devine Revelation, Insperation and Authority of God Almighty

DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE

Part 1 - Introduction

All scripture have been brought to us, and through us by the Divine Revelation, Inspiration and Authority of God Almighty. It is described in the following:

1) Revelation - the word "revelation" in the Holy Scriptures is a Latin noun meaning "unveiling" (God reveals Himself to us, we cannot "unveil" Him).

2)Inspiration - the inspiration described in the Bible when it refers to all scripture being "God breathed" or "God inspired" is not simply an "inspiration of an idea". This word inspiration is used to describe a "verbal communication" (not just "God breathed", but God's direct word).

3)Authority - The Power behind the words given/spoken. Behind every word that anyone speaks, stands the one who speaks it. The words used by God's "spokesmen" were God's very words, therefore carrying God's authority.

All scripture is based on and proven by 3 balancing factors. (1) That God is all knowing and we are finite, thus He must reveal Himself to us. We cannot "unveil" God ourselves, (2) Scriptures are Divine, not human in origin, by the inspiration of God's spoken word to His chosen people/spokesmen. This inspiration is not an "idea," but rather a verbal communication between an individual and God Himself and (3) since the Scriptures are God's word and it is God who has "unveiled" it to us, it carries His authority, thus God being the speaker of His word which is written down through His "spokesmen".

I. Revelation

We have been first and foremost given what is called a “general revelation” to prove the existence of God. This is the natural knowledge, or intuitive knowledge, of His existence that is revealed to us by nature, science, the universe, ect. By God revealing His existence to us through creation and the image of man, we are left without excuse of His existence, but rather as a creation, have acknowledged His existence, yet chose to live according to our own desires. Although this “general revelation” does not address God’s gracious purposes, man knowingly declines the evidence of a creator.

It is only by and through God’s “special revelation” that we would ever receive a message pertaining to His gracious purposes, like salvation. Special Revelation is a term used to identify specific, yet distinct ways He has unveiled this great knowledge to us. Some specific ways are the following: Direct speaking, angels, burning bush, clouds, fire, dreams, visions, and inner prompting. God, by all these means, have illuminated the hears and minds of those chosen spokesmen to give them utterance of His purposes, promises and Word. Not only was this special revelation knowledge of history and the present, but also for future happenings and fore comings; for time and eternity.

The Scriptures that we have, not in part, but in whole, are in complete harmony with each other and the character God reveals Himself to be along with creation. It is only by this that God has disclosed Himself to us in the past, present and future. All this holds together and stands firm by the authority of it, which is, His very Word, by Him being the one who has unmasked it to us though Divine inspiration and revelation.

MODERN THEOLOGY CONCERNING REVELATION

Modern Theology says that we don’t need special revelation. Modern liberal theologians believe that God can be comprehended and apprehended though self efforts, or “inner illuminations”. The only revelation that a person receives, concerning modern theology, is that by a personal experience with self and God. This experience would be apart from His written Word. By believing this, one is saying that it’s not true to them if it hasn’t been “personally revealed” to them.

However, God did choose a way to reveal His purposes to mankind aside from what we as individual wish to think. This type of thinking rejects these truths due to a disbelief in the Bible being the Divine Inspiration of God, even though it is in our best interest. We, as Christians theologians, believe that the Bible is a product of human authors under Divine Inspiration, while modern theology believes it’s merely recordings of God’s mighty acts. But the contradiction by admitting it is simply a recording of God’s mighty acts, is that the Bible is a mighty act in itself by God entrusting His Word in the hands of mankind.

I hope you enjoy these elaborations. I will be posting many more for the help of my studies and the benefit and building up of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. These are my words in paraphrase to what I learned. These are not "copy and paste" words, they are the result of the knowledge I study that goes through the filter of my understanding.

Enjoy!