View of the Word of God

Introduction

As Christians it is significant for us to determine how much to rely on the bible and how important it is to our faith.  It is a fact that modern, post-modern, Islamic and eastern influences have populated the west and also increased the number of choices on interpreting both the bible, and the number of other “so called” scriptures that come from those influences.  The choices have left many Christians and other people of faith with a big question on how authoritative and how reliable are scriptures in general.  This paper discusses my belief’s on biblical inspiration and inerrancy and if the bible is indeed the very “words of God.”

Inspiration and Inerrancy Statement and Argument

The primary means to determine biblical inspiration is based on who Jesus is and his authority, both given to him, and the authority delegated to the apostles.[1]  The book of John starts with the description of Jesus as the very word that came from God’s being (Joh. 1:1-2).  That means that not only is Jesus speak the word of God, but he is the word of God.  This speaks to the fact that the gospel of John has the authority of the word of God but that Jesus words in general; which include the books of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Revelations have the authority of the word of God.  In these books Jesus gives the authority to the apostles to give his teachings to all the nations, passing on his authority to the apostles and validating all of the Old Testament as the word of God (Mat. 28:18-20; Luk 24:44).  This gives validity to the fact that the message the apostles preached are also the very word of God (Eph. 3:5; 2 Pet. 3:2; Mat. 28:18-20; Joh. 14:26).

Yes the disciples seem to have spoken the very words of God; however, how does this happen since they are men with imperfections.[2]  In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles and from then on they are authorized to speak the word of God (Act. 1:2,5; 2:1-4; Eph. :3:5).  This word is of special authority and significance as vessels of Jesus to convey the very word of God, because it is from the Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:18-20; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 3:2).  Having then written down in the bible these words, the bible becomes the special word of God that conveys God’s message to the world after the apostles (Joh. 17:17-18; 2 Tim. 3:16; Rev. 1:3, 22:19).  This indicates that what has been written in the bible has specifically been carried by the Holy Spirit and given to the apostles to inform the world then, and to informs us now of the word of God (2 Pet. 1:21,3:2).

If the words of Jesus and the apostles are the inspired word of God, how true and reliable are these words.[3]  In the book of John, I am informed that the word, which Jesus is, participated in creating all things (Joh. 1:1-3).  And later in John, I am informed that the truth given to the apostles is the truth that they go out into the world with (Joh. 17:17-18).  This indicates that all reliable truth needs to be filtered through the truth that Jesus is and says.  That Jesus gives the ability to actual discern truth. I would also say that the closer we are to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, the closer we are to 100% reliable information (2 Pet. 1:19-21).  It does not mean we can ever attain 100% reliable understanding of Jesus or the word of God, but our lenses to view it will become exponentially clearer to see that truth (Joh. 4:23-24).  The other question to be answered is the perfection of the information presented in the bible.  The message of the Old and New Testament is totally infallible today as it was 2000 years ago (Mat. 5:17-18).  It might be said that, there is a letter missing or a word out of place or even a couple of the sections in the bible that have significant question associated with them (Luk. 16:17).  The significant point is both from sender intended meaning of the books and the diachronic progression of the message is still perfect.

Conclusion

So, what can we conclude about the bible being inspired and inerrant.  That God made clear through the bible book authors what God needed to convey through the Holy Spirits’ inspiration; therefore, the bible is authoritative in all matters of God, faith practices and all life practices it touches on.  The intended meaning of the message has been inspired by the Trinitarian God and is perfectly true, wholly reliable and infallible.  That ultimately the heart of the message is perfect and authoritative over all other truth and conduct.

Bibliography

 

Lewis A. Gordon and Bruce A. Demarest. Integrative Theology, Vol. 1, Grand Rapids, MI 1987 Zondervan Publishing, pg. 131-169.

[1] Demerest, pg. 131,135,141-143,45

[2] Demerest, pg. 135,137,151-52

[3] Demerest, pg. 137,150-151,160-161, 162-63, 165