Defend Your FaithA Study in Christian Evidences

Lesson No. SixCan I Know the Bible is True?

The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its

matter. It is all pure.

- John Locke

First Peter 3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your

hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness

and fear.

(c) ESV

Second Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for

correction and for training in righteousness.

(c) ESV

Has God Revealed Himself?Hebrews 1:1-2 says:

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but

in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things,

through whom also He created the world.”

(c) ESV

Has God Revealed Himself?Of course He has. Wouldn’t it be contradictory for God to create the world for mankind and then leave him alone to figure out what to do

with it, how to rule over it, or how to share it?

The more important question we must ask is, why would God reveal Himself? Because He

wants us to know Him and have a relationship with Him.

The MethodGod has spoken to mankind directly and

indirectly. Today we communicate with God through prayer and He teaches us through the

Bible.

So the question must be asked, how did we get the Bible? How did God’s message make its

way to each of us today? Through revelation and inspiration.

RevelationRevelation is the message given by God. It is His thoughts, ideas, wishes, lessons, direct

commands, necessary inferences. It is God’s message to humanity. That message is

consistent, truthful, cannot contradict itself, and is divine.

See 2 Peter 1:21.

RememberIt is possible for God to reveal Himself to us

and it is necessary for God to reveal Himself to us so that we can understand His will and

message.

InspirationThe inexplicable power which the Holy Spirit gave the authors of the OT and NT in order to guide them (even in the choice of the words

they used) and ensure them from all error and omission. Inspiration is the tool God uses to

proof-read mankind’s declaration of His revelation.

See 1 Corinthians 2:7-12.

InerrancyThe idea of inerrancy is that the Bible is

found without error. The basis for this is found within this argument:

God exists.God is infallible in all His attributes.

God has revealed Himself to man.God inspired His revelation.

God’s Word is inspired and inerrant.

The OT Claims ItExodus 4:10-12

420 mentions in Pentateuch that these are the words of God.

Jeremiah 1:9Isaiah mentions 80 times,

“Thus says the Lord.”

The NT Claims ItJohn 10:35; 16:13

1 Corinthians 14:371 Thessalonians 2:13Revelation 22:18-19

InerrancyDoes not mean:

Uniformity in all details (i.e. Gospels)The exclusion of figurative language

Usage of Technical vocabularyCompleteness

InerrancyMeans:

No contradictions.The message is continuous + unified.

Prophecy is fulfilled accordingly.We have the message (Word) of God.

What Do We Know?Revelation is not Inspiration.

Revelation discloses; Inspiration guides.The uninspired receive revelation.No divine document is uninspired.

Defend Your FaithA Study in Christian Evidences