Bibliology Flashcards
Define Bibliology
The study of the nature of the Bible as revelation.
What six topics are included under Bibliology?
- revelation
- inspiration
- inerrancy
- canonicity
- illumination
- interpretation
Define “revelation”
Revelation is the act and process whereby God makes Himself known to men and angels.
Name 9 ways that God has revealed himself.
- miracles 2. visions 3. dreams 4. theophanies 5. providential control of history 6. conscience7. Jesus Christ 8 Scripture and 9. Prophecy
Give the three passages of General Revelation.
Psalm 19:1-6; Rom 1:18-20; 2:14-16
Define Inspiraton.
The process whereby God superintended the human authors of scripture so that what they wrote was simultaneously their own words as well as God’s words “breathed out” through his spokespeople.
Why did God inspire Scripture?
To preserve a historical record of his words and deeds for his covenant people as a means of grace that they might trust and obey him fully.
Why do people need inspired scripture?
Human sinfulness and finiteness means that we require God’s guidance.
How did inspiration work?
Involved whole people in their own particular life situations. It applies to the autographa (not copies or translations)
What does the church historically see in the Bible as being inspired?
The words and the entire Bible. They call it the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture.
Since when has it been fashionable to deny the historic church’s position on biblical inspiration and on what basis did they do so?
Since the Enlightenment in the 17th 18th centuries. On the basis of apparent historical inaccuracies and philosophical objections.
On what passage can we prove that Jesus held the Scripture up as completely trustworthy?
Matthew 5:17-18
Define Inerrancy.
The teaching that Scripture is without error in all that it affirms when properly interpreted.
Name three things that inerrancy allows for.
different literary styles, poor grammar, and approximations in numbers.
How many books are in the Protestant canon?
66
Define canonicity.
The church’s recognition of the divine origin and authority of the books of scripture.
Why were early Christians prompted to hold to a canon?
To preserve the writings of the apostles after their deaths so as to deal with heresies and doctrinal disputes. Also the Dioclectian persecution AD303-11 led to sacred books being destroyed by fire.
What are the Apocrapha? Do they matter to the canon?
They are books added to the canon by Catholics at the Council of Trent AD 1545-63. Even the Catholic Church subtly recognizes them as less than canonical by calling them deuterocanonical.
What is illumination?
The work of the Spirit in the people to allow them to understand and apply Scriptural Truth.
Define Interpretation.
The method of discovering what scripture means. Involves recognizing our own biases and backgrounds, understanding the author’s meaning, and understanding how it applies to people today.
