Bibliology Flashcards
Explain the word “canon” and the process of canonization and show from Scripture how you would defend both Old and New Testament canon from Scripture.
- Canon:
The term “canon” refers to the official list of books that are considered authoritative and divinely inspired, forming the accepted and recognized body of Scripture. In the context of the Bible, the canon refers to the collection of books that are considered to be God’s revelation to humanity. Different religious traditions have slightly different canons. - The Process of Canonization:
Revelation: God to Writers
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
2 Peter 1:20-21
Inspiration Man to paper
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Illumination paper to humans today
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26
A. The Old Testament:
• Deuteronomy 4:2 (KJV): “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” This emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of God’s word. • Proverbs 30:5-6 (KJV): “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” This underscores the purity of God’s words and the admonition against adding to them.
B. The New Testament:
The process of canonization involved careful discernment, discussion, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit working through the early Christian communities. Over time, consensus developed about which books were truly divinely inspired and belonged to the canon of Scripture.
In summary, the “canon” refers to the official list of authoritative books in the Bible, and the “process of canonization” involves the recognition and acceptance of these books based on specific criteria and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Define and explain inerrancy and infallibility. Why do we use both terms as it applies to the Word of God? Give an example/s from the Bible.
1. Inerrancy:
Inerrancy refers to the belief that the original manuscripts of the Bible, as inspired by God, are without error in all matters they address, including history, science, theology, and ethics. Inerrancy asserts that the Bible is entirely accurate and reliable in conveying God’s intended message.
2. Infallibility:
Infallibility means that the Bible is incapable of leading people astray or failing in its purpose as a guide to faith and practice. While infallibility does not necessarily require that the Bible is entirely free from any errors or contradictions, it emphasizes that the Bible is trustworthy and reliable for matters of faith and salvation.
The terms “inerrancy” and “infallibility” are often used together to convey the idea that the Bible is both without error and completely trustworthy. Here’s an example from the Bible:
Example from the Bible:
Consider the story of the resurrection of Jesus. In the Gospels, each account details the events surrounding the resurrection. While there are differences in the specific details provided by each Gospel writer, these differences do not lead to contradictions in the central message: that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The concept of inerrancy assures us that, despite variations in wording or arrangement of details, the central message of the resurrection remains accurate.
The concept of infallibility assures us that the Gospel accounts, even with their unique perspectives, are trustworthy guides for our understanding of this pivotal event in Christianity.
Both terms are used together to emphasize that the Bible is not only historically accurate but also serves as a reliable guide for faith and practice, without leading believers astray in matters of salvation and spiritual truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This passage affirms the trustworthiness and sufficiency of the Bible in guiding us in matters of faith and practice.
What is the internal and external evidence for the inspiration of Scripture?
Internal Evidence for the Inspiration of Scripture:
Angels- Abraham and Sarah having a baby Heb.1
Gabriel- Daniel 9 (70 week prophecy), Luke 1 John the Baptist being born, and tells Mary about Jesus, Luke 2 angles tell shepherds Jesus was born, Matthew 28 “He is not here he is risen”,
Gods voice
Spoke to Adam- Genesis 3
Spoke to Noah destroy earth
Spoke to Abraham- get the out of the land
Spoke to Moses Mt sinai
Spoke to Joshua- after Moses death “Moses my servant is dead”
Spoke to Samuel- 1 Samuel 3 “here am I lord send me”
Spoke Elijah “go find Brooke cherith”
Spoke to Jeremiah
Still small voice
1 kings 19- spoke to Elijah
Psalm 32:8
Nature
Psalm 19- heavens declare the glory of God
Romans 1 the wrath of God is revealed by heaven
Dreams
Jacob- Abraham’s covenant Genesis 28
1Kings 3:5& 9:2- Solomon asks for wisdom
Joesph Matt 1- take Mary as thy wife, Matt 2- go to Egypt, commands Joesph to go back
Wisemen warned
Visions
Revelation 1:9 -John in revelation
Genesis 46 Jacob goes to Egypt
1Chronicles 21- David warned of judgement
Isaiah 6- vision of god
Daniel 7- future of generations
Acts 9 Ananias ministers to Saul
Acts 10 Cornelius gets Peter
Acts 16 Paul to Macedonia
Acts 18:9 Paul comforted in vision
Acts 23 Paul vision
2 Corinthians 12 Paul sees 3rd heaven
christophony
Judges 13:17- shows angel of the lord as God
Genesis 32 Wrestled with Jacob
Genesis 48:16 Jesus redeemed Jacob
Exodus 3 - burning bush
Red Sea
Promise land
Judges 6 Gideon
Judges 13 Samsons parents
Joshua 5 - holy ground
- Fulfilled Prophecies:
Israel would be a great nation Genesis 12:2-3
Destruction of Jerusalem Matt24
Born of a Virgin Isaiah 7:14
Jesus would die and rise again Matt 12:40
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Consistency:
- Hebrews 13:8 (KJV): “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The consistent message of Christ’s unchanging nature.
External Evidence for the Inspiration of Scripture:
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Historical Corroboration:
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Luke 2:1-2 (KJV): The census mentioned in these verses is supported by historical records outside the Bible.
Hittites existence
World wide flood
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Luke 2:1-2 (KJV): The census mentioned in these verses is supported by historical records outside the Bible.
- Scientific corroboration
Earth is round Isaiah 40:2
Earth is suspended in space job 26:7
Stars innumerable
Mountains and canyons in the sea
Water currents psalm 8
Life is in the blood Leviticus 17
Did Jesus recognize the Apocrypha as a part of the Word of God (Old Testament), and how did the
church determine the New Testament canon of Scripture, or do you believe in an open or closed
revelation today?
Apocrypha was never included in the OT canon
Never quoted from by Jesus or NT writers while every other book is either directly or indirectly referenced
Non of the 14 books claim inspiration from the Holy Spirit
Some of the books claim false doctrines
New Testament canon
Authorship
Local church acceptance
Church fathers recognition
Subject matter content (any contradiction)
Personal edification (did it convict believers)
What did God inspire? (The thoughts, the words, the ideas, etc. of the writers.), then define
inspiration according to its use in 2 Tim. 3:16. Finally, what is meant by ‘plenary’ and ‘verbal’
inspiration?
- 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV): “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
In this verse, the term “inspiration of God” indicates that the entirety of Scripture is divinely inspired. The word “inspiration” in this context comes from the Greek word “theopneustos,” which literally means “God-breathed.” This implies that God’s influence extended to the very words written down by the human authors, ensuring that what was recorded was accurate and in line with God’s intentions.
To break down your other questions:
• What did God inspire? According to 2 Timothy 3:16, God inspired all of Scripture. This includes both the thoughts and the words used by the writers of the Bible. • Define inspiration according to its use in 2 Tim. 3:16: In 2 Timothy 3:16, “inspiration” refers to the process by which God guided and directed the human authors of the Bible, ensuring that what they wrote was divinely authoritative, accurate, and without error. • What is meant by ‘plenary’ and ‘verbal’ inspiration? • Plenary inspiration: “Plenary” means complete or full. Plenary inspiration refers to the belief that every part of the Bible is inspired by God, not just certain portions. It asserts that the entire Bible, including historical narratives, poetry, prophecies, and letters, is fully inspired by God and authoritative. • Verbal inspiration: “Verbal” pertains to the very words used. Verbal inspiration means that not only were the concepts and ideas inspired by God, but the very words chosen by the human authors were also divinely guided. This implies that the specific words used in the original manuscripts were intentionally chosen by God to accurately convey His message.
In summary, “inspiration” in the context of 2 Timothy 3:16 refers to the process by which God divinely guided the human authors to write the Scriptures, ensuring accuracy and authority. “Plenary inspiration” emphasizes that the entire Bible is inspired, while “verbal inspiration” highlights that the very words of the Bible were chosen by God.
Is the Bible alone the only sufficient source for authority (sola Scriptura)?
No it’s not the only source but it is the final
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV):
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - Psalm 119:105 (KJV):
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” - Isaiah 40:8 (KJV):
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” - Matthew 24:35 (KJV):
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
How was the text of Scripture transferred from one generation to the next? Is there evidence in the
Bible for the doctrine of preservation?
The text of Scripture was transferred from one generation to the next through a meticulous process of copying by scribes. Before the invention of the printing press, manuscripts were hand-copied, which required a great deal of care and attention to ensure accuracy. Scribes would compare their copies to existing manuscripts to minimize errors, and specific methods were employed to maintain the integrity of the text.
As for evidence in the Bible for the doctrine of preservation, proponents of this doctrine often point to passages that emphasize God’s faithfulness and the enduring nature of His word. Here are a couple of examples:
1. Psalm 12:6-7 (KJV):
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
This passage is often cited as evidence of God’s promise to preserve His words from generation to generation.
2. Matthew 5:18 (KJV):
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the enduring nature of even the smallest elements of the Law. Some interpret this as an indication of God’s intention to preserve the accuracy of His word.
However, interpretations of these passages can vary, and discussions about the doctrine of preservation often involve theological and historical considerations. It’s important to note that while the doctrine of preservation asserts God’s ongoing care for His word, it doesn’t necessarily imply that no variations or errors have ever occurred in the transmission of biblical manuscripts over time. The historical reality is that minor variations do exist among ancient manuscripts due to the copying process, but scholars have developed methods to compare and analyze these variations to arrive at reliable reconstructed texts.
Why for Baptists is the Bible the final authority?
For Baptists, the Bible is considered the final authority because it is the inspired and authoritative word of God.
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV):
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
3. Matthew 4:4 (KJV):
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
4. Isaiah 40:8 (KJV):
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
These verses emphasize the divine origin, guidance, and authority of the Bible. Baptists believe that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth and guidance for matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living. It is seen as the unchanging and reliable revelation of God’s will for humanity.
Explain the Translation Philosophy – explain text families. How could you approach translation in
a Missions context? Why do we use the King James Version?
There are two main text tamilies
The Critical Text: which has fewer manuscripts with greater discrepancies.
Received text: which has more manuscripts it can be dated back to the first century church, and have a higher level of consistency.
In relation to translation philosophy there are two main types of philosophies…
Formal equivalence- which puts a lot of emphasis on each word
Dynamic equivalence- does not put as much emphasis on each word and leaves it up to the reader to decide for himself.
We use the KJV because it is both received text and formal equivalence.
I would approach translation in a missions context by referring to my English Bible and also using the Greek translation.
