CH 04: The Authority of Scripture

Question 1

Self Attesting

Answer 1

Appeal to itself to be true. Scripture must not appeal to any other source for proof. If it does then the other source becomes a higher authority than Scripture. Self attesting is a necessity of Scripture.

Question 2

Circular Argument

Answer 2

Saying something is true because the something claims it is true.

Question 2

Absolute Authority

Answer 2

Highest authority in ones life. Authority that can not be disproved by an appeal to a higher authority. The Bible must take this place in the lives of Christians, otherwise what is appealed to would be placed higher than God’s words. History, logic, geography etc can be used to supplement the Bible but not prove the Bible.

Question 3

Authority of Scripture

Answer 3

All the words in Scripture are God’s words in that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve/disobey God.

1. Any time the OT prophets say “thus says the Lord”.
2. God speaking “through” the prophet. Many verses cited in Grudem pg 74.
3. 2nd Tim 3:16
4. 2nd Peter 1:21 - “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
5. 2nd Peter 3:16 - “as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which some things are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of Scripture, to their own destruction.”
6. 1st Tim 5:18 - Paul quotes Jesus from Luke 10:7 and equates Luke’s writing to Scripture.

Question 4

Dictation

Answer 4

One of many forms God used to bring Scripture into existence. God did not dictate ever word in the Bible. But all the words in the Bible are God’s words.

The idea that God expressly spoke every word of Scripture to the human authors.

Where He did: Rev 2, Isa 38:4-6.

Heb 1:1 indicates that God spoke in many and various ways to the prophets, ie not just dictation.

Question 5

God-breathed

Answer 5

Theo-pne-ustos, in 2nd Tim 3:16, Paul indicates all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching. Paul believes that the OT is the Word of God. In regard to the authority of scripture.

Question 6

Inspiration

Answer 6

Weaker terminology than “God breathed”. Scripture is inspired by God, but even more it is breathed out by God, scripture is His very words.

Question 7

Plenary Inspiration

Answer 7

Older phrase that meant that all the words of Scripture are God’s word. Plenary means “full”.

Question 8

Scripture

Answer 8

Graphe. Writings of the OT and NT, which has been recognized as God’s words in written form.