Theology - The Bible (WCF 1; WLC 1-6; 154-160; WSC 3, 88-90) Flashcards
General Revelation vs Special Revelation
- General Rev is truth about God available to everyone via nature, history, and God’s image in mankind (Rom 1; cf. WCF 1.1)
- Special Rev is truth/knowledge of God available to God’s people by the power of the Spirit via Scripture, and ultimately Christ as it is manifest in the apostolic witness now given by the church (1 Cor 2 Christ and him crucified/words of foolishness; cf. WCF 1.1)
4 Attributes of Scripture in WCF 1
SNAP
* Sufficient
* Necessary
* Authoritative
* Perspicuous
Define and defend inspiration of scripture
Scripture is written by human authors as they are carried along by the Spirit thereby making Scripture the authoritative revelation of God himself as he intended it to be known (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21)
Define and Defend necessity of Scripture
Because we need special revelation for salvation, the Scriptures are the essential/necessary means to reveal God to us (Rom 10:17 faith from hearing; cf. WSC 2 only rule to direct us)
Define and Defend authority of Scripture
Because Scripture is inspired it is the very Word of God; its authority is demonstrated in its self-authentication which ensures that there is no higher authority; also, 100% historically reliable (2 Tim 3:16-17; cf. principle from Heb 6:13)
Define and Defend sufficiency of Scripture
Scripture is complete in the sense that it is all that is needed for God’s glory in creation and for man’s life and salvation (2 Tim 3:16-17 profitable for; cf. WCF 1.6 or by good and necessary consequence)
Define and defend the perspicuity of Scripture
Scripture is understandable and clear such that by the power of the Spirit anyone can turn to the Scriptures to finding saving knowledge of God; we do not ultimately depend on the church or priesthood for salvation (2 Tim 3:15 able to make you wise for salvation; cf. WCF 1.7 not all plain but what is necessary can be known)
What is the “canon”? Defend it scripturally.
- Canon means, “rule, measure, or standard,” and the biblical canon are those writings “standardized” for the church by the self-attestation of Scripture itself, made known by Christ and the apostolic message as recognized by the church
- Self-attestation comes from principle of Heb 6:13
- In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reaffirms the OT witness (Mt 5:17) and later sends his disciples out as authoritative messengers through whom the Spirit spoke the words of Scripture
- Example of Peter, understanding Paul’s writings as Holy Scripture (2 Pet 3).
What is distinctive about Reformed interpretation of Scripture?
- Sees the continuity between the OT and NT, within a covenantal framework, with the person and work of Christ as the interpretive lens (Luke 24:27)
- Upholds the right of private interpretation, that is, the right of the individual believer to interpret Scripture without the aid of a priest, etc. (this does not underscore the importance of testing individual interpretation)
What principles should guide our interpretation of Scripture?
- As the highest authority, Scripture itself interprets Scripture
- Scripture and Scripture alone is the only infallible rule of interpretation, and therefore when there is ambiguity concerning one passage, the true meaning must be found in other portions of Scripture (WCF 1.9)
Define and defend (including Scripture proofs) the “inerrancy” of Scripture.
- The original manuscripts of Scripture have no errors in them (indeed they cannot!)
- The Bible has no errors in all that it teaches
- All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17)
- Nothing will pass away, all will be fulfilled even the jot/tittle (Matt 5:17-18)
- Your Word is truth (John 17:17)
What do the Scriptures principally teach?
What man is to believe concerning God and what duties God requires of man (WSC 3)
