Th 503 Chapter 13

1. Systematic Theology I
PowerPoint Prepared by Dr. Mark Hardgrove

2. Two basic texts on Revelation and
Inspiration:
 2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy
of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for
prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy
men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit. NKJV
 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. NKJV

3. The Bible Testifies of Itself
 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord abides
forever, and this is the word which was
preached to you.
 Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God stands forever.
 Psalm 119:152 Of old I have known from Thy
testimonies, that Thou hast founded them
forever.

4. New Testament Writers and the Old Testament
 New Testament writers considered the Old Testament to
be inspired Scriptures.
 Peter says of Paul’s epistles that are “Scripture.”
 Paul cites the Gospel of Matthew as Scripture along with
the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, asserting, “For
the Scripture says . .
 Paul says of his own words that they are “taught by the
Spirit” (2 Cor. 2:13).
 John the apostle opens the book of Revelation with,
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him”
(Rev. 1:1).

5. The Nature of a Prophet
1. A man of God – chosen by God
2. A servant of the Lord – faithful to God
3. A messenger of the Lord – sent by God
4. A seer – giving insight from God
5. A man of the Spirit – speaking by the Spirit of God
6. A watchman – alert for God
7. A prophet – spokesperson for God

6. What God Says the Bible Says
What God SaysWhat God Says The Bible SaysThe Bible Says
Genesis 12:3
Exodus 9:16
Genesis 2:24
Psalm 2:1
Isaiah 55:3
Psalm 16:10
Psalm 2:7
Psalm 97:7
Psalm 104:4
Psalm 95:7
Galatians 3:8
Romans 9:17
Matthew 19:4-5
Acts 4:24-25
Acts 13:34
Acts 13:35
Hebrews 1:5
Hebrews 1:6
Hebrews 1:7
Hebrews 3:7

7. The Biblical Writers Claim: “Thus Says the
Lord”
The Bible Claims to Be the “Word of God”
The Bible Claims to Have Divine Authority
The evidence of divine authority includes:
 All that is written – 2 Tim. 3:16
 Even the very words – Matt. 22:43; 1 Cor. 2:13
 And the tenses of verbs – Matt. 22:32; Gal. 3:16
 Even the smallest parts of words – Matt. 5:17-18

8. Numerous passages make it evident that the
locus of revelation and inspiration is the written
Word, the Scriptures (Gk. grapha), not simply the
idea or even the writer.

9. Biblical inspiration is not only verbal (located in the
words), but it is also plenary, meaning that it extends
to every part of the words and all they teach or imply.
Inspiration guarantees the truth of all the Bible
teaches, implies, or entails (spiritually or factually).
Not “some” but “all” Scripture is God-breathed (2
Tim. 3:16). The inspiration of God extends to every
part of Scripture, including everything God affirmed
(or denied) about any topic. It includes both explicit
and implicit teaching of Scripture.

10. Verbal inspiration does not guarantee . . .
1. That every part of a parable is conveying a truth
(as opposed to the truthfulness of the point the
parable is illustrating—Luke 18:2)
2. That everything recorded in the Bible is true (as
opposed to only what is taught or implied—Gen.
3:4)
3. That no exaggerations (hyperboles) can be used
(Col. 1:23)
4. That all statements about God and creation are
purely literal (Heb. 4:13; Job 38:7)

11. Verbal inspiration does not guarantee . . .
5. That all factual assertions are technically precise by
modern standards (as opposed to accurate by ancient
standards—2 Chron. 4:2)
6. That all statements about the universe must be from a
modern astronomical perspective (as opposed to a
common observational standpoint—Josh. 10:12)
7. That all citations of Scripture must be verbatim (as
opposed to faithful)
8. That all citations of Scripture must have the same
application as the original (cf. Hos. 11:1; Matt. 2:15),
rather than having the same interpretation (meaning)

12. Verbal inspiration does not guarantee . . .
9. That the same truth can be said in only one way (as
opposed to many ways, such as in the Gospels)
10. That whatever a writer personally believed (as opposed to
merely what he actually affirmed in Scripture) is true (Matt.
15:26)
11.That truth is exhaustively revealed or treated (as opposed to
adequately presented) in the Bible (1 Cor. 13:12)
12. That quotations imply the truth of everything in the source it
is citing, rather than only the part cited (Titus 1:12)
13.That the grammatical construction will always be the
customary one (rather than an adequate one to convey the
truth).

13. While everything in the Bible is equally true, not
everything is equally important. For example, the
death of Christ is more important than the death
of a wicked queen.

14. The elements of the definition:
 The Bible has Divine origin
 The Bible came through human agency
 The Bible is a written authority
 The Bible’s Divine authority is located in the
autographic text
 The Bible’s original text is inerrant
 The Bible has final authority
 The 66 canonical books of the Bible alone have
this Divine authority

15. Inspiration is the supernatural operation of the
Holy Spirit, who through the different
personalities and literary styles of the chosen
human authors invested the very words of the
original books of Holy Scripture, alone and in
their entirety, as the very Word of God without
error in all that they teach or imply (including
history and science), and the Bible is thereby
the infallible rule and final authority for faith
and practice of all believers.

16. The mode of operation by which the Holy Spirit
worked with the authors in order to assure an
infallible and inerrant product is a matter of
much speculation among theologians. The
mystery remains inscrutable but the process is
intelligible.

17. Parameters of Modus Operandi
1. The product is infallible and inerrant
2. Whatever means is used, different personalities,
different styles, and the freedom of the authors
manifested in their books must be accounted for.
The first point is known as the doctrine of Scripture.
The second is known as the data of Scripture
manifest in human characteristics.

18. While the Bible was not dictated by God to
secretaries, the final product is as infallible and
inerrant as through it were dictated.