SCRIPTURE SAYS OF ITSELF (INTERNAL)
“The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.” ~ Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer
Scriptures Themselves
2nd Timothy 3:16 – 17... “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (NASB)
1)“all” = “every” or “all.” Canon of Old Testament
2)“Scripture” (graphe) = Written documents
3)“inspired” = (theopneustos) = verb adjective
a)“pronounced: theh·op·nyoo·stos”
b)“breathed out”. “All Scripture is inspired of God”
4)“Profitable” (predicate) = because they are inspired
4 Implications of 2nd Timothy 3:16:
1) Inspiration is with reference to the objective text of Scripture;
2)The doctrine of Scripture applied to all or every Scripture, i.e., the Bible in part or in whole is the Word of God;
3)Scriptures are the very words of God (form and content).
4)Because the Scripture is God-breathed, they are useful for the work of ministry, not the reverse (vs. 17).
Additional comment regarding the term, “every Scripture”:
“If Paul means ‘every Scripture,’ he is looking at the various parts of the Bible, that is, he is considering Scripturedistributively. He is then saying that whatever Scripture we consider, it is inspired of God. On the other hand, if he means ‘all Scripture,” it is clear that his reference is to the Scripture in its entirety. In either case he is saying that whatever may be called ‘scripture’ is inspired of God.”~E.J. Young, Thy Word is Truth, 19.
Paul Enns contends, “While the designation ‘Scripture’ in v. 16 is sometimes understood to refer only to the Old Testament, it can be argued that Paul was using the designation ‘Scripture not only for the Old Testament but also for the portions of the New Testament that had been written by that time (e.g., Paul must have considered the gospel of Luke canonical [1st Timothy 5:18]), and perhaps even the entire New Testament, some of which would be written in the future.” See also H. Wayne House, “Biblical Inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 137 (January-March 1980): 56-57. Moody Handbook of Theology, 165.
2nd Peter 1:20 – 21... “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is {a matter} of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (NASB)
Peter explains how God produced the Scriptures. This was accomplished through the instrumentality of men who “spoke from God.”
1)prophecy “came” & “spoke” (“to bear”; ”convey”; “utter a divine proclamation”; “to bring forth”). The tense of the verb (aorist) indicates a completed action in “came” and “spoke” is a present passive participle plural.
2) “moved” (“to be carried, to be borne along”) is present passive participle describes the action as it was in progress. The word was used of a ship carried along by the wind (Acts 27:15,17). The metaphor here is of prophets raising their sails, the Holy Spirit filling them and carrying their craft along in the direction He wished.
John 10:34 – 36... “Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS‘? "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?” (NASB)
This passage is important because in it Jesus uses the expressions “Scriptures,” “Torah” (Law), “it is written,” word of God,” and“cannot be broken” interchangeably.
1)Jesus affirmed that the Old Testament Scriptures are the unbreakable law and Word of God.
2)The phrase “cannot be broken” (outhenai) means cannot be destroyed, abolished, or done away with (John 7:23... “If a man receives circumcision on {the} Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on {the} Sabbath?).” (NASB)
3)Therefore, the Scriptures are viewed by Jesus Christ as the indestructible Word of God.
2nd Peter 3:15 – 16... “...and regard the patience of our Lord {as} salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all {his} letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as {they do} also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (NASB)
This passage is important because Peter refers to Paul’s writings and indicates that the false teachers distort Paul’s writings as they do the rest of the Scriptures. In this unique statement Peter places Paul’s writings on a par with the Old Testament Scriptures (all the rest of the Scriptures).
1)“all” = “every” or “all.” Canon of Old Testament
2)“Scripture” (graphe) = Written documents
3)“inspired” = (theopneustos) = verb adjective
a)“pronounced: theh·op·nyoo·stos”
b)“breathed out”. “All Scripture is inspired of God”
4)“Profitable” (predicate) = because they are inspired
4 Implications of 2nd Timothy 3:16:
1) Inspiration is with reference to the objective text of Scripture;
2)The doctrine of Scripture applied to all or every Scripture, i.e., the Bible in part or in whole is the Word of God;
3)Scriptures are the very words of God (form and content).
4)Because the Scripture is God-breathed, they are useful for the work of ministry, not the reverse (vs. 17).
Additional comment regarding the term, “every Scripture”:
“If Paul means ‘every Scripture,’ he is looking at the various parts of the Bible, that is, he is considering Scripturedistributively. He is then saying that whatever Scripture we consider, it is inspired of God. On the other hand, if he means ‘all Scripture,” it is clear that his reference is to the Scripture in its entirety. In either case he is saying that whatever may be called ‘scripture’ is inspired of God.”~E.J. Young, Thy Word is Truth, 19.
Paul Enns contends, “While the designation ‘Scripture’ in v. 16 is sometimes understood to refer only to the Old Testament, it can be argued that Paul was using the designation ‘Scripture not only for the Old Testament but also for the portions of the New Testament that had been written by that time (e.g., Paul must have considered the gospel of Luke canonical [1st Timothy 5:18]), and perhaps even the entire New Testament, some of which would be written in the future.” See also H. Wayne House, “Biblical Inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 137 (January-March 1980): 56-57. Moody Handbook of Theology, 165.
2nd Peter 1:20 – 21... “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is {a matter} of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (NASB)
Peter explains how God produced the Scriptures. This was accomplished through the instrumentality of men who “spoke from God.”
1)prophecy “came” & “spoke” (“to bear”; ”convey”; “utter a divine proclamation”; “to bring forth”). The tense of the verb (aorist) indicates a completed action in “came” and “spoke” is a present passive participle plural.
2) “moved” (“to be carried, to be borne along”) is present passive participle describes the action as it was in progress. The word was used of a ship carried along by the wind (Acts 27:15,17). The metaphor here is of prophets raising their sails, the Holy Spirit filling them and carrying their craft along in the direction He wished.
John 10:34 – 36... “Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS‘? "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?” (NASB)
This passage is important because in it Jesus uses the expressions “Scriptures,” “Torah” (Law), “it is written,” word of God,” and“cannot be broken” interchangeably.
1)Jesus affirmed that the Old Testament Scriptures are the unbreakable law and Word of God.
2)The phrase “cannot be broken” (outhenai) means cannot be destroyed, abolished, or done away with (John 7:23... “If a man receives circumcision on {the} Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on {the} Sabbath?).” (NASB)
3)Therefore, the Scriptures are viewed by Jesus Christ as the indestructible Word of God.
2nd Peter 3:15 – 16... “...and regard the patience of our Lord {as} salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all {his} letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as {they do} also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (NASB)
This passage is important because Peter refers to Paul’s writings and indicates that the false teachers distort Paul’s writings as they do the rest of the Scriptures. In this unique statement Peter places Paul’s writings on a par with the Old Testament Scriptures (all the rest of the Scriptures).
Scripture Says…God Says
I. What God Says…………….... the Bible Says:
Genesis 12:3 Galatians 3:8
Exodus 9:16 Romans 9:17
II. What the Bible Says………....God Says:
Genesis 2:24 Matthew 9:4 – 5
Psalm 2:1 Acts 4:24 – 25
Isaiah 55:3 Acts 13:34
Psalm 16:10 Acts 13:35
Psalm 2:7 Hebrews 1:5
Psalm 97:7 Hebrews 3:7
Psalm 104:4 Hebrews 3:7
Psalm 95:7 Hebrews 3:7
The Extent of Biblical Authority
All that is written - 2nd Timothy 3:16
Even the very words -
Matthew 22:43..."He *said to them, "Then how does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying..." (NASB)
1st Corinthians 2:13..."...which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.}" (NASB)
Whereby Jesus rested his entire argument of the Messiah by the precise words “my Lord.”
Tense of Verb –
Matthew 22:32... “'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.“” (NASB)
Galatians 3:16... “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as {referring} to many, but {rather} to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.” (NASB)
In defending the doctrine of resurrection to the Sadducees, Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 (significant because the Sadducees held only to the Pentateuch), “I am the God of Abraham.” In this response Jesus’ entire argument hinged on the words “I am.” In fact, Jesus’ argument hinges on the present tense of the statement. Because it was written in Exodus 3:6, “I am…the doctrine of the resurrection could be affirmed; God is the God of the living patriarchs. Smallest parts of words - Matthew 5:17 –18... “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (NASB) This section presents the heart of Jesus’message, for it demonstrates His relationship to the Law of God. Jesus was not presenting a rival system to the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, but a true fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets —in contrast with the Pharisees’ traditions.
The Law and the Prophets” refer to the entire Old Testament.
Matthew 7:12... “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (NASB)
Matthew 11:13... “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.” (NASB)
Matthew 22:40... “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.“” (NASB)
Luke 16:16... “The Law and the Prophets {were proclaimed} until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” (NASB)
Act 13:15... “After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.“” (NASB)
Act 24:14... “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets...” (NASB)
Act 28:23... “When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.” (NASB)
Romans 3:21... “But now apart from the Law {the} righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets...” (NASB)
I tell you the truth is literally, “Surely (or Verily, KJV ) I say to you.” “Surely” renders the word “Amen” ( Greek amēn, transliterated from the Hebrew ’āman, “to be firm, true”). This expression, “I tell you the truth,”points to a solemn declaration that the hearers should note. It occurs 31 times in Matthew alone. (In the Gospel of John this Greek word always occurs twice:“Amen, Amen.”.) Jesus’ fulfillment would extend to the smallest Hebrew letter, the “jot” ( lit. , yôd), and even to the smallest stroke of a Hebrew letter, the “tittle.” In English a jot would correspond to the dot above the letter “i” (and look like an apostrophe), and a tittle would be seen in the difference between a “P” and an “R”. The small angled line that completes the “R” is like a tittle. These things are important because letters make up words and even a slight change in a letter might change the meaning of a word. Jesus said He would fulfill the Law by obeying it perfectly and would fulfill the prophets’ predictions of the Messiah and His kingdom. But the responsibility of the people was made clear. The righteousness they were currently seeking— that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law —was insufficient for entrance into the kingdom Jesus was offering. The righteousness He demanded was not merely external; it was a true inner righteousness based on faith in God’s Word (Romans 3:21 – 22... “But now apart from the Law {the} righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction...” (NASB)).
This is clear from what follows.
Even the very words -
Matthew 22:43..."He *said to them, "Then how does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying..." (NASB)
1st Corinthians 2:13..."...which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.}" (NASB)
Whereby Jesus rested his entire argument of the Messiah by the precise words “my Lord.”
Tense of Verb –
Matthew 22:32... “'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.“” (NASB)
Galatians 3:16... “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as {referring} to many, but {rather} to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.” (NASB)
In defending the doctrine of resurrection to the Sadducees, Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 (significant because the Sadducees held only to the Pentateuch), “I am the God of Abraham.” In this response Jesus’ entire argument hinged on the words “I am.” In fact, Jesus’ argument hinges on the present tense of the statement. Because it was written in Exodus 3:6, “I am…the doctrine of the resurrection could be affirmed; God is the God of the living patriarchs. Smallest parts of words - Matthew 5:17 –18... “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (NASB) This section presents the heart of Jesus’message, for it demonstrates His relationship to the Law of God. Jesus was not presenting a rival system to the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, but a true fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets —in contrast with the Pharisees’ traditions.
The Law and the Prophets” refer to the entire Old Testament.
Matthew 7:12... “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (NASB)
Matthew 11:13... “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.” (NASB)
Matthew 22:40... “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.“” (NASB)
Luke 16:16... “The Law and the Prophets {were proclaimed} until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” (NASB)
Act 13:15... “After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.“” (NASB)
Act 24:14... “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets...” (NASB)
Act 28:23... “When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.” (NASB)
Romans 3:21... “But now apart from the Law {the} righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets...” (NASB)
I tell you the truth is literally, “Surely (or Verily, KJV ) I say to you.” “Surely” renders the word “Amen” ( Greek amēn, transliterated from the Hebrew ’āman, “to be firm, true”). This expression, “I tell you the truth,”points to a solemn declaration that the hearers should note. It occurs 31 times in Matthew alone. (In the Gospel of John this Greek word always occurs twice:“Amen, Amen.”.) Jesus’ fulfillment would extend to the smallest Hebrew letter, the “jot” ( lit. , yôd), and even to the smallest stroke of a Hebrew letter, the “tittle.” In English a jot would correspond to the dot above the letter “i” (and look like an apostrophe), and a tittle would be seen in the difference between a “P” and an “R”. The small angled line that completes the “R” is like a tittle. These things are important because letters make up words and even a slight change in a letter might change the meaning of a word. Jesus said He would fulfill the Law by obeying it perfectly and would fulfill the prophets’ predictions of the Messiah and His kingdom. But the responsibility of the people was made clear. The righteousness they were currently seeking— that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law —was insufficient for entrance into the kingdom Jesus was offering. The righteousness He demanded was not merely external; it was a true inner righteousness based on faith in God’s Word (Romans 3:21 – 22... “But now apart from the Law {the} righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction...” (NASB)).
This is clear from what follows.
Testimony of Jesus Christ
Authority of Jesus Confirms the Authority of the Bible:
1) Divine authority – Matthew 4:4...“But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.‘” (NASB)
2) Indestructibility - Matthew 5:17 – 18... “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (NASB)
3) Unbreakability – John 10:35...“If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)...” (NASB)
4) Ultimate Supremacy – Matthew 15:3...“And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (NASB)
5) Factual Inerrancy – Matthew 22:29... “But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (NASB)...John 17:17...“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (NASB)
6) Historical Reliability – Matthew 12:40... “...for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (NASB)
7) Scientific Accuracy – Matthew 19:4 –6... “And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created {them} from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.“” (NASB)...John 3:12...“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.“” (NASB)
If Jesus is God, then the Bible is the Word of God. Only if one rejects the divine authority of Christ can he consistently reject the divine authority of the Scriptures. If Jesus was telling the truth, then it is true that the Bible is God’s Word.
Jesus Affirms New Testament:
Jesus guaranteed the same inspiration for the New Testament by His promise of the Holy Spirit. He looked ahead and assured the writers of the New Testament of that same divine superintendence of the Holy Spirit, thus guaranteeing inspiration and inerrancy to the Scripture they would write:
John 14:26... “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (NASB)
John 15:26... “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, {that is} the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me...” (NASB)
The teaching & guiding ministry of the Holy Spirit as promised by Christ is given by the New Testament writers themselves.
1st Corinthians 2:9 – 12... “but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.“ For to us God revealed {them} through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the {thoughts} of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the {thoughts} of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God...” (NASB)
Revelations 1:1 – 2... “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated {it} by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, {even} to all that he saw.” (NASB)
1) Divine authority – Matthew 4:4...“But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.‘” (NASB)
2) Indestructibility - Matthew 5:17 – 18... “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (NASB)
3) Unbreakability – John 10:35...“If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)...” (NASB)
4) Ultimate Supremacy – Matthew 15:3...“And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (NASB)
5) Factual Inerrancy – Matthew 22:29... “But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (NASB)...John 17:17...“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (NASB)
6) Historical Reliability – Matthew 12:40... “...for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (NASB)
7) Scientific Accuracy – Matthew 19:4 –6... “And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created {them} from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.“” (NASB)...John 3:12...“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.“” (NASB)
If Jesus is God, then the Bible is the Word of God. Only if one rejects the divine authority of Christ can he consistently reject the divine authority of the Scriptures. If Jesus was telling the truth, then it is true that the Bible is God’s Word.
Jesus Affirms New Testament:
Jesus guaranteed the same inspiration for the New Testament by His promise of the Holy Spirit. He looked ahead and assured the writers of the New Testament of that same divine superintendence of the Holy Spirit, thus guaranteeing inspiration and inerrancy to the Scripture they would write:
John 14:26... “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (NASB)
John 15:26... “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, {that is} the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me...” (NASB)
The teaching & guiding ministry of the Holy Spirit as promised by Christ is given by the New Testament writers themselves.
1st Corinthians 2:9 – 12... “but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.“ For to us God revealed {them} through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the {thoughts} of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the {thoughts} of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God...” (NASB)
Revelations 1:1 – 2... “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated {it} by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, {even} to all that he saw.” (NASB)
Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy
The Bible is strongly predictive: 27% of Scripture is prophetic.
In the Old Testament 6,641 verses out of 23,210 (28.6 %) are predictive.
In the New Testament 1,711 out of 7,914 verses (21.6 %) are predictive.
In the entire Bible 8,352 verses out of 31,124 (27 %) are predictive.
Declaring what will happen in the future forms a major component of biblical revelation. One cannot be a thorough student of the Bible and avoid the study of eschatology. There are an estimated 737 prophetic topics addressed in the Bible. The quantity of information argues for the importance of eschatology and compels us to study the subject. But, it is not quantity alone that justifies this study.~ From J. Barton Payne, Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy: The Complete Guide to Scriptural Predictions and their Fulfillment, pp. 631-682
See John F. Walvoord’s, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook (Wheaton: Victor Press, 1990) for a reference tool regarding the timing of fulfillment of Bible Prophecy.
In the Old Testament 6,641 verses out of 23,210 (28.6 %) are predictive.
In the New Testament 1,711 out of 7,914 verses (21.6 %) are predictive.
In the entire Bible 8,352 verses out of 31,124 (27 %) are predictive.
Declaring what will happen in the future forms a major component of biblical revelation. One cannot be a thorough student of the Bible and avoid the study of eschatology. There are an estimated 737 prophetic topics addressed in the Bible. The quantity of information argues for the importance of eschatology and compels us to study the subject. But, it is not quantity alone that justifies this study.~ From J. Barton Payne, Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy: The Complete Guide to Scriptural Predictions and their Fulfillment, pp. 631-682
See John F. Walvoord’s, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook (Wheaton: Victor Press, 1990) for a reference tool regarding the timing of fulfillment of Bible Prophecy.
Conclusion to Internal Arguments
A reasonable defense for verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture involves: The Claims of Scripture itself; The testimony of Jesus Christ whereby He based arguments on the precise wording of Scripture, Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, Paul acknowledges that all Scripture is God-breathed, Peter explains how the authors were inspired, Peter confirms Paul writings on par with Old Testament.