THEOLOGY LESSON 10

The Character of God

Romans 11:33-36
Character of God
God Cares for you
Miracles of God

INTRODUCTION

People have slightly different approaches to this subject as this is one of the regions in Bible study where creatures with limited concepts are attempting to come to terms with the characteristics of God the creator of space and time and all that is within these categories. When you are teaching this vital doctrine, you will be alright as long as you keep remembering that you are a creature of space and time and you are talking about the one who created all things.

This is a very deep concept to which you will go back time and time again. This foundation doctrine combined with the confession of sins should be thoroughly taught to your congregation. Understanding the nature of God assists in all the testing situations of life, for we rest for our total security upon the perfection of the character and plan of God.

The various perfections of God, which some call them are not component parts of God. Even when we have a list it is not exhaustive. All of the qualities of God are absolute. He is the creator of everything. The definitions are therefore human attempts to speak of a unique subject. We however are limited, and theologians who forget this get into the most arrogance and trouble. In our introductory series of lectures we covered the concept of what in philosophy is called “category mistake”. This means to predicate of a being in one category the characteristics of a being in another and totally different category. We try to speak of God in terms he has used in his revelation of himself, but our words and thinking is limited and we must remain humble as we walk into this subject.

Romans 11:33‑36 ‑ this is Paul talking about the attributes of God. Paul ends his brief talk to the Romans about the character of God with a prayer. He ends with a poem of praise. You should ensure that when you are teaching this there is practical application to those you are teaching for every attribute. When you study this subject it should be with thanks and awe. If talk of the character of God does not end in worship, then I suspect you have got something wrong. This is not a theoretical subject, but one that will always lead to a response in the heart of the genuine believer. “Be very scared” if there is no response in the teacher of these things, for their lack of response indicates they are fakes.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

[a] The attributes of God are not component parts like bricks in a wall.

[b] He is much more than the sum of the attributes that we see in Him.

[c] They are known through revelation. The sole source of knowledge about this is the Word of God.

[d] The character of God describes equally the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is one in essence and three in person.

WHAT DO THESE CHARACTERISTICS MEAN TO ME?

There are three categories given which is the classical theological approach:‑

[a] Moral and Non Moral - self existence and infinity are non moral, Justice and holiness have moral impact.

[b] Absolute and Relative - Absolute deal with the essence of God as considered in itself such as eternity and infinity whilst Relative deal with his relationship with his creation such as righteousness, justice and truth.

[c] Incommunicable and communicable ‑ some things you can talk about and some you cannot. You cannot talk much about the concepts of infinity and eternity as we cannot conceive of such items for we are controlled and constrained in our very thinking by the limits of time and space.

This type of approach to the subject, which is theological and philosophical, may not be helpful from a practical point of view. In order for all to understand in the church you must understand it and approach it humbly and with worship as your end goal. Some scholars list 14 attributes, however its not about how many we can list, but knowing that the Lord has every wonderful attribute that we could ever think of and more.

Other examples of the characteristics of God’s character are; Eternity [EL], Freedom, Holiness [R+J], Immutability [U], Infinity, Love [L] , Omnipotence [AP], Omnipresence [E] , Omniscience [AK] , Righteousness [R] , Simplicity, Sovereignty [S], Truth [T] , Unity, .Freedom – means God is independent of His creatures and His creation Isaiah 40:13-14, Infinity – means that God has no bounds or limits by time or space Acts 17:24-28, Simplicity – means God is not a composite as we are, He is Spirit – John 4:24, Unity – means that there is one God who is indivisible. Deuteronomy 6:4 Ephesians 4:6

God is independent of his Creation and is free to use His free will in whatever way He chooses. We cannot put God in our debt which is the answer to legalism. This is why this study is important; it solves many theological issues by simple reflection on God’s character.

God does not change. Application - we can depend totally on Him.

Holiness is the standard of God which we need to attain as a believer to attain. Application - When you have to decide what is all right to do and what is not, ask the question.

Is it holy? Is there no hint of sin in it? Is this in accordance with the character and plan of God? Do not be concerned about teaching your congregation an odd long word which they may learn as a category such as omniscience rather than simply saying “all knowing”. They may remember that characteristic when they are in trouble as one of the three O's and be able to use it in a practical way. You “count it all joy” when in difficulty as you can apply this characteristic of God’s character to your problem. God is a spirit and not three things.

Sovereignty of God ‑ he is in charge but this does not blot out the free will of man. The Calvinists magnify this attribute above the others whilst the liberals magnify the love of God almost to a point of heresy. It is keeping all the characteristics of God’s character together that protects from doubts in daily pressure and heresy in theological thought.

The names of God, the Tetragrammaton, JHWH, often translated Jehovah (Latinized), but as the letter J does not appear in the Hebrew or Greek alphabets, it is incorrect and Yahweh is a nearer translation. The Jews however treated the Divine name with fear and would not to speak it out directly; it would seem that they took the command ‘Not Taking the Lord Gods name in Vain’ literally as prohibition for using Gods name and used the word “Adonai” instead. These gave additional characteristics and by going through the names of God you can impress the importance of the perfection of the characteristics of the Almighty God. In the N.T we have Theos, Kurios (Lord) and others.

We have seen that God is omnipresent but this has to be balanced by God as a personality otherwise we fall into pantheism that God is in everything which is an eastern religious concept. The Almighty supreme God ‘Is Holiness’ and that is what he requires. The mercy of God is also so important and includes the Grace and faithfulness of God. Always remember God is always faithful.

When all else fails God does not. We should realise that we are in the hands of the mighty God. Our God is not small, but He is the almighty BIG God over every situation.

The understanding of the holiness of God has to come before the love of God. Do not teach the character of God simply alphabetically.

The following table has been found by many to be a good way of remembering the Character of God.

CHARACTER OF GOD [NAMES]
CHARACTER OF GOD [LETTERS]

SOVEREIGN
ALL KNOWING
S
AK
RIGHTEOUSNESS
ALL POWERFUL
R
AP
JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE
J
E
LOVE
UNCHAGEABLE
L
U
ETERNAL LIFE
TRUTH
EL
T

DOCTRINES

CHARACTER OF GOD

1. Whilst God is three persons all three persons have exactly the same essence or character:
a) SOVEREIGNTY
The Father (Ephesians 1:11, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 10:7, 9)
The Son (John 5:21, Revelation 19:16)
The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11, Hebrews 2:4)

b) RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Father (John 17:25)
The Son (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 7:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Holy Spirit

c) JUSTICE
The Father (Job 37:23, cf 8:3)
The Son (Acts 3:14, John 5:22, Revelation 19:11
The Holy Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20)

d) LOVE
The Father (John 3:16)
The Son (Ephesians 5:25, 1 John 3:16)
The Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10)

e) ETERNAL LIFE
The Father (John 5:26)
The Son (Micah 5:2, cf John 1:1-2, 1 John 5:11
The Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:16)

f) ALL-KNOWING
The Father (Hebrews 4:13, cf Matthew 11:27, 1 Peter 1:2)
The Son (John 18:4, cf Matthew 9:4, John 2:25, 1 Corinthians 4:5)
The Holy Holy Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, 1 Corinthians 2:11)

g) EVERYWHERE
The Father (2 Chronicles 2:6)
The Son (Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 1:23)
The Holy Spirit (Psalm 139:7)

h) ALL-POWERFUL
The Father (Mark 14:36, 1 Peter 1:5)
The Son (Hebrews 1:3, Matthew 24:30, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 3:21)
The Holy Spirit (Romans 15:19)

i) UNCHANGEABLE
The Father (Hebrews 6:17, Psalm 33:11)
The Son (Hebrews 13:8)
The Holy Spirit (John 14:16)

j) TRUTH
The Father (John 7:28, John 17:3)
The Son (1 John 5:20, John 1:14, 14:6, Revelation 19:11)
The Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6, cf John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13)

GOD CARES FOR YOU

1. God knows.
a) Our sorrows. (Exodus 3:7)
b) Our devotions. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
c) Our thoughts. (Psalm 44:21)
d) Our foolishness. (Psalm 69:5)
e) Our frailties. (Psalm 103:14)
f) Our deeds. (Psalm 139:2)

g) Our words. (Psalm 139:4)
h) The composition of the universe. (Psalm 147:4)
i) All things. (Proverbs 15:3)
j) Our needs. (Matthew 6:32)
k) About animal creation. (Matthew 10:29)
l) Mankind. (Matthew 10:30)
m) What might or could have been. (Matthew 11:23)
n) His own. (John 10:14)
o) Past, present and future. (Acts 15:18)

2. God is able to...
a) Save forever those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - Hebrews 7:25
b) Supply every need - 2 Corinthians 9:8
c) Deliver all who are tempted - Hebrews 2:18
d) Sustain the weak believer and make him stand - Romans 14:4
e) Keep us from falling and make us blameless - Jude 24, 25
f) Surpass all that we could ask or think - Ephesians 3:20
g) Raise us up in resurrection in the likeness of His Son - Hebrews 11:19

3. With God, all things are possible - Matthew 19:26

4. God is in control. Nothing will ever happen to you that you are not able to deal with. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

5. God's character is stable.
a) If God is for you who can be against you. (Romans 8:31-34)
b) No matter what happens God's love is stable. (Romans 8:35-39)

6. God's promises are secure for he is always with us. (Matthew 28:19-20, Jeremiah 1:19)

7. God's power is always the same:
a) He will always keep us. (John 10:29, 2 Timothy 1:12,)
b) God does not forget us or lose His power to keep. (Jude 24)
c) Even if we fall away from fellowship we still are saved. (2 Timothy 2:13)

8. God knew before time what we would need in time and has provided for the supply of all our needs. (Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12)

9. God has the power to bless us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

10. God is able to make all grace abound towards us. (Ephesians 3:20)
MIRACLES AND GOD’S CHARACTER

Miracles demonstrate the attributes of God:

1 The Sovereignty of God was illustrated in:-
a) The Lord's creative work of turning water into wine at Cana. (John 2:1-11)
b) His power when stilling the storm on Galilee. (Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 8:18)
c) The feeding of the 5000 and the 4000. (Mark 6:33-44; 8:1-9)
d) Walking on the water at Galilee. (Mark 6:47-52)
e) His arrest in Gethsemane. (John 18:6)

2. The Righteousness of God was illustrated in:
The Lord's transfiguration before the disciples on the mountain, when they saw the Holiness of God in the Lord displayed. (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

3. The Justice of God was illustrated in:
The cursing of the fig tree during the last week before the cross as a sign of His coming judgment upon unresponsive Israel (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-26)

4. The Love of God was illustrated in:
All the healing ministries as the Lord's compassion flowed into action, even to the exhaustion of His humanity. While thirty-six specific miracles of the Lord are recorded, many thousands of healing miracles are passed over in a few isolated verses. (e.g. Matthew 9:35-36, 14:14, 15:30-31, 8:16-17 etc.)

5. The Eternal Life of God was illustrated in:
The great miracle of the resurrection of Christ.

6. The Omniscience of God was illustrated in:-
a his knowledge of where unseen shoals of fish were. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, John 21:1-14)

b where the fish was with just enough money in its mouth to pay the required tax. (Matthew 17:24-27)
c the knowledge about Nathaniel and the woman at the well at Sychar also shows his omniscience. (John 1:45-51; 4:5-43)

7. The Omnipresence of God was illustrated in:
His ability to appear in various places many kilometres apart, demonstrating the truth of His promise to be with believers always. (Matthew 28:20)

8. The Omnipotence of God was illustrated in:
The raising of people such as Lazarus from the dead

9. The Immutability of God was illustrated in:
The repetition of the miracle of the draught of fishes both before and after the resurrection showing that His character and power were unchanged.

10. The Veracity of God was illustrated in:-
The healing of the Centurion's servant and also the Nobleman's son. The Lord said they were healed, and at that moment, many kilometres away, they were. (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10, John 4:46-54)

11. The Grace of God was illustrated in:-
The healing of Malchus' ear in the garden on the night of the Lord's arrest (Luke 22:50). It was a testimony to His Grace that as he faced the horror of the cross, our Lord could still stoop and heal one of His captors. It is significant that the last recorded miracle performed by the Lord before the cross benefited an enemy, one who had come to arrest him.

THEOLOGY LESSON 9

The Trinity

Matthew 28:19
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Names and Titles of God
Angel of Yahweh
Tri-unity

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 28:19-20 at the Great Commission it is quite clear that the people are sent out in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit indicating that there are three personalities in the Godhead. There is therefore tri-unity or oneness of nature and purpose.

In many other passages in the Scriptures two or more members of the Godhead are mentioned as equal. Every cult in some way abrogates the Trinity. These cultic belief systems have been around since the first century.

Comprehension of the Trinty

It is quite difficult to comprehend the concept of three personalities and yet unity in the Godhead as it is a violation of our own intellect. Cultists will say that the Trinity does not make sense but this problem for the unbeliever is covered in 1 Corinthians 2:14 where the unbeliever cannot understand spiritual matters as they are spiritually discerned. Our perception of the mechanics of this is limited but we should not expect human logic alone to cope with this concept. We are creatures speaking of the creator and must accept the revelation provided.

It is important to note however that God has decided to reveal Himself to man in this way and that this is therefore the way in which he ought to be understood.

Trinity and unity have their own characteristics.

Trinity and Tri-unity

Trinity and unity have their own relationships in the Character of God. There is unity in character but trinity in personalities. As you go through the Bible where you have the character of God being expressed you have unity, where you have personalities dealing with mankind you have trinity. We can see the unity of the character of God in the different ways in which God has revealed Himself to man. In the case of trinity however we have to be careful with illustrations and concept as it is easy to go into heresy by taking it one step too far.

There are obviously many important reasons behind this. In eternity we will understand this fully, but here and now, as it has been revealed this way to us, we have the obligation to try our best to understand it’s significance for us. Trinity and unity have their corresponding words in the essence of God.

Unity ‑ essence or character; Trinity ‑ personality.

God is one in essence but revealed as three in person. This is especially true of times when one person of the Godhead is dealing with man. This doctrine actually assists us in understanding God.

In this subject we are introduced to the importance of theology. It is very important that the examples you use accurately reflect this doctrine otherwise some may be led astray. Both the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses have a false view in this area and will confuse believers who are not well taught and have not thought this through thoroughly.

The word Trinity as such; is not found in the Bible, nor are other related doctrinal terms. Nevertheless the doctrine grows out of the Scriptures and therefore it is a Biblical teaching.

From the Scriptures we see that:‑[a] God is Spirit [b] God has manifested Himself to man at different times in different ways [c] The final manifestation through the Lord Jesus Christ is physical and visible [d] Man saw glimpses of God through all these manifestations.

There is a problem of comprehension as we are physical and God is spirit. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We are to see this reality about our creator, Saviour, and lord through the means and terms in which it is revealed.

For example, the angel of the Lord is a clear manifestation of God and associated with God. There are many names of God, the two main ones being Elohim and Jehovah/Yahweh. Elohim is in the plural which shows unity and trinity. Often you will have singular and plural together in the same verse. The contribution of the New Testament is that whilst it does not contain specific reference to the tri-unity of God it does give a lot of evidence that points directly to the doctrine.

One Verse not to Use

It should be noted that it is clear from the evidence that we have that John did not write 1 John 5:7. This is important because if you want to talk about the trinity this is one verse you do not use. No Greek text has this verse in and it did not appear in versions prior to the fifteenth century. It has been inserted as a commentary. It entered the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible.

Erasmus in the fifteenth century left this verse out of the first edition of his Greek manuscript stating that it did not occur in any of the originals. He relented however and under pressure included it in the second and subsequent editions.

Verses in the New Testament

The prime passage for unity, trinity and tri-unity is Matthew 28:19, 20. Other key passages include Matthew 3:16‑17, John 10:30 and 2 Corinthians 13:14. In 1 Corinthians 8:4‑6 we have the unity of God maintained but the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the same language showing that they are equals.

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are growing do not tend to have general problems with the trinity. The people who have problems generally have problems with most doctrines, if they are saved at all.

Definitions:

"There is one only and true God but in the unity of the Godhead there are three co‑equal and co‑eternal persons, the same in substance but different in subsistence".

“There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but different in subsistence”

There is one only and true God but in the unity of the Godhead there are three co‑equal and co‑eternal persons, the same in character but different in the work they do".

False Concepts

The theological perspective from where the Jehovah's Witnesses, Moslems and the Mormons are coming from is that the Father is said to have created the son (Jesus is a servant, a creation, not the creator) and therefore they are not co‑equal and co‑eternal. This is false. The second concept is one of “procession” where one sent the other, the Father sent the Son and the Son sent the Holy Spirit. They therefore say we do not have equality we have a hierarchy. This is not true from a Biblical basis when all the texts of the New Testament are compared with one another.

The Early Church

There were a number of people in the early church who had a Unitarian outlook.

The church in those times did not formulate any clear statement concerning the Trinity until the fourth century.

Theodotus of Byzantium about 210 viewed Jesus as a man who was given special powers by the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Another group at about the same time concluded that the Father was incarnated in the Son and suffered in the Son.

Arius [250-336] from Alexandria distinguished between the One Eternal God from the Son who was generated by the Father and thus had a beginning.

He was opposed by Athanasius who held to three persons in the Trinity of one essence.

It was as a result of controversy in the church that the teaching had to be clarified resulting in the Nicene Creed. In 381 at the Council of Constantinople this concept was given in its final form.

Practical Application

The practical outworking of the Trinity is demonstrated in various areas of practical doctrine

All persons of the Godhead are involved in Redemption - John 3:616, Revelation 13:8

Both the Son and the Spirit are involved in Revelation - John 1:18, 16:13

Fellowship with God can only be on the basis of fellowship in the Godhead. John 14:17

Priority without inferiority is seen in the proper relationship between men and women - 1 Corinthians 11:3

Prayer is seen to involve the Trinity with petitions addressed to the Father, in the power of the Spirit and through the Son. John 14:14, Ephesians 1:6, 2:18, 6:18

Baptism is in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19,20

DOCTRINES

NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD

1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28: 19, 20) These titles emphasise the function of each member of the Trinity.
a) Father - the sovereign authority, who decreed the plan of salvation
b) Son - the obedient Son, who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin according to the Father's will
c) Holy Spirit - the one who reveals the Son to mankind, thereby bringing honour and glory to Him

2. At the Lord's Baptism ‑ Matthew 3 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being baptised.

3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14‑17 we have the Son sending the Spirit.

4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 1, Romans 15

5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John 3:34

7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the co operative work of the Trinity, the Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9. On the Cross He addresses the other two members of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?"

8. All three were involved in the resurrection

[a] the Father ‑ Colossians 2:12
[b] the Son as the person who was raised ‑ John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
[c] The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection ‑ Romans 8:11 The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in our resurrection.

9. The indwelling of the believer ‑ John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit ‑ 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the power in us ‑ Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us ‑ Colossians 1:27

ANGEL OF YAHWEH

1. The Angel of Yahweh is identified as Yahweh (Genesis 16:7-13, 22:11-18, 31:11-13, Exodus 13:21 cf. 14:19, Judges 6:11-23).

2. The Angel of Yahweh is distinguished from Yahweh (Genesis 24:7, Exodus 23:20, 1 Chronicles 21:15-18, Zechariah 1:12-13).

3. The Angel of Yahweh is therefore a member of the Trinity - the same as Yahweh, but distinct from Yahweh.

4. God the Father and Holy Spirit cannot be seen by man face to face (Exodus 33:18-23; John 14:17).

5. Therefore, the Angel of Yahweh is the second Person of the Trinity: the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ the Word/Logos.
a) Jesus Christ identifies Himself as Yahweh (I AM) (John 8:58)
b) The Lord Jesus Christ is the visible/manifest member of the Trinity (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15-16).

c) The Angel of Yahweh never appears after the Incarnation (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15, 16, 1 John 4:12)
d) Both the Angel of Yahweh and Jesus Christ are sent by Yahweh (the Father).

6. The Angel of Yahweh appeared only in the Old Testament.
a) He wrestled with Jacob. (Genesis 32:24-30)
b) He redeemed Jacob from all evil. (Genesis 48:16)
c) He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2)
d) He protected Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19)
e) He prepared Israel for the Promised Land. (Exodus 23:20-23)
f) He reassured Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15)
g) He commissioned Gideon (Judges 6:11-23)
h) He ministered to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:5-7)
i) He saved Jerusalem from Sennacherib. (Isaiah 37:36)
j) He preserved Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the furnace. (Daniel 3:25)

TRINITY

1. There is one God. He has manifested Himself in three distinct personalities. (2 Samuel 23:1-3, Isaiah 48:16, Isaiah 63:7-10, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:33, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

2. The oneness of God refers to the unity or sameness of character. All three members of the Trinity are equal (Philippians 2:6, Deuteronomy 6:4, Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9), although they have different functions/purposes in relation to man.

3. The three members are distinguished according to their function in the plan of salvation (1 Peter 1:2-3)
a) The Father - the authority, who planned our salvation (Isaiah 14:27, John 4:34, 5:17, 12:44, 1 Corinthians 8:6a, Ephesians 3:11)
b) The Son - the obedient son, who was born as a man, died for our sins, and rose from the dead (John 4:34, 5:17, Hebrews 10:7)
c) The Holy Spirit - the ministering servant, who reveals the Son and sanctifies us (John 16:8-11).

4. The Word Logos also known as the Son was the only visible member of the Trinity. (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:16, 1 John 4:12) He was revealed in the Old Testament in Christophonies (e.g. the Angel of Yahweh) and became flesh in the New Testament. (Exodus 3:14 cf. John 8:58; Psalm 10:16 cf. Revelation 11:15; Zechariah 14 cf. Revelation 19)

5. Evidences of the Trinity
a) Affirmed by the use of the title Elohim (plural, Gods) in the Old Testament and the plural pronoun "us" in (Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7).
b) The worship of God we have repeated three times "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4)

c) The name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit indicates Trinity. (Matthew 28:19-20)
d) The Lord's Baptism - the Spirit descends, the Father speaks from heaven and the Son is baptised. (Matthew 3)

6. Light is a good illustration of the Trinity. (1 John 1:5) Light is one, but has three elements.
a) Father - actinic light - that part of light which is invisible, nor felt.
b) Son - luminiferous - that part of light which is both seen and felt.
c) Spirit - calorific - that part of light which is not seen but felt.

TRINITY IN THE TITLES OF GOD

1. The three in one Matthew 28:19, 20,

2. The Lord's Baptism - Matthew 3:16-17 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being baptized.

3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14-17 we have the Son sending the Spirit.

4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, Ephesians 1, Romans 15

5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17:1-5, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John 3:34

7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the co operative work of the Trinity.
The Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9:11-15.
On the Cross He addresses the other two members of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why has thou forsaken me?"

8. All three were involved in the resurrection:
a) the Father - Colossians 2:12
b) the Son as the person who was raised - John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
c) The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection - Romans 8:11. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in our resurrection.

9. The indwelling of the believer - John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the power in us - Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us - Colossians 1:27

THEOLOGY LESSON 8

LESSON 8 – THE BIBLE AS DIVINE REVELATION


Bible – God’s Revelation

John 17:3-5
Romans 1:18-23
John 16:8-11
Acts 17:22-33
John 3:16-18
John 5:30-46
John 12:44-48
Heathenism
Fundamentalism
Revelation

INTRODUCTION

God's purpose is that man should know Him and therefore respond to God in honour and worship motivated by love.

In the written word we have the living word revealed. It all centres on knowing God which in turn is based on Revelation. This principle flows on from and ties in with Lesson 5.

John 17 is the real Lord's Prayer and gets you into the heart of God for you. v 3‑5 Here we see that before He goes to the cross the Lord Jesus Christ is thinking of us and wishes to us to know Him, and the Father, and His love.

CONTEMPLATING GOD

The Scripture attests to two facts, the incomprehensibility of God and the known ability of God. These must be balanced. We can never fully understand God but there are many things we can know. When we look at the character of God we realise that there are many things that we can know about the Lord. But there are some things that can only be known in the future. God is not a big man as the Mormons believe, God is God.

Contemplating the vastness of the universe at night we get an outline of just how great God is. This will give one the idea of the incomprehensibility of God. There will be some things that you will not know this side of eternity. We are creatures who are talking about the Creator. We however can say that what is needed to be known about God has been revealed. In addition everything in the Bible can be known.

1 Corinthians 2:14‑16

Characteristics of the Knowledge of God

[a] The Source of the knowledge of God is God himself. Human experiences and even religious experiences are not reliable in the accurate presentation of God. The Bible is what is sure of God's viewpoint and information about God. Any experience must be tested against the Bible. Romans 1:18‑32 reminds us that man is fallen and that man's view of life is warped by the fallen state. However anyone who has lived on the earth has sufficient evidence from nature of the existence of God. Even with this evidence however most men will reject or distort the truth because they do not want to know Him. Fallen man will create his own god which he can manipulate. What Paul is talking about is general revelation which is available to all.

[b] Its Content - A full knowledge of God is both factual and personal. To know facts about a person without knowing the person is limiting; to know a person without knowing facts about that one is shallow. God has revealed many facts about Himself, all of which are important in making our personal relationship with Him close, intelligent, and useful. Had He only revealed facts without making it possible to know Him personally, such factual knowledge would have little, certainly not eternal, usefulness. Just as with human relationships, a Divine-human relationship cannot begin without knowledge of some minimal truths about the Person; then the personal relationship generates the desire to know more facts which in turn deepens the relationship, and so on.

[c] Its Progressiveness - The knowledge of God and His works was revealed progressively throughout history. The most obvious proof is to compare incomplete Jewish theology with the fuller revelation of Christian theology in respect, for example, to such
doctrines as the Trinity, Christology, the Holy Spirit, Resurrection, and eschatology. To trace that progressiveness is the task of biblical theology.

[d] lts Purposes - God does not reveal Himself that people might know Him but get into a relationship with Him only.
I. To lead people to the possession of eternal life (John 17:3;1 Tim. 2:4).
2. To foster Christian growth (2 Peter 3:18) with doctrinal knowledge (John 7:17; Rom. 6:9, 16; Eph. 1:18), and with a discerning lifestyle (Phil. 1:9-10; 2 Peter 1:5).
3. To warn of judgment to come (Hosea 4:6; Heb. 10:26-27).
4. To generate true worship of God (Rom. 11:33-36).

Four factors that are prerequisites to the knowledge of God:

[a] God initiated the process. Where was the creator? God came to man in the garden.

[b] God gave language in order that he might be able to communicate with fellow man and also with God. This is an area which causes a lot of trouble with the thinking evolutionist.

[c] Man was created in the image of God with free will, a mind that can think. Man is able to think in a rational way. But within himself mankind is subject to total depravity. This means that you are unable to save yourself. However man is still fashioned in the likeness of God and is not totally depraved in that sense. We still have a mind, a will and a conscience even though it is a violated one. But God says in his written word: ‘Draw close to God and he will draw close to you’ James 4:8

[d] God gave the Holy Spirit to convict the unbeliever and convert the repentant. John 16:8‑11

Three General Areas of Revelation

There are three general areas of revelation ‑ Creation, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible.
However we have the necessity of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to understand these things. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
In addition men may wish to reject it. Romans 1:18-32 Thus general revelation is also specific revelation.

Acts 17:22‑31 ‑ is a tremendous sermon. Paul has talked about general revelation in creation, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible as well as a couple of Greek poets. To show the Greeks that even their poets recognized general revelation. What is Paul relying on to produce their salvation? The work of the Holy Spirit alone can achieve this result. He is relying on specific revelation as the first Christian in Athens can only be produced by response to the Spirit’s moving within convicting of the truth. Paul noted that they had a shrine to an unknown God. He said that he was going to show them the real God through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of those in the audience heard, received personal conviction, believed and were saved. There was a mixing of general and specific revelation and as a result there were those who believed.

You have to meet the pagan where they are with general revelation and not where you are. You move from general to specific revelation, from where they are to where the Cross and Empty Tomb is. This challenges the unbeliever. The evangelist may not fully understand the means of witnessing. If however you do know what to do you will know how to do it right; that is to follow the apostolic pattern.

Methods of Understanding the Existence of God

These are various methods of understanding that God exists.

[a] Cosmological argument that God created. This fact is countered by the evolutionist's concept of matter being eternal.

[b] Organizational ‑ the universe speaks of design therefore there must be a master designer.

[c] Anthropological ‑ which looks at the concept of life after death and that man is not just an animal which does not exist after death

[d] The ontological approach propounded by St Anselm in the ninth century and presented further by Descartes, Kant and Hegel. This states that because we conceive of a Supreme Holy Being such a being exists.

General revelation does not prove anything to anyone who does not want to know. It is however the basis of just condemnation of the unbeliever. In the end all will recognize God and He will get all the glory.

Contents of General Revelation

[a] His Glory Psalm 19:1

[b] His power to work in creating the universe Psalm 19:1

[c] His supremacy Romans 1:20

[d] His divine nature Romans 1:20

[e] His providential control of nature Acts 14:17

[f] His goodness Matthew 5:45

[g] His intelligence Acts 17:29

[h] His living existence Acts 17:28

Three results of General revelation.

[a] God's grace is displayed

[b] It gives weight to the case that God exists

[c] To justly condemn rejecters.

God has given a complete revelation to man, as far as is required by man. The rejection of this revelation is an act of man's sinful nature for which man is responsible. Man is therefore justly judged.

Other examples of general revelation John 3:16‑18, 5:30 ff. You have the evidence of many things but you reject it because you do not want the truth. This is why you are responsible for your rejection. John 12:44‑48. When the unbeliever rejects the gospel it should be made clear that if the rejection continues the end of it is hell. God is knowable but not totally comprehensible. However everything we need to know is in writing. What we have in writing we should be able to understand.

SPECIAL REVELATION

Throughout the history of man, God has given special revelation. Many instances are recorded in the Word of God of His speaking directly to man as He did in the Garden of Eden or to the prophets of the Old Testament or the apostles in the New Testament.

Some of this special revelation was recorded in the Bible and forms the only authoritative and inspired record that we have of such special revelation. Upon completion of the sixty-six books in the Bible, special revelation in the ordinary sense seems to have ceased. If you wish to compare biblical truth to other things that claim revelation, look at passages from the Koran (6th century), and from the pseudapigrapha (2nd and 3rd centuries), and you will feel the difference.

DOCTRINES

HEATHENISM AND GOD CONSCIOUSNESS

1. Three systems of human understanding:
a) Empiricism - understanding through experimentation and observation.
b) Rationalism - understanding through logic and reason
c) Faith - believes an established fact as the basis of reality.

2. Faith is the only means of understanding which does not rely on our own abilities - there is no earned merit in faith. Therefore, everybody, even a young child, is able to believe.

3. Faith is compatible with God and grace - God provides, we trust Him and accept. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

4. God Consciousness: The existence of God:

a) Religious
i) God must exist because man universally believes in his existence.

ii) In this case the human mind establishes faith as the criteria for reality.
iii) Men do seek after God. (Psalm 42:1-2, Acts 17:27)

b) Moral
i) Man possesses a conscience with the urge to choose right over wrong.
ii) Human recognition of virtue and truth. The ultimate virtue - God.

c) Rational
i) The human mind possesses the idea of a Perfect and Absolute Being, therefore such a being must exist.
ii) In this case, the mind uses rationalism for reality.

d) Design
i) Structure of the universe demands a designer (Romans 1:19,20)
ii) In this case empiricism is the criteria for reality.

e) Cause and Effect
i) The law of cause and effect demands the existence of God.
ii) This is process of rationalism plus logic.

5. The reaction to God consciousness:
a) When man becomes conscious of God he then exercises his freewill.
b) Acceptance - desire to know God and have fellowship with God.
c) Rebellion - no interest in fellowship with God. SNOWFLAKE
d) Once a person reaches God consciousness and has no desire for fellowship with God, God has no further obligation to that individual.
e) In the case of acceptance, God is responsible to provide gospel information on which to be saved. (Jeremiah 29:13, John 7:17, Acts 17:27, Luke 11:9)

6. Heathenism: What about the people who have apparently never heard the Gospel?
a) Application of Divine Character
i) Since God is perfect justice it is impossible for Him to be unfair to any member of the human race.
ii) God promises that every generation will be evangelised. (Isaiah 51:8b)
b) Application of Unlimited Atonement
i) Christ died for all members of the human race. (2 Corinthians 5:14,15,19, 1 Timothy 2:6. 4:10, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:9, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2)
ii) Therefore obviously God desires salvation for everyone. (2 Peter 3:9)

c) Application of Divine Sovereignty
d) It is God's will that all members of the human race be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)
i) If people are not saved, it is because of their own rejection of Christ as Saviour, not because of God.
e) Application of the Principle of God Consciousness
i) Human free will is tested in the two areas in which a decision must be made.
At the point of God consciousness - Do I want a relationship with God?
At the point of gospel hearing - Do I want to be saved?
ii) If anyone desires relationship with God, God will reveal Himself to them (Jeremiah 29:13, John 7:17, John 4:9, 10, Acts 17:27).
Man has the ability to arrive at God consciousness through observing creation. (Romans 1:20, 21)
When a person reaches the point of God consciousness, he becomes accountable to God. This age varies with cultures, languages and circumstances.

7. From the above it is obvious that any person can come to a saving knowledge of God.

FUNDAMENTALISM

1. Fundamentalism requires belief in:-

a) The deity of Christ and the virgin birth
b) The miracles of Christ
c) The cross of Christ on which He paid for the sins of the world as God's efficacious substitutionary sacrifice
d) The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
e) The certainty of the yet to come Second Coming of the Lord for His church and to judge
f) The inerrancy of the Bible as the Word of God.

2. False teachers and liberal theologians will distort all or some of these doctrines.

REVELATION

God's purpose is that man should know Him and therefore respond to God in honour and worship motivated by love. In the written word we have the living word revealed. It all centres on knowing God, which is in turn based on Revelation.

1. The source of the knowledge of God is God himself. Human experiences and even religious experiences are not reliable in the accurate presentation of God. The Bible is what is sure of God's viewpoint and information about God. Any experience must be tested against the Bible. Romans 1:18‑32 reminds us that man is fallen and that man's view of life is warped by the fallen state. However anyone who has lived on the earth has sufficient evidence from nature of the existence of God. Even with this evidence however most men will reject or distort the truth because they do not want to know Him.

Fallen men will create his own god, which he can manipulate. What Paul is talking about is general revelation, which is available to all.

2. There is however specific revelation, which is the personal confrontation of man through the prophets, teachers and pre eminently through the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who accept general revelation will receive specific revelation.

3. It is progressive, that through the history of man God has revealed more and more about Himself.

4.God does not reveal Himself that people might know Him but for them to get into a relationship with Him.

5. Four factors that are prerequisites to the knowledge of God:

[a] God initiated the process. Where was the creator? God came to man in the garden.

[b] God gave language in order that he might be able to communicate with fellow man and also with God. This is an area which causes a lot of trouble with the thinking evolutionist.
[c] Man was created in the image of God with free will, a mind that can think. Man is able to think in a rational way, even though man is subject to total carnality.
This means that you are unable to save yourself. However man is still fashioned in the likeness of God and has a spiritual need, we still have a reasoning mind, a will and a conscience even though it is a violated one.
[d] God gave the Holy Spirit to convict the unbeliever and convert the repentant. John 16:8‑11

6. Paul in Acts 17:22‑31 gave a message about general revelation in creation, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible as well as a couple of Greek poets, to show the Greeks that even their poets recognised general revelation. What Paul is relying on to effect their salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is relying on specific revelation as the first Christian in Athens.

You have an unknown God. Paul said. He was going to show the real God through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of those in the audience believed and were saved. There was a mixing of general and specific revelation as there were those who believed. You have to meet the pagan where they are with general revelation.. You move from general to specific revelation, from where they are to where the Cross is. This challenges the unbeliever. General revelation does not prove anything to anyone who does not want to know. It is however the basis of just condemnation of the unbeliever. In the end all will recognise God and He will get all the glory.

7. General Revelation

[a] His Glory Psalm 19:1
[b] His power to work in creating the universe Psalm 19:1
[c] His supremacy Romans 1:20[d] His divine nature Romans 1:20
[e] His providential control of nature Acts 14:17

[f] His goodness Matthew 5:45
[g] His intelligence Acts 17:29
[h] His living existence Acts 17:28

8. Results of General revelation.
[a] God's grace is displayed
[b] To give weight to the case that God exists
[c] To justly condemn rejecters.

FREE BIBLICAL TRAINING WITH REAL BIBLE COLLEGE LESSONS

To the BODY OF CHRIST Please understand that we do not want any payment for teaching YOU what we have gleaned from the scriptures.


We DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING AND NOR DOES ANY OTHER BIBLE COLLEGE even though they issue Degree's and Doctorates. Our material is written by men who have studied Gods word for many years and they have made this ALL available FREE and we have put this on our site, so that more and more will be trained in the Kingdom of our LORD & KING YESHUA/JESUS/ISOU


If you have any questions, just ask us and we will try to help.


God bless you and may you have the blessed peace of our Lord




Pastor David Hall

THEOLOGY LESSON 7

LESSON 7 – THE BIBLE ITS SUBJECT AND PURPOSE

Bible – Subject and Purpose

John 20:30-31
John 21:25
Colossians 1:12-23
Ignorance
Humility
Spirituality
Power

INTRODUCTION

What is God trying to say in the 66 books which make up the Bible? In John 20:30‑31, 21:25 John gives the reason for his writing, looking back over 60 years to the time of the Lord's ministry. Here he sees the purpose of the incarnation, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has written these to record the signs that truly indicated that Jesus Christ was truly God and the Saviour. The reason John writes and by implication the reason all the other authors write is that one might have concrete evidence of the way of salvation; that nothing is missing for walking through life as God intended. It is God’s Word with God’s purpose fulfilled; man has the way of salvation made very plain.

The primary subject of the Bible is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament we have the Lord Jesus Christ in his pre-incarnate form as a Christophony and through the sacrificial system and in prophecies.

The Bible is a “history” book ‑ His story. The Bible is about Him. Everything looks towards Him, at Him, or back to Him. There is no other celebrity other than the Lord. All teaching that is Biblical has this theme. Beware of the preacher who leaves you with thoughts of the preacher, rather than praise for the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Colossians 1:12‑23, Paul sings a hymn of praise about the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the whole purpose of Scripture. Paul says that he is writing this to give us God's plan for your salvation and sanctification. Paul states that he is a "diakonos", a minister or server at tables. The minister is a servant of the people who ensures they are fed with spiritual food. He was committed to serve the people whom the Lord had provided for him, to serve them with doctrine.

The reason that we know about subjects such as salvation is that people like Paul under the guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote it down. The purpose of this book is that we might do what the apostles did, and more beside; that we might walk with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and have all the necessary facts.

In verses 15‑18 we see the purpose is also that we should serve him for who he is and what he has done. He comes from eternity past to create, to become man, provide salvation and to be the Lord of eternity. The Bible covers the period from eternity past to eternity future entering into time to give us instructions as to how we are to live in time and shows us in a small way what it is going to be like in eternity.

What Paul does in these three verses, the Bible does in its sixty six books. It shows how time fits, and how you fit into the big picture. The unbeliever is not in touch with the reality of the big picture whilst often the believer is either ignorant, or forgets the big context. We are part of a big plan and it is only when sometimes we are subject to major testing that we focus on this. The only celebrity in the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not to look at men, circumstances or ourselves, we are to look at Him.

THERE ARE FOUR SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF OUR LORD

[a] He is the creator ‑ Colossians 1:16 ‑ there is a person, there is a plan, there is a personality behind the physical world. This universe did not happen by chance. The Bible tells us that there is a mind behind it.

[b] The Lord Jesus Christ is a ruler and is not an impersonal creator who is letting His creation tick over. He rules not out of the world but involved in the world. He is a sovereign supreme ruler. This means that history is not out of his control. Everything that is happening is happening under his guidance. Not all things are good but they are under his overall control. There is an answer to evil and the problems that evil causes.

[c] He is the incarnate Word Genesis 1 John 1 ‑ He is the "logos" of John 1 and has made himself known; He was made flesh and has not left man in the dark. Every other religion we have man talking about their concept of God, only in Christianity do you have God become man telling us his policy.

[d] The Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour, which again makes Christianity unique. God has a plan of salvation for “whosoever will” may come. It is the record of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and the impact that it has.

Man also has a very major part in the Bible. The history of man is also given in the Scriptures. From the beginning it stresses the eternal life dimension in the history of man. It is a good introduction to archaeology and anthropology, as well as ancient history.
Recommended challenging reading for Anthropology is the author, Arthur Custance ‑ The Doorway Papers which gives this subject from a Biblical viewpoint. Genesis is history. There is a lot of history of the emergence of man in Genesis chapters 10‑12 with the linguistic and cultural background for most of the people of the world being given. It is interestingly accurate as well as being unique. Whilst not being a history text book what history is contained in it is absolutely accurate and as such it is first class history. Archaeologists over the last 200 years have confirmed the Bible account in many ways with their finds especially in the Middle East.

There are many examples of people being convicted and converted by the evidence of the Scriptures as to their accuracy and truth providing they look at them in depth and honestly. If you study the Scriptures they will come to life. The Bible is to Show the Glory of God

The purpose of the Bible ‑ According to the written Word of God one supreme purpose is revealed in all that God has done or will do from the beginning of creation to the outermost reaches of eternity. This supreme purpose is the manifestation of the glory of God. For this one purpose angels were created, the material universe was designed to reflect that glory and man was created in the image and likeness of God.

In the inscrutable wisdom of God even sin was permitted and redemption was provided with a view towards the realization of this supreme purpose. The purpose behind everything is the glory of God.

The purpose of the Bible was to explain the unfolding drama of redemption for the glory of God. The purpose of our salvation is the glory of God. In the endless ages of eternity every living creature will praise God for what He has done. They will magnify His name because they will see His glory in everything that He has provided.

Why do we serve Christ in the church ‑ that He may be glorified. Everything in our lives should revolve around two words ‑ "His glory". Why do we suffer ‑ His glory, why do we have pressure ‑ His glory.

The centrality of the truth that God's plan will lead to His glory in that when all things are seen finally His name will be glorified. We do not have all the answers but we are confident in Him who has all the answers.

The Bible is God's message to man

The Bible records that, angels, men and the universe were created for His glory. Psalms 19.

The nation Israel was formed for the glory of God.

Salvation is for the glory of God.

All Christian service should be done for the glory of God

Our desire and passion should be that God is glorified in us.

Our death should be to the glory of God.

We are to share the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible is different from any other book in the world. It stands supreme in reflecting the place of man and his opportunity of salvation, the supreme character and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and gives all and in detail the infinite glories that belong to God himself. It is the one book that reveals the Creator to the creature and discloses the plan by which man with all his imperfections can be reconciled and be in eternal fellowship with the eternal God.

The purpose of the Bible ‑God's Glory, the subject ‑ the Lord Jesus Christ. Our response – is to get to know the subject and let the purpose be fulfilled in our lives to His glory forever.

DOCTRINES

IGNORANCE

1. On a number of occasions believers are commanded not to be ignorant. As the Bible is the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16) the more we know about the Scriptures the less our ignorance of God's viewpoint.

2. The areas of ignorance deal with past, present and future events.

3. PAST - Due to pride.
That God's righteousness is by faith rather than by man's works. (Romans 10:3) "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

That God has a future for Israel (Romans 11:25, 26)

That believers should not be ignorant, of the history or the Scriptures pertaining to how God dealt with Israel in the past (1Corinthians 10:1-4).

4. PRESENT - Due to immaturity of the believer.
To the existence and use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).
To the use of suffering in the Christian life for development (2 Corinthians 1:8).
To Satan's devices in deceiving believers (2 Corinthians 2:11).

5. FUTURE - To the existence of the translation or rapture of the Church as a source of comfort to church age believers (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

HUMILITY

1. Humility is to be sought - Zephaniah 2:3

2. Humility is manifest in restraint - Luke 6:28-29

3. Humility is produced by the Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23

4. Humility is essential in teaching - 2 Timothy 2:25

5. Humility is essential in learning. - James 1:21

6. Humility is valuable to God. - Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

7. Humility is the path to promotion - 1 Peter 5:6

8. Humility gives proper self evaluation. - Romans 12:3

9. Examples of humility
a) Moses - Numbers 12:3
b) David - 2 Samuel 16:11
c) Jeremiah - Jeremiah 26:14
d) Stephen - Acts 7:60
e) Paul - 2 Timothy 4:16

10. Evidences of humility
a) Forbearance to others - Ephesians 4:2, 6:9, Colossians 3:13
b) Endurance in trials - 1 Corinthians 13:7, James 1:12
c) Compassion - 1 Thessalonians 2:7
d) Peaceability - James 3:17

11. Humility was the primary characteristic of Christ - Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 11:29, 21:5

12. Promises to the humble - Psalm 22; 26, 37:11, 147:6, Isaiah 29:19

SPIRITUALITY

1. All Born Again Spirit Filled Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. When we allow Him to control our lives, we are said to be "filled with the Spirit" or "walking in the Spirit".

2. The filling of the Holy Spirit can be lost by
a) Grieving the Spirit - by sin
b) Quenching the Spirit - by not submitting to His leading
c) This is called being carnal, or controlled by the flesh, the old sin nature.

3. The filling of the Holy Spirit can be regained by
a) confessing sin (1 John 1:9)
b) surrendering your life to God (Romans 12:1-2)
c) This is called being spiritual, or controlled by the Holy Spirit.

4. Only the Holy Spirit in us can produce good works acceptable to God - anything in our own strength is unacceptable (Romans 8:8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

5. The spiritual believer
a) Imitates God. (Ephesians 5:1, 1 John 3:9)
b) To glorify Christ. (John 7:39, John 16:14)

c) Fulfils the Law. (Romans 8:2-4, Romans 13:8)

6. In the Bible the human race is divided in three Categories:-

a) Natural Man - A person born physically alive, but not regenerated. He may be highly sophisticated, civilised, gentle and kind, but is completely ignorant of any spiritual phenomena. (1 Corinthians 2:14) Equivalent to the cold person in the church in Laodicea.

b) Carnal Man - A person regenerated or born again but living his life under the power of his carnal/fleshly body. Prolonged activity in this area produces a Christian who is still a baby. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Equivalent to the lukewarm person in the church of Laodicea.

c) Spiritual Man - A person regenerated and living generally in the power of the Holy Spirit. He discerns the difference between the things of God and man. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13) He has fellowship with God in his daily life. (Ephesians 5:18-20) Equivalent to the hot person in the church of Laodicea.

7. Carnality

a) The believer still possesses his fleshly/carnal desires even after recieving salvation (1 John 1:8, Romans 7:14,15).

b) The natural carnal/fleshly man is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

c) The believer under the control of his fleshly body and mind is called carnal (1Corinthians 3:1-3, Romans 7:14).

d) The fleshly man frustrates bona fide production in the life of the believer (Romans 7:15).

e) Adamic Sin Nature is acquired at the point of physical birth (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12)

f) We are therefore considered spiritually dead at the point of physical birth (Romans 5:12).

g) The fleshly man has several facets: areas of weakness produces sins, areas of strength produces human good. It has trends towards asceticism or lasciviousness. In many cases asceticism is considered to be spirituality.

h) The sinful flesh is not found in the resurrection body.

POWER

1. Five Greek words for power.
a) Dunamis - from which we get dynamite - inherent power.
b) Energes - from which we get energy - operational power.

c) Kratos - part of our word autocratic - ruling power.
d) lscuous - endowed power.
e) Exhusios - authoritative power or authority.

2. God's power is available to all believers.
a) God the Father's power. (1 Peter 1:5)
b) God the Son's power (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)
c) God the Holy Spirit's power. (Acts 1:8)
d) The power of the Word. (Hebrews 4:12)
e) Kingdom of God power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

THEOLOGY LESSON 6

LESSON 6

Biblical – Canonicity

Matthew 5:17
Luke 11:51
Canonicity
Greek Grammar
Hebrew Grammar

INTRODUCTION

The Bible has only been in its present form as far as contents go since 397 AD. Prior to that they only had scattered manuscripts as far as the New Testament was concerned and a completed Old Testament in the form of the Septuagint that had been available since the earliest days. We have one book. In the past they did not.

When you are reading commentaries or other books to get the background to the Bible you need to undertake a thorough background study as to the ancient history of the place and period to be able to gauge as to the accuracy of any commentary. Commentaries are the works of men, and may be good, accurate and spiritual, but they may also contain errors or incomplete information, indeed all will be incomplete. Always compare a number of commentaries and explore the history in a number of proven texts.

For instance there is one text which says that the Septuagint was not written until 300 AD which is in error as it was written by and completed before 100 BC as quotations from it and references to it occur well before this date. Beware of strong statements by men who are too sure of themselves over small matters two thousand years back in time unless they back up their words with some evidence.

BIBLICAL CANON

Canon means a measuring rule or standard. It comes from the Greek word kanon. The canon of Scripture is the rule of life – Galatians 6:16, Philippians 3:16.

As Bible believers we see this book as God's book, that God made sure that he got every book, every letter in that book and that only what was His Word got in.

The books of the Bible were canonical as soon as they were written. It did not require a church council to finally select it. Canon meant both the complete Bible with the 66 books and also those books that come to be the rule of life. The councils simply recognized the books that were canonical.

The council of Carthage in 397 AD was the venue for the finalizing of the canon. No further book could be added in after that stage. It should be remembered that Paul did not write only 12 - 13 letters. He wrote many more, although the rest were not canonical as they were not recognized by the church as inspired by God as Scripture in the way the others were.

In church history we can also look at bishop's letters of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. These are very interesting but they are not canonical. These letters quote from Scripture but are not Scripture themselves.

THE ANCIENT WORLD

In the ancient world very few people had horses so that they either traveled by boat or walked.

The fastest speed of communication was therefore walking pace. In addition unless a person was very wealthy no one in the ancient world owned a book as such. Any books which existed were in the form of a scroll or codex which was perhaps a metre or so long and 300 mm wide. Every book was hand copied. It was therefore very expensive. People would make their own copies of manuscripts they had access to for their own use, and even these were valuable, as paper, (papyrus from Egypt), was expensive.

In Rome for example there were, at the time of Paul, some 20+ house churches as well as over possibly 100+ synagogues in the city of Rome. Paul writes one letter and it goes by one person to the city of Rome and is taken by hand around the house churches. The messenger reads Paul's letter and gives an exposition on the letter to that house church. He may stay in that suburb for a couple of days during which time the letter is copied by hand by someone in the church.

The original now goes to the next house church and the same procedure is followed. As a result a number of spelling mistakes crept in causing a slight variety in the letters however with the original being the one from which the copy was taken these variations were not major. It has been found that 95% of all variations in the texts that have survived are spelling mistakes.

The Romans tried to eliminate Christianity around the turn of the century with one of the major areas of suppression being book burning. All the leaders of a house church would elect one of their number to be their leader and bishop over a particular group. The Romans would try and capture the bishop, torture him and try to get him to divulge who the elders were and where they kept the sacred books. They thought that if they could destroy the sacred books and kill the leadership they could eliminate Christianity.

By the end of the second century many of the copies of the Scriptures had been destroyed and a number of heretical letters had been written. There were many false teachers in the church as seen in Galatians with all the heresies which we have now occurring in the first century. There was also great missionary activity with many people being saved.

A Christian in the Black Sea area, said to the Romans; that all they were leaving them was their empty pagan temples. Pliny the younger, the great letter writer wrote that it appeared that everyone was becoming a Christian. While he was Governor of Bythinia in 114 AD he tried to eliminate the Christians.

The false writings by the heretics were being claimed as Scripture by themselves. This was causing a lot of confusion thus there was increasing demand from the bishops of the various churches to assemble and decide what was acceptable and what was not. Eventually, with Christianity becoming the official State religion of the Roman Empire at the time of Constantine, persecution stopped, and through a number of church councils the sacred writings were consolidated and agreed to.

This is also the time when we get the codex such as Codex Sianaticus and Codex Vaticanus, which many scholars believe is the best source of material. It is likely that these single volume Codexes of the scriptures were ordered to be compiled by Constantine as a result of these first Councils. By the year 400 AD therefore a person could have one book to carry with him as the Bible. They also tried to ensure that the version was as accurate as possible.

OLD TESTAMENT

How was the canon formed? With the Old Testament there is internal evidence from the Lord Himself, who saw the law of Moses being authoritative as well as quoting from many of the other books. Internally also authors of the Old Testament books quoted from other books.

[a] From the Law – Joshua 1:7-8, 1 Kings 2:3, Ezra 6:18, Nehemiah 13:1 Daniel 9:11, Malachi 4:4.

[b] From the Prophets – Joshua 6:26, 1 Kings 16:34, Joshua 24:29-33 Judges 2:8-9, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Ezra 1:1-4, Daniel 9:2 Jeremiah 25:11,12

[c] From Malachi 4:5 there is an indication that the prophetic witness would end with Malachi and not recommence until an Elijah type prophet such as John the Baptist. Matthew 17:11-12

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

The Dead Sea scrolls are the writings of a sect which flourished 100 BC and were eliminated by the Romans just after the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. These people were not Christians but many of the texts refer to the Old Testament. Some of the oldest written copies of the Old Testament are from amongst these scrolls that they hid in caves as the Romans attacked them.

About 175 of the 500 Dead Sea Scrolls are biblical. Most famous of these is the Isaiah scroll. The sect was rigorous and the text is therefore probably rigorous as well.

The KJV is translated from the Masoretic text which is from the 10th century but comparison between the Scriptural section of the Dead Sea scrolls and that text shows a remarkable consistency. The scrolls found gave positive evidence of canonicity to all the Old Testament books other than Chronicles, Esther and the Song of Solomon.

OTHER SOURCES

The non canonical books in the Old Testament or Apocrypha were accepted as valuable books but are not canonical. They were however accepted into the Roman Catholic Bible at the Council of Trent in the 16th century.

A similar group of books called the Pseudepigrapha were rejected as non canonical as far as the New Testament was concerned.

Satan wanted to get false books into the Bible and thereby water it down. A number of writers in the ancient world also noted those books which were considered sacred by some. Josephus recognized the 22 books that became the 39 books of the Old Testament as sacred. In AD 90 a prominent group of rabbis met at Jamnia and produced a list which left out Esther, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes.

The Church Fathers accepted the 39 books of the Old Testament. The apocrypha whilst acknowledged by Augustine as important was not accepted into the Bible until it was by the Roman Catholics in the counter reformation and the Council of Trent in 1546. Most of the protestants accepted it also, and it was published in the first KJV in 1611 for use in the Anglican churches, although not as part of the private editions.

EVIDENCE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

[a] Quotation of the Old Testament in the New. All books except Esther, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are quoted in this way. The apocrypha is never quoted.

[b] Matthew 5:18 were seen as authoritative by the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes all the Old Testament.

[c] Luke 11:51 from the death of Abel to Zechariah Abel’s death is in Genesis 4, Zechariah’s death in 2 Chronicles 24. In the Hebrew canon Genesis was the first and 2 Chronicles, not Malachi, the last.

TESTS FOR CANONICITY

They had three tests for every letter when it came for consideration for inclusion in the Bible.

[a] A test of authority ‑ was this written by a prophet, a leader in Israel or a lawgiver as far as the Old Testament was concerned or an apostle, or a close associate of an apostle in the case of the New.

[b] Was it unique? – Was there the evidence of inspiration?

[c] They had to be accepted by the churches.

New Testament Canon

[a] The witness of the apostolic period – Colossians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:15. 1Timothy 5:18 Deuteronomy 25:4 Luke 10:7, 2 Peter 3:16

[b] The witness of the first and second century where church fathers recognized all 27 books as canonical.

[c] The Council of Carthage in 397 where the New Testament canon was finally set in place. Many liberals will only accept 3‑4 letters ascribed to Paul as being Pauline but because the Church Fathers went into this so thoroughly, we must deduce that when we have something in the New Testament, there is a very good reason for it to be in there.

Do not have liberal commentaries, have conservative ones. If you study it thoroughly you will find that your faith in the Bible is on very solid ground. The onus of proof is on the liberals. The people meeting at Carthage said that the Pauline epistles were written by Paul and being much closer to the situation their statements should have significant weight. Therefore what we have in the canon of Scripture is inspired and has been protected by God throughout the ages.

DOCTRINES

BIBLE: CANONICITY

DEFINITION - Canon - KANON (Greek) - a measuring rule or standard.
1. Why do we need a canon of Scripture?
a) So that believers in every generation might have complete revelation from God.
b) That man might have God's Word in writing. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
c) A need for the preservation and circulation of sacred writing in the time of oppression.
d) That people might know what was scripture and what was not, and know how God thinks.

2. CRITERIA FOR OLD TESTAMENT CANONICITY
a) The question of Inspiration (2 Peter 1:21) - every existing book of an acknowledged messenger of God was immediately accepted as the Word of God being commissioned by God to make known his will.

b) The principle of Internal evidence (Deuteronomy 31:24-26, Joshua 1:8, Judges 3:4). Nehemiah 8:1-8 shows that people were taught the word of God. Daniel in captivity read (Jeremiah 25:11--12, Jeremiah 29:10) and discovered Israel had a future giving rise to (Daniel 9:2, 5, 6. Zechariah 7:12)
c) Documentation by quotation - New Testament quotes by Jesus Christ and others declare them to be the Word of God, e.g. (Matthew 22:29, John 5:39, John 10:35)
d) The Law of Public Official Action (Nehemiah 8:5)
e) The Law of Cause and Effect. In this area canonicity is recognition of what God has done in the field of communication. Passages such as (2 Kings 22:1 - 23:2 and Nehemiah 8) are not historical accounts of the ratification of the Canon but the result of the existence of the Canon.
f) Principle of external evidence - Israel had gone down spiritually prior to the Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 36:11-21) During captivity the Jews realised the importance of Bible doctrine and there was a spiritual resurgence led by people like Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi, Zerubbabel who extra biblically attested to the canon of scripture. The Old Testament canon was closed in 425 BC-

3. DIVISION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - Three sections.
a) Torah or Law - The Pentateuch consisting of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
b) The Nabiim or Prophets This was divided into 2. The Former and the Latter Prophets, the division being the Babylonian Captivity.
c) The Kethubim or Writings which were further subdivided into 3 subsections -
i) Poetical Books - Psalms and Job.
ii) The Five Rolls or Megilloth books that were read at various feasts:
Song of Solomon - Passover
Ruth - Pentecost
Ecclesiastes - Tabernacles
Esther - Purim
Lamentations - Anniversary of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC-
iii) Historical Books - Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles.

4. NUMBER OF OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS
The number of books in the Hebrew Old Testament was 24 compared to 39 in the English: 1st and 2nd Kings etc. are combined and many of the prophets also combined into scrolls, e.g. Matthew in the New Testament when quoting Zechariah said "As Jeremiah said" (Matthew 27:9-10) Zechariah was in the Jeremiah scroll. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

5. CLASSIFICATION OF OLD TESTAMENT CANON.
a) Homologoumena - these are writings that were accepted and had always been accepted as canonical.

b) Antilegoumia - these were five books which were eventually accepted as canonical which were disputed in the 1st - 5th centuries AD
i) ESTHER - because the name God was not mentioned.
ii) SONG OF SOLOMON - this dealt with a love affair which the early church fathers apparently were somewhat embarrassed about and thought it non-canonical.

iii) ECCLESIASTES - where Solomon was looking at life from a human viewpoint which was not reconcilable with Judaism or Bible Doctrine.
iv) EZEKIEL - because chapters 40-48 seemed to contradict the Mosaic Law. Ezekiel 40-48 deals with annual sacrifices in the Millennium not the Levitical usage.
v) PROVERBS - because one proverb seemed to contradict another.

c) Pseudepigrapha - these were the false writings and were rejected. Such books as "The Penitence of Jannes and Jambres" "The Magic Book of Moses", are in this category.

d) Apocrypha - these were books written after 425 BC and have been rejected as not being canonical. The Apocrypha includes 14 books which are found in the Septuagint and Vulgate but never in the Hebrew Canon. False doctrine found in the Apocrypha includes:-
i) Prayers and Offerings for the Dead. - 2 Maccabees 12:42.
ii) Suicide Justified - 2 Maccabees 14:41.
iii) Atonement by Almsgiving - Ecclesiasticus 3:32, 4:1-11.
iv) Salvation by Almsgiving - Tobit 4:11

v) Cruelty to Slaves Justified - Ecclesiasticus 33:25-9.
vi) Pre-existence of souls - Wisdom of Solomon 8:19, 20.
vii) Other fallacies include magical incantations, purgatory, assassination, angels having the power of intercession.

6. REJECTION OF OLD TESTAMENT APOCRYPHA
a) These books are included in the apocrypha
1 & 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, additions to Esther, The wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch , The letter of Jeremiah, The prayer of Azariah, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, The prayer of Manassah, 1 & 2 Maccabees

b) The apocrypha was never in the Hebrew Canon.
c) Neither Jesus Christ nor any of the New Testament writers ever quoted once from the Apocrypha.
d) Josephus expressly excluded them from his history of sacred scriptures.
e) No mention of the Apocrypha was made in any catalogue of canonical books in the first 4 centuries AD
f) These apocryphal books were never asserted to be divinely inspired or to possess divine authority.
g) No prophets were connected with these writings.
h) These books contained many historical, geographical and chronological errors.
i) The apocrypha teaches doctrines and upholds practices which are contrary to the canon of scripture.

7. CRITERIA FOR NEW TESTAMENT CANONICITY
a) Apostolicity - every book must either to have been written by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle (Mark with Peter, Luke with Paul). An early date of writing is essential prior to 100 AD

b) Reception by the Churches - must be accepted by the churches as authentic when written.
c) Constancy of Doctrine - with Old Testament scripture and Apostolic teaching.
d) Inspiration - each book must have internal and external evidence of inspiration. This was evaluated using the spiritual gift of discernment during the formation of the canon. (1 Corinthians 12:10)
e) Recognition - each must be recognised by the Church Fathers as canonical. Four councils were held - Laodicea (336 AD), Damascus (382 AD), Carthage (397 AD),Hippo (419 AD).
f) Internal - each must contain exhortation to public evaluation of the word. (Colossians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:27, 1 Timothy 4:13, Revelation 1:3).

8. CLASSIFICATION OF NEW TESTAMENT CANON
a) Homologoumena - the accepted books.
b) Antilegomena - the disputed books which were eventually accepted - James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Hebrews.
c) Pseudepigripha - the false writings - Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Acts of Andrew etc.

d) Apocrypha - the rejected writings - Acts of Paul, Epistle of Barnabbas, Shepherd of Hermes, The Revelation of the Twelve, The Revelation of Peter.

GREEK GRAMMAR

1. A tense is an expression of the action or the time of the verb. Greek has three tenses:
a) CONTINUOUS tense which is further subdivided into the PRESENT and IMPERFECT.
i) PRESENT - implies action in the present time, a dramatic present focuses attention on a dramatic event in history.
ii) IMPERFECT - continuous action in past time.
b) COMPLETED tense - action itself has been completed but its results continue - the PERFECT tense. (Ephesians 2:8, 9) "For by grace are ye saved" - literally - for by grace have you been saved in the past with the result you keep on being saved forever through faith.
c) OCCURRING tense - action of the verb is presently in progress -
d) AORIST tense which is subdivided into two - POINT OF TIME AORIST and ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME AORIST
i) (Acts 16:31) - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
ii) BELIEVE - Point of time Aorist.
iii) SAVED - Once and for all time Aorist.
iv) Believe in a point of time on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved once and for all.

2. The voice of the verb expresses the relationship between the subject and the verb. Greek has three types of voice:
a) ACTIVE VOICE - the subject produces the action of the verb (Acts 16:31) Believe - you believe.

b) PASSIVE VOICE - subject receives the action of the verb - the voice of grace.
c) MIDDLE VOICE - subject is benefited by the action of the verb. (John 15:16)

3. The mood affirms and relates the verb to reality. There are three frequently used moods
a) IMPERATIVE MOOD - mood of command
b) INDICATIVE MOOD - mood of reality, indicates that an event actually took place as stated.
c) SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD - potential mood - maybe yes, maybe no.
d) INFINTIVE MOOD – mood of purpose or intention

4. The Greek conditional clause states a supposition and is classified on the basis of the condition it expresses. There are four conditional clauses -
a) Type 1 - If, and it is true (Matthew 4:3, 6)
b) Type 2 - If, but it's not true. (Matthew 4:9)
c) Type 3 - If, maybe yes, maybe no. (1 John 1:9)
d) Type 4 - If, I wish it were true, but it isn't (1 Peter 3:14)

HEBREW GRAMMAR

1. In the Hebrew there are only 2 tenses:
a) IMPERFECT - incomplete action.
b) PERFECT - completed action.

2. In order to express different meanings the stems on the verbs are used:
a) KAL - a simple declarative statement indicative active.
b) NIPHAL - passive and sometimes reflective.
c) HITHPAHEL - reflective.
d) PIHEL - Intensive stem - active.
e) PUHAL - Intensive passive.
f) HIPHIL - Causative - active.
g) HOPHAL - Causative - passive.

3. Example GATAL - to kill:
a) KAL - someone kills.
b) NIPHAL - you are killed.
c) HITHPAHEL - suicide.
d) PIHEL - you kill in a horrible manner.
e) PUHAL - you are killed in a horrible manner.
f) HIPHIL - Murder incorporated - you cause someone to be killed without being involved.
g) HOPHAL - you are the victim of murder incorporated.

THEOLOGY LESSON 5

LESSON 5

Bible – Interpretation

2 Timothy 2:14-19
Galatians 1:6-9
2Timothy 1:10-11
Inspiration: Fulfilled Prophecy
Interpretation
Consecration

INTRODUCTION

In 2 Timothy 3:16 - Four things that Paul emphasizes are [a] Study, unremitting study with application to life; [b] Prove yourself by action or be deemed unapproved, [c] You become a worker with a tool of trade in the form of God's Word; [d] Rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Rightly dividing is a present active participle of the word "orthotomeo" which means to plough a straight furrow or to cut a straight line. Both the farmer and military engineer are in view here. Consistency and order is the key concept, and this applies directly to the way we handle the Word of God.

The study of the principles of interpretation is called hermeneutics by many Colleges, but we reject this system because Hermes is the false god of order and reason and is linked to freemasonry and other satanic cults. Analysis of a passage is called exegesis.

Interpretation must cut a straight line, an accurate consistent interpretation of the text. It is like the farmer who ploughs the field all the same way to the same depth and the same basic line. You need to be consistent and persistent. Our attitude towards inspiration, revelation and inerrancy is vital in our attitude towards interpretation. We are not to be careless, flippant or casual with our interpretation, nor change our methodology to suit our beliefs, but let the text speak to us consistently and directly, with the context being the guide.

Preaching is accurately undertaking interpretation of the Word and teaching it, Galatians 1:6-9. You can be cursed if you handle the Word of God lightly and erroneously.

You are in danger of divine discipline if you share the ignorance that you have wrongly deduced by your faulty study, with others.

WHAT WE MUST DO?

[a] Walk consistently in the Spirit and in prayer.
[b] Consistent hard study of the Word is called for the pastor- teacher or teacher.
[c] Thirdly prayerfully prepare your study.
[d] Finally you should teach it with authority.

INTERPRETATION

There are four methods of interpretation – [a] Literal, [b] Allegorical [c] Semi Allegorical [d] Theological

[a] Literal - The Bible is to be taken, using the normal rules of grammar, literally. Literal interpretation means that where the Scripture is obviously an allegory it should be taken in that form e.g. John 10:7-10. Where it is not, it should be taken as a true story, Luke 16:19-31. Some things are recorded as lies, some as pictures, some as parables and some as normal narrative. Each passage is to be interpreted in the way that the context indicates it is to be taken. We have a literal interpretation. This type of interpretation will have theological significance. Amongst other things, it will cause the person to believe in a literal Millennium and distinguish between Israel and the Church.

The Principle: "When common sense makes plain sense take no other sense”. Usually this form of interpretation goes hand in hand with acceptance of a verbally inspired Bible.

[b] Allegorical - This method which uses symbols makes Scripture say something other than its obvious meaning. Once you start to allegorize you should ask why?

Perhaps it is because you do not wish to take it literally. Many within the Roman Catholic Church ascribe to this method. Many of the denominations such as some within the:

Reformed Movement, Anglicans, some Baptists and Methodists follow this format. They make spiritual word pictures from the text rather than take a literal interpretation.

This method came to a peak with Origen in Egypt during the 3rd century who used a combination of Greek and Jewish philosophy including the works of Plato and Philo.

If used consistently this type of interpretation would reduce the Bible to near fiction for the normal meaning of the words would be replaced by whatever meaning the interpreter gives to the symbols.

[c] Semi literal. - This is, as is the case of Allegorical approach, an inconsistent approach where the interpretation is often coloured by preconceived ideas and concepts.

Very few evangelicals use the full allegorical method. Evangelicals who use the semi literal method usually treat prophecy by allegory and the rest of the Bible literally. This tends towards A-millennialism.

[d] Theological – This method is allied to the semi allegorical method and is controlled by the Theological framework applied by the interpreter.

REASONS FOR SUPPORT OF THE LITERAL METHOD

[a] The purpose of language. God is the author of language as it is the means of communication. If the Bible does not communicate there is something wrong with the author but as the author is God the Holy Spirit there is nothing wrong with the Scriptures. The Scriptures are therefore to be taken in a literal and objective manner.

[b] Objectivity – switching from literal to other forms of interpretation, unless the context directs, will give different messages from the Bible.

[c] Prophecy - There are about 300 prophecies of the Old Testament referring to the Lord. It can be shown that the Lord fulfilled all but 7 of them literally at His first advent vindicating the literalists position. Micah 5:2, Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 9:1-2, 42:1, 53:5, 61:1, Psalm 16:9-10, 22:1, 15-16, 18, 31:5, 34:20, 68:18, Zechariah 13:7.

PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION

[a] Grammatical – study the grammar.

[b] Context – Study the context.

[c] Scripture with Scripture - Compare with other areas of the Bible.

[d] Progressive Revelation – God may add to or change. – The Lamb, Pork – 1 Timothy 4:3

Examples Matthew 10:5-7, 28:18-20, Luke 9:3 22:36, Genesis 17:10, Galatians 5:2, Exodus 26:8 Acts 20:7, John 1:17 16:24 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

Summary - It is God who desired to give man His Word, it was God who gave the language so that we could understand and communicate. He gave the Bible to communicate to us and not confuse us. He gave us the communication plainly as this is the way that people communicate.

God is behind man's thinking; and is not going to write His book of revelation and inspiration in such a way that the very rules of language; that He uses is going to be broken.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION.

[a] Consider the Bible as a whole, it is God's unfolding drama of redemption. Your interpretation should be on the basis of God's Word having a redemptive theme.

[b] Consider each book distinctively. You need to understand the different characteristics of each book.

[c] Consider to whom the book or the passage was written.

[d] Consider the bigger context, the historical and geographical context.

[e] Consider other biblical passages with the same subject. Because the Bible is God's Word, He has got it right and got it all together. Consider like with like and if the different passages tie together with the same interpretation you probably have got it right.

[f] Discover the exact meanings of the original words used. Textural variations do not affect one doctrine.

[g] Beware of personal prejudice, do not read your own preconceptions into any passages, let the Holy Spirit correct your theology as you study.

[h] One old saint also asked these questions. Does your interpretation make you love the Lord more, desire the salvation of the lost more, desire to assist your brethren more, make you keen in your desire to serve the church? If you answer “YES!” to each of these questions then your interpretation is probably correct.

DOCTRINES

INSPIRATION: FULFILLED PROPHECY PROOF OF INSPIRATION

All scripture is inspired by God (2 Peter 1:19-21) Therefore all Biblical prophecies must come true.
This is demonstrated in prophecies already fulfilled.

1. Reuben would be unstable and lose his rights as firstborn. Prophecy (Genesis 49:3-4) - Fulfilment (Numbers 26:5-11)

2. Simeon would not have land allotted in the Promised Land. Prophecy (Genesis 49:5-7) - Fulfilment (Joshua 19:1-9)

3. Levi would not have land allotted in the Promised Land. Prophecy (Genesis 49:5-7) - Fulfilment (Joshua 21:4-7)

4. Judah would become the ruler over the nation of Israel. Prophecy (Genesis 49:8-12) - Fulfilment (Numbers 10:14, Joshua 15:1 Revelation 5:5)

5. Zebulun would receive an allotment of land on the coast and it would reach down to Sidon. Prophecy (Genesis 49:13) - Fulfilment (Joshua 19:10-16) as well as history when they took the land to the south of their area previously allocated to Asher and their influence reached right down to Sidon.

6. Issachar would be given a fertile area between two mountains and would be a servant. Prophecy (Genesis 49:14-15) - Fulfilment (Joshua 19:17-22)

7. Dan would be a full member of Israel but would lead the nation away in idolatry. Prophecy (Genesis 49:16-18) - Fulfilment (Joshua 19:40-48) and the fact that idolatry in the nation was led by this tribe. It is also of interest that his tribe is not mentioned as having any part in the 144,000 witnesses in (Revelation 7).

8. Gad would be a warrior tribe. Prophecy (Genesis 49:19) - Fulfilment (1 Chronicles 5:18-20, 12:8)

9. Asher would have a rich and fertile land. Prophecy (Genesis 49:20, Deuteronomy 33:24-25) - Fulfilment - History - Asher enjoyed a rich and fertile area together in more recent times successful oil exploration.

10. Naphtali would be quick to spread good news Prophecy (Genesis 49:21) - Fulfilment (Matthew 4:13-15) as Jesus began his ministry in Naphtali and most of the disciples who gave the good news came from that region.

11. Joseph would receive great blessing. Prophecy (Genesis 49:22-26) - Fulfilment (Deut 33:13-17)

12. Benjamin would be a ferocious group Prophecy. (Genesis 49:27) - Fulfilment (Judges 19, 20:21-47)

13. Joshua and Caleb to enter into the Promised Land after 40 years wandering. Prophecy (Numbers 14:24, 30) - Fulfilment (Joshua 3:7,17 14:6-12)

14. Sisera would be defeated by a woman. Prophecy (Judges 4:9) - Fulfilment (Judges 4:21)

15. Hophni and Phineas would die on the same day. Prophecy (1 Samuel 2:34) - Fulfilment (1 Samuel 4:11)

16. The priesthood would be removed from the family of Eli. Prophecy (1 Samuel 2:27-36, 3:11-14) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 2:26-27)

17. Saul was to be the first king of Israel and would save the nation from the Philistines. Prophecy (1 Samuel 9:15-16) - Fulfilment (1 Samuel 11;14)

18. Saul's kingdom would not continue. Prophecy (1 Samuel 13:14, 15:28, 24:20) - Fulfilment (2 Samuel 3:1, 5:1-3)

19. Saul to die in battle on a certain day. Prophecy (1 Samuel 28:19) - Fulfilment (1 Samuel 31:1-6)

20. Solomon to build the Temple not David. Prophecy (1 Chronicles 17:1-12) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 7:51)

21. The sword not to depart from David's house because of sin. Prophecy (2 Samuel 12:10-12) - Fulfilment (2 Samuel 13:28-29, 16:21-22)

22. The bones of Jeroboam's pagan priests to be burnt upon the false altar that Jeroboam had constructed. Prophecy (1 Kings 13:1-3) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 23:4-6)

23. Jeroboam's dynasty to be destroyed. Prophecy (1 Kings 14:10-11) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 15:27-28)

24. Ahab to be victorious over the Syrians. Prophecy (1 Kings 20:28) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 20:29-30)

25. Ahab to die in battle for causing Naboths death. Prophecy (1 Kings 21:19, 22:17) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 22:37)

26. The dogs would then lick his blood from his chariot. Prophecy (1 Kings 21:19) - Fulfilment (1 Kings 22:38)

27. Jezebel to be eaten by wild dogs. Prophecy (1 Kings 21:23, 2 Kings 9:10) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 9:30-37)

28. Elisha to receive a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Prophecy (2 Kings 2:9) - Fulfilment demonstrated by the fact that the Bible records that Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah.

29. Naaman to recover from his leprosy. Prophecy (2 Kings 5:3, 8,10) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 5:14)

30. The starving inhabitants of Samaria to receive an abundance of food in twenty four hours. Prophecy (2 Kings 7:1) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 7:16-17)

31. An arrogant aide to the king to see the miracle but not to eat of the food. Prophecy (2 Kings 7:2, 19) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 7:17, 20)

32. Beb-Hadad, a Syrian king to recover from his sickness, but die anyway. Prophecy (2 Kings 8:10) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 8:15)

33. Jehu to have four generations on the throne of northern kingdom. Prophecy (2 Kings 10:30) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 15:12)

34. Jehu's dynasty to then be destroyed. Prophecy (Hosea 1:4) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 15:8-12)

35. Joash to defeat the Syrians on three occasions. Prophecy (2 Kings 13:18-19) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 13:25)

36. Jehoram to suffer with a disease because of sin. Prophecy (2 Chronicles 21:15) - Fulfilment (2 Chronicles 21:18-19)

37. Amaziah to die because of his idolatry. Prophecy (2 Chronicles 25:16) - Fulfilment (2 Chronicles 25:20-27)

38. Sennacherib to be assassinated in his own land. Prophecy (Isaiah 37:7) - Fulfilment (Isaiah 37:37-38)

39. Sennacherib's attempt to invade Jerusalem not to be successful. Prophecy (Isaiah 37:33-35) - Fulfilment (Isaiah 37:36-37)

40. Hezekiah to be healed of a terminal disease. Prophecy (Isaiah 38:5) - Fulfilment (Isaiah 38:9)

41. Cyrus to allow the Jews to go back to Jerusalem. Prophecy (Isaiah 44:28) - Fulfilment (Ezra 1:1-2)

42. Zedekiah to be captured by Nebuchadnezzar. Prophecy (Jeremiah 21:7) - Fulfilment (Jeremiah 52:8-11)

43. Jehoahaz to die in Egyptian captivity and not return to Judah. Prophecy (Jeremiah 22:10-12) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 23:33-34)

44. Jehoiachin to be captured by Nebuchadnezzar. Prophecy (Jeremiah 22:25) - Fulfilment (2 Kings 24:15)

45. Coniah was told that no seed of his would sit on the throne of David. Prophecy (Jeremiah 22:28-30) - Fulfilment - historical. This prophecy is in apparent contradiction to the Davidic Covenant of (2 Samuel 7:8-16) where David was promised a "son" who would reign forever on his throne. This apparent contradiction is solved by the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as Mary was descended from David via Nathan. (Luke 3:23-31)

46. Hananiah, a false prophet to die within a year. Prophecy (Jeremiah 28:15-16) - Fulfilment (Jeremiah 28:17)

47. Nebuchadnezzar to invade Egypt. Prophecy (Jeremiah 43:9-13) - Fulfilment - history

48. Nebuchadnezzar to defeat the Egyptians at Carchemish. Prophecy (Jeremiah 46) - Fulfilment - history.

49. Nebuchadnezzar to be given the mind of an animal because of pride. Prophecy (Daniel 4:19-27) - Fulfilment (Daniel 4:28-37)

50. Belshazzer to have his kingdom removed from him. Prophecy (Daniel 5:5, 25-28) - Fulfilment (Daniel 5:30)

51. Alexander the Great to establish a world empire in a very short time. Prophecy (Daniel 2:32-39, 7:6, 8:5-8, 21, 11:3) - Fulfilment - history.

52. Alexander to defeat the Persians - Prophecy (Daniel 8:5-8) - Fulfilment - history

53. Alexander to die at the height of his power and his kingdom to be divided into four parts. Prophecy (Daniel 8:8, 22, 11:4) - Fulfilment - history tells us that at the height of his power Alexander died of a fever in Babylon at the age of 33.

After a period of some twenty years of internal struggle and fighting the eleven generals of the Greek army who had survived Alexander were reduced to four called in Scripture the four winds of heaven, Ptolemy, Seluchus, Cassander and Lysimachus.

54. Antiochus Epiphanes persecuted the Jews and desecrated their Temple. Prophecy found in (Daniel 8:11-25) - Fulfilment - history. The whole of (Daniel 11) represents historical prophecies of the Greek dynasties based on Ptolemy and Seluchus which lasted until the time of Julius Caesar with Cleopatra being the last Greek ruler of Egypt. [SEE Prophecy: Prophecy and History Fulfilled]

55. Zacharias would be mute until the birth of John the Baptist. Prophecy (Luke 1:20) - Fulfilment (Luke 1:57-64)

56. John the Baptist to be the herald for the Lord Jesus Christ. Prophecy (Luke 1:76-77) - Fulfilment (Matthew 3:1-11, Luke 3:2-6)

57. Simeon to live until he had seen the Messiah. Prophecy (Luke 2:25-26) - Fulfilment (Luke 2:28-30)

58. Peter would deny Jesus Christ. Prophecy (John 13:38) - Fulfilment (John 18:24-27)

59. Peter to die as a martyr. Prophecy (John 21:18-19, 2 Peter 1 :12-14) - Fulfilment - history

60. Judas to give himself over to Satan. Prophecy (John 6:70) - Fulfilment (John 13:27)

61. Judas to betray Jesus. Prophecy (John 13:21) - Fulfilment (John 18:2-5)

62. Paul would suffer a lot for the Lord Jesus Christ. Prophecy (Acts 9:16) - Fulfilment (2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 12:7-10, Philippians 1:29-30)

63. Paul would be a minister to the Gentiles. Prophecy (Acts 9:15) - Fulfilment (Romans 11:13, Ephesians 3:1)

64. Paul would preach before kings. Prophecy (Acts 9:15) - Fulfilment (Acts 24-26)

65. Paul would go to Rome. Prophecy (Acts 23:11) - Fulfilment (Acts 28:16)

INTERPRETATION

In receiving revelation which comes through the Holy Spirit as He teaches the Word of God to a believer in Christ certain basic rules are necessary in order to understand the Word of God. The science of interpretation is called hermeneutics. Interpretation should be undertaken using the following concepts.

1. The purpose of the Bible as a whole: - each text must be interpreted in the light of the total content of Scripture as the Bible does not contradict but complements itself.

2. The particular message of each book of the Bible: - the interpretation of a book must be in conformity with its purpose. In this way Ecclesiastes will need to be interpreted in a different way to Psalms or the Revelation.

3. To whom addressed: - while all Scripture is equally inspired not all Scripture is equally applicable. As an example in David’s day, one could plead with the Lord that the Holy Spirit would not be taken away from you (Psalm 51:11). However since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been permanently in all believers and therefore cannot be removed thus such a prayer is no longer valid today. (John 14:16, 17).

4. The context: - review the surrounding text as to the context and interpret in relation to that context.

5. Similar teachings elsewhere in the Bible where study of one book may help interpretation in a related book for instance Daniel and Revelation.

6. Accurate exegesis from the original languages.

7. Literal Interpretation: - unless otherwise guided the person should assume a literal interpretation rather than a symbolic.

8. Guard against prejudice: - each passage must be allowed to say what it does even if it fails to immediately resolve apparent lack of harmonization with other passages in the Bible.

CONSECRATION

1. Consecration means full surrender of self to God. (Romans 6:13)

2. This is the attitude of "denying self" and "not my will, but yours be done" (Matthew 16:24, 26:39, Galatians 2:20).

3. This is the only acceptable gift to God. (Romans 12:1,2)

4. The consecration of the Temple is a picture of the believer's life: the Outer Court (the body), the Holy Place (the soul) and the Holy of Holies (spirit)

5. You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and therefore must be set apart as a holy vessel (Romans 12:1-2 cf 1 Kings 8:1-11)