2012-3-13 06:58
APRIL,1999
CHAPTER II
BIBLIOLOGY
I.REVELATION
GeneralDefinition of Revelation Revelation refers to selfdisclosure of God to man about the truth he wants man to know. Itincludes the work and nature of God, and his redemptive plan formankind. God initiates the revelation, and man is to obey andproclaim the received revelation.
NaturalRevelation
Naturalrevelation is also called general or universal revelation. It refersthat God reveals himself through the nature, his creation (Acts14:15-17; 17:24-28; Romans 1:lg-21; 2:14-15; Job 38-39; Psalm19:1-6). It is designed for people to know the existence of Godthrough their surroundings. It gives the knowledge of sin rather thanthe knowledge of salvation through Jesus, which comes from specialrevelation (Romans 10:14-15).
SpecialRevelation
Specialrevelation is also called particular revelation. Special revelationis the manifestation of God to particular people. God chose people toreveal at particular time, location and situation for particularpurpose by particular means in order to communicate propositionaltruth with them concerning his redemptive plan (John 1:18; 5:39; Luke24:44; Galatians 1:11-12). The modes of special revelation may behistorical event, theophany, dream, written writings, or Christ (theliving word). The propositional truth is objective, and leads theparticular people to know of the redemption of God.
II.INSPIRATION
GeneralDefinition of Inspiration
Inspirationis the process by which the Holy Spirit moved the human writers ofthe Scriptures to write the message of God for man to have properunderstanding (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:10).R is better to see inspiration as a long process in which Godprepared, chose and moved the writers to write the message expectedby God.
VerbalInspiration
Verbalinspiration refers that every word in the Bible was inspired. Thoughthey were written by the human writers, the Holy Spirit influencedand guided the writers to select the individual words which Godwanted from the vocabulary God gave to the inspired writers to use(Matthew 5:17-18; 22:32, 44; John 10:35; Galatians 3:16). It is notdictation in which the writers
wereforced to use the words being told because some authors used thefirst person in the text, claimed themselves the authors of thewritings, and did the research for the writings (Luke 1:3; 1Corinthians 1:1; 16:2), and even there are different styles (1Corinthians 7:10, 40).
PlenaryInspiration
PlenaryInspiration refers that the whole of the Bible, not some parts, isinspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44;John 10:35).
Inerrancyof the Bible
Verbalinspiration results in inerrancy of the Bible. Inerrancy of the Biblerefers that there is no error in the Bible. It refers to thecorrectness in all of teachings in the Bible. The Bible is truthfulin views of culture, communication and purposes, and it is written inphenomenal language rather than technical language.
Historicityof the Bible
Historicityof the Bible refers that all the events in the Bible are historicaland real facts. Jesus Christ treated the events in the OT ashistorical (Matthew 11:23-24; 12:39-40; 24:37-38).
Integritvand Trustworthiness of the Bible
Plenaryinspiration results in integrity of the Bible. Integrity of the Biblerefers to the unification of the Bible in purpose an message as abook written by an author. It refers to the consistence among all ofteachings in the Bible. Trustworthiness of the Bible refers that theBible is worthy of man's trust, to believe and follow. It is becausethe Bible is inspired to record the real revelation of God and revealthe truth of God.
Authorityof the Bible
Authorityof the Bible refers that the Bible is the authoritative word of God.The Bible has the authority of God as the written standards for manto listen and obey (2 Timothy 3:16). It has a definite and objectivemeaning for believers to understand in the power of the Holy Spirit(John 14:7, 17; 15:26; 16:8, 13; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 13, 15; Ephesians1:17-18; 3:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:15;
1Peter 1:11).
III.THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE
Canonicity
Definitionof Canon. The original meaning of "canon" inGreek is a measuring rod, rule, or standard. By the second century itwas used in the church as revealed truth or the rule of truth. Lateron, it refers to a list of books having divine authority andinspiration.
Definitionof Canonicity. Canonicity is a process of recognitionof the official collection of inspired books in the mind ofChristians.
Primaryin the Development of the OT Canon.(1) Authorship of a prophet of God (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). (2)Authority of God-- it claimed itself to be the word of God, and tellsthe truth of God and man. (3) Acceptance by the people of God-- it isaccepted by believers of God, Jesus, or an NT writer.
PrimaryPrinciples in the Development of the NTCanon. The same principles for the OT
canonmay be applied for the NT canon, but there are different principlesfor the NT canon. (1)
Apostolicity--the book was written by an apostle or influenced by apostolicteaching. (2)
Acceptance--it was accepted among the churches for the divine authorship wasrecognized. (3)
Internalwitness-- it reflects the divine inspiration, and is consistent withthe doctrines in the
acceptedbooks.
Textualtransmission of the Text and Translations
TheBible is a special revelation, not a general revelation for allpeople. It is unnecessary to preserve the Bible in the original formfor the unoriginal readers. Different readings among manuscripts maypresent the variety of readings of the original manuscripts ratherthan their meanings. The textual transmission in translations may bea vehicle to spread out the truth of God.
Thoughthere is no autographs, the eternity of the word of God is claimed inthe Bible (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Besidescanonicity, the word of God, his special revelation, is preserved inmanuscripts and translations.
Thoughthere are no word-for-word agreement between two versions ofmanuscripts or translations, there is more than ninety percentage ofagreement among them to result in no change of biblical teaching anddoctrine. It is because the preservation of revelation refers to theendurance of the word of God rather than the perfection ofmanuscripts and translation.
Thenature of the word of God transcends the limitations and deficienciesof the languages. For instance, the quotations of the OT in the NTwere written into the NT in Greek no matter what version of Bible,Hebrew Scriptures or Greek translation, the quotations were citedfrom (Matthew 3:3; 4:4, 6, 7, 10). On the day of Pentecost the twelvedisciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the worksof God (Acts 2:4, 8, 11). It shows that the truth of God can bereached by different translations of the Bible. The meaning of thetruth of God will not be distorted in the translations though thestudy of the manuscripts written in original languages may leads tomore precise understanding.
PresentAccess to the Word of God
Todaypeople can access the word of God by means of translations in theirmother tongues. Though to study the manuscripts in original languagesmay have more precise understanding, it is the Spirit of God whoguides believers to understand the word and will of God.
APRIL,1999
CHAPTER II
BIBLIOLOGY
I.REVELATION
GeneralDefinition of Revelation Revelation refers to selfdisclosure of God to man about the truth he wants man to know. Itincludes the work and nature of God, and his redemptive plan formankind. God initiates the revelation, and man is to obey andproclaim the received revelation.
NaturalRevelation
Naturalrevelation is also called general or universal revelation. It refersthat God reveals himself through the nature, his creation (Acts14:15-17; 17:24-28; Romans 1:lg-21; 2:14-15; Job 38-39; Psalm19:1-6). It is designed for people to know the existence of Godthrough their surroundings. It gives the knowledge of sin rather thanthe knowledge of salvation through Jesus, which comes from specialrevelation (Romans 10:14-15).
SpecialRevelation
Specialrevelation is also called particular revelation. Special revelationis the manifestation of God to particular people. God chose people toreveal at particular time, location and situation for particularpurpose by particular means in order to communicate propositionaltruth with them concerning his redemptive plan (John 1:18; 5:39; Luke24:44; Galatians 1:11-12). The modes of special revelation may behistorical event, theophany, dream, written writings, or Christ (theliving word). The propositional truth is objective, and leads theparticular people to know of the redemption of God.
II.INSPIRATION
GeneralDefinition of Inspiration
Inspirationis the process by which the Holy Spirit moved the human writers ofthe Scriptures to write the message of God for man to have properunderstanding (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:10).R is better to see inspiration as a long process in which Godprepared, chose and moved the writers to write the message expectedby God.
VerbalInspiration
Verbalinspiration refers that every word in the Bible was inspired. Thoughthey were written by the human writers, the Holy Spirit influencedand guided the writers to select the individual words which Godwanted from the vocabulary God gave to the inspired writers to use(Matthew 5:17-18; 22:32, 44; John 10:35; Galatians 3:16). It is notdictation in which the writers
wereforced to use the words being told because some authors used thefirst person in the text, claimed themselves the authors of thewritings, and did the research for the writings (Luke 1:3; 1Corinthians 1:1; 16:2), and even there are different styles (1Corinthians 7:10, 40).
PlenaryInspiration
PlenaryInspiration refers that the whole of the Bible, not some parts, isinspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44;John 10:35).
Inerrancyof the Bible
Verbalinspiration results in inerrancy of the Bible. Inerrancy of the Biblerefers that there is no error in the Bible. It refers to thecorrectness in all of teachings in the Bible. The Bible is truthfulin views of culture, communication and purposes, and it is written inphenomenal language rather than technical language.
Historicityof the Bible
Historicityof the Bible refers that all the events in the Bible are historicaland real facts. Jesus Christ treated the events in the OT ashistorical (Matthew 11:23-24; 12:39-40; 24:37-38).
Integritvand Trustworthiness of the Bible
Plenaryinspiration results in integrity of the Bible. Integrity of the Biblerefers to the unification of the Bible in purpose an message as abook written by an author. It refers to the consistence among all ofteachings in the Bible. Trustworthiness of the Bible refers that theBible is worthy of man's trust, to believe and follow. It is becausethe Bible is inspired to record the real revelation of God and revealthe truth of God.
Authorityof the Bible
Authorityof the Bible refers that the Bible is the authoritative word of God.The Bible has the authority of God as the written standards for manto listen and obey (2 Timothy 3:16). It has a definite and objectivemeaning for believers to understand in the power of the Holy Spirit(John 14:7, 17; 15:26; 16:8, 13; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 13, 15; Ephesians1:17-18; 3:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:15;
1Peter 1:11).
III.THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE
Canonicity
Definitionof Canon. The original meaning of "canon" inGreek is a measuring rod, rule, or standard. By the second century itwas used in the church as revealed truth or the rule of truth. Lateron, it refers to a list of books having divine authority andinspiration.
Definitionof Canonicity. Canonicity is a process of recognitionof the official collection of inspired books in the mind ofChristians.
Primaryin the Development of the OT Canon.(1) Authorship of a prophet of God (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). (2)Authority of God-- it claimed itself to be the word of God, and tellsthe truth of God and man. (3) Acceptance by the people of God-- it isaccepted by believers of God, Jesus, or an NT writer.
PrimaryPrinciples in the Development of the NTCanon. The same principles for the OT
canonmay be applied for the NT canon, but there are different principlesfor the NT canon. (1)
Apostolicity--the book was written by an apostle or influenced by apostolicteaching. (2)
Acceptance--it was accepted among the churches for the divine authorship wasrecognized. (3)
Internalwitness-- it reflects the divine inspiration, and is consistent withthe doctrines in the
acceptedbooks.
Textualtransmission of the Text and Translations
TheBible is a special revelation, not a general revelation for allpeople. It is unnecessary to preserve the Bible in the original formfor the unoriginal readers. Different readings among manuscripts maypresent the variety of readings of the original manuscripts ratherthan their meanings. The textual transmission in translations may bea vehicle to spread out the truth of God.
Thoughthere is no autographs, the eternity of the word of God is claimed inthe Bible (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Besidescanonicity, the word of God, his special revelation, is preserved inmanuscripts and translations.
Thoughthere are no word-for-word agreement between two versions ofmanuscripts or translations, there is more than ninety percentage ofagreement among them to result in no change of biblical teaching anddoctrine. It is because the preservation of revelation refers to theendurance of the word of God rather than the perfection ofmanuscripts and translation.
Thenature of the word of God transcends the limitations and deficienciesof the languages. For instance, the quotations of the OT in the NTwere written into the NT in Greek no matter what version of Bible,Hebrew Scriptures or Greek translation, the quotations were citedfrom (Matthew 3:3; 4:4, 6, 7, 10). On the day of Pentecost the twelvedisciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the worksof God (Acts 2:4, 8, 11). It shows that the truth of God can bereached by different translations of the Bible. The meaning of thetruth of God will not be distorted in the translations though thestudy of the manuscripts written in original languages may leads tomore precise understanding.
PresentAccess to the Word of God
Todaypeople can access the word of God by means of translations in theirmother tongues. Though to study the manuscripts in original languagesmay have more precise understanding, it is the Spirit of God whoguides believers to understand the word and will of God.
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