© John Stevenson, 2013

RevelationRevelation

All Scripture is inspired by God and All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for profitable for teaching, for reproof, for

correction, for training in righteousness; correction, for training in righteousness; 1717 so that the man of God may be so that the man of God may be

adequate, equipped for every good adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• A great or noble A great or noble ideaidea

• A great or noble A great or noble ideaidea

• A feeling or beauty A feeling or beauty or aweor awe

God has moved certain men to write God has moved certain men to write in such a way that the result of that in such a way that the result of that writing, the Scriptures, is the very writing, the Scriptures, is the very

word of God.word of God.

But know this first of all, that no But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is prophecy of Scripture is a matter a matter of of one’s own interpretation, one’s own interpretation, 2121 for no for no

prophecy was ever made by an act of prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy human will, but men moved by the Holy

Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21).Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Living The Living WordWord

The Written The Written WordWord

RevelationRevelation InspirationInspirationGod has revealed God has revealed

HimselfHimselfGod in-breathed the God in-breathed the

ScripturesScriptures

Involves both general Involves both general as well as special as well as special

revelationrevelationConfined to the BibleConfined to the Bible

• Neo-Orthodoxy Theory: God is seen as transcendent so that we cannot receive an accurate revelation of Him.

Orthodoxy:Orthodoxy:The Bible is theThe Bible is the

Word of GodWord of God

Neo-Orthodoxy:Neo-Orthodoxy:The Bible givesThe Bible giveswitness to thewitness to theWord of GodWord of God

• Neo-Orthodoxy TheoryNeo-Orthodoxy Theory

• Mechanical Dictation TheoryMechanical Dictation Theory

Moses wrote down all the words of Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD (Exodus 24:4).the LORD (Exodus 24:4).

• Neo-Orthodoxy TheoryNeo-Orthodoxy Theory

• Mechanical Dictation TheoryMechanical Dictation Theory

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with

you and with Israel.” (Exodus 34:27).

• Neo-Orthodoxy TheoryNeo-Orthodoxy Theory

• Mechanical Dictation TheoryMechanical Dictation Theory

Then the LORD answered me and Then the LORD answered me and said, said, ““Record the visionRecord the visionAnd inscribe And inscribe it it on tablets,on tablets,That the one who reads it may run.” That the one who reads it may run.” (Habakkuk 2:2).(Habakkuk 2:2).

• Neo-Orthodoxy TheoryNeo-Orthodoxy Theory

• Mechanical Dictation TheoryMechanical Dictation Theory

• Dynamic Inspiration TheoryDynamic Inspiration Theory

• Neo-Orthodoxy TheoryNeo-Orthodoxy Theory

• Mechanical Dictation TheoryMechanical Dictation Theory

• Dynamic Inspiration TheoryDynamic Inspiration Theory

• Limited InspirationLimited Inspiration

Redemptive Redemptive TruthsTruths

Scientific & Scientific & Historical Historical

StatementsStatements

For truly I say to you, until heaven and For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter earth pass away, not the smallest letter

or stroke shall pass from the Law until all or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18). is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18).

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth

of God.’” (Matthew 4:4).

Infallible: Incapable of errorInfallible: Incapable of error

Inerrancy: Does not contain errorInerrancy: Does not contain error

Infallibility & Inerrancy do not Infallibility & Inerrancy do not demand…demand…

• A strict utilization of the rules of grammar

• A rigidly literalist interpretation

• The technical language of modern science

• Verbal preciseness in quotations

• A comprehensive accounting of all truth

Infallibility & Inerrancy do not Infallibility & Inerrancy do not demand…demand…

• The infallibility or inerrancy of non-inspired sources used by the Biblical writers

But to the married I give instructions, not I, But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband her husband 1111 (but if she does leave, she (but if she does leave, she

must remain unmarried, or else be must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the reconciled to her husband), and that the

husband should not divorce his wifehusband should not divorce his wife(1 Corinthians 7:10-11).(1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. divorce her. 1313 And a woman who has an And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to unbelieving husband, and he consents to

live with her, she must not send her live with her, she must not send her husband away. (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).husband away. (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).

• Genealogy of JesusGenealogy of Jesus

• Calling of the DisciplesCalling of the Disciples

• Setting of the Sermon on the Setting of the Sermon on the MountMount

• Inscription on the cross of JesusInscription on the cross of Jesus

• Not always the same eventNot always the same event

• Topical versus chronological orderTopical versus chronological order

• Quotes made from different Quotes made from different languageslanguages

• Intent of statement rather than exact Intent of statement rather than exact wordswords