The Doctrine of the Word of God and the Old Testament Canon

I.  The Doctrine of the Word of God (Bibliology)

  A.    Definition:  The Canon of Scripture – The word “canon” means “measuring rod.”  In this context then the biblical canon is the complete list of books that belong in the Bible.

    1.      We must not underestimate the importance of this doctrine.  The Words of Scripture are the Words that nourish our spiritual lives.  Therefore, we can echo the words of Moses to the nation of Israel in reference to the Words of God’s law: 

 

“For it is no trifle for you, but it is your life, and thereby you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess” Deuteronomy 32:47.

    2.  To add or subtract from the Word of God would either prevent God’s people from fully obeying Him, or would require of God’s people that which God has not commanded.  Therefore, the precise determination of the extent of the canon is of the utmost importance.

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you”  Deuteronomy 4:2.

II. The Old Testament Canon

  A.  The earliest collection of words from God is the Ten Commandments.  

“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”  Exodus 31:18

“Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other.”  Exodus 32:15

  B.     Other Old Testament prophets also added to the canon as instructed by God.

     1.      Joshua

“And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God . . .” Joshua 24:26

    2.      Samuel

“Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and placed it before the LORD . . .” 1 Samuel 10:25

    3.      Jehu

“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of  the Kings of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 20:34

    4.      Jeremiah

"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.”  Jeremiah 30:2

Many more Old Testament prophets were used by God to write His words to His people, and this list is by no means exhaustive.

  C.     The Close of the Old Testament Canon

    1.  The Old Testament canon continued to grow as God spoke through His prophets.  If we date Haggai to 520 B.C., Zechariah to 518 B.C. – with some material added about 480 B.C., and Malachi around 435 B.C., we know that this period coincided with the last books of the Old Testament:  Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ester.

    2.  Jesus and the New Testament authors quote the Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative 295 times, but not once do they cite any statement from the Apocrypha, or any other writings, as having divine authority.  Thus, the New Testament writers agreed that the Old Testament canon, no more and no less, was to be taken as God’s very words.

  D.    What the Old Testament Canon is Not

    1.  The books that comprise the Apocrypha, a collection of Jewish historical books, have never been considered Scripture by the Jews.  The Roman Catholic Church includes the Apocrypha in its Bible.  The Apocrypha includes these non-canonical books:  1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, The Rest of Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch (including the Epistle of Jeremiah), the Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasseh, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. 

    2.  These books were not included in Hebrew Scripture, but were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

    3.  The Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible by Jerome included the Apocrypha, but Jerome himself stated that these books were not “books of the canon,” but merely “books of the church” that provided historical background on the Jewish people.

    4.  At the Council of Trent in 1546 the Roman Catholic Church officially adopted the Apocrypha as part of its Bible.  These books include teaching on prayers for the dead, and justification by faith plus works rather than by faith alone, and other teaching that contradicts Scripture.  In so doing, the RCC upholds that the tradition of the church has the same authority as the Bible.  This teaching was prevalent in the church until the Reformation.  This continues to be their belief today.

 

(Source: Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. 2000. 1291 pp. $30.99)

Theories of Inspiration

Theories of Inspiration (Bibliology)

1.  Definition:  Inspiration means that the Holy Spirit influenced the writers of Scripture in such a way that rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation of God as He intended.

 

        a.  The Intuition Theory – makes inspiration largely a high degree of insight by the writers of Scripture.  Thus, the inspiration of Scripture is almost like an artistic ability possessed by the writer.  This view is largely held by left-wing liberalism.

        b.  The Illumination Theory – maintains that there is an influence of the Holy Spirit upon the writers of Scripture, but involves only a heightening of their normal ability.  There is no special revelation of truth or guidance in what is written, but rather an increased sensitivity to discover truth.

        c.  The Dynamic Theory – emphasizes a combination of divine and human influences upon the process of inspiration and the writing of the Bible.  The Spirit of God works by directing the writer to the thoughts or concepts and allowing the writer’s own distinctive personality to come into play in the choice of words and expressions.

        d.  The Verbal Plenary Theory – insists that the Holy Spirit’s influence extends beyond the direction of thoughts to the selection of words used to convey the message.  The work of the Holy Spirit is so intense that each word is the exact word that God wanted used at that point to express the message while still allowing the distinctives of the individual writers to come through in the Scripture.  This view represents a conservative orthodoxy.

        e.  The Dictation Theory – teaches that God actually dictated the Bible to the writers with no regard to the writers’ individual style or personality.

 

(Source: Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. 2000. 1291 pp. $30.99)

The Doctrine of the Word of God

The Doctrine of the Word of God (Bibliology)

A.     Definition:  “The Word of God” is a phrase used in Scripture to denote several different meanings.  It is important for us to distinguish between these biblical uses as we begin our study of this doctrine.

     1.      The Word of God as a Person:  Jesus Christ

          a.       The Apostle John sees the risen Lord Jesus in Heaven and says, “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”  Revelation 19:13, NASB.

          b.      Similarly, the opening of John’s Gospel we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:1, NASB.  It is clear that John is speaking of Jesus Christ because in John 1:14 the apostle states, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”

          c.       While this usage of calling Jesus “the Word” is not common in Scripture, it does indicate that among the members of the Trinity, it is God the Son Who in His Person and His Word has the role of communicating the character of God to man.

     2.      The Word of God as Speech by God Through Personal Address

          a.       Examples of God speaking directly to people on earth are found in Scripture.

          b.      God’s instruction to Adam demonstrates this personal address: 

“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.’"  Genesis 2:16-17

          c.       At the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, God spoke from Heaven:

“And behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’"  Matthew 3:17

     3.      The Word of God as Speech by God Through Human Lips

          a.       Frequently in Scripture, God raises up prophets through whom He speaks.  Although these are human words, spoken by people in their familiar languages, the absolute authority of these words, and their truthfulness, is in no way diminished.  Their words are God’s Words.

          b.      Moses speaking as God’s prophet is a perfect example of God speaking through human lips.

“I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.  It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”  Deuteronomy 18:18-20

          c.       God made a similar statement to the prophet Jeremiah.

“Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”  Jeremiah 1:9

          d.      Thus, God’s words spoken through human lips were to be considered just as authoritative as if it were given through personal address.

     4.      The Word of God as Written Record

          a.       In addition to these other forms of God’s Word, we also find in Scripture several instances in which God’s Words were put in written form.

          b.      We find an example of this in the giving of the ten commandments to Moses:

“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”  Exodus 31:18

          c.       Moses was also used later by God to write His holy law:

“It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete, that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, ‘Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.’”  Deuteronomy 31:24-26

          d.      It should be noted that these words are still considered to be God’s Word even though they were written down mostly by men and in normal, human language.  They are authoritative and absolutely true.  To disobey these words is to disobey God Himself.

     5.      The Word of God as Scripture.

          a.       Our study will focus upon the Bible because it is the only form of God’s Word that is available to us for consistent examination. 

          b.      The other forms of God’s Word are not suitable for us to study because . . .

 1.      We cannot hear God’s words of decree and thus cannot study them directly.

             2.      We cannot speak with the Word made flesh in His bodily form because He, Jesus, has ascended to Heaven. 

             3.      God’s words of personal address are uncommon even in Scripture.

             4.      God’s words spoken through human lips ceased to be given when the New Testament canon was completed so this form is also insufficient as a direction for study.

          c.       Therefore, only the Bible is sufficient and profitable to withstand such rigorous, systematic, and academic scrutiny.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
 
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”  Joshua 1:8

 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” 2 Timothy 3:16

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

Important Terms from this section: Bibliology, Written Record, Personal Address, Word of God, Decree

(Source:  Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. 2000. 1291 pp. $30.99)

How Do We Begin to Study Doctrine?

Most Christians don't study doctrine.  It simply requires more discipline and study than we are accustomed to doing, and it is just too easy to let the waves of satellite television roll over us at the end of a long day.  I get that.  The problem with this is that everything worth doing requires work, and most of the things to which we give our time are of no lasting importance.  I propose that the study of doctrine, however, serves to equip the Christian man or woman with a sound and proper understanding of his/her relationship with the Lord, and protects the believer from false teaching that is in no short supply in the vast marketplace of ideas that is our pluralistic culture.  Regrettably, there is also no shortage of false teaching in the church.  It is also worth mentioning at the outset that the study of the orthodox doctrines of the Christian faith, while certainly worth our time, is no replacement for a genuine, loving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Correct doctrine can certainly inform and deepen that relationship, but it is never a replacement for it.  We have been saved by the God of the Bible, not the doctrines contained in the Bible.  Having said this, if you are still reading, I pray that the content of this study over the coming years will serve to inflame your love for Jesus Christ, your faith in Him, and your steadfast hope and trust in His soon return.

 

Let's begin.

 

The Prolegomena of any area of study is the introduction of the topic.  Here below is the prolegomena of the study of Systematic Theology, or the primary doctrines of the Christian faith.  We begin by defining terms.

 

Systematic Theology is the study of what the entire Bible says about a given topic such as the nature of God, man, sin, redemption, the atonement, justification, etc.  Other areas of theological study are related to Systematic Theology, but are different in their scope.  For example: 

 

Old Testament Theology asks what Deuteronomy teaches about sin, or what the book of Psalms teaches concerning sin, or what the entire Old Testament teaches about sin.

 

New Testament Theology asks what the Gospel of John teaches about prayer, or what the entire New Testament teaches about prayer. 

 

Biblical Theology asks what specific sections of Scripture or certain biblical authors teach on a given topic, and how that topic developed historically in Scripture.  For example, what does 1 John say about the obedience of a true Christian, or what does the Apostle Paul say the role of women in the church?  This sounds very close to Systematic Theology, and indeed these disciplines overlap, but Biblical Theology is concerned with the historical development of a doctrine in Scripture.

 

The difference then between Systematic Theology and these other areas of theological study is that Systematic Theology focuses on all of the relevant biblical passages on a given doctrine to arrive at a proper understanding of what the whole of Scripture teaches on a particular subject.  Therefore, Systematic Theology asks what does the entire Bible teach us about prayer, about sin, about salvation, etc.

 

Why is it important to study Systematic Theology, or doctrine?

 

All of our study of theology must help us arrive at a right understanding of Who God is, how we are to live in relationship with Him, and how we are to live out this relationship in everyday life.  If all of our efforts do not bring us to this place of knowing truth and right living before the Lord, why bother?

 

Systematic Theology, then, is the study of God’s timeless truth that should transform the way we live our daily lives for His glory.  Therefore, we study Systematic Theology to know the truth of God’s Word, to correctly articulate the doctrines of orthodox Protestant Christianity, to walk in holy obedience before the Lord Jesus Christ, to correct any false assumptions or heretical positions that we may currently hold, and to have an answer for the hope that is within us.

 

What are the doctrines to examine in the study of Systematic Theology?

 

1.       The Doctrine of the Word of God (Bibliology)

2.       The Doctrine of God (Theology)

3.       The Doctrine of Christ (Christology)

4.       The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)

5.       The Doctrine of the Trinity

6.       The Doctrine of Man (Anthropology)

7.       The Doctrine of Sin (Hamartiology)

8.       The Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)

9.       The Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)

 

Finally, while the above list is not exhaustive, but rather a starting place, the study of Systematic Theology begins with two assumptions, or presuppositions:  the Bible is true and is our only absolute standard of truth, and the God of Whom the Bible speaks does exist, and is absolutely Who the Bible declares Him to be, specifically, the Creator of all things that exist.

 

Important Terms from this section:  Prolegomena, Orthodox, Old Testament Theology, Systematic Theology

 

(Source:  Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan. Grand Rapids. 2000. 1291 pp. $30.99)