Bibliology
1A THE Designations or Titles
of the Bible
1B The
English term "Bible"
The English word comes from the
Greek words biblov
(Matt. 1:1) and biblion
(Luke
It is curious that this title should
have been due in part to a mistake. Bible is the English form of the name given
to the Latin Scriptures, Biblia. This also is a singular, but in turn it
is the Latin form of the Greek word biblia which is not singular, but
the plural of biblion
(book), a diminutive of biblov, a name given to the outer coat of the papyrus reed. This
was stripped off and glued together to form writing material, thus by
transference from material to the use made of it, biblov came to mean book and biblion a little book. In the New Testament
the term biblov and biblion are applied to a single book of the
Old Testament or to such a group as the Pentateuch. In the Old Testament we
find the plural used of the prophets (Dan. 9:2). It was this plural use that
passed over into the Christian church: from the middle of the second century
the Scriptures are spoken of as "the books," the "holy,"
"divine," or "canonical books." The same notion of
plurality rather than unity is seen in another term applied to the Scriptures
by certain of the Latin fathers and later writers, Bibliotheca,
"Library," or the "Divine Library." But when once the Greek
plural noun Biblia was adopted in Latin, its original force was
forgotten. Biblia in grammatical form may be either a neuter plural or a
feminine singular; and so, by error, out of biblia (books) came biblia
(book), i.e., Bible. In our study of the Bible we may need to return to the
primitive and proper significance of the term, considering first the parts
rather than the whole. But we may also thankfully retain the changed
significance as one that has wonderfully helped to give sharpness and fixity to
the conception of one Word of God, constant and uniform amid all the
separateness and diversity of His words to men. The Bible is at once a library
and a Book.
2B The
"Old and New Testaments"
1C The
application of the term "testament" extends beyond the simple fact of
books or writings to some indication of their main theme.
2C Woven
in to the very texture of the Bible is the idea of a covenant between God and man.
There is reference to it again and again. It reaches a climax in the prediction
of Jer. 31:31-34, The New Covenant. The New Covenant was appropriated by Christ
at the Last Supper and claimed by Paul as the substance of the ministry (Luke
22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:6).
3B The
"Law and the Prophets"
The Hebrew scriptures are divided
into: The Law, The Prophets, The Writings.
1C "Law"
- used as an allusion or quotation from the Pentateuch (Matt. 12:5;
2C "Law
& Prophets" - is a fuller title for the Old Testament (Matt.
3C "Law,
Prophets, and the Psalms" - used in Luke 24:44.
4B The
"Scripture" and the "Scriptures"
1C "Scripture"
- is used in Mark.
2C "The
Scriptures" - is used Matt.
3C "Scripture"
typically refers to a particular passage. "Scriptures" refers to the
whole. The word comes from the Latin, "The Writings."
5B The
"Word of God"
1C This
is the most significant, impressive and complete term (Matt.
2C The
Bible is rightly called the Word of God:
1D They
are from God - breathed 2 Tim. 3:16.
2D They
come from the very mouth of God (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4).
2A THE DOCTRINE OF REVELATION
1B Introduction
1C Why
do we need revelation?
The need for Divine revelation grows
out of man's inability to know God in a personal, saving way without some
communication from God to man. The world through its wisdom did not come to
know God (1 Cor.
2C Definition
of Revelation.
Revelation is: The act of God whereby He discloses to man
what would otherwise be unknown.
3C The
Types of Revelation.
Note: The words "general"
and "special" are borrowed from earthly human relationships and do
not appear in the Scriptures within this context.
1D Definition
of General Revelation.
God's revelation of divine truth
apart from the Bible and through creation, conscience, and providence.
2D Definition
of Special Revelation: God's revelation of divine truth through special acts
and words, especially as recorded in the Bible.
3C Suggested
Pache, The
Inspiration and Authority of Scripture.
3A THE DOCTRINE OF GENERAL (Natural)
REVELATION
1B Means
of General Revelation
1C Through
Creation (nature). Ps. 19:1ff.; Rom.
Bound up in the general revelation
of God is the fact that makes plain and certain how seriously man is estranged
from the life of God (Eph.
We do not idealize the world because
of the curse of the Fall (Gen. 3:17; Rom.
2C Through
conscience (Rom.
"Paul does not propound any
theory of conscience. But he calls attention to it as he sees that even in the
heathen world people in one manner or another are preserved or held back from
the full consequences of estrangement from God" (Berkouwer, Revelation
and the Bible, p. 20).
3C Through
providence (history - Common Grace).
Acts 14:15-17; Matt. 5:45;
But again sin blinds and distorts
...
2B Summary
1C Creation
on the outside of man reveals a mighty God.
2C Conscience
on the inside of man reveals a moral God.
3C
The knowledge of god that general
revelation gives is very limited and unable to give man a personal saving
knowledge of God (John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15).
3B Purpose
of General Revelation
It incites man to search for a
fuller revelation of God and His plan for salvation (Acts 14:15-18; 17:26-28;
8:26-40; Matt. 7:7-8; Jer. 29:13; James 4:7).
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