1.

BIBLE IS A UNIT

If you have ever studied some complex or controversial subject in depth, you know the frustrations of
trying to find two or three authorities who agree on any and all points. It basically never happens.

The Bible stands in marked contrast; it is unique in that its parts conspire to form a unified whole. You
see, the Bibe is not only one book, it is 66 books collected in one volume. These 66 seperate documets
were written over a period of more than 600 years by more than 40 human authors who came from a
wide variety of backgrounds.

Yet the Bible is a single unit, bound together by the theme of God and His realationship to humankind.
Each book, section, paragraph and words works together with the others to reveal God’s truth. That’s
why scripture is best understood by relating it’s individual parts to the integrated whole.

2. BIBLE IS GOD’S REVELATION

The Bible present itself as revealed truth from God. The word it uses for “Revelation” actually means
“unveiling”, like pulling back a curtain to show what is behind it. In scripture, God has revealed things
that would otherwise not be known at all. He has unveiled that which is absolutely true- not speculated,
not conjectured, and not hypothesized. It is true that is entirely consistent - never controverted,
compromised, or contradicted by other parts of the Revelation.

3. BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD

The great Theologian B B Warfield said, “the Bible is the word of God in such a way that when the
Bible speaks, God speaks.” That is a good description of inspiration. The reason we call the Bible the
word of God is because it is indeed the very words that God wanted to communicted.

Ofcourse, some have a problem with this concept because the Bible was penned by human authors. If
they were “inspired” it was only as great artists are “inspired” to produce great art.

But that not what the Bible means by Inspiration. Remember 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is
inspired by God.” The word translated “Inspired” means “God breathed”. It conveys the idea of God
“breathing out” the scriptures. And since the word for “breath” can also be translate “Spirit”, we can
easily see the work of Holy Spirit as He superintended the writing,

So what part did the human authors play? God supernaturally use them to pen the words, without
compromising the perfection, integrity, or purity of the finished product. It’s a case of dual authorship.
As Charles Ryrie puts it, “God superintended the human authors so that, using their own individual
personalities, they composed a recorded, without error, His revelation to man in the words of original
manuscripts.”

Peter use the brilliant word picture to describe this arrangement when he wrote that “ men move by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The word moved is the same word used to describe a ship
moving along under the power of a blowing wind. The Biblical writers were guided in their writing to
go where God wanted them to go and to produce what God wanted them to produce. Without question,
their personalities, writing styles, perspectives, and dinstinctives are reflected in their wods. But there
accounts are more than the words of men – they are the word of God.
 4. AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

The evidence for the authority of the Bible falls into two major categories: Internal evidence and
External evidence.

INTERNAL EVIDENCE

 SELF-PROCLAMATION

The first fact is that the Bible claims to be the Word of God.

 HOLY SPIRIT

Second, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the Bible is the Word of God. John 16:13 states, “But when
He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit who convicts the world
of sin also assures the believer that the Bible is God’s Word.

 TRANSFORMING ABILITY

Third, we have evidence concerning the transforming ability of the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “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.” Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.” The Word of God and the Spirit of God actually transform the lives of
people.

EXTERNAL EVIDENCE

 INDESTRUCTIBILITY

The first external evidence is the indestructibility of the Bible. The Bible is the most well-known
book in the history of the world, and no book has been attacked more. Skeptics have tried to destroy the
authority of the Bible for the last eighteen hundred years. It has undergone every kind of scrutiny
possible from archaeology, science, philosophy, and computers. Yet, despite all these attacks, the Bible
proves itself to be true again and again. Each time the skeptics have been wrong, and the Bible has
proven itself true. Just the fact that the Bible has remained steadfast in its authority after two thousand
years is another piece of evidence supporting its divine origin.

 ARCHAEOLOGY

The second source of external evidence comes from archaeology. Middle Eastern archaeological
investigations have proven the Bible to be true and unerringly accurate in its historical descriptions.

Middle Eastern archaeological investigations have proven the Bible to be true and unerringly accurate in
its historical descriptions.

Dr. William Albright, who was not a friend of Christianity, and was probably the foremost authority
in Middle East archaeology in his time, said this about the Bible: “There can be no doubt that
archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of the Old Testament.”
 5. CANONISATION

The word canon comes from the Greek word kanôn, which basically means “reed” or “cane.”

Canonisation of New Testament

The various criteria of Canonisation

 AUTHORSHIP

The question is, whether a particular book is written by an Apostle, or an apostolic man approved by the
Apostles?

 AUTHORITY

Some books of the NT testify to their own authority. For examples, (1) The Apostle John informs us that
when he wrote Revelation.

Other books in the New Testament bear testimony to the inspiration of their contemporaries. For
examples, (1) Peter confirms that Paul’s writings are on par with the Scripture: “As also in
all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which
they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction” (2 Pet 3:16). (2) Paul confirms the Gospel of Luke to be Scripture on par with
the Torah when he threads a verse from Deuteronomy together with a verse from Luke into one
statement: “For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn [Deut 25:4].
And, The labourer is worthy of his reward [Luke 10:7]” (1 Tim 5:18).

 AGREEMENT

Here the question is, whether the content of each book agrees internally and externally with the other
inspired books whose inspiration is without doubt based on other criteria.

Consider, for example, how the book of Revelation beautifully closes the Canon begun at Genesis.
Genesis speaks of the entrance of sin and death, Revelation speaks of the destruction of sin and death.
Genesis speaks of the paradise lost, and the Tree of Life forbidden, Revelation speaks of paradise
regained and the Tree of Life made available.

 ACCEPTANCE
 APPLICABILITY

Old Testament

The reason why the Church accepts the Old Testament Canon is a very simple one: the Lord Jesus Christ
accepted it.

It was however organised in a manner that is quite different from the OT we know. It has three
divisions: (1) Torah (Pentatuech) , (2) Nebi’im (prophetical books) and (3) Kethubhim (wisdom
literature). Now, if we look at Luke 24:44 again, we see that Jesus was in fact referring to the Hebrew
Canon. The Law of Moses, of course, refers to the Torah; the Prophets refers to the Nebi’im; and the
Psalms refers to the Kethubhim . It is thus very clear that the Lord Jesus accepted the canonicity of the
OT Canon.