Is the Bible Still Relevant?

Inspiration

The Bible was written by men inspired by God through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

INSPIRED – “Supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on the Scripture writers that rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation or that resulted in what they wrote actually being the Word of God.”  (Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3^rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: 2013), 169.)

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, CSB)

This process of inspiration did not reduce the writers to automatons. Their individual writing and linguistic styles can still be seen while communicating the message given by God. The Bible was written by 40 different authors over the course of 1000+ years. Yet it tells one unified story. Even some of the most committed skeptics are amazed, given the history of its construction, at how unified the Biblical account is. No other written work comes close to matching how well the Bible stands up to textual analysis because of the number of manuscript copies along with all the historical discoveries, some still occurring, that validate the accounts found in the Bible. It is God’s unified story of creation, redemption, and re-creation.

Authoritative

The word of God is the authority in the Christian’s life. To understand the meaning of life and how to live we must look first to the Bible.

AUTHORITATIVE – “The Bible, as the expression of God’s will to us, possesses the right supremely to define what we are to believe and how we are to live” (Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3^rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: 2013), 169.)

As the Creator and Ruler of all, God has the authority to tell us how to live. This need not be controversial. Rather than thinking of the Bible as an old dusty book from another time, we must see it as the unchanging word of the unchanging God. If we claim God as an authoritative figure in our lives, we must also claim His Holy Word as an authority in our lives because it is the unified story of God’s creation, redemption, and re-creation.

The Accessibility of Scripture

The Bible became more accessible to the average person when both literacy and printing technology allowed the masses to read the scripture for themselves. This was a huge leap forward in the personal growth of the individual Christian and for sharing Christ with the world. We are now able to see for ourselves what the Word of God says. However, with this access comes great responsibility. God’s gift of choice that He gave to mankind means everyone has the freedom to interpret the scripture as they wish. However, this does not mean that everyone’s interpretation is correct. Nor does it mean we are free from the consequences of those incorrect interpretations.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)

We should not seek to understand scripture based on how it makes us feel or based on what fits into today’s culture.  Remember, this is the unchanging Word of the unchanging God. We should seek to understand what the author meant to communicate to his audience in the context and time in which he wrote. Likewise, we should seek to understand who was speaking, who they were speaking to, and what they meant in the environment they were in. This helps us remove most of the barriers to interpretation that we face by being a different culture in a different time who speaks a different language. These barriers can sometimes cause us to misinterpret what God was originally leading the author to communicate. Leaning into interpretation based on context can help prevent us from falling prey to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. When we interpret scripture in this way we find that there are many more places of agreement in interpretation than disputes.

Jesus’ View of Scripture

We as Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He is both our Savior and our Lord. If we are to be conformed to the image of Christ, as the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:29, then it would follow that we should view right and wrong and the world we live in the same way that Jesus does. Thus, we should also view Scripture in the same way that Jesus does.

How does Jesus view scripture? Jesus continually quoted and affirmed the Old Testament Scriptures as God’s authoritative and inspired word.

1. Jesus disputes the Pharisees and experts in the Law

In Luke 11:50-51 during a dispute with the Pharisees and experts in the Law, Jesus affirmed both the creation account and the validity of the prophets in the Hebrew Bible. It should be noted that Jesus here also affirms the Old Testament Scripture from the first book to the Last.

“So that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world – from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary.” (Luke 11:50-51)

In the original Hebrew Bible, the order of the books was arranged from Genesis to Chronicles (1^st and 2^nd Chronicles were originally 1 book). The account of Abel’s murder by Cain is recorded in Genesis 4 and the account of Zechariah’s murder is recorded in 2 Chronicles 24. Here Jesus simultaneously affirms the creation account and the entire Old Testament Scripture.

2. Jesus’ Temptation in the wilderness

During Jesus temptation by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus refuted Satan by quoting Scripture and affirming it as the Word of God. It should be noted that Satan tried to twist the Word of God in an attempt to deceive. This is his typical way of operating, even still today. Each time Satan attacked, Jesus countered by correctly referencing Old Testament Scripture. The three statements made by Jesus are as follows:

a.     “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:4, NKJV)

→ Where is it written? – Deuteronomy 8:3.

b.     “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Luke 4:8, CSB)

  → Where is it written? – Deuteronomy 6:13.

c.     “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.” (Luke 4:12, CSB)

  → Where is it said? – Deuteronomy 6:16.

In Mark 7:6-7 Jesus first affirms the prophecy of Isaiah as valid and true as it pointed to the hypocritical religious leaders He was talking to. Jesus not only rebukes them for their hypocrisy, but He also condemns their abandoning of the word of God [Scripture] and replacing it with human teaching.

“He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.” (Mark 7:6-7, CSB)

In Mark 7:9-13, He goes on to also accuse them of abandoning or invalidating God’s word [Scripture] with their tradition. What Jesus was specifically referencing here as God’s word is the commandment to honor father and mother (Ex. 20:12, Deut. 5: 16)) and the Mosaic Law forbidding cursing of father and mother (Ex. 21:17, Lev. 20:9). We see time and time again that Jesus quoted and affirmed the Old Testament Scripture as the Word of God. He scolded those who would twist the Word of God to fit their own self-righteousness.

3. New Testament words of Jesus and the Apostles

In the New Testament, the words of Jesus are, by definition, the Word of God and authoritative for us. If we are to call ourselves “Christians” and claim Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, then we must take what He said and His teachings seriously. (Read more in the “What is the Gospel” post from 8/14/23)

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rocks.” (Matthew 7:24, CSB)

The New Testament writers are the Apostles (Disciples) commissioned by Jesus to transmit His teachings forward to the rest of us. This commission is given in Matthew 28:18-20 and, in the case of the Apostle Paul [Saul], in Acts 9:15. Peter also implies that Paul’s letters are on par with the other Scriptures. (2 Pet. 3:16)

“Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:18-20, CSB)

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

“[Ananias]Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.” …But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites…” (Acts 9:3-6, 11, 15, CSB)

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, took the Biblical Scriptures seriously; therefore, we too should view the Bible as the authoritative source in the Christian’s life. When Satan began his assault on the relationship between man and God in the garden in Gen. 3:1-5, he did it by twisting and misrepresenting the Word of God and using it to call into question God’s character and motives. Unfortunately Eve fell for his deception and, in Gen. 3:2-3, also twisted the Words of God to make the command that God gave seem more restrictive than it was. It is of note that the fall of mankind began with the misrepresentation of God’s true and authentic Word. Therefore, we should spend time reading and studying God’s Word so that we can understand it in the proper context. It is through the study of God’s word that we learn and understand who God is, who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and what He expects of us. Jesus took Scripture seriously, so should we. 

Blessings