September 2, 2007

 

Chapter 17, verse 17-“Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth”.  Jesus reflects the view of confidence in the written scriptures of the OT and anticipates the writing of the NT (16:13).  A review of the value and accuracy of scripture is in order:

 

I. The scriptures reflect the act of divine inspiration by God, the Holy Spirit as truthful and trustworthy.  II Tim.3:16-17, II Peter 1:21, Lk.24:26-27, 44.

  a. The Spirit of God guided the writers in their selection of material and used

    their language to express divine truths- II Sam.23:2-3; Isaiah 1:1-2 (as   

    representing all the prophets); Luke 1:1-4 & Acts 1:1-3; John 20:30-31;

    I Cor.14:37; Jude 17; Rev.1:1.

       Terms used to express this inspiration of original documents include:

       1) Plenary = full, complete; that all the documents equally are inspired

      2) Verbal= concerned with words; that not only the thoughts of the

       authors are guided, but also the very words chosen to express the thoughts

       of the original authors

     3) Infallible = incapable of error; that the words given by inspiration of God

      are assured to be accurate & truthful, and therefore, authoritative to man.

     4) Inerrant = making no mistake; that the words are accurate in all subjects

       that are discussed

  b. Such guidance assured accuracy in material; for the Spirit of God to be

    called the “Spirit of truth” is for Him to act in revealing truth to the writers.

    I Cor.2:10-13; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 15:28; note language in

    I Thess.2:14 –“not as the word of men, but as it is in truth…”

  c. This divine revelation may be called “the word of God” because it expresses

    God’s perfect Person and God’s perfect Plan—Psa. 19:7-11; Deut.29:29;

    Psa. 98:2—this revelation was limited primarily to the descendants of

    Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, called “Israel”- Ex.19:3-6; 103:7; Hosea 5:9;

     Daniel 2:20-23, 9:24-27.

 

II. The scriptures, as inspired by God and accurate, may be said to be trustworthy in all subjects that it discusses.

   a.  Moral issues- God has revealed His perfect righteousness to man

      through direct statements – Lev. 11:44; I Pet.1:15;  God’s character is

      shown to be consistently just & righteous- Deut.32:4; Rom.1:20

   examples:    marital fidelity and love- Prov.5:15-20 (positively) and

       Heb.13:4 (negatively);  theft- Ex.20:15 & Eph.4:28; 

      Justice among men is a major concern of God- Ex.23:6-9, Amos 5:12

   b.  History- while dates are not always given, yet reference to historical

      figures is accurate—examples: David, King of Israel;  Cyrus--Isa. 45:1;

      Nebuchadnezzar- Dan.1:1 & following; Herod-Matt.2:1; several Roman

      Leaders- Lk.3:1; in contrast we note the Book of Mormon lacks any

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      such verifiable figures in its material.

    c. Geography—multiple cities and locations have been verified by historians

       and archaeologists in both OT and NT and are well-documented in available

       archaeology textbooks.  Inaccuracy is not verifiable in available scripture.

   d.  Science- while the scriptures are not written to reveal scientific data, yet

       much in scriptures as observed & noted by man is consistent with scientific

       observation—1. spherical shape of the earth- Isa.40:22;

       2. hydrological aspect of earth’s atmosphere- Gen.1:10, Job 26:8    

       (condensation); circulatory –Ecc.1:7;   3. heliocentric atmosphere-

        Ecc.1:5; Mt.5:45 (use of language of accommodation as seen in “sun

        rises…”)   4. Unique properties of human blood- Lev.17:11

        5. Hygienic necessities to preserve human life- disposal of human

        waste -Deut.23:13;  isolation for protection- Lev.13:4, 21, 46; Lev.5:2, 24;

        13:45 (mask);  circumcision schedule –Lev.12:3 [maximum antibodies &

         blood clotting);  the God of natural processes and the God of scripture

         are the same.

   e.   Non-verifiable incidents- 1.creation- while scripture reveals God created

        heaven & earth, no human was there to witness such, but accounts of

        creation are consistent;  2. fall of Satan- again, while scripture suggests

        to us the nature of his fall (Isa.14, Ezk.28), yet no human was there to

        observe such.  What is revealed on these subjects does not contradict

        itself and fits into a scheme of divine undertakings.

   f.   The impact of the scriptures has been beneficial to mankind by bringing

        justice to his society by establishing written law as a  basis of a just

        society.

          Overall, scripture has moved men & women to show mercy, assist the

        downtrodden, protect the innocent, punish the guilty, liberate captives and   

        seek higher purposes than mere existence or material prosperity.