Ps. 119:1-8, Arguments for the Divine Origin of the Bible (1)

I would like to add some posts relative to the doctrinal studies we posted recently  (May 17-June 24, 2023).  Most of these come from our teaching notes for the “School of Ministry” that was part of our church’s ministry in the Flathead Valley several years ago.  This first collection has to do with the doctrine of the Bible.  We want to begin with some arguments that support the “inspiration of Scripture.”  Therefore, before we share some of these encouragements, I want to begin with this brief testimony as to the value of such arguments.

 

The value of a "reasoned" argument to the divine origin of the Scriptures

(J. Gresham Machen)

     Some years ago I attended a conference of Christian students.  Various methods of Christian testimony were being discussed, and particularly the question was being discussed whether it is necessary to engage in a reasoned defence of the Christian faith.  In the course of the discussion, a gentleman who had had considerable experience in work among students arose and said that according to his experience you never win a man to Christ until you quit arguing with him. 

     Well...I was not impressed one tiny little bit.  Of course a man never was won to Christ merely by argument.  That is perfectly clear.  There must be the mysterious work of the Spirit of God in the new birth.  Without that, all our arguments are quite useless.  But because argument is insufficient, it does not follow that it is unnecessary.  What the Holy Spirit does in the new birth is not to make a man a Christian regardless of the evidence, but on the contrary to clear away the mists from his eyes and enable him to attend to the evidence.

With that in mind, the question we are asking is this: How can I know that the Bible is the word of God?  Here is the most basic answer to that question, the …

Argument from the Claim of Scripture

·       Theissen, Henry (Systematic Theology): The Bible claims to be not only a revelation from God, but an infallible record of that revelation.  (Note the frequent statements such as "Thus saith the Lord", "This is what the Sovereign Lord says", "And God said" and other similar statements.)

·       Some might say this is a “circular argument” (the Bible is true because it says it is true).  If the Bible does not make this claim then we would do well to look elsewhere for God’s word to us.  But if we can prove the genuineness of the Bible and the truthfulness of the things it reports on other subjects, then we are justified in also accepting their testimony in their own behalf.