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Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. cf. Deut 6:6-9; Josh 1:8, 8:32-35; 2 Sam 22:31
Dr. Benjamin Warfield says there are two types of revelation. "There is the revelation which God continuously makes to all men: by it His power and Divinity are made known. And there is the revelation which He makes exclusively to His chosen people: through it His saving grace is made known." The Inspiration and Authority of the Scriptures, P&R, Benjamin B. Warfield, p. 73
Apokalupto Strong's No. 601. An important Messianic prophecy from Isaiah can help us understand what revelation means, "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant people to the people, as a Light to the nations." Isa 42:6 When Messiah was brought to the temple by His parents a well known prophet named Simeon quoted this passage declaring Jesus to be that ancient "Light to the nations," a Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." Lk 2:32 The New Testament word for "revelation" is found in that passage, "apokalupsis" Strong's No. 602 which comes from another Greek word "apokalupto" Strong's No. 601 which is a compound word from "apo" Strong's No. 575 meaning to take off and "kalupto" Strong's No. 2572 meaning a cover. Together this word literally means to take off the cover, disclose, lighten, manifest or appear in various contexts in Scripture.
Professor Warfield identified three distinct stages in the process of revelation.
1. "The Patriarchal age is characteristically the period of outward manifestations, and symbols, and Theophanies: during it God spoke through their senses, in physical phenomena, as the burning bush, the cloudy pillar, or in the sensuous forms, as men, angels, etc." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 81
2. "In the Prophetic age, on the contrary, the prevailing mode of revelation was by means of inward inspiration: God spoke to men characteristically by the movements of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Prevailing, at any rate from Samuel downwards, the supernatural revelation was a revelation in the hearts of the foremost thinkers of the people, or as we call it, prophetic inspiration, without the aid of external sensuous symbols of God." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 82
3. "This internal method of revelation reaches its culmination in the New Testament period, which is pre-eminently the age of the Spirit. What is especially characteristic of this age is revelation through the medium of the written word, what may be called apostolic as distinguished from prophetic inspiration. The revealing Spirit speaks through chosen men as His organs, but through these organs in such a fashion that the most intimate process of their souls become the instruments by means of which He speaks His mind." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 82
Professor Warfield, after listing several "modes" of revelation that took place in these various ages wrote, "no discrimination is drawn between them in point of worthiness as modes of revelation, and much less in point of purity in the revelation communicated through them." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 83 Then Dr. Warfield notes of these diverse modes and ages, "there is no age in the history of the religion of the Bible, from that of Moses to that of Christ and His apostles, in which all these modes of revelation do not find place." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 83 "The fundamental fact in all revelation is that it is from God. This is what gives unity to the whole process of revelation, given through it may be in divers portions and in diverse manners and distributed though it may be through the ages." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 84
Moses
"The fundamental passage which brings the central fact before us in the most vivid manner is, no doubt, the account of the commissioning of Moses." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 87 "Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." 11. The LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes {him} mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I the LORD? 12. "Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say." Exodus 4:10-12
Jeremiah
"Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." Jeremiah 1:9; Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 87
Ezekiel
"Then He said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them." Ezekiel 3:4; Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 87
The Prophets
"In no case does a prophet put his own words forward as his own words. That he is a prophet at all is due not to choice on his part, but to a call of God, obeyed often with reluctance; and he prophesies or forbears to prophesy, not according to his own will but as the Lord opens and shuts his mouth and creates for him the fruit of his lips." Ezekiel 3:26; Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 87 The word "prophet" comes from the Hebrew word nabiy' Strong's No. 5030 which means throughout the Scriptures "spokesman." "Prophecy is distinctly a word, and what is delivered by the prophets is proclaimed as ‘the word of Yahweh." Isaiah 1:4-5; Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 87
Revelation is "Heard"
The author of Hebrews summed up the doctrine of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation when he wrote, "For 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, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 cf. Gen 3:9-10; 12:1-4; 15:1-6; Exod 19:9; Num 12:6; Deu 32:1; Josh 3:9; Judges 7:15; 1 Sam 3:4-10; Job 23:12; Psalm 119:103; Dan 8:13; 10:9; Zech 7:12; Mt 22:31; Lk 1:70; Acts 1:16; 1 Cor 2:12-13; Eph 6:17; Col 3:16; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 4:2; Heb 1:1-2; 3:7-8; 4:12; 5:12; 1 Pet 1:11-12; 2 Pet 1:21; 3:2; 1 Jn 1:5; Rev 1:1-2; 2:7; 22:6-8
FALSE PROPHETS
False Prophets are typified by the action of prophesying "out of their own heart." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, Warfield, P&R, 1948, p. 90 "Thus says the LORD GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing." Ezekiel 13:3 "Thus says the LORD of Hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD." Jeremiah 23:16Professor Warfield wrote, "the apostle Peter very purely reflects the prophetic consciousness in his well known declaration: ‘No prophecy of scripture comes of private interpretation; for prophecy was never brought by the will of man; but was born by the Holy Spirit that men spoke from God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 What this language of Peter emphasizes is the passivity of the prophets with respect to the revelation given through them. This is the significance of the phrase, "it was to be born by the Holy Spirit that men spoke from God." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 91 Dr. Warfield then examines the Greek word "phero" Strong's No. 5342 which "is not the same as to be led, much less to be guided or directed: he that is ‘born' contributes nothing to the movement induced, but is the object to be moved. The term ‘passivity' is liable to some misapprehension, and should not be over strained.
"Work" of the Prophet
Professor Warfield wrote, "God is Himself the author of the instruments He employs for the communication of His messages to men and has framed them into precisely the instruments He desired for the exact communication of His message." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 92 "It is not intended to deny that the intelligence prophets was active in the reception of the message. It was by means of their active intelligence that their message was received. Their intelligence was the instrument of revelation. It is intended to deny only that the intelligence of the prophets was active in producing the message." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 91 Dr. Warfield continues, "what the prophets are solicitous that their readers shall understand is that they are in no sense co-authors with God of their messages. At the same time their intelligence is active in the reception, retention and announcing of their messages." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 91 "There is no ground for imagining that God is unable to frame His own message in the language of the organs of His revelation without its thereby ceasing to be ... purely His message." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 93 Dr. Warfield writes of the individual prophet's speaking habits when he wrote, it was "the Lord who made the tongue, and who made this particular tongue with all its peculiarities." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 94
"Personalities" of the Prophets
Warfield wrote that it is absurd to think that God cannot communicate the purity of His own message without its being lost by the peculiarities of tone and modes of enunciation within the prophet. Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 94 Dr. Warfield's research has shown "the marks of several individualities imprinted on the messages of the prophets" that are couched in human language." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 94 "The human traits are traceable throughout its whole extant." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 95 Dr. Warfield says it is the work of the Holy Spirit not merely leading but "bearing" and superintending the operation of revelation. "The product, therefore, which is attained by their own means is His product through them." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 95 Dr. Warfield says "the language of Paul ... which things also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Spirit teaches." 1 Corinthians 14:37; Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 95-96
Dr. Warfield wrote, "The entirety of the New Testament is but the explanatory word accompanying and giving its effect to the fact of Christ. And when this fact was in all its meaning made the possession of men, revelation was completed and in that sense ceased. Jesus Christ is no less the end of revelation than He is the end of the Law." Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, P&R, 1948, p. 96
1. Revelation Through Nature
Paul wrote to Rome, "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23. and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." Rom 1:19-23 God is declaring that His inward qualities can be seen through viewing His own external creative works. Natural revelation, while limited, is sufficient that Paul said it leaves much of humanity with no excuse. Romans 1:20; Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 53
2. Revelation Through Providence
Providence defines the divine foresight, prudence and the direction and care of God over His creatures. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 "God's revelation of Himself through providence is limitless. History is ‘His story,' and on the pages of Scripture He has so related Himself to future events, both by covenants and prediction, that assurance is given that there will be a perfect consummation of all things and the end will justify the means used to secure it." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 54-55
3. Revelation Through Preservation
Paul wrote, "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Colossians 1:17 The word "consist" comes from sunistao Strong's No. 4921 which means to preserve or hold together. While natural revelation demonstrates evidence of God's creative work, "preservation" works so that God's creations remain. Science has found evidence for physical laws of nature that say that physical things wear out over time, but God's creation has this added feature of being preserved by the maker. Someone observing the harmony of the universe can testify of this work of God.
4. Revelation Through Miracles
The "supernatural character of a miracle discloses the divine power, as well as the divine purpose, of the One by whom it is wrought." Christ's miracles gave evidence that "He was God manifest in the flesh." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 56; Mt 11:2-6 Christ's miracles confirmed His deity as being fully God. God used miracles to disclose His purpose and will to the nation of Egypt through Moses. There is danger in putting too much weight in "miracles" alone for two reasons. When people view a miracle apart from Biblical faith it can lead to their becoming "hardened" against God's purposes as we see in the case of Pharaoh. The Bible contains accounts of evil people producing miracles generated by satanic power. 2 Cor 11:4; Rev 13:1-18
5. Revelation Through Direct Communication
God created man with a mind sufficient for receiving direct messages from God. Gen 1:26; 2:7 Direct communications can be defined to include theophanies, visions, dreams, and the direct mouth to mouth communication that Moses received. Num 12:8; Deu 34:10 "In contemplating the fact of direct, divine revelation, almost limitless variety as to detail of mode and method is confronted. This is reasonable. God being a Person, and not an automaton, will naturally adapt Himself to the individuals and to the situations involved." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 56-57 While God spoke directly to Adam, Cain, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and many others none were more honored than Moses. Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 56 "In every case a message from God is authoritative and, is not to be deemed of less importance because of the fact that it came by a dream or vision rather than by a face to face conversation with God." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 57 "The variety of the divine mode of approach to men extends from the theophanies in which Yahweh, or the Angel of Yahweh who is the Second Person of the Godhead" appeared to prophets in the Old Testament through the New Testament "to the Lord's appearance to Paul on the Damascus road and to John on the Isle of Patmos." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 57
6. Revelation Through the Incarnation
Isaiah predicted that one of Messiah's names was Immanuel which means "God with us." Isaiah 7:14; Matthew used this name to describe Jesus. Mt 1:23 John's opening passages also carefully detail Jesus' identity as God. Jn 1:1-3; 14 Later in the New Testament Paul declared that Jesus was "God manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim 3:16 The author of Hebrews wrote, that though God "at sundry times and in diverse manners spoken in time past to the fathers by the prophets," has "in these last days spoken to us by His son." Heb 1:1-3
"Christ is the voice of God speaking to men." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 58 John called Jesus the eternal "Logos" or "Word" of God. Jn 1:1-2 The Word of God is living. Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23 The eternal living Logos of God was a complete [pleroma Strong's No. 4138] revelation of God because "in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Col 2:9; Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 58 In summing up this section that "God cold not draw nearer, nor could He disclose more clearly the wonders of His Person, the perfections of His purpose, nor the depths of His love and grace, than He has done in the incarnation." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 59 "The multitudes of His day heard and were blessed by His gracious words ... though not called of God to write under inspiration what they heard ... did nevertheless receive a large measure of divine revelation." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 59
7. Revelation Through the Holy Bible
All the modes of revelation are made known through the substance and purity of the message of the Bible. Apart from the Bible no accurate understanding of God and His purposes is possible. "It may be concluded, then, that the Bible is a specific and essential feature of all divine revelation." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 60 "What God has said to men directly could easily be forgotten or perverted, but the substance and purity of those face to face messages have been preserved in the divine record of them." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 59 John said blessing is assured for those who believe the written testimony of Scripture. 1 Jn 5:9-12
2. A God-Thought is "Holy" and Will Not Contain Error
A God thought will be holy. Psalms 105:42 A thought from God will be true in the whole as well as in its parts. It will be true morally and scientifically. It will be true spiritually and historically. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and immutable. "The holiness of God is active. As a primary motive, it incites all that He does; therefore He is righteous in His ways. Though infinitely holy, He nevertheless maintains a relation to fallen creatures." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 202 God's holiness and rightness "are intrinsic, uncreated, and untarnishable; it is observable in every divine attitude and action" applying to His word which contains no error. Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 202-203 The theme of this holiness of God extends from the earliest books in the law all the way to the final book of the Bible. Ex 3:5; Lev 19:2; 1 Sam 2:2; Job 15:15; Psalm 22:3; 47:8; 111:9: Isa 6:3; 57:15; 1 Jn 1:5; Rev 4:8; 6:10; 15:4
3. A God-Thought May Contain Figurative Language
God's word is filled with illustrative figurative language. Most familiar are the parables Jesus taught. Jesus offered parables to a very diverse audience that included loyal but often confused disciples, soldiers, tax collectors, fishermen, Pharisees, Sadducee, Herodians, priests, Levites and scribes. Each hearer was charged with the responsibility of carefully discerning the true message. Not everything said in a parable is true only what is being taught. Lk 18:2 Often figures of speech like the irony actually spoke the opposite of the true meaning depending heavily on the discernment of the listener. Paul wrote to Timothy saying "do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 There is danger inherent in figurative language Martin Luther called allegories "a beautiful harlot" who proves herself seductive.
Will a God-Thought Be Reasonable?
Without reason this page could not be understood. However reason isolated from revelation is either humanism or paganism. Even pagans like Plato and Socrates admitted that without God truth can not be understood.
Plato Socrates
"The truth is to determine or establish any thing certain about these matters, in the midst of so many doubts and disputations, is the work of God only." Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 49 "I am of the same opinion with you, that, in this life, it is either absolutely impossible, or extremely difficult , to arrive at a clear knowledge of this matter." Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 49
Adam and Eve were "special creations" set apart from the rest of God's creatures having the capability of a unique level of communication with God. Animals, as any pet owner can testify, have minds, wills, emotions and memories. But we do not see animals building temples, shrines or synagogues. Even angels, though they are often seen worshiping God, lack the level of communication created in Adam and Eve who were created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26; 2:7 "A right evaluation of reason is too often lacking. Reason, as here considered, indicates the intellectual and moral faculties of man exercised in the pursuit of truth apart from supernatural aid." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 49 Dr. Chafer wrote, "it is not the ancient philosopher but rather the modern unbeliever who contends for the sufficiency of human reason, it is both fallible and finite." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 49
4. True Revelation is Made Available to the Public at Large
A mark of true revelation is that God causes it to be heard and read by great numbers. One example is the way God spoke the Book of Revelation to just one apostle isolated on the Isle of Patmos in A.D. 96. Within just a few years churches were making copies and translations and spreading the book throughout the world. Billions have read the book 2000 years later globally. The Bible in a whole is the most popular, most translated and copied book in history.
5. God-Thoughts Are Often Also "Inspired"
Inspiration is the process of the Holy Spirit breathing Scripture through the prophet's pen onto paper and ink. Not every God-thought is inspired because God did not want everything written down. We see, for example John the apostle ready to write down certain revelations but being forbidden.
6. Not All Revelation is "Inspired"
One example is when Joseph was commanded to take Jesus and Mary to flee with them into Egypt for protection against the schemes of Herod. The revelation was genuine in all respects, but we do not see a "Book of Joseph" where this revelation was recorded in detail. Another example is in the experience of the multitudes who heard the messages of Christ but were not "inspired" to write them down. In the final book of the Bible John was commanded not to write down a certain portion of what he saw. Rev 10:4
7. God-Thoughts are "Illuminated"
Before Jesus left, He promised another "Comforter" who would be the "Spirit of Truth," John 14:17 who would "teach you all things." John 14:26 Fallen man does not have the natural capacity to understand God's word. It takes a work of God to open up the human mind called illumination. Luke 24:32; 45 It is a mark of true revelation that God will illuminate it to all who are in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. "For to us God revealed {them} through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11. For who among men knows the {thoughts} of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the {thoughts} of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13. which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.} 1 Cor 2:10-13 This important passage contains reference to revelation in verse 10, illumination in verse 12 and to inspiration in verse 13. Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 51
The word of God is unique among world literature. Traditions of men are neither revealed, inspired or illuminated. One example is the way the Pharisees were taken by surprise when Jesus rejected their traditions as being authoritative. Another example could be seen in the leaders of the churches written too in the early chapters of the Book of Revelation who had already drifted from God's word.
8. A God-Thought is Always "Authoritative"
This is true whether or not the revelation is written down. Every revelation is "supernatural" and the message itself is powerful and sometimes barely distinguishable from God Himself. This is contrasted to "false prophets" who "prophesy out of their own hearts." Ezekiel 13:2-17 cf. Jeremiah 14:14; 23:16 Everyone who hears the word of God is responsible for their reaction to God's message whether believer or unbeliever.
9. A God-Thought is "Partial"
Chafer quoted this passage from the Mosaic law, "the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 While humans beings were uniquely created to understand revelation God is omniscient and capable of thoughts beyond human comprehension.
10. God-Thoughts Reveal God
Whether a Scriptural passage or book is doctrinal, devotional, historical, prophetical or practical, the personality, purpose and will of God are revealed. One mark of true revelation is this revealing of God to the understanding of the reader. Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 60
11. Revelation is "Progressive"
We understand more about the person and work of God after reading from Genesis to Revelation than we do if we only read Genesis. "Each book of the Bible avails itself of the accumulated truth that has gone before, and the last book is like a vast union station into which all the great highway of revelation and prediction converge and terminate." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 60 Jesus expressed this truth when he said, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the ful corn in the ear." Mark 4:28 None of this building of revelation one upon another over the centuries would be possible except for the fact that God has woven these truths into each other in great harmony.
12. True Revelation is Primarily Concerned With "Redemption"
God has chosen to initiate His dialogue over the centuries to the end that man may be "wise to salvation." 2 Tim 3:15 Expositors say there is a "scarlet thread of redemption" running from Genesis to Revelation. The earliest reference dealing with the account of Adam and Eve's dialogue with God and Satan and God's killing an animal in the garden to make a "covering" Gen 3:21 and the promise was uttered that a future sufficient Savior would be provided, Gen 3:15 all the way down to the colossal scenes of ultimate salvation described in the final book.
Paul told Timothy that "all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching" 2 Timothy 3:16 Jesus taught the religious Jewish leaders in Jerusalem that they "search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life," John 5:39 but the fact of the matter is that the entire council of the Word of God "testify about Me." John 5:39 Later Peter summed up this fact when he taught, "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 10:43 John summed it all up when he wrote, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." I Jn 5:11-12 Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 60
13. True Revelation is Infinitely Accurate
"All Scripture is inspired" 2 Tim 3:16 from an author who is Omnipotent and Omniscient this implies revelation is also infinit in its purity. Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, vol. 1, p. 60
14. The Revelation Embodied in Scripture is Final
Chapter 5 covers the "canon" of the Old Testament and chapter 6 covers the New. Revelation "incorporates the truth which was once delivered to the saints." Jude 1:3 From it naught is to be taken, nor to it is anything to be added." Systematic Theology, vol. 1, p. 60 Old Testament scholars say the Jews divided their Bible into three natural sections: the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms and Writings.
The first comprised the Mosaic Law which God Himself saw fit to order "closed" after it was completed saying, "you shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it." Deuteronomy 4:2 God repeated Himself a few verses later. Deuteronomy 12:32 This became a Proverb to Israel. Prov 30:6 However the entire Old Testament in fact looked forward to then still future coming revelation from Messiah with Malachi predicting both the future John the Baptist and Jesus in the final Old Testament book. When Jesus came he wrote nothing but initiated an "apostolic" ministry that included many apostolic writers. The final apostle John as he closed the final passages of his revelation of Jesus Christ recorded the official closing of the canon of the entire Bible by Jesus Christ Himself, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19. And if anyone takes away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:18-19
15. A God-Thought Will Be "Animated"
True revelation is marked by a distinctive feature not found elsewhere in world literature. This feature is evidenced by the readers who experience the "life changing" power of the word of God in their lives. "For 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, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 Jesus likened a "seed" as "the word of God" Luke 8:11 which when received in "good ground" is capable of producing abundant fruit.
16. Divine Revelation is "Preserved"
The Psalmist wrote that God's word is forever established in heaven. Psalm 119:89 Jesus taught "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished." Matthew 5:18 When Jesus used the words "smallest letter" in the original Greek he used the word "iota" Strong's No. 2503 which is a Hebrew word for the name of the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet. Older translations more correctly render this a "jot" because it is a small letter. When Jesus used the word "stroke" it came from the original language "keraia" Strong's No. 2762 which comes from the smallest horn-like formation at the edge of a Hebrew letter. Older translations call it a tittle. When Jesus used these two words he was doing so to tell us today that when God revealed His word He attended to even the tiniest detail of the smallest formations of letters in the Bible. What is more interesting is the fact that Jesus said God is preserving even these smallest formations in the Biblical lexicon. We can depend on the faithfulness of God's word because He is attending to fulfill even the tiniest details. Jesus expanded this preserving work to include His own words as well as the Law when He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." Matthew 24:35 Peter was in harmony adding that this preserving quality extended to the apostolic writing, "but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you." 1 Pet 1:25
How Much Pollution is Associated With Revelation?
Because it is God doing the speaking at this stage of the process there is absolutely no pollution associated with the pure thoughts of God. The chapter on inspiration deals with the work of the Holy Spirit in "breathing" each word of Scripture through prophets with pen and paper. The process of inspiration produces the "autograph" copies of each book which also are completely error free. These passages that detail God's work of preserving the word of God were all written by prophets who themselves were holding manuscript copies carefully copied from previous copies. While it is true that flawed manuscripts are sometimes discovered the scribes worked very hard to produce error free copies of Scripture. Peter wrote, "for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but incorruptible, {that is} through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23 When Peter used the word "incorruptible" he used the Greek word "aphthartos" Strong's No. 862 which means un-decaying in essence or continuance making it incorruptible and immortal.
• Because God is Perfect His Revealed Word is Perfect.
• Because God is Holy His Revealed Word is Holy.
• Because of Who God is in His Being as Omniscient, His Word is both Inerrant and Infallible.
When Wellhausen was presented with the miracles associated with Moses in Egypt and Sinai he replied scornfully, "who can seriously believe all that." He believed the first five books of the Bible were not written down until a thousand years after the period of Moses' death.
Citing literary variations within the text, he felt a need to study these deviations and even give a name to each author which he then theorized were blended together by a later scribe. He named these authors J, E, D, and P. 1. J he believes is really just a collection of writings from other earlier religious writings particularly from the Babylonians. Wellhausen believes this author was from the time of David or Solomon. 2. E was the second writer was from 700 B.C. and wrote from the perspective of the northern kingdom. 3. P was a priest living in Babylon during the time of the exile. 4. D was a Deuteronomy document having its purpose in documenting religious practices.
2. New Testament Affirms Moses' Authorship
a. Jesus affirmed that the Law was from Moses: Mk 7:10; 10:3-5; 12:26; Lk 5:14; 16:20-31; 24:27, 44; Jn 7:19, 23; Here is an important quote "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" Jn 5:45-47
b. Stephen affirmed Moses was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians." Acts 7:22. Here are significant evidence passages on Moses authorship: Mark 12:19; Jn 1:17; Rom 10:5; Lk 2:22; 20:28; Jn 1:45; 8:5; 9:29; Acts 3:22; 6:14; 13:39; 15:1, 21; 26:22; 28:23; 1 Cor 9:9; 2 Cor 3:15; Heb 9:19; Rev 15:3
3. History Affirms Moses' Authorship
a. Philo a Jewish writer in A.D. 20 confirmed Moses authorship as well as did a long list of early Christian and Jewish authors.
b. Josephus, the Jewish Roman historian, 70 A.D. credits Moses as the author of the Pentateuch.
4. Archeology Affirms Moses' Authorship
a.. W.F. Albright said, "new discoveries continue to confirm the historical accuracy or the literary antiquity of detail after detail contained in it." Archaeology of Palestine, Baltimore, Penquin Books, 1960, p. 225. After a lifetime of archeological study, Albright warns, "it is sheer hypercriticism to deny the substantial Mosaic character of the Pentateuchal tradition." ibid, p. 224
b. John Bright said, "no evidence has come to light contradicting any item in the tradition." History of Israel, Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1959, p. 67
c. Meredith Kline concluded, "the story of twentieth century biblical archaeology is the story of the silencing of the clamorous voice of the modern western Wellhausen by the voiceless witnesses emerging from ancient eastern mounds." Is the History of the Old Testament Accurate? Can I Trust My Bible, Edited by Howard Vos, Chicago: Moody Press, 1963, p. 139
5. God Affirms Moses' Authorship
Moses was under a command from the LORD Himself to write down the words: Exod 34:27 "Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.'" cf. Ex 24:4; Deu 27:3, 27:8, 31:9 God elsewhere told Moses, "take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD.". Deu 31:24-26
Evidences of Widespread Writing Before Moses' Time
1. Ugaritic Ras Shamra, was discovered in 1929 by C.F.A. Schaffer on the north coast of Syria. Scholars agree that this deposit of tablets dates from before B.C. 1400 suggesting a pre-existing alphabet and grammar. Found were poetic works suggesting a sophisticated vocabulary and grammar.
2. Amarna Tablets, were found in Egypt in 1887. They were written in the reign of Amenhotep IV hwo reigned from 1375 to 1358 B.C. The content verified correspondence between Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Babylon giving evidence that writing was firmly in place in all of those cultures before the time of Moses.
3. Mt. Sinai Inscriptions, were found in 1907 by Flinders Petrie. They were written in a "proto Semitic" language. The event they chronicle happened in the second millennium B.C.
4. Gezer Calendar, was found by Macalister in the late nineteenth century, and was written in B.C. 925 by what W.F. Albright believed was a child performing a school exercise.
5. Mari Tablets, were discovered in 1933 by Andre Parrot on the Middle Euphrates river in Babylon. Thousands of cuneiform tablets were found dating from B.C. 1700. This library has confirmed some Biblical cities.
6. Library at Ebla, was discovered at Tel Mardikh which contains thousands of tablets from the third millennium B.C.
7. Babylonian Scribes, were depicted in stone in the reign of Sennacherib [702 B.C.]. Two scribes are illustrated. The nearer scribe is writing on either a leather, parchment or papyrus scroll with a brush-pen. The further scribe is holding a hinged writing board with stylus used to write cuneiform script. Cambridge History of Bible, 1:601-602, plate 7, 8
8. Scribal Training Exercise, was discovered in Egypt dating from the nineteenth Dynasty in 1250 B.C. It contains two colors of ink showing both the pupils mistakes and corrections. It can be viewed in the British Museum. Cambridge History of Bible, 1:602, plate 10
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the Word of our God stands forever.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Words shall not pass away. cf. Mt 5:18
1 Peter 1:25
But the Word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached to you.