251. GOD, THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God"

Whether one gazes into the expanse of the heavens or the world of microscopic life, the profound order and design and interdependence of creation is remarkable. On every side the created world bears silent testimony to the existence of its Creator. Yet apart from the book we know as the Bible, man would forever remain ignorant of Earth's origin and destiny. The Bible is the revelation of God to man. It clearly sets forth the truth concerning God and man. It reveals the Divine purpose in creation, the origin of sin and death, the development and destiny of the nations and the coming Kingdom of God. But the Bible also has personal value. It provides young and old with hope. It unfolds the real reason for living and it exposes the foolishness of following a world which has divorced God from His Creation. In brief, it can change our lives.

The aim of this lesson is to show that there is but one Supreme Creator, who has inspired the Scriptures which reveal His character and purpose.

2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21

THE BIBLE: GOD'S REVELATION TO MAN.

Though divided into sixty-six different sections, the Bible is one, setting forth one consistent message. It claims to be the Word of God. No less than 500 times in the first five books it asserts: "The Lord said" or "The Lord spake"! Again, some 300 times it repeats these phrases in the books from Joshua to The Song of Solomon. The books of the prophets repeat the claim some 1,200 times.

The writers of the Bible were really fulfilling the role of scribes for God. He was the real Author. He expressed His teaching through mortal men. They wrote by His inspiration (Heb. 1:1-2; Neh. 9:20). He guided them in what they should say, although the language they used was their own. For this purpose God selected men from every class of society. Kings, statesmen, priests, scholars, shepherds and fishermen were among those He chose. They were divided from each other by social status, time and place. One wrote in Syria, another in Arabia, a third in Italy, a fourth in Greece, a fifth in Babylon, a sixth in Palestine; so they had little personal contact with each other. Moses, the earliest writer, wrote the first five books of the Bible some 1,600 years before John recorded the Revelation.

Yet, despite these great differences, there is a wonderful and complete harmony in all that was written which unites the 66 books in one and makes the Bible unique in the literary world. God has placed this book in the hands of man to provide him with hope (Rom. 15:4). It alone can reveal the way to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). To refuse its message means death (Deut. 30:17-20; Prov. 14:12).

The Bible is commonly divided into two sections styled the Old Testa ment (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). But the division is man-made, and the whole Bible should be treated as the one consistent revelation of God to man. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. The English Authorised Version of the Bible, which is commonly used today, was first published in 1611. This has been translated into Swahili as the Union Bible. It became known as the Authorised Version because authority to make the translation into English was given by King James of England. Since then many other translations have appeared, some helpful, others quite poor. The original manuscripts would have been without fault, but no version is faultless. Over the years there have been errors of transcription (by scribes copying original manuscripts, etc.) and translation (from original languages into others), but these are relatively few and of little significance. Irrespective as to what version is used, the basic teaching of the Bible is clearly discernible.

THE BIBLE INSPIRED AND TRUE.

Peter set it forth as a basic principle, that the Bible is inspired (2 Pet. 1:20-21). He declares: "Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scrip ture is of any private interpretation: for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." The words "private interpretation" have been variously rendered. R. Roberts gives them as "private prophet's origina tion"; Weymouth renders them as "prophet's own prompting"; Macnight translates: "prophet's own invention".

Every confidence, therefore, can be placed in what the Bible proclaims. No genuine critic can show it to be false in any of its historical details. Its worst opponents have been forced to admit that here, at least, it is true. But the remarkable witness of prophecy shows that it is not only fac tually true, but Divine. It demonstrates that God is its Author, for only He could so wonderfully foretell the future. The Bible's amazing pro phecies have been remarkably fulfilled in every detail. As predicted: €

• Babylon is still in heaps (Isa. 13:19-21; Jer. 51:37).
• Nineveh still lies empty, void and waste (Nahum 2:10).
• Egypt is among the basest of nations (Ezek. 29:15).
• Tyre has been submerged by the sea, and is literally a place for the spreading of nets (Ezek. 26:5).
•  Israel has been scattered among all nations (Deut. 28:64) and is being regathered again (Jer. 30:11; Ezek. 37:21-

    22).

• A northern power hostile to Israel (i.e. Russia) has developed (Ezek 38:2-7, 15-16).

THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.

The Bible opens by concentrating attention upon One Person: God (Gen. 1:1). Its revelation concludes by showing how that One Person will be manifested in all creation, "that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28). It reveals that each of us can be involved in that glorious consummation. The Gospel calls upon us to step aside from the endless procession of men and women who are making their way to an eternal abiding place in the grave: God is "taking out of the Gentiles a people for His name" (Acts 15).

A first essential is a correct understanding of who God is (John 17:3; Heb. 11:6). We must acknowledge the unity of God; that is, that there is only one God, the Father of all. Consequently we must reject as unscriptural the commonly-held idea that God is a Trinity. (For scriptural proofs see 1 Tim. 2:5; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 45:5; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 1:3).

In line with this, note that Jesus Christ is set forward as subservient to His Father (Jn. 12:28; 1 Cor. 15:24-28), and that the Holy Spirit is described as God's power (Lk. 1:35; Acts 3:12).

THE FATHER'S CHARACTER.

There are two sides to God's character, and we are called upon to con sider both. Paul exhorts: "Consider therefore, the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22). These two aspects of God's character were reveal ed to Moses at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 34:6-7), and are revealed in all His dealings with men. Consider for example, the occasion when God sent Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. He saved Israel at the Red Sea, but destroyed Pharaoh's hosts. Also, the Lord Jesus is coming to judge the world in righteousness. This will entail mercy and redemption for His elect, but death and destruction for the wicked.

The reason for this is man's rebellious attitude: "Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness" (Isa. 26:10-11). God disciplines mankind for his good and his ultimate salvation.

The Bible teaches that God is unchangeable in His purpose (Mal. 3:6). He is all-knowing or omniscient (Ps. 139:1-6); everywhere present, or omnipresent (vv.7-12); all-powerful, or omnipotent (vv. 13-18).

The fact that God knows all (Heb. 4:13; Jer. 23:24), and can enforce His will, shows how circumspect we should be in our conduct before Him. Nevertheless, He would rule by love, and not fear. The purpose of His revelation is to change our characters that they may conform to His, so fitting us mentally and morally for the bestowal of eternal life (a physical change) at Christ's coming (see Phil. 3:20-21).

THE FATHER'S PURPOSE.

The Divine purpose is expressed in its simplest form in Numbers 14:21 € "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh". What does this entail? Certainly the whole earth will display the majesty of God, but God's glory involves more than this € it also in volves his character. When Moses asked God to show him his glory, God in reply revealed his character, "merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth" (Ex. 33:18; 34:6-7).

God's glory will be revealed in all the earth when it is peopled by men and women who reflect in their lives His character. Jesus revealed in his life "the glory of the father" in that he was "full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). He is the firstborn of many brethren and we can be among those who will be redeemed if we follow his example (1 Pet. 2:21; Rom. 8:29-30).

God is calling men and women now for this purpose. If we understand the Divine purpose and show God's character in our lives now, when Christ returns, we will be given Divine nature (1 Pet. 1:4), and will display the Divine character in the perfection of immortality.

Let us apply ourselves to our studies of the Bible so that we might be made "wise unto salvation" and be found worthy of an abundant entry into the kingdom when the Lord comes!

LESSONS FOR US:

€ Only by reading the Bible can we know the ultimate destiny of the earth and mankind.

€ God requires us to know the truth concerning Him.

€ A study of the Bible can and should affect our lives.

€ "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Ps. 119:9).

€ "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh" (Heb. 12:25).

€ "Prove all things: hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Christadelphian Instructor" (R. Roberts) € Nos. 6-15

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 1 & 2

"Elpis Israel" € Part First, Chapter 1

"Christendom Astray" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 1 & 6

"First Principles Bible Marking Course" (C.S.S.S.) € Pages 1-8

"God's Way" (J. Carter) € Chapters 1 & 2

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Why has God caused the Bible to be written?
2. Describe two events which have occurred among the nations in the twentieth century which prove that the Bible is

      true.

3. What proof can you give from the Bible to show that God is One?
4. What are the two aspects of God's character? Give examples which show how they have been revealed in the

      past, and will be revealed in the future.

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. What basis do we have for believing that the Bible is inspired?
2. What is God's purpose with the earth and how will it be fulfilled?
3. In general terms what does the Bible reveal about: €

1. God?
2. His purpose?