THE BIBLE IS RELIABLE
Editorial
September/October, 1975
Volume 10, Number 5
The Witness message this month concentrates on a concern
which is basic to the Brethren Revival Fellowship emphasis. It is primarily
a reprint of an issue printed nearly seven years ago. Our present supply
of that issue is exhausted; our mailing list now is much larger than it
was then; and the theme is so central to our emphasis, that we feel it
should be distributed again.
Alexander Mack wrote a letter (see Durnbaugh, European Origins
of the Brethren, page 163) to Count Charles August, pleading for
a little more consideration for a widow who permitted her daughter to be
baptized. The Count had ordered the widow out of his territory and levied
a fine upon anyone who would shelter Alexander Mack. The following paragraph
(taken from Mack's letter to the Count) shows Mack's respect for the Scriptures:
"Now I will freely and publicly confess that my crime is that Jesus Christ
... desires that we do what we are doing - that the sinner shall repent
and believe in the Lord Jesus and should be baptized in water upon his
confession of faith. He should then seek to carry out everything Jesus
has commanded and publicly bequeathed in His Testament. if we are doing
wrong herein, against the revealed word of the Holy Scriptures, be it in
teaching, way of life, or conduct, we would gladly receive instruction.
If, however, no one can prove this on the basis of the Holy Scriptures,
and yet persecutes us despite this, we would gladly suffer and bear it
for the sake of the teachings of Jesus Christ." The early Brethren left
their mark wherever they went. We believe that this can be attributed to
the fact that they adhered closely to the Scriptures as their source of
authority. They were truly "a people of the Book." Today, however, there
seems to be a shift away from emphasis upon the Bible as the textbook for
life, to an emphasis on human planning and program. And when the Bible
is referred to, the historical-critical method of interpretation is used,
and frequently new definitions are craftily assigned to familiar old precepts.
The turn away from respect for the authority of the Scriptures is a basic
concern of the BRF. The article in this issue attempts to help the reader
gain a new appreciation for the written Word of God.
H.S.M.
The Bible Is Reliable
by Harold S. Martin
Many theologians and church leaders no longer accept the Bible as the
infallible Word of God. They have difficulty believing that "If it is taught
in the Bible, then it ought to be observed." They have doubts about the
trustworthiness of the Bible.
Some of us deplore the doctrinal departures that have taken place within
the Church of the Brethren during the past few decades - the softening
on baptism, the elimination of the eldership, the laying aside of the scriptural
headveiling, and the like. But at the heart of all these departures is
a false view of the authority of the Bible. The trustworthiness of the
Bible is the foundation upon which the entire edifice of
Christian truth is standing. And if this foundation falters, the whole
Christian faith goes with it. We believe the Bible is inspired of God.
1. THE MEANING OF INSPIRATION
The Word "inspiration" (when used in connection with the origin of the
Scriptures) means that the Holy Spirit caused the writers of the Scripture
to accurately record what God wanted them to write. We read in 2 Timothy
3:16 that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." The word "inspiration"
means literally "God-breathed." All Scripture is given by the breath of
God. The sacred odor of heaven permeates the Scriptures. The men who wrote
the Bible did not write merely from their own intellect; they wrote as
God breathed His message into their minds and souls.
2 Peter 1:21 is another passage that speaks about the Bible's origin.
We read that "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
The word "moved" means literally "carried along." Men of God, as they wrote,
were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The same word (in the original Creek)
is used of a ship that is carried along by the force of the wind. Acts
27:17 tells about the shipwreck on the Mediterranean. The storm became
so bad that the sailors could do nothing and "so were driven." The word
"driven" (in Acts 27:17) is the same as the word "moved" (in 2 Peter 1:21).
Just as the ship was driven along by the wind, so the Holy Spirit came
upon the writers of Scripture, and blew them wherever He desired.
Note however that "inspiration" is not the same as"dictation." God did
not dictate to the writers of the Bible word for word. Some passages
were dictated by God (for example, the Ten Commandments). These were written
with the finger of God and recorded word for word in the Book of Exodus.
But the normal procedure in inspiration was not dictation. The Holy
Spirit controlled the thoughts and judgments and words of the writers,
yet at the same time, the writer expressed these thoughts in terms reflecting
his own style of writing and his own personality. Mark's style of writing,
for example, is altogether different from that of Luke's. Each writer had
freedom to use his own vocabulary and yet when he had finished his writing,
he had written the very words that God wanted recorded. The Holy Spirit
had complete command of the operation. You say, "But that's impossible;
it's supernatural." True--it is supernatural. The Bible is a supernatural
book. It produces supernatural results. One who denies the supernatural,
may as well forget all about Christianity.
Note also that inspiration does not suggest that God approves all the
Bible's statements. God does not approve all the remarks of the devil (nor
of Job's friends), for example, in the Book of Job. The inspiration of
the Bible guarantees that all these remarks are accurately recorded, but
God says to Eliphaz in Job 42:7, "My wrath is kindled against thee ...
for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right." The words of the
three "friends" in the Book of Job -- what we read there -- is exactly
what they said, but God doesn't necessarily approve of what they
said. This is one reason why we need to study the Scriptures carefully,
and be diligent about rightly dividing the word of truth.
Inspiration is verbal. The Holy Spirit accurately guarded the
words. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:13 that he writes the things God has given
him "not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth." Every word of the Bible (in its original form) has been guarded
by the Holy Spirit.
Inspiration is plenary. This word comes from the Latin word "plenus" which means "full." All Scripture is inspired, not merely part of it. That includes the Book of Jonah and also the Book of Genesis. That includes
the parts you can't understand as well as the parts you can understand.
All Scripture is inspired of God. The whole Bible originated
with God. True--it is not all equally rich in spiritual content, but
every part of the Bible is equally reliable and trustworthy. Nehemiah 7
(with all its names and numbers) is just as much inspired as a favorite
passage such as John 14. The original documents of the Bible were God-breathed.
Inspiration is final. God's written word comes to a close with
the Book of Revelation. His complete will for man is given in the
Scriptures. All that the guilty sinner ever needs to know and all that
the obedient saint can ever anticipate, is stored away in this Divine Library.
Rev. 22:18 pronounces a solemn curse upon all who would dare to add to
the words of Scripture. The Holy Spirit will illuminate and give a fuller
apprehension of the truth, but God's truth itself is complete and final.
2. THE EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION
One of the evidences for the inspiration of the Bible is the miracle
of survival. The Bible has been the most persecuted book in all history.
It has been burned and ridiculed and attacked in many ways, yet today it
stands as strong as ever. Some printed material literally explodes with
hatred for the Bible. One pamphlet says the Bible is filled with contradictions,
absurdities, cannibalism, impossibilities, insane sex ideas, injustice
to women, etc. The writer goes on to say that if bad books are ever burned,
the largest bonfire should consist of Bibles. But why all this hatred for
a Book that's led thousands of people to live a better life! No one hates
Andersen's Fairy Tales. No one starts bonfires with Aesop's Fables. Why
all the hatred for the Bible! Men hate this Book because it tells them
what they are; it condemns sin; it makes demands upon their lives. Someone
said to an infidel one time, "Why are you always criticizing the Bible;
why don't you let the Bible alone?" He answered, "Because it doesn't let
me alone." Men hate the Bible, and as a result it has been the victim of
one attack after another down through the centuries, but today it stands
as strong as ever. Men have preached the Bible's funeral ten thousand times,
but they've never been able to get it buried! If the Bible had been a fraudulent
book, it would have disintegrated long ago. Isaiah says, "The Word of our
God shall stand forever."
Another evidence for the Bible's inspiration is the proof of prophecy.
Many events in the life of Jesus, for example, were foretold in accurate
detail long before they occurred. His virgin birth was foretold by Isaiah;
the town of His birth was foretold by Micah; the flight into Egypt was
mentioned by Hosea; His resurrection was foretold by David. The twenty-second
Psalm alone contains more than thirty exact descriptions of Jesus on the
Cross, and even though the Psalmist was writing one thousand years before
the events actually took place, his descriptions are so exact that it seems
like he was standing right at the foot of the Cross when he wrote.
Perhaps one of the most impressive fulfillments of prophecy is
that concerning the city of Tyre, written in Ezekiel 26. While the city
was at the height of prosperity, Ezekiel prophesied that it would be ravished
by many nations, that its walls would be broken down, and that eventually
the city would be flattened out like the top of a huge rock. Ezekiel said
the ruins would become a place for fishermen to spread their nets, and
he concludes, "And thou shalt be built no more, for I have spoken it saith
the Lord God." Now all this has literally taken place. The ancient city
of Tyre was located along the Mediterranean coast. Part of the city was
built on an island off shore. When the city was destroyed, rocks and debris
from demolished buildings were pushed into the sea (between the part of
the city on the island and the part on the coast), and fishermen have used
this spot for generations for the spreading of their nets. Any book which
gives such accurate prophecies concerning future events, must have as its
author, the One who knows the future - and the only One who knows that
is God.
The crowning evidence for the inspiration of the Bible is the testimony
of Jesus. Jesus declared in John 10:34, "The scripture cannot be broken."
He put His seal on the Old Testament when He quoted Exodus 3:6 (as recorded
in Matthew 22:31) - and said, "Have ye not read that which was spoken unto
you by God?" Jesus says the writings of Moses were spoken by God. During
His earthly ministry, Jesus quoted from all parts of the Old Testament.
He spoke of man's creation, the institution of marriage, the days of Noah,
the destruction of Sodom, God's appearing to Moses in the burning bush,
manna from heaven, lifting up the brazen serpent, the life of David, the
glory of Solomon, the history of Abraham, and the sign of Jonah. And in
all this record we have of Jesus' words, there is not even the slightest
intimation that the Scriptures might be untrustworthy at any point. He
never contradicted nor disagreed with anything in the Old Testament.
Concerning the New Testament, Jesus said, "But the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John
14:26). The question is often asked, "What guarantee have we that in the
reports of the Gospel writers, we have an accurate account of the words
of Jesus' How do we know that the Gospels are true! Might not the writers
have forgotten what Jesus said and misreported his words~" And the answer
is that they might forget. They were human beings. But Jesus himself tells
us that they would not be left to their own fallible memories, but that
the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance all that He had said to
them. And so, in the Gospels, we have not the Apostles' recollection of
what Jesus said, but the Holy Spirit's recollection, and He never forgets.
To Jesus Christ, the Scriptures were the infallible Word of God. Not
one statement could possibly be broken. Are we going to part company with
Jesus? Are we going to say Jesus was mistaken? The miracle of survival,
the proof of prophecy, and the testimony of Jesus - these are all evidences
that the Bible is a unique Book.
3. THE CONSEQUENCE OF INSPIRATION
Because the Bible is divinely inspired, it is a profound book.
The Bible is not composed of the simple writings of men. It is divinely
inspired and it is not always a simple book for the human mind to understand.
Take for example the verse which says, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanses us from all sin." That verse is really beyond human comprehension.
We can learn many things about the atoning blood, and experience its reality
in our lives, and receive new insights into its meaning; but to understand
the full miracle of how the blood of Christ cleanses sin is impossible.
Because the Bible is divinely inspired, it is an authoritative book.
It demands our obedience. It is the supreme court from which there is no
appeal. An old bishop used to say, "Show me something in the Bible that
I don't teach, and I'll start teaching it; or show me something I do teach
that's not in the Bible, and I'll cease teaching it." When the Bible speaks,
you can be sure that it is the voice of God speaking, and therefore it
demands our obedience. The Bible is the mind of God and therefore it is
essential that we believe it and obey it.
Because the Bible is divinely inspired, it is a profitable book.
The concluding portion of 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "and is profitable for doctrine,
reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness." It is profitable for
doctrine - for teaching (it teaches us the way to God). It is profitable
for reproof - it shows us where we're wrong. it is profitable for correction
- it tells us how to get right. it is profitable for instruction in righteousness
- it tells a saved man how he ought to live. The Bible is useful and profitable
in that it teaches truth.
The Bible is God's Book, and for this reason you can build your
life and your eternal destiny on what it says. The child's song expresses
the truth: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
The Scriptures tell us about Jesus Christ. They tell us how He died; they
remind us how we sinned; they assure us that whosoever believes on Him
shall not perish but have everlasting life. The Bible was written to reveal
a Person. It was written that men might believe, know, love, understand,
and follow Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31).
Some church leaders today are saying that those who believe the verbal
inspiration of the Bible are "bibliolaters," and that Bible-believers are
making a black leatherbound book the object of their devotion. They say
we must not worship a dead book but rather a living person. Such a statement
sounds very pious indeed, but when we examine the argument carefully we
see that it is faulty. Our true object of worship is Jesus Christ, But
what do we know about Jesus Christ except what we find in the Bible? How
do we come to know Him except through the message of the Bible? Our only
source of information about the character and attributes of Jesus Christ,
is the Bible. It's from this despised Book that we learn of Jesus Christ.
And if the Bible is filled with errors and contradictions, then it might
also be in error concerning Him.
We don't worship the Bible (it's paper and ink and leather covers),
but we do love the book because of its message. Our love for Jesus Christ
grows every day when we meditate on the pages of the Book. Our belief
in an infallible Bible does not obscure our love for the Saviour;
rather it deepens our devotion to the Lord of Glory! The fact is
that men who say that to believe a perfect Bible is to worship the Book
instead of the Christ -- are themselves worshipping something instead
of the Christ. They worship the infallible mind of man. They believe
that man in himself has the intelligence and the capacity to decide what
is truth.
We urge all in the Church of the Brethren to put the Bible in its proper
place. The 138th Psalm says, "I will praise thy name for thy lovingkindness
and thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." God
thinks highly of His name (we are not to use it profanely) - but He has
magnified His word even above His name.