PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY - 1.

1.   AUTHORSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Over 3,000 times the bible claims to be God's word. and, therefore absolutely true.   Common phrases such as  "the word of God," "the word of the Lord," "the Lord spake," "God said," etc .are common, and so the bible is of Divine origin.  Those who disagree must prove otherwise and, so far, none have.  Written by more than 40 different human authors over 1600 years, and collected over many continents, there is but one divine author, the Holy Spirit of God, the third Person of the Godhead.

2nd Timothy 3v16-17     -     "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."   Note the amazing detail in this:

• All scripture is God breathed (Theopneustos); only two things in scripture at said to be God breathed namely human beings (Genesis 2v7) and Holy Scripture (2nd Timothy 3v16).   The Holy Scriptures are therefore the very breath of God.
• Profitable for doctrine........ teaching what is true.
• Profitable for reproof......... convicting what is false.
• Profitable for correction..... correcting what is wrong.
• For instruction in righteousness....... instruction in what is right.

All this that the man of God might be fitted to do the work of God.   It is the believer's manual for Christian living, it is not designed for sceptical minds.

2nd Peter 1v21     -     "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."   The word for "moved" means  "borne along;" that is, as they spoke, or wrote, their words were guided by the Divine Spirit.

Matthew 5v18    -     When Jesus spoke of Holy Scripture in terms of "the law and the prophets," He said it was accurate to the last jot (the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet) and the last tittle (the smallest mark of intonation).

This brings us to the statement made by bible scholars "the verbal, plenary, inspiration of Holy Scripture."    This means that every word is inspired, every letter, and every mark of intonation.   Like its author the scriptures are absolute perfection.   Every word, every preposition, every adjective, every conjunction, has been placed with Divine precision.   Warnings are given throughout the Bible regarding tampering with this word.

This means that every part of the Bible is inspired, including the genealogies such as the generations of Ishmael (Genesis 25v12-18), and the historical genealogies of 1st Chronicles chapters 1-3.  In the form of narrative, poem, song, and prophecy, from Genesis to Revelation the whole book is inspired and should be read and studied in its entirety. 

Note how the apostles viewed Holy Scripture; they weighed every word, and expounded its meaning.   Peter's theology was dogmatical, Paul's theology was exegetical, John's theology was spiritual, yet they all insisted that the basis for faith was the inspired scriptures of truth.