One of distinctives of a New Testament Baptist church is that its message and authority come from the scriptures. We have no loyalty to Rome, or Philadelphia, or wherever Southern Baptist Convention is headquartered. True Baptist churches believe what they believe and do what they do, because they see those things in the Word of God. And they don’t just refer to the Bible now and then. True Baptist churches pick up the Bible and teach that Bible, often going through books or passages verse by verse. They try their very best to make that Bible as practical and outgoing as possible.
And I suppose I need to clarify this point: Our authority is not in Peter, Paul, David or Abraham, either. Peter has just reminded us that he was an eyewitness of the ministry, and even the glorification, of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was with the Lord on the holy mount when Jesus was transfigured as the eternal Son of God. But what you and I should believe about that transfiguration is not based on what Peter might have been able to tell us in casual conversation. We have a more sure prophecy – a more sure Word of God – than what Peter, Isaiah or Samuel might have told us about God. We have the written word – the scripture – which came not by the will of man, but by the prophets of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit.
And what is it that gives the Bible its unique authority? Why is it that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation? Why is it that no verse of scripture can have a multitude of meanings, devised by a variety of men? It is because “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” And that takes us to a related scripture which tells us about “inspiration” – the breath of God. Inspiration is that operation of the Holy Spirit that guaranteed the communication of God’s infallible truth.
Is that important? Nothing has ever been more important in the spiritual realm. If it was not for inspiration, we’d have no guarantee accuracy in our teaching of the Bible. And we’d never be sure that we were worshiping God properly. In fact we couldn’t be sure that we were worshiping God at all.
Most theology books begin with a section on what theology is – God and the study of God. Then the next section of those books deal with the Bible and the doctrine of inspiration. Without a proper staring place, we’d have no tools for our study of Jehovah. How can anyone study poetry if we didn’t first agree on a language to use? And if a study of natural science assumes the truth of evolution, just about everything that is said thereafter will be skewed. How can anyone rationally pursue a study of theology without a trustworthy Bible to reveal the Lord to us?
So Christians need to understand and be able to explain doctrine of divine inspiration. This afternoon, we’ll have a short lesson on the subject. To some this will be a refresher course, and to others it may be an elementary lesson. There are two key passages which take us to this doctrine. So to our text here in II Peter, I have to add a paragraph from II Timothy.
First there is II Peter 1:20-21.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture 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 Ghost.”
What do we see here? We see that Scripture is a single unit, it shouldn’t be divided. You might think I’m being silly, but notice that “prophecy” in verse 21 is singular, but “the holy men of God” who have spoken that word are plural. In this case, that “prophecy” refers to all the Word of the Lord. Preachers do it all the time out of necessity, but breaking the scriptures into little parts – verses – and taking them out of their context of the entire Bible reduces their effect and power. The Bible is one book and one part of it should not be interpreted apart from the whole. Even in its various parts, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
We also see here that the scriptures came not through human sources alone. Men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. In every scripture there was a miraculous cooperation of man and God in the giving and inspiration of God’s Word. The pen-men Bible never ceased to individuals, but they were controlled, guided moved by the Spirit. That means the style of language and writing may be different between Jeremiah and David, Paul and Peter, and yet, the Holy Spirit is still the true author.
“Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Here is where we have to be careful, and here is where we need to move on to our other scripture. The Holy Spirit was not the artistic muse of gospel writers or the Old Testament poets. Those men weren’t caught up in the spirit of the moment – spirit beginning with a lower case “s.” The word “muse” by definition refers to Greek and Roman mythology and the nine goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. A more modern definition speaks of a person or who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. The Holy Spirit did not mentally stimulate David to write the 23rd Psalm.
Please turn to II Timothy 3:14.
In teaching and exhorting Timothy, Paul said, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Here is where we run into the word “inspiration” for the first and only time. It is the two part Greek word “theopneustos” – “theos” and “pneustos.” Literally, it means “God-breathed.” One of my theology books says that “theopneustos” is probably the single most studied Greek word in the Bible despite being only a single use word. Peter has told us that “Holy men were moved by the Holy Ghost,” while Paul says, “All scripture is God-breathed.”
There are some modern versions of the Bible – versions which are not a sure word of prophecy… There are some versions which have misplaced the little verb “is” in Paul’s statement. For example, the formerly very popular American Standard Version mistranslates II Tim. 3:16 to say: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, etc.” That statement casts doubt on two important points. It implies that there could be some scriptures which are not inspired of God. And among other good uses for the Bible it is “also” profitable for teaching, reproof, correction… No – “all scripture is inspired by God” and therefore it is first and foremost profitable to our souls.
And what is it that Paul was referring to when he says “scripture”? Would it surprise you ta know that II Timothy was the last book that Paul wrote? With that as our basis, it appears that he was referring to all the books of the Bible which preceded this one. Secondly, would it surprise you to know that Peter called Paul’s letters “scripture?” In the third chapter of the book we are currently studying, Peter says in verse 14 – “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” II Timothy 3:16-17 applies to all that we call ”scripture.” Including those few books, like Revelation, which were written after Paul wrote his last epistle.
But this is not the only thing on which we base our doctrine about the Bible. This book of God bears evidence of divine authorship. And it is unique among books just as much as you are unique among all the children of Adam. Scientists can take a handful of words that you might speak and tell us that no other person in world will be able to say them exactly like you do. And it is not just a matter of “shibboleth” and “sibboleth,” but to little things that our ears cannot even detect. And then other experts tell us that the skin of your little finger shows a pattern of wrinkles that no other little finger will ever naturally match. My friends, the Bible bears the voice and finger of God.
There was once a literary gathering at the house of Baron van Holbach. On this occasion the most celebrated infidels of Europe were assembled. They were commenting on the absurd foolish and childish things which the Bible, they said, was filled. But then French infidel and art critic, Denis Diderot, ended the conversation by saying, “But it is wonderful gentlemen, it is wonderful! I know of no man in France who can write and speak with such ability. In spite of all the evil which we have said of this book I do no believe that you, or any of you could compose a narrative so simple, and at the same so elevated and so affecting as the narrative of the sufferings and death of Christ – a narrative exerting so wide an influence and awakening such deep and universal feeling, and the power of which after so many hundred years would still be the same.” It is said that everyone became very still, and soon without further comment the meeting broke up. It was much like that day when Jesus wrote in the sand when surrounded by the accusers of the woman taken in adultery. God’s word, whether written in the sand or printed on a sheet of paper have the power to break the unbelieving heart or the unbeliever’s coven.
Another philosopher, Jean Jacque Rouseau said, “I will confess that the majesty of the Scriptures strikes me with admiration, as the purity of the Gospel has its influence on my heart. Peruse the works of our philosophers, with all their pomp of diction; How contemptible are they compared wtih the Scriptures. It bears a place in the history of man, that no work of literature can ever have.”
Usually one history book, or work of nonfiction, cannot stand on its own. There needs to be several to hold up the first. But that is not true of the Bible – it does stand alone – and it stands forever. The hatred of man for the Bible is proof of its divine Authorship. Satan, popes and people have tried for millennia to destroy its testimony against them. But it stands today as it always will. Heaven and earth shall pass away before the Word is knocked down or knocked out. Then too it speaks to every person in every culture; it is universal. And for those few who listen, that word is transforming.
But these things are just circumstantial evidence of the Bible’s inspiration. Let the scriptures take the stand on their own behalf; let them speak. How many hundreds and thousands of times do we read in the Bible the words “Thus saith the Lord?” How many times did God tell Moses or others: “Write thou these words?” Over a hundred times in Jeremiah God spoke directly to His prophet. Over sixty times the Lord spoke to Ezekiel and he recorded those words. I am told that over 3,800 times throughout the Bible, the voice of God was heard in one fashion or another.
The Lord Jesus said that it was the Holy Spirit who spoke through the holy man of God named “David.” “And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” I know it is not quite the same, but Christ said that he was just communicating the Father’s words – “I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” – John 12:49-50.
The testimony of the Apostles was that God is the author of the Scriptures. “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas…” – Acts 1:16. And Acts 28:25 – “When they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers…” Over a hundred times the New Testament scriptures refer to the Old Testament scriptures.
I’ll close reminding you that the point Peter is making here is that the Bible is true, and we can fully trust it. Not only must we trust it, we must entrust our souls to what we find in it. We need commit ourselves to learning and to knowing the “sure word of prophecy” better than we do.