THEOLOGY OF THE BIBLE

The Bible as A Special Means of God’s Revelation

The Introduction
The Bible is a unique book. The manner in which it influences our world show that it not
an ordinary book. If this is so, who is it author? What are its basic characteristics? How
relevance is the book in our world? These are the questions we will attempt to answer in this
chapter

The Bible and Divine Inspiration

The Holy Scriptures are the authoritative and infallible revelation of God’s character and
will. The Scriptures were inspired (See 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) by the Holy Spirit.

Authorship
There is nothing that is, except God, that does not have an origin. The Bible has an
origin. The question is that who is the ultimate author of the Bible? How was it written?
Written through Divine Inspiration: Through the supernatural operation and influence
of the Holy Spirit, the chosen men of God received messages from God and penned them in
human language. According to Jemison, “God chose men, prepared them for His service
through the guided them to write His word. The writers expressed themselves in their own
style, at their own level of literary ability, and their writing revealed their individual
personality.” He adds, “the Spirit enlightened their mind, prompted their thinking, enlivened
their memory and directed their attention to matter recorded. As the Holy Spirit controlled the
prophet and inspired them, the message of God, expressed in the words of the prophet under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became the word of God” (Jemison, 12, 13). See Isa 40:8;
Number 15:31; Ezra 1:1; Jer 5:14.
Note 1: There is blending of the human and divine e.g. (1) Inspired messages were given
to the Bible writers as the had encounter with the Holy Spirit (2 Chronicles 15:1, 2; Eze 2:2;37).
(2) The writers were now guided by the Holy Spirit to deliver the messages either orally or in
written forms (2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Kings 17:13; 1 Chron 2:13; 2 Pet 1:21).
Note 2: It appears that there is a difference between revelation and inspiration. While
revelation deals with God speaking to man through any of the various means He has ordained
to do so, inspiration has to do with the moving of the Holy Spirit upon God’s messenger,
controlling and empowering him to deliver the revealed message.
Note 3: Some theologians prefer to use the term illumination to depict the act of the
Holy Spirit in shedding light on the mind of people who seek to understand God’s message.
Note 4: Basically, Scholars talk of verbal inspiration and thought inspiration. Verbal
inspiration seems to sugges

Here are some biblical claims to divine inspiration:

 1. Expression such as “the word of God come to me” “thus saith the Lord” appear over
3,800 times in the Old Testament alone (e.g. Ge. 1:3; Num 2:1; 1 Sam 16:1; Isa 6:8, 9;
1:4)
2. Bible writers recognizes the authority of one another (e.g. Joshua 1:7,8; Neh 8:1; Dan
9:1, 2, 11; Mal 4:4).
3. It is claimed that the law of God is perfect (2 Kings 17:13; Ps 19:7)
4. David claimed that God spoke through him (2 Sam 23:2).
5. Jesus recognized the authority of the Old Testament prophecies to be about Himself (Lk
24:27).
6. Jesus accepted and proclaimed what was written in the Old Testament (see Matthew
5:17; Lk 24:27, 44).
7. He often referred to the Old passages during His ministry (e.g. Matthew 4:14; 11:10;
13:14; Lk 22:37
8. In informed that to reject the writings of Moses will eventually lead to rejecting His
words (John 5:46, 47).
9. Jesus also expressed confidence in the eternal law of God (Matthew 5:18)
10. The New Testament writers frequently quoted from the Old Testament as the word of
God (Act 1:16).
11. Peter equates the Old Testament writings with the writing of Apostles (2 Peter 3:2).
12. Peter equates Paul’s writings with other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16).
13. Paul claimed that God spoke through him (1 Cor 2:13; 14:37).
Therefore, though the Bible was written by 40 authors who were human beings,
ultimately, it has God as its author. Hence it is not an ordinary book.

Characteristics of the Bible

What are the basic facts to be noted about the Bible?
Fact no 1— Basically, the Bible is divided into two parts, namely, the Old Testament and
the New Testament. In respect of organization, the OT contains 39 books, predominantly
written in Hebrew language, apart from passages such as Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Dan 2:4-7:28;
Jer 10:11 written in Aramaic language. This should be understood because Aramaic was the
official language of the later Babylonia and Persian empires. It needs to be noted that Hebrew
language is a personal language, addressing itself to the heart and emotion. It is not abstract or
theoretical in nature.
The NT has 27 books written in Greek which was the universal language of the Roman
empire of the time of Christ and the Apostles. It is a kind of Greek known as Konine meaning
“common one” rather than the classical Greek used in the work of scholars of the day.
Generally, Greek language is an intellectual language. The lesson to be learned from this is that,
important message that is meant for everyone should not be given in a complicated language.
We should be as simple and clear as much as possible. Message of salvation should not be
complicated.
Fact no 2—The OT is further divided into the following:
 1. The Law, also known as the Torah of the Pentateuch. This section is made up of 5 books
in both the Hebrew and our own Bibles. It is believed that they were written by Moses.
2. The Prophetical books. It has two sections, the Former Prophets, consisting of Joshua,
Judges, First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings, then Latter Prophets,
consisting of Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) and Minor Prophets made up of
twelve prophetical book. In Hebrew Bible, Former Prophets, as a section, has four
books, but six books in English Bible. This is because the first and second Samuel and
first and second Kings are seen as book each by the Hebrews. Likewise, Latter Prophets
are taking as four books in the Hebrew Bible (3 Major Prophets and all minor prophets
as one), but fifteen books in the English Bible.
3. The Writings consisting of 11 books in the Hebrew Bible (Ezra and Nehemiah, the First
and Second Chronicles are seen as one book each) and other 13 books in the English
Bible. Some scholars the Writings into the following: the poetical books (Psalm,
Proverbs, Job); the Scrolls (Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes, Esther);
Prophetic-historical books (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles).
Fact no 3—New Testament is divided into the following:
1. The Four Gospels
2. The historical books of Acts
3. The fourteen Epistle of Paul
4. The seven General Epistles
5. The Prophetic book of Revelation.

Note: Apart from the Gospel of Mark and Hebrews the NT books were arranged on the basis
length rather than the order in which they were written.
Chapter division was accomplished in the 13th century. There are two view on this: (1)
That it was done by Arch Bishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton; (2) That it was done by
Spanish Cardinal, Hugo a Santo Caro.
Verse division was introduced in 1551 in Greek-Latin edition of the New Testament by
the publisher, Robert Stephanus of Paris
Fact no 3---The Unity of the Book: Though the Bible was written by many authors from
different background and environment during a period of hundreds of years, it is characterized
by unity, e.g.:
1. There is unity of purpose, e.g. the story of plan of salvation.
2. There is unity of theme, e.g. Jesus Christ, His cross, and His reign.
3. A careful study shows that there is harmony of teaching between the OT and NT in their
teaching.
4. There is unity of development, e.g. a steady development from
creation—fall—redemption—restoration.
5. The same Holy Spirit Who spoke through the Old Testament Prophets spoke through the
apostles witnessing about the same God, Messiah and the same plan for human being.
Facts no 4—The Applicability of the Book to every Generation: The Bible is applicable to
every category of people in every generation. The Bible addresses the problem of sin and the
plan of salvation. Everyone is a sinner in needs of salvation. The major reason for the universal
applicability of the Bible is because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit;
 Facts no 5—the Production of the Bible: About 40 inspired writers authored the Bible during
the period of about 1,600 years. The Holy Spirit used different methods to help the inspired
writers to write God’s message. Here are some of the methods:
1. Revelation e.g. vision, dreams and direct instruction (Daniel 7-12)
2. Personal experience e.g. Moses
3. Historical records and chronicle of kings
4. Account from eye witnesses e.g. the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:1-4)
Facts no 6—The Preservation of the Book: See the following Bible passages, Deuteronomy
31:24-26; Joshua 24:24-26; 1 Samuel 10:25; 2 Kings 22:1-13. As believed by the Jews of Christ’s
time the body of sacred writing (Canon) had been arranged in the day of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Nevertheless, not until after the council of Jamina, AD 90 were the Jews agreed upon the
content of the OT Canon. Though the grouping order of the books were different from our
Bible, the books were the same as in our Bible.
Note: John Locke states this in respect of the Bible: “It has God as its Author, salvation for
its end, and truth, without any mixture of error for its matter: it is all pure, sincere, nothing too
much, nothing wanting wanting.”

New Testament Canon

While the Gospels, the book of Acts and the writing of Apostle Paul were readily
accepted as inspired writings, and made to consist the N.T Canon, it took a longer period to
accept the general Epistles, Hebrew and Revelation.
Note: Read more of Pseudepigrpha.

The Basic Standard for the New Testament Canon

There questions asked for the purpose of determining which book or writing should be part of
NT cannon. They include the following:
1. Had the author included in the NT Canon been an apostle or a companion of the
apostle?
2. Were there agreements between the content of the book and other book of the Bible?
3. Was the book internally consistent?
4. Was the book conform to Christian experience?

Procedures for Studying the Bible

One cannot just the Bible like one is studying an ordinary literature. There are procedures to be
followed. Here are some of them:
1. Depend upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit
2. Exhibit the right attitude toward truth
3. Consider he context
4. Take into consideration the complete harmony of the Scripture
5. Permit the Scripture to be its own interpreter
6. Do not hesitate to use aid to study the Bible.