From our series, "The Bible In Five" a 5 years examination of the Scriptures. Pastor Dave Kooyers , Valley Bible Fellowship, (707) 895-3212

1. Sagano Bamboo Grove – Japan

2. The Bible
What is it?
What’s it about?
Why study it?
The Bible is the Word of God!

3. Bibliology
• Bibliology is a whole semester course
• Bibliology is a lifetime study
• Bibliology is essential for Bible understanding
• Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2009
• Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2008
• Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2005
• Many of the following slides were copied or
edited by David L. Kooyers, 8-2012

4. The Bible:
The Bible is a co-authored book.
a. God is the primary author;
b. Men of God were the secondary
authors.
c. The result is that one and the
same set of words are both
God’s and man’s.
So, whatever God said in Scripture, they said. And
whatever they said, God said.

5. The Source of Inspiration
1. Who? God
2. How? By Revelation
3. When? 1500 B.C. to A.D.
100

6. How God Spoke to the Prophets
1. By angels (Gen. 18, 19)
2. By dreams (Dan. 7:1; cf. Num. 12:6)
3. By visions (Isa.1:1; Ezek. 1:1; 8:3; 11:24; 43:3; cf. Hosea
12:10)
4. By miracles (Ex. 3:2; Jud. 6:37;Jonah 1:1; 4:6)
5. By nature (Psa. 19:1)
6. By an audible voice (1 Sam. 3:4)
7. By an inner voice (Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1 etc.)
8. By the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21)
9. By casting lots (Prov. 16:33)
10. By other prophetic writings (Dan. 9:1-2)

7. A. The Source of Inspiration
B. The Means of Inspiration
1. Men of God
Heb. 1:1.--“God who at various times and in
different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
the prophets.”
Zech. 7:12.--“They made their hearts like flint,
refusing to hear the law and the words which the
Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the
former prophets.”
2 Peter 1:21.—“For prophecy never came by the will
of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.”

8. The Bible is 100% Human
1. It was written by human beings (about 40 of them).
2. It was written in human languages (Hebrew & Greek).
3. It has human literary styles (poetry, prose & history)
4. It has Human literary forms (parables, metaphors, similes,
symbols & hyperboles).
5. It reflects different human thought patterns (logical, practical, a
memory lapse).
6. It reveals human emotions (weeping, rejoicing, and anger).
7. It has specific human interests (medical, herdsman, shepherd,
and nature).
8. It expresses human culture (kissing, foot washing, veils, and
reclining at meals).
9. It utilizes other written human sources (Jasher-- Josh. 10, Wars of
the Lord—Num. 21:14, pagan poets (Acts 17:28, 1 Cor. 15:33;
Titus 1:12).
10. It reflects human limitations (matter, space, & time).

9. How God Spoke to the Prophets
How God Spoke through the Prophets
Moses:—“Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord.” (Ex. 24:4).
I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all
that I command him” (Deut. 18:18).
Isaiah:—“Take for yourself a large tablet and write” (Isa. 8:1).
David: “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my
tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2).
Micaiah: “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will
speak” (1Kings 22:14).
Zechariah: He spoke of “the law and the words which the Lord of
hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets” (Zech.
7:12).
Paul: “…you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it
really is, the word of God” (1 Thes. 2:13).
Peter: “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men
of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter
1:21).

10. 2 Pet 1:21, Men Moved By The Holy Spirit
• 2 Peter 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made
by an act of human will, but men moved by
the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
• present passive
• Acts 27:15 and when the ship was caught in it
and could not face the wind, we gave way to it
and let ourselves be driven along.

11. The Process of Inspiration
The Fact: The Bible is co-authored:
God is the primary author
Men of God are the secondary authors.
The Means:
What it is not—It is not verbal dictation (Different styles,
vocabularies, and interests are reflected).
What it is—Providential guidance “For prophecy never came by
the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were
moved *driven, carried along+ by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
The Prophetic Model:
1. Not merely a prompter (of ideas);
2. Not a secretary (receiving dictation of words);
3. But like a teacher (implanting the exact meaning) and a co-
author of a book (concurring in the written expression of it).

12. Inspiration Is…
• God’s sovereign, supernatural,
superintendence of every aspect of the
prophets lives
• To the extent that their vocabulary, language,
writing style, personality, and circumstances
• Are so sovereignly superintended by God that
He can call what the prophets wrote as His
word.

13. A. The Source of Inspiration
B. The Means of Inspiration
C. The Nature of Inspiration
1. A Prophetic Writing
2. The Written Word of God
3. What the Bible Says, God Says

14. What Scripture Says, God Says
GOD SAYS... SCRIPTURE SAYS…
Gen. 12:3 Gal. 3:8
Ex. 9:16 Rom. 9:17
SCRIPTURE SAYS… GOD SAYS…
Gen. 2:24 Matt. 19:4-5
Psa. 2:1 Acts 4:24-25
Psa. 2:7 Heb. 1:5
Psa. 16:10 Acts 13:35
Psa. 95:7 Heb. 3:7
Psa. 97:7 Heb. 1:6
Psa. 104:4 Heb. 1:7
Isa. 55:3 Acts 13:34
There is an interchangeability between the two.

15. What Scripture Says, God Says
Scripture Says in Psa. 2:1 … by the Holy Spirit, through the
mouth of our father David… (Act
4:25 NAU)
Scripture Says in Psa. 2:7 to which of the angels did He
[God] ever say, "YOU ARE MY SON
(Heb 1:5 NAU)
Psalm 16:1 …of David… …he [God] saith also in another
psalm… (Act 13:35
Psalmist says, “For he is our Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, just as the
God “…Psa 95:7 Holy Spirit says…

16. What Scripture Says, God Says
GOD SAYS... SCRIPTURE SAYS…
Gen. 12:3 Gal 3:8
“Now the Lord “The Scripture…preached
said to Abram…” …to Abraham…saying”
SCRIPTURE SAYS… GOD SAYS…
Gen. 2:24 Matt. 19:4-5
“*Author of Genesis+ “He *God+…said, ‘…a man
said,…‘a man shall shall leave his father and
leave his father and mother….’”
mother….”’

17. The Result of Inspiration
1. It is divinely authoritative (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10).
2. It is imperishable (Mt. 5:17-18).
3. It is infallible (Jn. 10:35).
4. It is historically reliable (Mt. 12:40; Mt. 24:37).
5. It is scientifically accurate (Mt. 19:4-5).
6. It has ultimate supremacy (Mt. 15:3, 6).
7. It is inerrant (without error) (Mt. 22:29).

18. It is infallible
“If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the
word of God came—and the Scripture
cannot be broken….” (John 10:35)

19. What Jesus & Apostles Affirmed about the OT
1. Creation of the universe (Gen. 1) John 1:3; Col. 1:16
2. Creation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2) 1 Tim. 2:13-14
3. Marriage of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2) 1 Tim. 2:13
4. Temptation of the woman (Gen. 3) 1 Tim. 2:14
5. Disobedience and sin of Adam (Gen. 3) Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22
6. Sacrifices of Abel and Cain (Gen. 4) Heb. 11:4
7. Murder of Abel by Cain (Gen. 4) 1 John 3:12
8. Birth of Seth (Gen. 4) Luke 3:38
9. Translation of Enoch (Gen. 5) Heb. 11:5
10. Marriage before the flood (Gen. 6) Luke 17:27
11. The flood and destruction of man (Gen. 7) Matt. 24:39
12. Preservation of Noah and his family (Gen. 8-9) 2 Peter 2:5
13. Genealogy of Shem (Gen. 10) Luke 3:35-36
14. Birth of Abraham (Gen. 11) Luke 3:34
15. Call of Abraham (Gen. 12-13) Heb. 11:8
16. Tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14) Heb. 7:1-3

20. What Jesus & the Apostles Affirmed About the OT
17. Justification of Abraham (Gen. 15) Rom. 4:3
18. Ishmael (Gen. 16) Gal. 4:21-24
19. Promise of Isaac (Gen. 17) Heb. 11:18
20. Lot and Sodom (Gen. 18-19) Luke 17:29
21. Birth of Isaac (Gen. 21) Acts 7:9-10
22. Offering of Isaac (Gen. 22) Heb. 11:17
23. The burning bush (Ex. 3:6) Luke 20:32
24. Exodus through the Red Sea (Ex. 14:22) 1 Cor. 10:1-2
25. Provision of water and manna (Ex. 16:4; 17:6) 1 Cor. 10:3-5
26. Lifting up serpent in wilderness (Num. 21:9) John 3:14
27. Fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:22-25) Heb. 11:30
28. Miracles of Elijah (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1) Jas. 5:17
29. Jonah in the great fish (Jonah 2) Matt. 12:40
30. Three Hebrew youths in furnace (Dan. 3) Heb. 11:34
31. Daniel in lion’s den (Dan. 6) Heb. 11:33
32. Slaying of Zechariah (2 Chron. 24:20-22) Matt. 23:35

21. It is inerrant (without error)
Jesus replied: “You are in error because you
do not know the Scriptures or the power of
God” (Matt. 22:29). “Thy Word is truth” (Jn.
17:17).

22. A Writing from God
Ex. 24:4.—“Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord.”
Isa. 8:1.—Isaiah was told, “Take for yourself a large tablet and
write.”
Jer. 26:2.– Do “not omit a word.”
2 Tim. 3:16.—“All Scripture [writing] is given by inspiration of
God….”
John 5:39.—“You search the Scriptures…and they speak of Me.”
John 10:35.—“The Scripture cannot be broken.”
1 Cor. 2:13.—“words…taught by the Holy Spirit.”
Mat. 4:4, 7, 10.—“It is written…” (92x)
Lk. 24:27.—“He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning Himself.”
Rev. 22:18.—Do not add to “the words of the book of this
prophecy.”

23. A Bad Argument:
1. The Bible is the words of human
beings.
2. Human beings err.
3. Therefore, the Bible errs.

24. The Error:
• Human beings do not always err.
And…
• Human beings did not err when moved by God
who cannot err (2 Peter 1:20-21).
• “God can draw a straight line with a crooked
stick.”

25. More and Earlier NT Mss.
# Manuscript Copies Time Gap in Years
25
New Testament 5686
500
Homer 643
Demosthenes 1400
200
Herodotus 1400
8
Plato 1200
7
Tacitus 1000
20
Caesar 1000
10
Pliny 750
7
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

26. The Testimony of the Scrolls
Noted Ms. Expert: Sir. Frederick Kenyon
“The interval between the dates of original composition
and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to
be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any
doubt that the Scriptures have come down
substantially as they were written has now been
removed. Both the authenticity and the general
integrity of the books of the New Testament may be
regarded as finally established” (Kenyon, Bible and
Archaeology, 288)

27. The Testimony of the Scrolls
Sir Frederick Kenyon’s Testimony
“The number of mss. of the New Testament, of early
translations from it, and of quotations from it in the
oldest writers of the Church, is so large that it is
practically certain that the true reading of every
doubtful passage is preserved in some one or the other
of these ancient authorities. This can be said of no
other book in the world” (Our Bible and the Ancient
Manuscripts, 55).

28. Translations Are Helpful
• The old quotations from it…
• My family was visiting a church and the minister
announced they had both Spanish and English
Bibles for use during the service. My youngest
son tugged at my sleeve and whispered,
"Mommy, I want one of those Spanish Bibles."
• "Don't be silly, you can't read Spanish," I quickly
rejoined.
• Holding out his own Bible to me, my
kindergartner explained, "Mom, I can't read
English either." Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."

29. Jesus Is The Central Theme
• John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have
found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets
wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
• Acts 10:43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that
through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins."
• Luke 24:44 Now He said to them, "These are My words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all
things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses
and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
• Acts 3:18 "But the things which God announced
beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His
Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled

30. Jesus Said So Many Times
Matthew 5:17
Luke 24:27
John 5:39
Hebrews 1O:7

31. Jesus in Both Testaments
• In the Old • In the New
• Shadow • Substance
• Type • Truth
• Ritual • Reality
• Preincarnations • The Incarnation
• Branch of David just • Branch of David in full
budding bloom

32. Jesus in Every Section
• I. Law---------Foundation for Christ
• II. History-----Preparation for Christ
• III. Poetry-----Aspiration for Christ
• IV. Prophecy--Expectation of Christ
• V. Gospels-----Manifestation of Christ
• VI. Acts--------Propagation of Christ
• VII. Epistles---Interpretation of Christ
• VIII. Revelation--Consummation in Christ

33. From God to Us:
The Three Links
I. Inspiration—From the mouth of God.
II. Canonization—Collected by the people of God.
III. Transmission—Copied by scribes of God.

34. Jesus said: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost . . . shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you." (Jn. 14:26)
Peter said: "For the prophecy came not in old time by
the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21)

35. And The Bible is the Word of God
Jesus said so:
"If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God
came, and the scripture cannot be broken." (Jn. 10:34-35)
“Laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the
traditions of men…, making the word of God of no effect
through your traditions” (Mk. 7:8, 13).
Paul said so:
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God…." (2 Tim. 3:16)
"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.”
(Rom. 9:6)

36. Jesus “was without sin" (Heb. 4:15);
"had no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21);
“was without blemish or defect" (1 Pet. 1:19);
“was pure" and "righteous" (1Jn. 2:1; 3:3).
Likewise,
The Bible "is God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16);
"is out of the mouth of God“ (Mt. 4:4);
"is perfect" (Psa. 19:7);
"cannot be broken" (Jn. 10:35).

37. A Good Analogy:
The Living Word The Written Word
(Savior) (Scripture)
Divine Nature Divine Nature
Human Nature Human Nature
One in Person One in Propositions
Without Sin Without Error

38. The Bible is a Spirit Uttered Book:
• "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word
was on my tongue." (2 Sam. 23:2)
• "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God." (Mt. 4:4)
• "How is it when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he
will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)
• "...not in the words which man's wisdom teaches,
but [in words] which the Holy Spirit teaches.…” (1
Cor. 2:13)
• "All scripture [writing] is given by inspiration of
God…." (2 Tim. 3:16)

39. A Helpful Comparison:
Study of Science Study of Bible
Many Difficulties Many Difficulties
Assumed Explainability Assumed Explainability
Many are explainable Many are explainable
Continued Research Continued Research

40. Error # 1 of the Critics: Presuming the
Bible Guilty Until Proven Innocent.
Like an American citizen, the Bible should
be presumed innocent until it is proven
guilty.

41. What if we presumed...
• Road signs were Gentlemen
wrong?
• Traffic signals were
not right?
• Labels on food were
incorrect?
• Numbers on currency
were wrong?
• Signs on restrooms
were reversed?
• Disaster would result!!!

42. GOD
General Revelation no conflict Special Revelation
(Facts of Science) (Facts of Scripture)
Views of Scientists conflict Views of Theologians

43. Error # 3 of the Critics: Assuming That the
Unexplained is not Explainable.
• Science once had no explanation for meteors,
eclipses, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes,
or how the bumblebee could fly.
• All these are now explained.
• More will be explained in the future.
• THE SAME IS TRUE OF BIBLE DIFFICULTIES!

44. Error # 4 of the Critics: Assuming that a
Partial Report is a False Report
Example: The Inscription on the Cross:
• Matthew- THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• Mark - THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• Luke - THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• John - JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
COMPLETE: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

45. But even contemporary
meteorologists speak of
“sunrise" and “sunset."
No scientist says: "Honey, look at the
beautiful earth rotation!"

46. Error # 8 of the Critics: Presuming That the
Bible Approves of All it Records
Things the Bible records but does not approve.
Satan's lie (Gen. 3:4; cf. John 8:44);
David's Adultery (2 Sam 11);
Solomon's Polygamy (1 Kings 11:1);
That Fools say "There is no God"
(Psa. 14:1).

47. Error # 9 of the Critics: Taking Figures of Speech
Literally.
All the Bible is literally true, but--
Not all the Bible is true literally (vs. figuratively)

48. Poetry-- "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of
God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7)
Parables-- "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God,
neither regarded man. And he said ‘because this widow troubles me,
I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’" (Lk.
18:1-5)
Allegory--"Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the
other by a freewoman.... Which things are an allegory: for these are
the two covenants." (Gal. 4:24)
Metaphors--"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...and sets
on fire the course of nature." (Js. 3:6)
Similes--"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed,
which a man took, and sowed in his field." (Mt. 13:31)

49. Hyperboles--"And there are also many other things which Jesus
did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that
even the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written." (Jn. 21:25)
Satire --"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a
camel." (Mt. 19:24)
Figures of speech--"O God! Therefore the children of men put
their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psa. 36:7)
Anthropomorphism--"God repented of the evil, that he had said
that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3:10) But
God does not repent: “The strength of Israel will not lie nor
repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Sam.
15:29)

50. Error # 10: Forgetting That Only the
Original Text, Not Every Copy of Scripture,
is Without Error
Ahaziah was 42. Ahaziah was 22.
(2 Chrn. 22:2) (2 Kings 8:26 KJV]
 Solomon had Solomon had 4,000
40,000 stalls. stalls.
(1 Kings 4:26) (2 Chrn. 9:25)

51. Note Several Important Things:
1. These errors are found in
copies, not in the originals.
2. They are rare.
3. They affect no doctrine of Scripture.
4. We usually know which one is
correct by the context.

52. What if you received this message?
"Y#U HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"
Would you collect the money?

53. And if you received this message, you would have no
doubt!
"Y#U HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"
"YO# HAVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"
"YOU #AVE WON TEN MILLION DOLLARS"
Note:
1. Even with mistakes, 100% of the message
comes through.
2. The more errors, the more sure you are of
the message.
3. The Bible has many less errors in the
copies than this message does.

54. Error # 11 of the Critics: Failing to
Understand the Context of the
Passage
An old adage: "A text
out of context is a
pretext.”

55. For Example
The Bible says "there is no God." (Psa. 14:1)
The Context: The "fool" said this.

56. Other Examples of a text out of
context:
The Bible says: "The mustard seed...is the
smallest of all seeds." (Mt. 13:31-32)
But science says it is the orchid
seed.
The Context: However, the mustard seed
was the smallest one "which a man
took and sowed in his field" (Mt.
13:31), not the smallest in the world.

57. A Text out of Context
The Bible says: Paul's companions "heard" the
voice (Acts 9:7),
but also that they did not "hear" the voice
(Acts 22:9).
The Context: They heard the sound,
but did not hear (i.e., understand) the
meaning.
Illustration: “I can’t hear you. Please speak
louder.” You heard the sound but not the
meaning.

58. Mark Twain said: It is not the part of the
Bible I don't understand that troubles me the
most. It is the part of the Bible I do
understand that troubles me the most.
Turning the Logic Right Side Up:
We should not criticize the Bible;
We should let the Bible criticize us!
"For the word of God is alive, and
powerful, and sharper than any two edged
sword...and is a discerner (Lt. critic) of the
thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb.
4:12)

59. No one has ever demonstrated
an error in the Bible, but--
We have seen that there are
many errors in the critics.

60. The Unique Nature of the Content
of Scripture
A. The Bible has great diversity.
B. Yet the Bible has amazing unity.
C. This is best accounted for by
Deity (one Mind behind it all).

61. The Great Diversity of the
Bible: It was--
1. --written in two major languages;
2. --by some forty human authors;
3. --who held numerous occupations;
4. --who lived on three different
continents;
5. --who penned 66 different books;
6. --on hundreds of topics;
7. --spanning some 1600 years.

62. The Amazing Unity of the Bible
It has:
1. One theme--salvation (2Tim. 3:15),
2. One person--Christ (Lk. 24:27),
3. With one goal--to glorify God (1Cor.
10:31).

63. The Bible states we have:
1. One problem—sin;
2. One cure—salvation;
3. Through one
person—Christ;

64. The Conclusion:
I. Uniqueness of Its Composition:
The Bible is a co-authored book.
a. God is the primary author;
b. Men of God were the secondary authors.
c. The result is that one and the same set of words
are both God’s and man’s.
So, whatever God said in Scripture, the human author
said. And whatever the human author said in
Scripture, God said.

65. I find my Lord in the Bible
Where ever I chance to look,
He is the theme of the Bible
The center and heart of the Book;
He is the Rose of Sharon,
He is the Lily fair,
Where ever I open my Bible
The Lord of the Book is there.

66. He, at the Book’s beginning,
Gave to the earth its form,
He is the Ark of shelter
Bearing the brunt of the storm,
The Burning Bush of the desert,
The budding of Aaron’s Rod,
Where ever I look in the Bible
I see the Son of God.

67. The Ram upon Mt. Moriah,
The Ladder from earth to sky,
The Scarlet Cord in the window,
The Serpent lifted high,
The smitten rock in the desert,
The Shepherd with staff and crook,
The face of my Lord I discover
Where ever I open the Book.

68. He is the Seed of the Woman,
The Savior Virgin-born;
He is the Son of David,
Whom men rejected with scorn,
His garments of grace and of beauty
The stately Aaron deck,
Yet He is a priest forever,
For He is Melchizedek.

69. Lord of eternal glory
Whom John, the Apostle saw;
Light of the golden city,
Lamb without spot or flaw,
Bridegroom coming at midnight,
For whom the Virgins look.
Wherever I open my Bible,
I find my Lord in the Book.
Author wishes to remain unknown

70. Lucca – Italy
THE END