CAMPUS CHURCH BIBLE SCHOOL

Module 2. The Bible; its subject and purpose

2.1. INTRODUCTION

In Module 1 we saw that the Bible claims to be (a) revelation from God, (b) inspired by God (“God-breathed”) in its entirety. So why should we believe these claims? We listed the following reasons:

•	The Bible’s unity. Although written by many different hands over a vast period of time and in a great range of circumstances, the Bible is ‘tied together’ by strong themes that run throughout (God is creator, covenant maker and sustainer; he is holy and judges sin; man is sinful, helpless and under condemnation; sin can be forgiven through atonement by a sinless substitute; all culminating in Christ). 

•	The Bible’s progression. Just as in a book written by a single hand, the Bible unfolds its message progressively with time. This could not have been organised by a human editor over the timescale involved.

•	The Bible’s prophecy. There are many examples of  prophecy which are known to have been fulfilled historically long after they were foretold. 

•	The Bible’s power. Historically the Bible has demonstrated time and time again its power to transform human society (cf. Matthew Parris article*).

•	The Bible’s personal impact. Every Christian can testify to the ongoing power, wisdom and encouragement of the Bible in his/her own life (2 Tim. 3:15-17).

2.2. THE BIBLE’S SUBJECT (THEME)

•	The Bible has a single theme — the Person and work of Jesus Christ. This fact underlies its unity (as a string can transform a handful of assorted beads into a single necklace). 

•	Question. We defined Systematic Theology as the study of individual themes (plural) throughout the Bible. Is this a contradiction? No, because just as many different tributaries eventually join to form a single river, so many different themes and subjects all conspire to testify to Christ.

•	Jesus himself claimed to be the subject of ALL OT Scripture (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:25-27, 44; John 5:39, 47).

•	Whenever the NT quotes OT Scripture, which is very frequently, its principle of interpretation (hermeneutic) is Christological (i.e. it relates to the Person or work of Christ). Some less obvious examples are Melchizedek (Hebrews 7) and the muzzling of oxen (1 Cor. 9:9-14). 

•	Exercise: Can you find a NT quote of an OT Scripture that does NOT relate in some way to Christ and the gospel?

•	Illustration: Are the messianic passages in the OT icebergs or islands? Icebergs float around in an unrelated ocean. Islands are outcrops of the hidden but ocean-wide geography of the sea-bed and are integral with it. Thus also the whole OT is ‘messianic’ in purpose with the recognisable messianic passages as the visible outcrops. These passages are not, therefore, isolated ‘icebergs’ in the OT ‘sea’ and unrelated to the whole. 

2.3. THE PERSON OF CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES

•	From the outset, the NT clearly identifies Jesus not only as the OT Messiah but also as the Son of God (Matt. 2:15, 16:16; Luke 1:35; Jn. 1:1-5, 11:27) “You are the Christ, the Son of the (living) God”. This identification continues throughout the NT (Rom. 1:3-4 etc.)

•	The first chapter of Hebrews is a classic example of this in which Christ the Son is contrasted with angels (Heb. 1:1-14).

•	Jesus claim to be the Son of God was clearly understood by Jews and Christians alike to mean that he enjoyed equality with God (Jn. 5:18; Phil. 2:6).

•	The OT evidence is less direct and rests largely on the NT interpretation of OT passages. For example, the way the NT applies OT statements about The LORD (Jahweh) to Christ (e.g. Isa. 6:1-10 cf. Jn. 12:39-41 and again Isa. 45:23 cf. Rom. 14:10-11 and Phil. 2:10 ).

•	However, there are a few clear OT passages that indicate that God has a Son and heir (e.g. Ps. 2:7; Dan. 3:25). 

2.3. THE WORK OF CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES

•	When we speak of the work of Christ we often mean his saving work of death and resurrection. However, his work goes much further and involves also his revelation of the Father; his life of righteousness as a man; his teaching; the building of his church; the coming judgement; and the inauguration of his eternal kingdom. These are matters we shall consider in a later module.

•	The point to grasp here is that these works are testified to by all the Scriptures. In the NT Luke introduces his book of Acts by referring to his Gospel in which he recorded “all that Jesus began both to do and to teach ...” (Acts 1:1-3). Thus the Gospels are replete with records of Christ’s works — whether actions, teachings, miracles, works of compassion and saving grace, his self-offering for sin, his resurrection or his ascension.

•	The Acts and epistles continue to describe Christ’s working by his Holy Spirit through his apostles and disciples — in teaching, testifying, evangelising, church-planting and church-building (Acts 3:16; Eph.3:5).

•	The Revelation finally speaks of his works in human history during the last times (as do some of the epistles, of course). In all these cases the references are too numerous to list.

•	But the work of Christ is also in evidence throughout the OT Scriptures — both in direct references and (more commonly) in types and figures. Direct references include:

•	Defeating Satan (Gen. 3:15); ultimate prophet (Deut. 18:15 cf. Ac. 3:32, 7:37); captain of salvation (Josh. 5:13); offices (Isa. 9:6-7); incarnation (Isa. 7:14); crucifixion (Ps. 22); resurrection (Ps. 16:8-11); work of salvation (Isa. 53); power and priesthood (Ps. 110); etc

•	Types and figures: Converting sinners (Jacob Gen. 32:28); bearing sin (Passover Ex. 12:1-14); supplying grace (water from rock Ex. 17:6 cf. 1 Cor. 10:4); priesthood, sanctuary & sacrifices (Ex. 36-40 cf. Hebrews); etc.

2.4. THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE

•	We look at a single text that sums it all up — 2 Timothy 3:15. All Scripture ...

•	Makes us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ (John 6:68).

•	Is profitable for teaching (2 Tim. 4:2).

•	Is profitable for reproof and correction (2 Tim. 4:2 again)

•	Is profitable for instruction in righteousness (cf. Sermon on the Mount).

•	Makes believers complete ... equipped for every good work (cf. Eph. 2:10).

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From Maranatha Messenger (Bible Presbyterian Church, Singapore)

The Reformation. The authority, perspicuity & sufficiency of Scripture

The second cardinal doctrine of the Reformation was the sole authority, perspicuity and sufficiency of the canonical Scriptures. 
	The Reformers asserted that the Bible alone and not the church had the sole authority over believers. This runs contrary to the teachings of the Roman church tradition, which relied on the authority of councils & Synods of the Roman Pontiff and of the apocrypha. 
	The Reformation recognised and upheld the infallible, inerrant and inspired Word of God as the only standard and rule of faith and practice. This shook Rome who held its members captive by its anathemas, encyclicals and papal bulls. The second aspect of the Word is its sufficiency which was affirmed by the Reformers. In other words, the Word of God alone and nothing else would govern the life of believers and the church. 
	Before the Reformation, the church had strictly forbidden lay people to read  and study the Scriptures on their own. The church would teach the people through its priests and bishops. The Scriptures were only available in Latin and not in the vernacular which the people could understand. So the church had the monopoly of the Word of God and the people were deprived of and forfeited this means of grace for centuries. 
	The Reformation broke this tradition when Luther translated the NT into German in 1522 and in 1534 produced the whole German Bible. Later William Tyndale translated the NT into English in 1525 and the whole Bible was later completed in 1538 by Miles Coverdale. 
	The ordinary ploughman could now read and understand the Holy Scriptures in his own language for the first time. The foundation and basis of our Christian faith that was hidden for so long from God's people, was now given freely to sinners and saints.