The Doctrine of Scripture in the Modern Period
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Part 1: Types of Revelation
- Immediate Divine Revelation
- Definition: Direct encounter with God without human mediation
- Forms:
- Theophanies: God's appearances in visions and dreams
- Acts of God: Historical events demonstrating God's power (e.g., the Exodus)
- Propositional Word of God: Direct announcements from God
- Incarnate Word: Jesus of Nazareth as the embodiment of God's Word
Part 2: Mediated Divine Revelation
- Old Testament Prophets
- Role: Primary vehicles of God's revelation
- Examples: Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel, Moses
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (Moses as a prophet)
- New Testament Apostles
- Role: Convey God's words to humanity
- Examples: Paul
- New Testament Prophets
- Role: Convey divine revelation not mediated through apostles
- Examples: Mark and Luke (non-apostolic scriptural authors)
Part 3: Doctrine of Inspiration
- Definition and Scope
- God-breathed nature of Scripture
- Sufficiency and authority of Scripture for teaching and equipping
- Key Scripture References
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for various purposes
- 2 Peter 1:20-21: Prophecy does not originate from human will but from the Holy Spirit
Part 4: Inspiration of the New Testament
- Recognition of Apostolic Writings as Scripture
- 2 Peter 3:15-16: Peter equates Paul's letters with other Scriptures
- Sufficiency and Finality of the Canon
- Role of the New Testament in explaining the Old Testament in light of the Christ event
- The closing of the canon with the writings of apostles and New Testament prophets
Conclusion
- Discussion on the Continuation of Apostolic and Prophetic Gifts
- Varying views on the continuation or cessation of these gifts
- Sufficiency of the canonical Scriptures for the church
Q&A Session
- Various Questions Addressed
- Differences between Old and New Testament prophets
- Role of contemporary prophets and apostles
- Clarification on the extent and means of inspiration
- Interpretative challenges in understanding Scripture
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.