THEOLOGY Lesson 4 IV. Inspiration of Scripture, Study notes of Theology

Download THEOLOGY Lesson 4 IV. Inspiration of Scripture and more Study notes Theology in PDF only on Docsity! THEOLOGY Lesson 4 IV. Inspiration of Scripture We accept the thirty-nine Books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven Books of the New Testament as the only infallible and authoritative Word of God. These are the “core” Books accepted by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches. Such Scripture is the final standard for judging faith and practice and all religious tradition. Consider what the Bible says about itself: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8 NIV). Over forty men were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible. These men were not writing like machines, not writing apart from their personalities. Instead, they wrote in their own styles. God inspired men to record his word throughout the centuries. “20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20,21 NIV). See also 2 Timothy 3:16,17. Though the Bible was written over a long period of time by various men, the Books of the Bible agree on one theme: There is one God who rules the universe, and the one way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. See Deuteronomy 6:4 and John 14:6. Scripture is shown to be valid because the prophecies of the Bible are being fulfilled. See Deuteronomy 18:18-22; John 6:14. Also see the training module on this website entitled “Messianic Prophecy.” God said that he gave prophecy so that people could not claim that some idol has divine power. See Isaiah 48:3,5. Scripture is also shown to be valid because it accomplishes its purpose. See Isaiah 55:10,11. These claims for the validity of Scripture were given through some of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament: Moses and Isaiah. If we want to understand the truth of Scripture, we receive the Holy Spirit. See 1 Corinthians 2:9-13. We receive the Holy Spirit when we believe in Christ. See John 7:37-39. The Holy Spirit indwells us and guides us to the truth. 1 | Page THEOLOGY Lesson 5 V. Creeds Although Scripture is the standard for judging religious faith and practice, Creeds are also useful in instructing people in the faith. Creeds have generally been developed to counter challenges to the theology held by the Church. Consider two early creeds accepted widely in the Church. The Apostles Creed, used in Catholic and Protestant Churches (but not in the Eastern Orthodox Church), evolved from the Confessions of particular churches by the end of the second century. Notice the emphasis on the Trinity. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell (Hades); the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen."7 The Apostles Creed proclaims the humanity of Christ, countering the false claims of the heretical groups (Gnostics, Marcionites, and later Manicheans). See 1 John 4:1-3. The Creed holds that Christ descended into Hades, the place where both the righteous and the unrighteous go after physical death. The term “Catholic Church” refers to the “universal Church.” In opposition to the Gnostics, who claimed to have knowledge that others in the church did not possess, this Creed proclaims that the Gospel is for the universal church. Like the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed emphasizes the Trinity. It dates to the Second Ecumenical Council, held at Constantinople, A.D. 381. The Nicene Creed is a revision and expansion of an earlier Creed—The Creed of Nicaea, which was developed by a Church Council held in Nice in Bithynia, A.D. 325. The whole Christian Church, with the Eastern Orthodox Church rejecting the filioque clause (see below), accepts the Nicene Creed. "I believe in one God, Maker of heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord the Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son] (filioque), who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets. And I believe in one Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."8 2 | Page