2 Timothy 3
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Canon means a rule or measuring stick to measure by.
The OT (Old Testament) was written in totality, approximately 150BC. In 90AD, in a small town Yamnia in Israel, Rabbi’s came together to decide about the books of the OT. At that time there was still uncertainty about certain books to include in the OT, e.g. Song of songs. In 200AD the first complete list of the OT canon was published.So, in 200AD the OT canon was closed (i.e. no book could be added or removed from the OT), and that’s the OT we still have today.
The same process happened for the NT (New Testament). In 367AD, a bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius, published the first list of the NT canon. In 393AD, Christian bishops met in Hippo, to decide the NT canon. In 397AD the canon was closed (i.e. no book could be added or removed), and it is the NT as we still have it today.
There is a total of 66 books in the Bible, 39 in the OT and 27 in the NT. It’s written in 3 languages, with most of the OT in Hebrew, the language of ancient Israel. Certain portions were written in Aramiac, at the time of the exile. The NT was written in Greek, and the OT was translated into Greek.
Let us take note of these facts in our discussion of this Book, the Bible. Why is it different from other books? Let’s look at only two reasons, Revelation, and Inspiration.
1) Revelation means to uncover something which was hidden or closed.
Then it becomes possible to know it. In the Bible God uncovers Himself or reveals Himself that He can be known. He not only reveals Himself in the Bible, but also His will for mankind. People wrote down in the Bible that which God said about Himself. These records of what God did and said are recorded in the Bible as we have it today. In the OT God revealed Himself in the history of people, and especially Israel. In the NT, we have God’s final revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ, His Son. His revelation started in the OT and completed in the NT.
This is what makes the Bible different from any other book – God worked in the lives of people and revealed Himself to them and they recorded it as such.
But, before someone say that people wrote down their own opinions, there is also the Inspiration of the Bible, which proves that they were inspired by God.
2) Inspiration means “breath” in Greek.
All scripture is given by the breath of God. This is very important to the understanding of the Bible. In 2Pet 1:21, Peter writes that men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We must let the Bible speak to us, and not that we decide what it says. The Bible must give a meaning to a text, and not us interpreting the text. A 2nd Century principle was, “For you to be safe in the interpretation of the Bible, always let the Bible interpret itself.”
How does the Bible differ from other religious books, e.g. the Muslim’s Khuran, the Hindu’s holy book, Shakespear, etc.? It is Christ-centered. Every page of the Bible, from first to last, testifies of Christ. We see it even right at the start of the Bible in Gen 3:15, where God says to Eve that He will send Someone to destroy the serpent.
Other portions, e.g., Is 7, 42, 49, Zech 9, Micah 5, Ps 22 are all portions that point to Christ. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the primary author of the Bible, He used people to write down in human words what He wanted to be known throughout the ages.
Moses was not the primary author of the Pentateuch, for the Holy Spirit is the primary author, and Moses wrote down as he was moved by the Holy Spirit.
“The Bible is God’s word, spoken through the lips of man, or written with a pen of man”.
Now, if the Holy Spirit is the primary author, then it goes without saying that the Holy Spirit is also the one to interpret it – not any other person or spirit. I.e. only a Christian filled with the Holy Spirit can interpret the Bible correctly – no agnostic or atheist at a university, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or anyone else who does not have the Spirit of God can interpret the Bible. To a non-Christian, the Bible is a closed book. So too with us, if we are not in right standing with God, and guided by God’s Spirit, we cannot interpret the Bible correctly.
There are four guidelines when it comes to the interpretation of the Bible.
1) Show respect for the text of the Bible. It is God’s Word; it comes from God and returns to God. It is not a product of man, but of God. Jesus Christ is called the Logos – the Word of God. The Bible is God’s voice in the form of words. Listen carefully to God’s voice coming through the words read.
2) Recognise the fact that the Bible has, both, an Old Testament and New Testament. So many times people say that they only read the OT or the NT. There are two testaments, but one Bible. There is a continuous revelation of God in both testaments. Both are God-breathed. Jesus is revealed in both. Read both with the understanding that Christ is to be found in both.
3) Spend time with the text of the Bible. Read and re-read a text you want to share. Pray to God before you read, while you read and after you’ve read the Bible, so that God can open the Word for you to understand. Your attitude should be open and humble – just because you take into your hands what was never done by man, but by God Himself.
Set aside your own bias when reading the Bible, and take the Words at face-value. Bias force scripture to say what you want it to say, and God’s Spirit cannot reveal Himself to you.
4) Compare scripture with scripture. Scripture is its own and best interpreter. So, when confronted with a difficult portion, go to other portions discussing the same matter for understanding. Let the Bible interpret itself. The OT can explain itself, and the NT. The NT can explain itself and the OT. Why? Because, Christ is the unifying person of both.
Many scholars today claim that scripture contradicts itself – it is because they use humanistic, man-made methods to interpret scripture. Scripture never contradicts itself, for there is one God who, through one Spirit wrote the Bible.
One scripture the unbelieving scholars claim to contradict the Bible is John 12:14, where Jesus found a colt and so entered Jerusalem.
Some of the other portions dealing with the same matter are Zech 9:9, Matt 21:5, Mark 11:7 and Luke 19:35
Zech 9:9 was prophesied 540BC! – That Jesus will ride into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey, never ridden by anyone else – such a donkey would not allow anyone to ride on it the first time, but when the King came, it was tame.
In fact, by studying the various portions, we find no contradictions, but the richness of God’s revelation about Himself. In each portion God reveals some other point of how exactly He remembered His prophesies and fulfilled them.
Zech 9:9 prophesied the first coming of Christ, and Zech 9:10 His second coming. We are now 2500 years since those verses were prophesied!
When Jesus saw Jerusalem, He cried over it for persecuting the prophets and Himself. How will His second coming find you? Will you still reject Him, only to be finally judged by Him? May today be your day of salvation.