No updates due to Dr. DeWitt’s hospitalization.

EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION

Although to the Christian believer there is no real need to find evidence for the inspiration of the Scripture because the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that the Words are His eternal message to humanity, there are two lines of evidence upon which our faith in the Book is justified as faithful. These are the internal and the external evidences of inspiration.

That the Bible declares itself to be the very Words of God is an internal evidence of the inspiration of Scripture. We will examine some of these internal evidences later in this section.

There are three types of external evidence which point to the inspiration of the Bible. The first of these are those evidences which are external in that they are beyond the scope of the actual message from God. Chafer (Major Bible Themes) has listed seven such evidences.

The first of these is that the continuity of the Bible is an external evidence of Inspiration.

This continuity is often overlooked as one holds a copy of the Bible in his hands. We look at the Bible as one volume. Indeed it is. But, this is only so because the ultimate Author of the Word is the Spirit of God. Humanly speaking, the Bible is the work of about forty men who labored, corporately, for 1500 years.

I have trouble keeping any real continuity in this present endeavor. Even though I have already outlines this study, as I make these weekly updates I find that the flow is not always as smooth as I would desire from week to week. Imagine forty men, most who did not even meet any of the others and from some very diverse backgrounds, writing over a period of 1500 years, trying to make a unified volume!

Yet, we find in the Scripture a continuity which is possible only via the inspiration of the Spirit of God upon the finished work of Scripture. Quite simply, this is a miracle! Mere men could not have produced such a unified work as the Spirit has presented.

Second, the extent of Biblical revelation is an external evidence of Inspiration. The Bible speaks of sociology, science, history, geography, and the metaphysical. The Bible speaks of the beginning of the physical history of the universe and continues up to the climax of the ages. The Bible narrative moves from the basic emotional needs of mankind while giving instruction for the spiritual realities of humanity. The Bible informs the time centric and physical man about the matters of eternity and spirit.

No volume, or even set of volumes, has such a broad reaching set of teaching. Yet the Bible speaks with authority, clarity, and truth in all pronouncements.

Third, the influence and publication of the Bible are external evidences of Inspiration.

The publication of the Scripture is a miracle in itself! Not only has the Bible been a "best seller" for years, there are constantly more and more efforts to translate the Scripture into more and more languages. Often the first book to be published in a new dialect has been the Scripture.

Teams will work to reduce an previously unknown language into a written language. The new alphabet and text will be taught to the speakers of that language. These tribes will then be presented will a Bible version in their own language. Missionaries have thus labored for centuries and continue to do so in diverse places even today.

Beyond the scope of the publication of the Scripture is the influence which the Scriptural message has been fashioned into the literature of the world. It has been said that the King James Bible helped to standardize the English language. It might be further said that the language and incidents of Scripture have carried a large influence into the literature of the English speaking people.

In the early days of the American Republic schoolchildren were taught to read by using the Scripture and books based upon those precepts. The early writers were able to make allusions to Scriptural incident without fear of being misunderstood. How much of the fabric of the writings of those early writers has been lost due to the Biblical illiteracy of our present day schools.

Even the political realm has seen allusions to the Scriptural record. From the "City Set Upon A Hill" of Ronald Regan, back to the words of our Declaration of Independence, the Biblical record was accessed to explain issues to both the mind and heart.

Surely this is an example of the Inspiration of Scripture in that the soul of men, even irreligious men, have been touched with the message of the Book.

Fourthly, the subject matter of the Bible is an external evidence of Inspiration.

We’ve touched upon this already in this session. Consider the many subjects which still touch the lives of men, two thousand years after the Book was finalized, and we can readily see the influence of the Inspiration of Scripture.

Fifthly, the influence of the Bible as, and on, literature are external evidence of Inspiration.

Again, this is a subject we’ve already touched in this session. Consider that the morality of the Scripture, even as the Book is derided in so many public forums, gives the basis for new books, new movies, new searches for answers to the ills of modern society. Where the Book is honored we see a society which, while not perfect, is at peace. Where the Book is despised we find unrest, uncivility, and an anarchistic spirit of unrest.

Sixthly, the unprejudiced authority of the Bible is an external evidence of Inspiration.

Even among those who reject the Bible as a rule of life for themselves, the expectation is there that others should live up to the morality of the Scriptural model. We are reminded to give to charity, to think of the needs of others, to work for a better world, to live - as much as is possible - in peace with our fellow man. Scriptural principles, all.

The authority of the Scriptural message, at least the interpersonal parts of that message, are an external sign of the Inspiration of Scripture.

Seventhly, the supreme character of the Bible is an external evidence of Inspiration.

As noted just above, the teaching of Scripture is a salve for the soul of humanity. No where else is this character as readily evidenced as in the Bible. This is reasonable because the God Who has authored this Book via Inspiration, is the Creator of humanity. He, alone, has the complete knowledge of the needs of man. It is only through Inspiration that this guidance has been granted to mankind.

We will continue this discussion in our next session as we look at external evidences of Inspiration from outside of the Bible.

EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION (Continued)

In our last session we considered the external evidence of the inspiration of the Scripture which speaks beyond the scope of the actual message. These consisted of the effect produced by that message although not touching upon any one part of the message of Scripture. In this session we will consider external evidences of inspiration from outside the Book.

Bancroft (Elemental Theology) speaks of several of these instances. The first evidence of which Bancroft speaks is that of archeology.

"The testimony of archaeology to the truthfulness or credibility of the Scriptures may also be regarded as corroborative evidence of their inspiration. If the Scriptures are to be relied upon as the statement of truth with no admixture of error, then their witness to their own inspiration may be accepted as trustworthy."

The fact is that archeology does affirm the message of Scripture. It was once said that writing was unknown in patriarchal times. This was cited as a source to discredit the writings of Moses. Then a library was found at Ur which predated Moses. Various kings, mentioned only in the Scripture, were cited as fantasias until archeology confirmed their existence.

Bancroft also suggests that we appeal to the standard of General Revelation. The picture of God as presented in the nature of creation is consistent with the picture of God as presented in the Special Revelation of Scripture.

Further, Bancroft notes that the facts of the Scripture are shown to be true and credible. This is shown in the negative in that the facts presented in the Scripture do not contradict well established facts of science nor the "generally supported" philosophic conclusions concerning the facts of the universe.

This is not to say that the Scripture is always supported by all the "facts" of science. This, too, is a proof of the inspiration of the Scripture. Had the science of the day of even twenty five years ago consistently supported the Scriptural record, the Scripture would be a horribly outdated Book in the modern world. There are instances where science has not yet "caught up" to the Truths of the Scripture. The certain fact is that science will change with time; the Bible is the eternally consistent Words of God.

Bancroft also sees the credibleness of the Scripture as shown by positive facts.

When one looks at the "...topographical and geographical trustworthiness..." of the Scriptural record one will find the Scripture to be certain and true.

Even when considered the modern concern of "[e]thnological or racial trustworthiness.." the Bible record is shown to be consistent. The different races of man may appear to be different one from another but each is essentially and biologically no different. Blood transfusions depend on blood type. These blood types are consistent throughout the human race. Doctor’s are taught just one biology of humanity. These facts are consistent with the Biblical record of one creation of all men beginning with Adam.

There is also found within the Scripture consistency among the historical and chronological records. Even the great canonical trustworthiness of Scripture (85% to 95% of all the available evidence of Scripture points to the same Traditional Text.) where variation is seen as aberration stands as testament to the truth and inspiration of Scripture.

The New Scofield Reference Bible also sees the trustworthiness of that Scripture speaks to the inspiration of the Book. The accuracy of the Scriptural record speaks to the inspiration of the Book. These are instances which anyone may examine and find solace in the fact that God has given an inspired guide for humanity.

The New Scofield Reference Bible also sees areas when the Christian is assured of the inspiration of the Scripture. First, the Holy Spirit witnesses to our hearts of the inspiration of the Bible. This is a witness to which the Christian is assured as he peruses the pages of Scripture.

The Christian can also look to the effect which the Bible has had upon his own life as a proof of the inspiration of the Book. The Christian may also consider the effect which the Bible has had upon others - drunks made sober and productive, lewd men brought to respectability, timid men encouraged to speak of the Savior, these and many more illustrations shown in the world about - is a substantial truth of the inspiration and power of the Book.

The Christian must also consider his Savior. Jesus both trusted and used the Scripture. When Jesus was tempted on the Mount of Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), we see that each of His answers to the tempter was based upon the inspired and preserved Words of God. Over and over we see that Jesus appealed to the Scripture as the basis of His assertions.

If Jesus gave such honor and respect to the Scripture, how can the Christian do less than honor and trust the inspired and preserved Words of God!

In our next session we will begin to consider some of the internal evidences of the inspiration of the Scripture.

EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION (Continued)

We have been considering external evidences of the inspiration of the Scripture. Those are instructive evidences. But, if the Bible did not provide evidence internally, from the Book itself, we would have no right to consider that the Bible is a divinely inspired and preserved Book.

One of these internal evidences of the inspiration of Scripture is that manner in which the message of the Scripture touches mankind. Garner (Bible Analysis) looks into this facet of the influence of the Scripture upon humanity. He argues that the message of Scripture will raise the moral standard of men and women. "By reading this book men have been made wise and upright. By believing its message men have been saved. And by following its teachings the highest achievements of human history in matters secular and divine have been attained."

When we consider the great literature of the Western world we will find so many references and allusions to the sacred page that we could not count them any more than we could stand in our yards on a cloudy night an count the stars in the heavens. The influence of the Bible has enriched our lives and culture through even much that was not intended to be of a religious nature.

This is so because the Bible speaks to the basic human needs in a way that no other book is even remotely capable of approaching. The books of the "self help" gurus are outdated in short shift. The Bible has stood both the test of time and the test of timelessness!

Libraries, hospitals, educational systems, all manner of benevolent societies owe their very existence to men and women who were profoundly influenced by the message of Scripture. The fact that many of these entities have been overtaken by secular forces does not diminish the fact that their foundations lie in influence of the Book.

Even the concept of scientific inquiry owes its modern underpinnings to the men who sought to find the mysteries of God in the facts of His creation.

The American political system was also birthed by men who were seeped in a culture of Biblical understandings. Some may tout the influence of Thomas Paine and other secularists who were involved in the American Revolution to dispute this fact. But, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..." stands as testimony to the influence of the culture of Scripture as the fire over which the stew of the republic was first brought to a boil.

The ideal may not have been completely fulfilled. But the water of it was drawn from the well of Scriptural influence.

Another reason, given by Garner, that the message of Scripture so touches, humanly speaking, mankind is that the message of Scripture speaks to every phase of humanities life.

"Children listen to the reading of the Bible with wonder and delight. Parents nod in full sanction of the principles as holy and worthy of being followed. Old men and women, with faith in god, gaze through spectacles for hours as they read God’s promises and consider His blessings and assurance of a better life. A silent tear falls softly on the pages of God’s recorded Word and the trembling pilgrim of faith faces the shadow-valley of life’s sunset with a sense of victory ahead, without fear or dread."

I remember that as a child I would sit in an old lawn chair in my parent’s front yard. I would be in the shade, catching some cool breezes on a hot summer day, reading the words of Scripture. I remember going to church in those long ago, pre air conditioning, days in a hot church service. The only cooling provided was by cardboard hand fans passed out in the pews. Hundreds of people filled the sanctuary, making it even hotter, just to listen to the Words of God read from the Book of God.

These experiences were shared by so many of all ages as the Words spoke to the needs of life - no matter what stage of life a person was experiencing. God is the Constant Contemporary Who speaks with tenderness and joy to the young. God is the Constant Contemporary Who speaks with understanding an council to the adult. God is the Constant Contemporary Who speaks with assurance and wisdom to the aged.

He speaks through the Words of His inspired and preserved Scripture.

When my wife was in her teens she went to a church "camp meeting." While there she bought a Bible with a wooden cover. We used that Bible in our wedding. When she was diagnosed with cancer, and told that it was terminal, she would sit for hours with that old Bible and simply read the Words of her Savior. They were the same Words that were printed in millions of other Bibles. She understood that these were the Words written especially to her.

These were the Words of eternity. These were the Words of God. These Words have the attribute of God in that it is His voice that speaks within the pages. He was speaking directly to her in her time of need.

And, when she passed away into Glory, the last time I was ever to be alone in a room with her I read the story of Jesus speaking with Nicodemus from John Three from that very Bible.

The Words of God speak to us in all stages, and in all places of our life. Jesus said, "...I am with you alway..." (Matthew 28:20) He meant it!

Finally, Garner also notes that the message of Scripture explains our very existence. The old song said, "What’s it all about?" Only the Scripture gives us the answer to that age old question.

Many spend years trying to find out who they are. This seems a silly quest. But, consider that so many college students will change their major several times in just four years. Why is this? It is because they really are just not all that familiar with what they really want in life. Oh, they - for the most part - understand the need for peace and security. Most also want to be able to earn enough money to fulfill their dreams and fund their years of decline.

But, at their very core, who are they? Who were you at their age?

The world says that we are simple biological entities, brute beasts only different in progression from the cattle on a hill. The world says that we serve no real purpose in the cosmic scheme of things. We live. We die. Others take our place. We are important only for a short time, if at all!

After all, we are only the biological outgrowth of mindless chance.

The Bible tells us that we are a special creation. We are no a "what." We are a "who." We are the apex of the entire creation of the universe. We are endowed with life from the very Creator of the Universe. We are beings with whom this Creator desires to communicate. That is the purpose of the inspired and preserved Scripture.

The message of the Bible is that we are endowed with nobility in our makeup. It is only sin that has caused us to forget this fact. Meanwhile, the Bible also tells us that God desires to remove this sin nature. He has already made that provision in the Person of Jesus Christ!

The question is: What is our response? How, then, should we live?

The Bible has the answers to these burning questions. We are all witnesses of His love, those of us who have been born again. We are all sent out into the world, our niche of the world, to live a life of piety and grace before others, those of us who have been born again. We are all called to make the world better, one person at a time with the message that Jesus Christ died in time so that others could live in eternity, those of us who are born again.

Simply put, we should live as Christians. We should live to pass this message and understanding down to succeeding generations. We live in the Book and we pass the eternally inspired and preserved Book to others. They, then, can find their own true humanity and purpose from the same God Who will be their Constant Contemporary as He has been to us!

The Book also tells us where we are going.

I heard someone a few years ago who described death as he saw it. He said, "The electrical impulses in my brain will cease. I will no longer have any consciousness left. My entire body will then begin to decay. That’s it. Nothing more."

Jesus told the story of a man’s death in Luke. "And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes..." (Luke 16:22-23a)

There is a hereafter. To acknowledge this is to acknowledge God. Many fail to accept this fact because they wish to not acknowledge the truth of God. Silly people. Just wishing something was not true does not make it false. Truth is truth. We need to, if we are to be reasonable people, accept this fact: After our physical life is over, we will enter eternity.

The Bible tells us that there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun. Only a Book inspired by God could have this knowledge to impart. With simply human authorship the entire subject would be guess work. Since God is the Ultimate Author of Scripture we may be certain of His warning and of His offer of salvation.

The Bible also gives us the prophecy of where history is going. We know the fate of the nations and the world. In these, as we watch even present history line up into the form of the described end, we see the power and glory of the God Who has inspired and preserved Scripture.

In our next session we will see that the message of Scripture is unique.

EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION (Continued)

When we are considering internal evidences of inspiration we must recognize that the message of Scripture is unique. If the message of Scripture were only that of any humanly produced book we would have no reason to suspect that the Bible was actually of Supernatural origin. When we consider the subject matter and insights into human and spiritual features we must be struck by the realization that the Authorship of the Scripture is above the scope of human ability.

Simmons (A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine) tells us of the Supernatural evidence of the Authorship of the Scripture. "The Great Differences between the Bible and the Writings of Men Evidence that it is not a mere Human Production..." He then proceeds to give us three examples of this evidence.

The first example is of the "...Depth and Reaches of Meaning..." within the Scripture. The Bible does not simply tell us that things are; the Bible explains the forces that have acted upon humanity, and all of creation, which have caused the circumstances to be as they are.

We are encouraged to look upon the mighty acts of God and consider His ultimate power and glory. At the same time we are allowed to see the devastation which sin has caused upon the race of man.

The second example is of the "...Power, Charm, Attraction, and Perennial Freshness.." of the Scripture.

As to the power of the Scriptural record, we are not only told of the ravages of sin we are also given the Antidote to this deathly soul sickness. We are made to understand that the cure for the curse of sin is beyond the ability of humanity to effect. It is only the power of God, displayed through the Person of Jesus Christ, which has made this available.

We also, of course, see the power of God over His Own creation. The Red Sea is parted so that the purpose of God in freeing His covenant people is not thwarted by the mightiest army on earth at the time. Captivities, the fates of nations - sacred and profane - are weighed in the balance of His Will and found to be used for His Own purposes. Even sin and Satan are defeated through the miraculous death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The power of Scripture upon the hearts of humanity is shown in the lives which are changed by the teaching and leading of the Book. Even the staunch opposition, completely unreasonable in its fury, is a testament to the power of the Book over the lives of men and women.

The power of the Book is shown over and over in the churches. What other book could be expounded upon week after week for hundreds of years, in thousands of assemblies, and never grow old or be exhausted.

The charm of the Book is shown in the complete dedication to which those who love its message are drawn. Men and women of the ages have died in the flames of martyrdom, singing the praises of the Book rather than to deny the message contained therein.

The attraction of the Book is not diminished throughout the many global cultures. Those who have never heard the message are drawn to the God of the Book at their first hearing of the story of the love of God. Those who have grown from infancy with the message of Scripture falling majestically upon their ears desire to hear the stories again and again even as they approach the shadow of the valley of death.

The perennial freshness of the Book has been evidenced from father and mother to son and daughter, and grandson and granddaughter for thousands of years. At every instance the true Author of the Book is shown to be the Constant Contemporary. It is He Who stands with us in trial, in triumph, and in all the days of our lives. Even unto the life in the hereafter we are buttressed in our souls by the message of the Words of God.

The third example is the "...Incomparable Conciseness..." of the Scriptural record.

The Bible seems a large Book. In reality it is a short Book as it covers the entirety of eternity within the sixty six "chapter books" which are the contents. We must realize that each part is incredibly important when we consider that God chose these few pages to impart the story of His will to our hearts and souls. Nothing is "filler;" all is for our edification.

Simmons further tells us that the internal evidence gives proof of inspiration in the subject matter disclosed. "The Revelation of Things that Man, left alone, could never have Discovered gives Evidence of the Superhuman Origin of the Bible..."

"The account of Creation..." gives credence to the inspiration of the Bible. Other ancient "religious writings" give fanciful accounts of supernatural human like creatures and mythical beasts forming the earth out of already existing materials. Only the Bible gives the reasonable picture of the God Who stands outside the physical universe creating that universe from nothing but the power of His Own Voice and will.

While other ancient religious writings carry the flavor of a Saturday morning children’s cartoon, the Scripture is reasonable and restrained as the picture is given of a simple and logical recitation of actual events.

"The Doctrine of Angels..." is given reasonable application in the Bible. The word "angel" simply means "messenger." The angels are not presented as "Super Hero’s" from the latest Hollywood science fiction saga. The angels are simply shown as the messengers of God’s purpose to inform God’s people.

The only Angelic exception to the above is when the "Angel of the Lord" is concerned. Since this is actually a manifestation of Jesus, in His preincarnate existence, we see that this is actually God working in His Own world.

This is another indication of the inspiration of the Scripture as the picture is given of the God Who is interested in His Creation and able, as the Creator of that Creation, to interject Himself, and suspend the physical laws which are of His Own creation, when He so desires for a specific purpose.

‘The Omnipresence of God...", as shown in the Scripture, is another indication of the inspiration of those Scriptures. The "gods" of the ancients could be cajoled and tricked; they were not able to be everywhere so man could plan to outwit them.

The God described by the inspired Scripture is present in every part of His Creation. We are not able to hide our sin. Neither are we limited in where and when we may worship or plead for His intervention in our lives.

"The Problem of Human Redemption..." is dealt with in the inspired Scripture. It has been said that the difference between mere religion and true Christianity is explained by the means of salvation. Religion is a picture of man trying to placate God. Christianity is man simply responding to the God Who first loved Him; the work is already completed on the Cross of Calvary.

Finally, Simmons also sees that the unity of the Message of the Scripture is an evidence of inspiration. "The Marvelous Unity of the Bible confirms it as a Divine Revelation..."

First, we see that the Bible "...is a Unit in its design..."

In the earliest parts of the Bible we read of the Trinity of God. "And God said, Let us make man in our image..." (Genesis 1:26) This is a doctrine not fully developed until the New Testament. After the fall we see that God sacrificed an animal to make coats of skins to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. This is a prefiguring of the ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity. Again, this is a doctrine which is not fully developed until the New Testament.

Both of these doctrines, not developed until the New Testament, are taught in incipient form throughout the Old Testament. The unity of the Scripture is shown in its unfolding revelation of the Truths of God. While never contradicting itself, the Bible unfolds a message from simple unto more complex.

This concept is akin to math. My granddaughter has learned how to identify her numbers in kindergarten. She has also learned simple addition and subtraction. Now, throughout her school experience she will add upon this base. The base always remains true, unified into the context of her higher math studies.

Second, we see that the Bible "...is a Unit in its Teaching concerning God..." God is the mighty and glorious Creator. His holiness exceeds the power of man to conceive or copy. His mercies and love are always coupled with His justice and judgements. It is only through His great love that His judgements of the sin in the life of man may be paid, on an individual by individual basis, by His love expressed in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Third, we also see that the Bible "...is a Unite in its Teaching concerning Man..." Man is shown as a rebellious and sinful creature. God created man to be the apex of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God. Although the introduction of sin, in the fall of Adam, has obscured these facts of creation, the facts remain.

Throughout the Dispensations of Scripture man has failed every test that God has allowed. Finally, in this present Dispensation of Grace, God has performed all the work necessary at the Cross. All that is required of man is that he accept the free gift of the grace of God.

Fourth, we see that the Bible "...is a Unit in its Teaching Concerning Salvation..." In each of the various Dispensations there is but one ultimate test for mankind. He is to accept the revelation of God in faith, believing that God is the ultimate Judge and Ruler. Man is to submit to this rule of God in his heart and worship the benevolence of the Creator. In return man is allowed the great dignity of fellowship with the Creator. In doing this man is able to fulfill his destiny and gain the desires of his heart and nature.

Fifth, we see that the Bible "...is a Unit as to the Law of God..." The Law of God is always pure and just. The Law of God is always the "Final Word." Man may bargain and bluster; but in the final analysis man must submit to the just justice of God.

The Law of God is always uplifting. Ignoring the Law of God always produces degradation, sorrow, and loss. God’s Law is for our own human fulfillment. To ignore His Law is to harm our own selves. This is true in the physical life as well as in the spiritual realities of eternity!

The Law of God brings glory to His Name and elicits praise and worship from men.

Finally, we see that the Bible "...is a Unit in the Progressive Unfolding of Doctrine." Although the doctrine of Scripture is always shown in an unfolding manner, the simpler being amplified by the more advanced, nowhere is the doctrine of an earlier time shown to be false by the later revelation. The earlier is always the foundation of the latter.

The Scripture is a record of One Author writing with over forty human instruments over a fifteen hundred year time period. It is only the inspiration and preservation of God which could have produced such a Book.

We will begin to consider the prophetic aspect of Scripture as an evidence of inspiration in our next session.