Page 43 - Bible Writers Theology Original

One should hold fast to the fact that the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, establishes its own infallibility. (See Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2). Its fundamental purpose is to reveal the eternal one true God, and show mankind the way of salvation (II Timothy 3:15-17). "For who hath despised the day of small things?" asks the Lord in Zechariah 4:10. The Bible is to be trusted even in the smallest detail. (See Luke 16:10- 12; 19:17; John 3:12.) In its pages, fundamental doctrines find their types and shadows in the historical events, which are part of scripture. (See Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 12:40; Hebrews 7:14-28; I Peter 3:20-21.) God in Christ,
along with many other New Testament doctrines, can be found in the types and shadows of the Old Testament as well. (See Matthew 12:40; 19:4; 24:37- 39; Luke 17:32; 20:37; John 6:49; Acts 7:2-53.)
3ol0 The Canon of Scripture
The perfect unity of the sixty-six books of the Bible is another strikingevi dence of its divine inspiration. Though written by some forty writers over 1500 years, all 66 books and writers are in agreement. On any given subject, harmony prevails throughout. Surviving the test of time, the sacred volume
has been in existence in its completed form for almost two millenniums. Everything about the Bible is supernatural, and in spite of all criticism it remains an ever-present testament. And who, but God, could have con ceived and caused men to compose such a perfect book which has the seal of divine authority.
Volumes could be filled on the subject of divine preservation of the writ ten Word of God through the centuries. How all the books of the Bible came to be chosen and formed into the present canon is an aspect that has drawn the attention of generations of both Jewish and Christian theologians alike. In short, the canon is the collection of writings that contain the rule of divine inspiration.
The canon of the 66 books of the Biblecan only be based on their inspira tion by God, and on no other human authority. Not only did God inspire His holy men of old to write the Bible (II Peter 1:21; I Peter 1:10-12,25; II Timothy 3:16), but His providence has kept the treasuce of the written Word from error. Indeed, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the people of God through the ages have played a major role in recognizing, preserving, and
transmitting the scriptures to succeeding generations. More immediately, generations contemporary with any "so-called" inspired writing would have obviously looked into it's content and investigated its authorship. In order to establish conclusively the inspiration and authority of the writing,
and hence its canon, great care would have been taken.
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